Reducing vandalism at retail shopping malls through perimeter security

Reducing Vandalism at Shopping Malls

Securing Facilities

Reducing Vandalism at Retail Shopping Malls

What is Perimeter Security?

Perimeter security can be classified as any effort to reduce criminal activity and similar threats to an establishment that concerns the space between the building's exterior wall and adjacent property (National Capital Planning Commission, p. 10). For retail shopping structure perimeter security this would encompass all areas between the mall's exterior walls and entrances, and the adjacent public sidewalks and streets, and public or private property. This typically includes sidewalks to and from parking lots and garages, landscaped areas owned by the mall, public transportation terminals on mall property, mall parking lots and the interior of parking garages, and drives that provide access to parking facilities from public streets.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

CPTED strategies to minimize criminal activity within the mall's perimeter could involve changes to the landscaping, structures, lighting, and routes of access. The five basic elements of CPTED in relation to a retail shopping mall are as follows (Carter, pp. 18-40):

Natural Surveillance: the design of structures, entry ways, landscaping, and any outdoor seating areas in a manner that reduces or eliminates hiding places and increases visibility. Improved lighting would also be a critical element. Wall murals and outdoor artwork would also attract the eyes of customers, providing additional casual surveillance that can help to discourage illegal activity.

Natural Access Management: the design of customer access routes from streets, sidewalks, and public transportation limits the choices they have, thereby increasing the concentration of people in defined areas. This can be accomplished by providing sidewalks, fencing, lighting, landscaping, and signs that control access to the mall. Security personnel could then focus on any activity occurring outside of these access routes, since customers crowded together would tend to serve as a deterrent against criminal activity.

Territorial Reinforcements: physical and visual indicators of territory to express ownership, such as fences, pavement treatments (assigned parking), signs, landscaping, and artwork, help to discourage criminal activity.

Maintenance: paying attention to the landscaping, litter, parking lots and garages, lighting, gates, and the appearance of structures sends a signal that the property owners and management are paying close attention to what occurs on their property.

Order Maintenance: Quick and decisive responses to control disorderly or criminal behavior also sends a message that this type of behavior won't be tolerated.

Vandalism, in contrast to violent crimes that may be committed against customers, would require 24-hour surveillance to prevent after-hours activity. CPTED strategies that can minimize after-hours vandalism include installing gates for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic that can be locked after-hours and installing fencing around the perimeter of the property (San Diego Police Department, p. 13). Anti-graffiti paints and coatings could be applied to outdoor surfaces to discourage this type of vandalism.

The Long-Term Costs of Vandalism

In addition to the direct costs associated with repairing the damage caused by vandalism, unchecked and unrepaired damage creates the appearance of structural and social decay (Gibbons, p. F441-F442). Customers would perceive an atmosphere of greater vulnerability to the criminal element and be less likely to shop and spend their money in the stores. Over time adjacent neighborhoods would gain a poor reputation and property values would begin to decline. Residential vacancy rates would increase. A downward economic spiral would occur locally that could eventually force businesses to relocate and the mall to close. For these reasons, the damage caused by vandals should be corrected as soon as possible to prevent a very costly image problem.