Which of the following is a CPTED principle?

• A. Natural surveillance.
• B. Reactive policing after crime occurs.
• C. Random patrolling.
• D. Ignoring environmental design.

Answer: (A)

CPTED aims to reduce crime by shaping the physical environment so people can monitor activity and feel safe. Natural surveillance is a CPTED principle because it uses visibility to deter crime: clear sightlines, appropriate lighting, unobstructed windows, and spaces that encourage observation by residents and passersby. When offenders perceive they could be seen, the risk of being caught rises, lowering crime opportunities. The other options don’t fit CPTED: reactive policing after a crime occurs focuses on responses, not design; random patrolling is a policing tactic unrelated to environmental design; ignoring environmental design goes against CPTED, which centers on preventing crime through the built environment.