Crime Prevention Strategy for Shopping Malls

This report discusses a crime prevention strategy for shopping malls, including identifying the location and problem of crime, forming a crime prevention plan using environmental and social strategies, and exploring the effectiveness of prevention plans.

Develop a crime prevention
strategy that addresses a local
issue

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Crime Prevention strategy................................................................................................................3
Identifying location and problem of crime..................................................................................3
Forming a crime prevention plan using environmental and social strategies.............................3
Reflecting on how forum posts guided approach........................................................................6
Exploring effectiveness of prevention plans...............................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
A crime is an illegal or unlawful activity done by a person for which that person can be
punished by government. The government always tries to reduce crimes by enforcing laws and
maintaining criminal justice. The report will identify an area where a specific crime problem
needs to be addressed. It will further outline various measures that can be taken to prevent and
reduce crime scenes. In addition to this, study will also discuss as how forum post helped in
planning out the plan. Lastly, it will shed light on whether the plan worked successfully or not.
Crime Prevention strategy
Identifying location and problem of crime
The location where most of the crimes are witnessed are the shopping malls which are
emerging on a large scale all over the world. The crimes at shopping malls are also increasing
day-by-day. Factors that affect crime scenes at shopping malls can be the location of mall, design
and structure of malls, etc. (Berlusconi, G. 2017). Sometimes, shopping malls are located in
suburbs away from inner city which increases crimes and also design of mall, that is, grounds,
facilities, staircases are constructed in a way that leads to crimes.
General crime cited in shopping mall are of theft, robbery and shoplifting. Jewellery was
stolen from shop and security guard made an announcement that three watches and four
necklaces were stolen. Another woman claimed that her purse was stolen from the main public
corridor. Even the food courts were not safe from theft and robbery because a bag was stolen
from restaurant Y. The thieves were having weapons, explosives and even involved in physical
violence. Violent crimes and armed robberies are increasing and becoming a threat at shopping
mall (Baird and Clare, 2017). Such violent actions are becoming more advanced and organized
because of the usage of technology.
The major targets of robberies are jewellery shops and banks because they are heavy
goods of high value. Such violent action can have immediate actions which includes loss of life
or fatal accidents. On the other hand, reputation of shopping centres is negatively affected and
gets tarnished with a decline in customer visits which in turn affects revenue and profits of
company.

Forming a crime prevention plan using environmental and social strategies
Crimes can be prevented through various ways by planning and designing a criterion that
needs to be followed by shopping centre. One way in which crime can be reduced is that of
forming environmental strategies by designing a Crime Prevention through Environmental
design (CPTED) (Piza, 2018). It helps in creating an environment which leads to reduction in
incidences of crime. These strategies are as follows:
Natural Access Control
It is a design concept which is used to deny permit to a crime target area and creating a
perception of risk among offenders. Natural access control uses elements like doors, fences or
gates so that people are physically directed through a space which is designed as a pavement,
gateways, building entrances or streets. This will be beneficial because it will prevent entry to
private areas and will indicate public routes. In addition to this, control-locks, bars & alarms can
be used in jewellery shops. When someone tries to rob it or goes out of the shop without proper
billing and payment, alarm turns on.
Natural Surveillance
In this type of design concept, potential intruders are kept under strict observation by
increasing the visibility of shopping centre to large extent. In shopping centres, there should be a
proper design & placement of windows, lighting systems and landscaping which enhances the
capability to observe criminals and regular customers (Mihinjac and Saville, 2019). It increases
the chances to observe clearly any inappropriate behaviour and reporting it to the police. The
major advantage of using natural surveillance is that any individual, pedestrian or security forces
can detect unusual behaviour of offender.
Territorial Reinforcement
It applies the concept of ownership which creates or designs a territory to define the areas
which are public and which are private. Such a strategy makes use of side walks, porches or
landscaping that will distinguish private and public areas and intimates the offenders not to cross
boundaries.
Maintenance
Proper maintenance of shopping centres can prevent criminal activities to a large extent.
If broken window is left unrepaired, it can increase criminal offences which implies that social
control is not good enough and management does not care about deterioration. Engineers,

landscapers & clean-up crew should be employed to take care of any issues. Complete
maintenance of plants and trees in outer areas increases the visibility and improves sufficient
lighting required (Vagi and et.al. 2018). Clean-up crew should see that malls look very clean and
there is no garbage cans overflowing. Such maintenance makes the offenders believes that they
are under strict supervision and can be caught doing criminal activities.
In addition to environmental strategies, social strategies can also be adopted to reduce
and eliminate criminal activities at shopping centres. Thieves look for the easiest opportunity
when they decide to rob someone, and they look for women, especially. Social prevention
practices that can be used are as follows:
Remaining alert
Shoppers should always remain alert and aware about their surroundings at shopping
centres. They should know who and what is going around them which will help them to avoid
any surprises and shocks (Piroozfar and et.al., 2019). A person can also react positively by being
alert if something wrong happens to them.
Displaying confidence
A person should confidently walk and remain assertive at shopping malls. Criminals
chose those victims that are the easiest target and it is decided on the basis of their perceptions
about shoppers ability to react. If shoppers walk confidently, scanning the surroundings and
making casual eye-contacts, they are less likely to fall prey to criminals.
Trusting sixth-sense
Person's body can have intuitions if something is wrong in their surroundings, such
intuitions are not always wrong, a person should not second-guess himself and should react
immediately by taking strict action against criminal to reduce any kind of risk.
Carrying essential items
Another preventive measure can be that a person should carry only essential items and
should not carry extra cash, checks, jewellery or any other important items. Women carrying
purse should carry it in front and close to body. Men should also carry their wallet in front
pockets or use money clip.
Carrying too many shopping bags

