Business owners in Phoenix are being armed with a new tool in the fight against crime—a comprehensive online guide, developed in a collaborative effort by the City of Phoenix and Arizona State University. The resource centers around the notion of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Don’t Design (CPTED) and is aimed at helping proprietors bolster the security of their commercial spaces.
The digital guide zeros in on practical advice grounded in CPTED principles, which suggest that the way properties are developed and managed can play a significant role in deterring criminal activity. It's a simple equation for local businesses: small changes in environmental design can make large strides in ensuring safety. Enhance the lighting, trim the unneeded overgrowth, and install visible security measures—these are some of the strategies detailed on the website, which, according to the city's announcement, not only protect assets but can also uplift the customer experience.
The drive behind this new CPTED online page is sourced from the city's broader Community Safety Plans, which incorporates a collective, multi-departmental approach focusing on safety concerns, particularly along the I-17 corridor. Leveraging the expertise of the Phoenix Police Department and an academic lens from the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing at Arizona State University, the guide is a testament to Phoenix's proactive stance on community safety.
By bringing these crime prevention strategies digital, the City of Phoenix aims to empower local business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to not just respond to, but anticipate and prevent issues that compromise the sanctity of their work and patron spaces. In essence, the online CPTED guide is more than a resource—it is a blueprint for constructing environments that aren't merely immune to the threats of the darkened alley, but are instead inviting to the customer and repellant to the criminal.
