| In our fast paced modern living we | | | | Grouped car parking areas should be |
| probably don't give the practice of | | | | avoided in high-crime areas. If they |
| parking our cars as much thought as we | | | | can't be avoided, they should be within |
| should. As a society, we need to | | | | view of some dwellings; they should be |
| practice common sense when we park our | | | | outfitted with sturdy gates and should |
| cars, as we should do in other areas of | | | | never be located near alleyways. |
| our behavior. | | | | Open car parking areas should be small |
| There are two categories of crimes | | | | and within view of dwellings. Visitors' |
| involving the action of parking a car. | | | | car parking areas should be clearly |
| One is property crime and the second is | | | | identifiable, well lit, and also visible |
| crime against a person. Below is a | | | | from dwellings. |
| description of some crimes in both | | | | Rape, Assault, Robbery: |
| categories associated with parking cars. | | | | Poorly planned parking areas increase |
| There are also recommendations of | | | | the risk of physical assault and robbery |
| actions we can take to lessen the | | | | against the car owner and to the public. |
| chances that we become victims of crime | | | | To make car-parking sites safer to the |
| and a statistic. | | | | car owners and drivers, planners should |
| Theft and Vandalism: | | | | provide direct access from parking areas |
| The rate of theft or vandalism to cars | | | | to the entrance of dwellings. |
| increases in poorly thought out parking | | | | Car parking sites should be no further |
| designs or arrangements. Seclusion and | | | | than 60 meters from dwellings, and the |
| darkness are the best friends of auto | | | | path should be well lit and free from |
| thieves and vandals. | | | | shrubbery. Shrubbery that blocks the |
| Wherever possible, make available to | | | | view is a criminal's best friend. |
| each dwelling its own locked garage | | | | If it is desirable to limit access to |
| within the property boundaries. Locked | | | | dwellings, make sure access via car |
| garages outside the boundaries or | | | | parking sites is monitored as well. |
| well-lit and visible common car parking | | | | In high-crime areas, advanced |
| areas are the next best things. | | | | technological surveillance methods |
| Where private garages are not feasible, | | | | [CCTV, voice alarms, infrared, etc.] may |
| carport or driveway parking is | | | | be needed in car parking areas. For |
| preferable to grouped parking away from | | | | example, an infrared unit is available |
| dwellings. | | | | which detects the presence of intruders |
| As a rule, it is recommended that you | | | | [but not cats and dogs] by body heat, |
| avoid underground or multi-story parking | | | | and automatically switches on all lights |
| garages, as they are breeding grounds | | | | in the car parking area and turns them |
| for vandalism and crime. If they | | | | off after 15 to 20 minutes has passed. |
| already exist, limiting access points | | | | There are very few areas of our |
| and providing them with sturdy locked | | | | existence that cannot be made safer just |
| gates could help minimize risk. On the | | | | by applying some common sense and |
| other hand, each resident could be | | | | following precautionary guidelines. |
| provided with a lockable garage in their | | | | Make safety and self defense your first |
| own space, with robust vandal proof | | | | priority today. Take the time to go over |
| metal doors, garages within garages, so | | | | these guidelines with all your family |
| to speak. Or users can be provided with | | | | and set a good example. Remember, |
| a secure lock or a plastic keycard, | | | | thoughts and intentions are great but |
| which operates electronic doors or | | | | nothing is done unless you take action. |
| gates. | | | | Don't hesitate. Do it. |