Isn CPTED Another Form of Target Hardening?
While CPTED can include so-called target hardening, it is more than just that. Target hardening is best applied to a target that an offender attempts to enter (e.g., a building). It is less useful in open spaces such as parks where entry points are myriad. Target hardening is also an “overt” tactic. It does not place much emphasis on affecting offenders subtly or subconsciously. For example, an alarm system is often announced through stickers on windows or other common entry points. This explains to the offender that 1) a step has been taken to prevent the crime, 2) what that step was, and 3) potentially the degree of difficulty that defeating the step will entail (i.e., the quality of the alarm’s manufacturer).
