What Is Crime Prevention?

By definition, Crime prevention is:

“Being aware that a crime can occur, anticipating its form, location, time and victim, and taking action to reduce the chances of its happening.”

There are three elements the criminal must possess for a crime to occur: 

                                          1. Desire
                                          2. Ability
                                          3. Opportunity

Eliminate just one of these elements and no crime will take place.  You have no control over the first two elements.  Whether the criminal has the desire or ability to commit the crime is solely up to them.  However, you can have a great control, if not eliminate, the third element – opportunity.

Crime prevention is using instinct, common sense, and action to eliminate or greatly reduce the criminal’s opportunity.  A large share of the responsibility of reducing criminal opportunity lies with YOU! That is not to say that if you are a victim of crime it is your fault and not the fault of the criminal… certainly not!  But the fact remains that we all have a personal part to play regarding crime prevention.