Contact Information
CPTED
Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator

Crime Prevention

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Click to open PDF of CPTED Residential Brochure

Click to open PDF of CPTED Business Brochure

Click on the brochure to download step-by-step CPTED design principles. 

Why would you wait for a crime to occur if  you have the means to prevent it? One form of proactive strategy is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED (pronounced sep-ted). CPTED is a philosophy that uses specific design principles to deter criminal behavior while positively impacting the image and usage of an area or facility. Instead of focusing efforts after the crime, CPTED focuses on potential criminal behavior and preventing the crime from happening in the first place.

We constantly respond to our environment, whether or not we are aware of it. Effective design of our environment helps us feel safer and reduces opportunities for criminal acts. CPTED is based on the premise that the environment directly affects our behavior. It influences both the opportunities for crime and our fear of crime. CPTED enhances safety by altering physical design and encouraging positive social interaction. CPTED offers an alternative to creating fortress-like communities where we have to lock ourselves away to feel safe and also complements police and security strategies.

How CPTED Works:

CPTED promotes design strategies in planned environments that encourage safe behavior and reduce the opportunities for crime to occur through three inter-related basic principles:

In addition to the three main principles described, two other elements support CPTED: Maintenance and Activity Support:

If you are interested in making your home or business less appealing to criminals, then start practicing CPTED strategies today.

The concepts listed here are from Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) ideology. CPTED focuses on preventing crime by designing your physical environment to positively influence human behavior. These are only recommendations based on the CPTED philosophy and if implemented cannot guarantee that your home or business is impervious to crime. Through proper lighting, well maintained landscaping, proper locks, and barriers, you are creating an environment that is less desirable to criminal activity.  

*This information was prepared using various sources, including the internet, jurisdictional and industry materials, and CPTED training information. It is considered general knowledge of the Basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.

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