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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.
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