Preventing Burglary in Commercial and Institutional Settings: A Place Management and Partnerships Approach

Abstract

Connecting Research in Security to Practice (CRISP) reports provide insights into how different types of security issues can be effectively tackled. Drawing on research and evidence from around the world, each report summarizes the prevailing knowledge about a specific aspect of security, and then recommends proven approaches to counter the threat. Connecting scientific research with existing security actions helps form good practices. Reports are written to appeal to security practitioners in different types of organizations and at different levels. Readers will inevitably adapt what is presented to meet their own requirements. They will also consider how they can integrate the recommended actions with existing or planned programs in their organizations. In this report Tim Prenzler, PhD, looks at how to assess, manage, and respond to burglaries that occur at commercial and industrial sites. While there is a considerable amount written about domestic burglary, research is less in evidence when the locale is non-residential. His report looks at the context in which burglaries occur, and includes a consideration of the burglar's approach. He examines a range of solutions, which aim to make it more difficult for would be offenders particularly in the workplace, and he shows where security managers can have an impact. Drawing together a range of data, he looks at approaches from different levels, from the police, the government, and from those closer to the offence, the " place managers. " Those charged with preventing burglary at commercial and institutional settings now have a source of information, which connects research to practice to guide them in their prevention strategies. CRISP reports are sister publications to those produced by Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) of the U.S. Department of Justice, which can be accessed at www.cops.usdoj.gov. While that series focuses on policing, this one focuses on security.