Be On The Lookout For Negligent Security. Criminals Are Too.

Criminals are always looking for easy victims. They avoid injury, and capture, at all costs. For these reasons, a dark and unsecured property is their perfect scene.

That is why property owners are obligated to properly light and secure their premises for your protection. It is their legal responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect their tenants or visitors from criminal or violent acts that are made more likely in unsecured locations.

Examples of negligent security:

• Lighting. Criminals who have shared their strategies for victim selection state that they are looking for easy victims, in or near, dark spaces. Lighting that is dim, or improperly spaced is an open invitation to criminals.
• Lack of security guards, or poorly trained security guards. Premises with security guards on-site have an obligation to maintain their disclosed schedule. Sometimes, a security guard fails to report for duty, or fails to carry out their duty. Keen criminals are excellent observers of their environments and take notice of such opportunities.
• Lack of, or poorly functioning locking mechanisms. Broken or missing locks are nothing but opportunities for criminals. While some criminals pick or cut locks, most criminals prefer crimes of opportunity, where they have as few obstacles as possible. If a property owner is made aware of missing or broken locks, it is their responsibility to repair it.

Proving your case

New York City is home to a dense population of landlords and tenants. While many landlords take every measure possible to deter criminals, many are negligent. Regardless of which type of landlord you have, they must be accountable.

• Reasonably foreseeable. Law requires property owners to protect against reasonably foreseeable crimes or injuries. This is the standard by which we hold most cases.

Whether or not a crime or injury has occurred, make notes about safety and security on the premises and be sure to approach the property owner about any concerns that you have. Upon notification, it’s their obligation to remedy the problem.

Remember, it’s not only your safety, but the safety of others that is on the line.