3 Steps to Keep Criminals from Targeting Your Church

Property prep, community relations, and common sense can go a long way.

When it comes to crime prevention, law enforcement professionals often reference this adage: If a property looks like a target for criminals, it is.

Churches might well take that observation to heart. Carl Chinn's 2013 report on violence against churches and faith-based organizations shows 70 percent of the reported 132 "deadly force incidents" took place outside of the building. Chinn says the statistic reinforces the need for leaders to take measures that ensure their properties deter crime as much as possible.

Such efforts deserve devoted time, energy, planning, and commitment of resources. Some churches, especially smaller ones, will struggle to round up the money and volunteers to get things done. Still, some time spent on three specific tasks can immediately pay off.... Read more

See also
Violence at U.S. Churches

Outside the United States church leaders will need to assess local conditions to determine what additional security measures may be required. In some parts of the world this may include armed guards, security checkpoints, blast walls, and obstacles to prevent suicide bombers from driving vehicles loaded with explosives into the building.