Volume 48 | Page 34

ing and its area look neglected or unsafe. “There is a perception out there that boarding up businesses is bad for a number of reasons,” explains Heather Bender, Strategic Marketing Manager, CornellCookson. www.AmericanSecurityToday.com September 2020 - Edition 48 For surrounding businesses that do remain open, especially upscale and luxury stores, this can make customers uncomfortable or unwilling to make the trip to that area of town. “But one big one is that patrons may perceive that the business is located in a high crime area and may not be safe.” “This is a direct correlation to the broken window concept, a theory that states visible signs of crime creates an environment that encourages further crime and disorder.” Retailers in NYC already strained by COVID-19 shutdowns, board up storefronts for protection from violent protests, riots and looting resulting from George Floyds death 34