Parking facilities by their very nature are challenging to make into a secure environment. They are land-use with a single purpose, and they do not easily allow for mixed uses that might encourage territoriality. They contain large walls, structural columns and multi-levels, which create poor visibility and make them vulnerable to crime. Subsurface or underground parking facilities are often part of a foundation of a building, have little to no outside exposure for visibility and can be an easy target for terrorism (World Trade Center 1993, Madrid Airport parking lot 12/30/06). Large open parking lots are difficult to control access. Open parking lots make an inviting environment for car thieves and purse snatching and car burglary. Parking structures, whether they are surface lots, above or below ground, are perceived as dark, isolated and dangerous environments.

The primary goal of designing safe garages and parking facilities is to create an atmosphere that makes potential criminals feel that they will be observed, and improve the chances they will be challenged. The eventual goal is for the criminal to realize that the gain is not worth the effort.

In order to accomplish these goals, it is necessary to careful application of the principles and practices of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).

Standard of Care
Parking facilities have many factors that create opportunities for high-risk criminal behavior. The reasons for this high risk is because there is generally a low level of activity in parking facilities, with lots of hiding places and areas of shade and dark shadows. Parking facilities usually have multiple means of entry and thus provide many easy means of escape after a crime.

For some time, the national standard of care for safe parking facilities was based on the position that parking facilities should conduct a security assessment for considerations including: criminal history of the site; landscaping issues; lighting issues; attendant facilities for revenue collection and supervision; restroom access; stairwells and elevators for vertical access; signage and graphics; surveillance capabilities; access control equipment; and policies and procedures for the operation and staffing of the parking facility.