subject: Avoiding Crimes When Parking [print this page] Parked cars can be attractive to criminals, but careful planning can prevent crime. Here are a few things to consider:
Theft and Vandalism
Wherever possible, provide each dwelling with its own locked garage within the property boundaries. The next best thing would be locked garages outside the boundaries or well-lit and visible common car parks.
If private garages are not possible, a car-port or driveway parking is better than grouped parking away from dwellings.
Underground or multi-story car parks are breeding grounds for vandalism and crim and should thus be avoided. In existing parking garages, danger could be minimized by limiting entry points and providing them with sturdy locked gates. Alternatively, a garage within a garage is another option, consisting of a lockable garage in their own space with strong, vandal-proof metal doors. Or electronic doors operated by users via secure lock or plastic keycard would be another option for making multi-story car parks safer.
In high-crime areas, grouped car parks should be avoided. If thats not possible, they should be within view of some dwellings; they should be equipped with sturdy gates or tilt doors, and should never be sited near alleyways.
Open parking spaces should be small and within view of dwellings. Visitors' parking spaces should be easily identifiable, well lit, and visible from dwellings.
Rape, Assault, Robbery
To make car parks safer, planners should consider the following:
Provide direct access from parking areas to the entrance of dwellings.
Car parks should be no further than 60 meters from dwellings, and the path should be well lit and free from shrubbery.
Visitors' car parks should be well lit, clearly identifiable, and visible from dwellings.
Access to enclosed car parks should be limited to residents by some form of electronic entry control device if possible.
If it is desirable to limit access to dwellings, make sure access via car parks is monitored as well.
In high-crime areas, advanced technological surveillance methods may be needed in car parks. For example, an infrared unit is available which detects the presence of intruders - but not cats and dogs - by body heat, and automatically switches on all lights in the car park and turns them off after 15 to 20 minutes.
