Facility security measures and best practices

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.

Contract or Proprietary Security Services?

Choosing between contract and proprietary security services is primarily determined by the security needs of the retail mall and how much it can afford to spend (Allen and Sawhney, p. 433). Contract security services are cheaper, but there is no guarantee that you will have the same guards from day-to-day. In contrast, proprietary guards are assigned to the retail mall for the duration of the contract. The preferred choice would be to hire proprietary security guards because familiarity with the building, trouble hotspots, and the clientele can make a difference in how effective security guards can be in deterring crime.

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.