Req 3 — Crime Awareness and Home Security

This section is about awareness, not paranoia. The goal is to understand the kinds of crimes that can affect teens, then look at your own home the way a criminal might: Where are the weak points? What makes the place easier or harder to target?

Requirement 3a

Teens can be affected by crimes in person, online, at school, during travel, or through someone they know. Some crimes involve direct violence. Others involve pressure, deception, or taking advantage of trust.

Common types of crimes that can affect teens

• Theft — phones, bikes, backpacks, cash, or gaming accounts taken or stolen
• Burglary — someone entering a home, garage, or car to steal property
• Robbery — theft using force, threat, or intimidation
• Fraud and scams — fake sales, fake job offers, phishing, or payment app tricks
• Assault — physical attacks or threats of violence
• Sexual abuse or exploitation — grooming, coercion, assault, or image-based abuse
• Harassment and stalking — repeated unwanted contact in person or online
• Vandalism and property damage — damage to belongings, homes, schools, or vehicles

A key point for your counselor discussion: crimes against teens often depend on opportunity. A thief looks for an unlocked bike. A scammer looks for someone who clicks quickly. A bully looks for a target who feels isolated. Good safety habits remove opportunities.

Warning signs matter

Crime prevention often starts before the crime is complete. Warning signs may include:

• someone pushing boundaries after you said no
• a stranger asking for private information or photos
• someone trying to isolate you from friends
• pressure to meet secretly or hide communication
• a person checking doors, windows, or cars in a neighborhood

Requirement 3b

Home security is about making a place harder to enter, easier to observe, and less attractive to target. During your inspection, pay attention to what slows a criminal down and what gives them privacy.

Things to inspect

• doors that lock solidly
• windows that latch correctly
• outdoor lighting near entries
• trimmed shrubs around windows and doors
• garage and side-yard access
• visibility of valuables from outside
• alarm signs, cameras, or motion lights if present

A smart home security review is specific. Instead of writing “house was secure,” note findings like:

• back gate latch broken
• porch light burned out
• ladder stored beside accessible second-floor window
• side door lock strong but hidden from street view

Official Resources

Criminals count on people being distracted, rushed, or uncertain. In the next requirement, you will take that same awareness into hotels, stadiums, camps, and other public places where fast decisions matter.