This article proposes applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to counter the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) threat, an intersection that remains largely unexplored in existing counter-UAS research.

I am a huge proponent of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Ever since I learned about the theory, I knew it was something I wanted to become fluent in. I eventually obtained my CPTED Practitioner designation from the state of Florida and have become an even bigger proponent for this way of looking at the world around us.

Another topic I have become entranced by is countering the threat posed by small commercial drones to our communities here in the United States. After studying this threat, it has also changed the way I look at the world around me. In my search for the answers to counter this emerging threat, I found what appears to be a gap in knowledge, using CPTED to counter the drone threat.

Applying the Crime Prevention Triangle to the civilian drone threat, this post argues that a malicious drone attack on a U.S. civilian target is a matter of when, not if, because all three required elements, Desire, Ability, and Opportunity, are already present.

In my previous post I discussed the idea of the crime prevention triangle.  If you have not read it, go here to read a more in-depth explanation of the concept.  To quickly summarize, the crime prevention triangle theorizes that for a crime to occur three elements must be present: the criminal must have the desire to commit the crime, the ability to carry it out, and the opportunity to do so without being stopped.  If desire, ability, or opportunity are missing, then the crime will not occur.

Using this framework, I believe it is a matter of time before malicious actors use drones to hit civilian targets on US soil.  Let's go through each of the three concepts one at a time.

The Crime Prevention Triangle, a framework used by security professionals and law enforcement, teaches that every crime requires three elements: Desire, Ability, and Opportunity. Effective security works by eliminating Opportunity, the only element organizations can reliably control.

When I started my journey studying criminology in college and then crime prevention as a cop, I ran across what is sometimes called the "Crime Prevention Triangle."  This is the idea that three things must be present for a crime to occur.

First, there must be a desire to commit the crime.  The criminal must want to commit the crime.  Second, there must be the ability to commit the crime.  The criminal must have the skills and access to do so.  Finally, there must be the opportunity to commit the crime.  The criminal must be able to act without being stopped.

Desire + Ability + Opportunity = Crime