Crime reduction in cities by focusing on Crime preventions through environmental design (CPTED) in Qom

Opportunity for crime does not only depend on offender and victim, but it is either influenced by environmental elements. These elements create motivation, attraction and intent for criminal actions. Therefore, appropriate environmental design and employing preventive measures in architecture, are considered significantly fruitful in crime prevention. This paper attempts to find crime-ridden areas and links between designing, environment and crime. The method used in this study includes descriptive and analytical approach, and data is collected through field and library research. The area of study was Qom city, a known metropolitan city in I.R. Iran. In this research some areas with the highest rate of theft such as margin of streets, sidewalks, residential areas and business buildings were analyzed, and the impacts of environmental factors in crime rate. Results indicates that most theft cases in Qom city happen at Niroogah Street and areas around main streets, sidewalks, residential areas and business buildings. Knowing and employing CEPTED measures will reduce crime through enhancing cities environment. This will lead to a decline in crime rate and subsequently incline in the sense of security in society.