Reducing the Risk of Vandalism

Identify and eliminate opportunities for vandalism.

Each year, churches experience significant losses due to vandalism. Vandals often act impulsively. Lighting and surveillance systems are two key ways to reduce vandalism.

Lighting It Up

Lighting is one of the best and least expensive forms of prevention:

  • Lights must have sufficient illumination.
  • Install protective lighting around locations that someone might use to enter the facilities, such as doors, windows, or skylights. The parking lot and street entrances into the parking lot also should have good illumination.
  • Use protective covers so someone will not be able to break the bulb easily.
  • Consult with the local power company to determine the proper level of illumination for security purposes.

Sound the Alarm

Increasingly, churches use surveillance systems to reduce vandalism and to promote security:

  • Monitor church parking lots and property during church services.
  • Use an alarm system as a complement to basic security measures. Be sure to shop around—there’s a wide range of prices and monitoring fees.
  • Alarm systems make use of a phone line, so find out how the security company protects the phone line.
  • Most systems have a built-in delay in order to allow staff members to disarm them when they enter the building. The delay should be as short as possible.
  • Place stickers on windows and doors, and place signs at strategic locations on the property warning of your alarm system. Deterrence is the best policy.

Additional Measures

Other steps churches can take:

  • Maximize visibility between offices and the outside of the church, especially at parking lots and entrances, to create natural surveillance.
  • Look for signs of illegal entry, such as slit window screens or broken windows.
  • Control access to playgrounds.
  • Keep the property clear of rubbish.
  • Report every act of vandalism to the police, no matter how minor.
  • Quickly respond to any act of vandalism by making repairs or removing graffiti. Take immediate steps to prevent future acts.
  • Organize a neighborhood watch program.
  • Use padlocks with high-quality hardened steel.
  • Use landscape designs and plants to make a break-in more difficult. Thorny or prickly plants, such as a holly under a first-floor window, can discourage burglars. Plants, however, should not obstruct the view through windows or doors.
  • Use landscaping, fences, and screens to control access to church property.
  • Do not provide easy access to the roof.
  • Use a metal bar or a piece of wood in the track of sliding doors.
  • Try to make parking spaces visible from the street, or from the main offices of the church building. Be sure vehicles are locked and don’t contain valuables.
  • All church keys should be numbered, tracked, and stored in a key safe. Limit distribution to the fewest number of people possible.

Discuss

  • What are some ways we can improve lighting around the church and its property?
  • Is our alarm system adequate? If we don’t have one, why should we consider one?
  • What are some landscaping and design tactics we can immediately implement?
James F. Cobble, Jr., received his master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, and also has doctoral degrees from both Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Illinois.

This content is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. "From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations." Due to the nature of the U.S. legal system, laws and regulations constantly change. The editors encourage readers to carefully search the site for all content related to the topic of interest and consult qualified local counsel to verify the status of specific statutes, laws, regulations, and precedential court holdings.

ajax-loader-largecaret-downcloseHamburger Menuicon_amazonApple PodcastsBio Iconicon_cards_grid_caretChild Abuse Reporting Laws by State IconChurchSalary Iconicon_facebookGoogle Podcastsicon_instagramLegal Library IconLegal Library Iconicon_linkedinLock IconMegaphone IconOnline Learning IconPodcast IconRecent Legal Developments IconRecommended Reading IconRSS IconSubmiticon_select-arrowSpotify IconAlaska State MapAlabama State MapArkansas State MapArizona State MapCalifornia State MapColorado State MapConnecticut State MapWashington DC State MapDelaware State MapFederal MapFlorida State MapGeorgia State MapHawaii State MapIowa State MapIdaho State MapIllinois State MapIndiana State MapKansas State MapKentucky State MapLouisiana State MapMassachusetts State MapMaryland State MapMaine State MapMichigan State MapMinnesota State MapMissouri State MapMississippi State MapMontana State MapMulti State MapNorth Carolina State MapNorth Dakota State MapNebraska State MapNew Hampshire State MapNew Jersey State MapNew Mexico IconNevada State MapNew York State MapOhio State MapOklahoma State MapOregon State MapPennsylvania State MapRhode Island State MapSouth Carolina State MapSouth Dakota State MapTennessee State MapTexas State MapUtah State MapVirginia State MapVermont State MapWashington State MapWisconsin State MapWest Virginia State MapWyoming State IconShopping Cart IconTax Calendar Iconicon_twitteryoutubepauseplay
caret-downclosefacebook-squarehamburgerinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplaytwitter-square