A Burglar’s Take on CPTED

Author: Rachel Armitage, University of Huddersfield

Goal of the study: This study revolves around a survey of local prison inmates who have been arrested for residential burglary who are currently housed in 3 prisons in England.

Background Information: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a field of criminology that examines ways in which the physical space and built environment of a location can either facilitate, or negate, crime. The theoretical underpinnings of CPTED mirror that of Routine Activities Theory (Cohen & Felson, 1979), as well as Clarke’s (1995) theory of Situational Crime Prevention.

Research Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were completed with 22 participants housed in three prisons in England. Each interview was conducted by an interviewer, and a note-taker, as technology was prohibited from entering the prison building.

Main Findings: Authors found that the physical, built environment of the residence, and its surroundings, can deter or facilitate criminogenic activity. Further findings show that the theoretical principles of CPTED should be reconsidered (at least with regards to residential burglary), as interview responses indicated that surveillance and physical security were clear deterrents, while management and maintenance and defensible space lacked deterrent effects.

Relevant Quote: “The findings confirmed the importance of design on offender decision making, but emphasized the need to re-assess the existing CPTED principles and their means of implementation” (p. 301).

What does it mean?: In essence, the results of this article translates into saying that the ways in which buildings and houses/residences are built should be taken into consideration when attempting to curtail crime. There are relevant aspects of the built environment (i.e., surveillance and physical security) truly do deter criminals from attempting to burglarize a residence.

Link to article: https://link-springer-com.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/article/10.1057/s41284-017-0101-6

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