Phases of a crime
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Criminal theorists argue that
there are 4 phases of any criminal act. We're going to briefly
discuss each phase and, in our next post, we'll look at an alternative model
that allows us to better counter potential criminal acts.
The 4
basic phases:
1. Intention or criminal intent
2. Preparation
3. Implementation - commission of
the act.
4. Accomplishment
1. Intent
to Commit a Crime
This first phase is the mere
thought of committing a break-in, armed robbery, home invasion, or another
criminal act. This
can rarely, if ever, be impacted by any security posturing at the individual
level. That's because, criminal intent is conducted prior
to a target being selected. This isn't always the case, but for our discussion,
we're going to assume a criminal knows they need money, and they've decided to
steal it before they decide who they're going to target. With that being said,
criminal intent can be influenced through hardening of your neighborhood, presence patrols by local law enforcement, and
other community activities designed to deter the would-be criminal from
believing the act could be accomplished. Many crimes are acts of opportunity.
Reducing the opportunity, thereby, leads would-be assailants to question their
intentions.
2.
Preparation
Preparation is the key prevention
phase. Per the 4-phase theory, this is when criminals start to analyze
potential targets. If they're intent is to get $1,000, they could be weighing
the option of robbing a home, convenience store, bank, liquor store, gas
station, or any other possible target. The goal, for us, is to make your home a
hard
target. See Steps to Prevent Being a Victim.
3.
Attempt
This is when the rubber meets the
road. This could be a criminal approaching your home and attempting to make
entry. If successful, they've now crossed to accomplishment. The key here is to
ensure your home is well-protected using pick-resistant locks, locking all
windows, labelling your home to ensure they know your home is protected, and
taking necessary precautions to ensure you're prepared. We'll talk more about how to prevent and respond to an attempted robbery in later posts. Click here to receive our latest posts.
4.
Accomplishment
This final phase is lumped into 2
segments - during and post event. This is where a great deal of concern is for
many homeowners and why most are not properly prepared should a home
invasion occur. What to do when the event is underway and what needs to be done after the event are two separate conversations.
In our next post, we’ll be
looking at a more comprehensive step by step guide we’ve developed at Omega Six
Security to help homeowners and businesses better understand the threat they
may face and how we can, collectively, prepare for the worst.
For more information, sign up to receive our newsletters or visit us online at www.omegasixsecurity.com. Need a security system? Are you curious how we can help? We're available 24/7 at 888-866-9954 or at support@omegasixsecurity.com.
The information contained herein is intended as informational and the opinion of Omega Six Security. We take great measure to ensure we're providing the best available information possible. But, it is just that, information. Readers must acknowledge that you are the first and last defense in any situation that could arise. Proper education, research, training, and maintaining good situational awareness will always help. We, at Omega Six Security, want to do all we can to assist in educating our members and readers alike. However, we always, recommend you reach out to local law enforcement, legal representatives and other subject matter experts to better understand your rights and responsibilities based on your individual circumstances. The information herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any form of counsel, legal or otherwise. Readers acknowledge and hold harmless Omega Six Security, LLC and the author and accept sole responsibility for any actions taken based on implementation of any information herein.
