Which of the following is NOT a crime prevention opportunity reducing technique discussed in class?

• A. Increase police patrols
• B. Create Natural Surveillance
• C. Target Hardening
• D. Alarms

Answer: (A)

In crime prevention thinking, many techniques focus on reducing opportunities for crime by shaping the environment or how people use spaces, rather than just increasing police presence. Creating Natural Surveillance fits this idea because it relies on design choices that make activities visible and offenders more likely to be seen. Target Hardening aligns with reducing opportunities by making it harder to commit a crime—streets, doors, and windows are strengthened to deter access. Alarms also fit, as they add a rapid detection and deterrence element, increasing the risk for would-be offenders.

Increasing police patrols, while important for deterrence and rapid response, doesn’t change the physical environment or the opportunity structure in the same way CPTED-style techniques do. It’s a policing approach rather than an opportunity-reducing design or device strategy. Therefore, the option that isn’t a discussed opportunity-reducing technique is increasing police patrols.