CPTED is an effective security process and is used on or in a wide range of efforts.
In short, it’s used to prevent crime form occurring. Below are a few examples and I will try and make them also relevant to this groups efforts. Some are obvious and we have heard them on local TV broadcasts. Numbered in random order and not by priority.
1. Keep perimeter of home free of shrubs that can conceal a person lying in wait.
2. Keep pathways to your home clean and easy to use. In addition to obvious personal enjoyment and lessening of trip hazards... it will encourage a person to use them. In a preppier world, this will encourage the average lazy twit to use them and will permit you to see and follow them easier. Sort of like herding the cattle to keep them in a nice easy to “ monitor” line.
3. Showing that a property is maintained, may attract a person looking to pilfer something from a person demonstrating possible wealth.. but it also sends a signal of it being maintained By an active person. If homes nearby are easy to access and appear less maintained, they may choose one that is darker yet of equal size ( potential for stuff to liberate). It’s a mixed bag and while it may not fully prevent an unwelcome visit,it may hold one off a bit. Obvious show of wealth or stuff will attract attention but most low end people look for easy targets.
4. Like shrubbery around the house, keeping surrounding woods clear of debris or standing trees will aid in keeping your line of sights cleaner and provide less immediate cover to others. It will also help avoid having a tree blow over on your house, shed or vehicles just when your in the middle of a crisis. Who needs a half broken roof when things are down and it’s snowing or a tree crushing your tractor or generator shed.....
5. Changing routes on your way home or to places will avoid people getting to know your pattern, what your driving, how well you look....
6. Repairing broken items like fences, windows etc show a presence and being lived in. In survival situation, people will look for both lived in and Un-lived in locations to seek shelter or steal from. It’s a mixed bag of nuts but again, if a person is looking for a simple place to shelter in, they will likely choose the more abondoned place as their first choice. Now, if a place is abandoned, you can also expect city urchins or others to wish to settle in there. Depending on who they are, this could be good or bad. So, and I am not recommending any illegal acts, but one may wish to chat with current owner of said derelict home, barn, hunt camp.. and ask them to tear it down, burn it.... now, instead of waiting for someone to set up house in it!
7. Keeping things locked / padlocks on outbuildings, gates etc do two things. They keep honest curious George type people out and they also show breakinin activity. If you are walking out to shed and notice broken lock, you can pretend you didn’t notice and keep walking by and go obtain help etc. A decent rouse when coming up on something suspicious is to act normal and maybe swear out loud. Mumble in loud enough voice about Ah shit, I forgot I needed to go into town to get that wood etc. If buddy is inside, he will likely associate with forgetting something and now believe he has an hour plus to move along. Important thing is to act quickly and avoid appearing that you noticed anything suspicious. Play dumb....but just don’t stand there looking at whatever it was that gave things away. You don’t want to simply open an unlocked door and come face to face with buddy. A lock won’t stop someone but it does provide a visual.
Got to go look for pumpkins with wife, back later!
Continued from Saturday.
8. Very important to get to know the neighbours. You can simply walk, bike or drive around. Look at age of folks, vehicles, upkeep of property... one can be poor but neat and show pride of ownership. See who waves to you or those that just frown in suspicious manner.
Halloween is coming up, so use that opportunity to cruise around.
9. You can go to local police department and ask for crime stats. Look for break and enters, drug arrests etc. Won’t get addresses but you will obtain stats. You may be lucky and obtain further info from friendly police officer or learn about some neighbour hood watch program. All info is good info, the more the better and you will be tuned into local conditions.
10. back to importance of keeping trails clean. Unless your on some mission, people will not stumble through cluttered brush to sneak up on house. They will walk or drive on clean trails or laneways. This makes it easier to deploy electronic detection systems. Deer... are a factor and false alarms need to be considered. To many and people either shut system off or ignore everything. Less can be more, so think about real world and adjust plans.
Thinning of brush and trees on both sides of trail is important. It lessens opportunity to quickly duck off to the side and hide. People like rats, don’t like being exposed. Rats like clutter, so keep things neat and they will likely go pick on someone else. If they don’t, then you get a better heads up... either way, you are ahead.
Cheers
Good points Clarence. These are tried and true tactics used by people in Society today. One point to remember, is that if the lights go out for good, the rules have changed immediately and possibly forever. At this point, what worked before cannot be expected to work in the same way in the present situation. Manage your expectations. Never consider yourself truly safe.
None you improvise, one (or more) is luxury.
Good points Clarence. These are tried and true tactics used by people in Society today. One point to remember, is that if the lights go out for good, the rules have changed immediately and possibly forever. At this point, what worked before cannot be expected to work in the same way in the present situation. Manage your expectations. Never consider yourself truly safe.
"never consider yourself truly safe". truer words have never been spoken. well maybe death and taxes, but still very wise words to always remember.
the ideas mentioned are in most part for today and to a degree moving forward in a semi ugly situation. Even our ice storm of 98 had thefts of generators occurring on day two. So making it harder for others, easier on you and knowing who is around you , will never hurt.