Individuals should not be overburdened by several shopping bags and should store all
goods in one bag only (Brantingham and et.al. 2020). Shopper can also make use of locker
facility that shopping centres provide where they can keep their goods at one place and can freely
move from one place to another.
Group Shopping
Shopping should always be done in groups and not alone because there are fewer chances
for a thief to steal something when there is gathering of three or more people. Chances of
becoming a victim are more when your are alone.
Escorting
Many a time, retailers in shopping centres offers the facility of providing an escort to the
parking lot if a person is insecure about his surroundings and especially parking areas.
Remain prepared
Most of the robberies take place in parking area where there is no one to notice. A person
should always remain prepared like having keys in hand which can also be used as weapon
against thief (The 10 Principles of Crime Prevention, 2021). It can also lead to less wastage of
time by quickly coming out of parking area. Devices like whistle or alarm can also be used in
case of any emergency.
Reflecting on how forum posts guided approach
The forum posts have guided me in finalizing the strategies that can be used to prevent
criminal activities. Forum post discussed various strategies and tactics that can be applied with
benefits and drawbacks of each technique. Initially, a technique of proper maintenance was
discussed which stated that surroundings of shopping malls should be kept clean so that any
improper activity can be supervised. I felt that this strategy will work perfectly because trees and
shrubs overgrowing leads to less lighting in shopping centres which leads to criminal offences.
Keeping the surroundings cleans and not overloading garbage bins will prevent such activities.
In addition to this, another student talked about the concept of territorial enforcement
which I personally felt really effective. Making a clear cut difference between private and public
area will minimize criminal activities. I think that usage of side walks and porches helps people
in providing direction about which all places they can visit. I also believe that window and door

design should be perfect and in place which will help in having proper lighting. Criminal
activities can be prevented by mapping any unusual practices of offender.
Students also made a discussion about social strategies such as remaining consistent and
confident in walking at shopping centres. I also think that a person should remain alert about his
surroundings and should follow his/her instincts about any wrongful activities he/she suspects. In
addition to this I also believe that carrying non-essential items to shopping centres is useless and
should carry only important items. Another good point of the discussion was that people should
carry whistle with them which can be used, especially in parking areas. I personally feel that it
will surely benefit shoppers because it will help them to gather public around them for help.
Exploring effectiveness of prevention plans
All social and environmental practices adopted in order to reduce or eliminate criminal
activities has proved to be effective in following ways:
 First of all, natural access controls such as doors and fences helped shopping centres to
physically provide direction to individual for not entering in prohibited areas. This
reduced criminal offences because offender were not allowed to make an entry to such
areas.
 Natural surveillance will help shoppers to clearly identify any unusual scenarios
prevailing around them.
 Making use of side walks and landscapes will help in preventing robberies because entry
to private areas will not be allowed to pedestrians.
 Employing clean-up crew will also aid in keeping cleanliness inside and outside the
malls. Keeping plants and shrubs in the malls and outside also will be helping in
providing adequate lighting from the windows which will also prove to beneficial in
reducing crimes.
 Educating the shoppers to remain alert about their surroundings is also beneficial so that
they can protect themselves from such activities. It is also effective to remain conscious
and walk confidently which will make criminal think twice before doing such activity.
 Carrying only essential items to the shopping centres will also prove to be effective
because unnecessary items will attract the offenders to do criminal activity. Only wallets
and purse or one carry bag should be carried to prevent crimes.

 Another noticeable thing is to remain alert in parking areas because most of the robberies
take place there only. Sometime, sexual harassment also takes place with women,
therefore, should carry vehicle keys in their hands that can be used as a weapon.
 It can also be very effective to carry a whistle which can be fruitful at times of emergency
in parking areas. By blowing a whistle, a person can alert his surroundings that something
wrong is happening to him, and he needs help.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that shopping centres are the prime locations
where most of the crime like theft, robbery, etc. takes place. There are various strategies that are
formulated to prevent such practices. It can also be summarized that using environmental and
social techniques can be helpful in reducing such activities.
It can also be articulated that territorial enforcement can be helpful for maintaining peace
and dignity and minimizing crimes by not allowing the shoppers to go to restricted areas.
Another conclusive point can be that by remaining alert and confident about the surroundings,
shoppers can protect themselves from theft.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Berlusconi, G. (2017). Social network analysis and crime prevention. In Crime Prevention in the
21st Century (pp. 129-141). Springer, Cham.
Baird, M., & Clare, J. (2017). Removing the opportunity for contract cheating in business
capstones: A crime prevention case study. International Journal for Educational
Integrity, 13(1), 1-15.
Piza, E. L. (2018). The crime prevention effect of CCTV in public places: A propensity score
analysis. Journal of crime and justice, 41(1), 14-30.
Mihinjac, M., & Saville, G. (2019). Third-generation crime prevention through environmental
design (CPTED). Social Sciences, 8(6), 182.
Vagi, K. J. & et.al., (2018). Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
characteristics associated with violence and safety in middle schools. Journal of school
health, 88(4), 296-305.
Piroozfar, P. & et.al., (2019). Crime prevention in urban spaces through environmental design: a
critical UK perspective. Cities, 95, 102411.
Brantingham, P. J. & et.al., (2020). Crime hot spots, crime corridors and the journey to crime:
An expanded theoretical model of the generation of crime concentrations. In Geographies
of behavioural health, crime, and disorder (pp. 61-86). Springer, Cham.
Online
The 10 Principles of Crime Prevention. 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/advice/10-principles-crime-prevention/10-
principles-crime-prevention/10-principles-crime-prevention>