NewOnline certification classes begin every day

Keep illegal activity off rental property.

The Crime Free Programs are innovative, law-enforcement-based crime prevention solutions — a partnership between police, property owners, managers and residents working together to prevent crime.

Explore the programs Start training today

Nine programs

One proven model

Multi-Housing Rental Housing Mobile Housing Condominiums Self-Storage Hotel-Motel RV Parks Lifestyles Business

3,000+

cities worldwide

1992

founded in Mesa, Arizona

Crime Free Programs

Up to 70%

fewer police calls for service

McGoey Security ConsultingEdmonton Police ServiceRiverside Police DepartmentEl Cajon Police DepartmentFargo Police DepartmentChamplin Police DepartmentNew Westminster PoliceKansas City, MO Police DepartmentColumbia Police DepartmentRiverside Crime Free Managers’ AssociationLos Angeles County Sheriff’s DepartmentLenexa Police DepartmentMonroe Police DepartmentPuyallup Police DepartmentSavage Police DepartmentModesto Police DepartmentHenrico County PoliceSouth Burbank Crime Prevention & Development DistrictWaite Park Police DepartmentSt. Cloud Police DepartmentMcGoey Security ConsultingEdmonton Police ServiceRiverside Police DepartmentEl Cajon Police DepartmentFargo Police DepartmentChamplin Police DepartmentNew Westminster PoliceKansas City, MO Police DepartmentColumbia Police DepartmentRiverside Crime Free Managers’ AssociationLos Angeles County Sheriff’s DepartmentLenexa Police DepartmentMonroe Police DepartmentPuyallup Police DepartmentSavage Police DepartmentModesto Police DepartmentHenrico County PoliceSouth Burbank Crime Prevention & Development DistrictWaite Park Police DepartmentSt. Cloud Police Department

Timothy L. Zehring

Founder · Mesa PD (ret.)

Developed the Crime Free Programs in 1992 as a Mesa, Arizona police officer.

Welcome

A partnership between law enforcement and the community.

The Crime Free Programs were developed starting in 1992 by Timothy L. Zehring while he was with the Mesa, Arizona Police Department. They have since spread to more than 3,000 cities internationally.

Law enforcement coordinators are certified trainers who provide the initial training and property survey. Owners and managers commit to learning and applying the program. That combination of resources has proven successful in fighting crime.

Reduced crime

A stable resident base

Less civil liability

About the association Our history

Crime Free Programs

Nine programs. Every kind of property.

Select a program to learn how it works — from apartment communities and hotels to self-storage, RV parks and single-family neighborhoods.

Compare all programs

Modern multi-story apartment complex under a blue sky

Apartment communities

Crime Free Multi-Housing

A state-of-the-art crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs and gangs on apartment properties.

Two-story suburban rental home with a long driveway

Single-family & small rentals

Crime Free Rental Housing

Helps private landlords of single-family homes and small rental properties keep crime, drugs and gangs out.

Aerial view of a manufactured home community with curving streets

Manufactured home communities

Crime Free Mobile Housing

Police, management and residents form a partnership to chase the criminal element out of mobile home communities.

Condominium towers with balconies above green trees

HOAs, townhomes & condos

Crime Free Condominiums

Adapts Multi-Housing to townhome and condominium associations, where an HOA board drives enforcement on rental units.

Bright red roll-up self-storage unit door

Mini-storage facilities

Crime Free Self-Storage

Helps renters, owners and managers of mini-storage properties keep drugs and other illegal activity off their property.

Hotels & motels

Crime Free Hotel-Motel

A three-phase certification for hotel and motel properties of all sizes — easy to adopt and extremely effective.

Aerial view of an RV park with landscaped desert sites

RV parks & campgrounds

Crime Free RV Parks

Brings police, owners, managers and residents together to reduce criminal activity in RV park communities.

Smiling family at the front door of their home

Homeowners & neighborhoods

Crime Free Lifestyles

A cost-efficient alternative to Block Watch that lets every homeowner achieve certification — no 50% rule.

Two small business owners holding a ‘We’re open’ sign

Retail & service businesses

Crime Free Business

Proven strategies that reduce robberies and violent crime in and around retail and service businesses.

How certification works

Three phases. One certified property.

Property managers can become individually certified after completing each phase. The property itself is certified only upon completion of all three.

Phase 1

Training

Police-led classroom training for owners, managers and staff — crime prevention, CPTED, screening, the Crime Free Lease Addendum and working smarter with the police.

Phase 2

CPTED Survey

Law enforcement inspects the property — doors, windows and locks, exterior lighting, key control and landscaping — against minimum security standards.

Phase 3

Community

A resident safety social (or written commitment) brings police, management and residents together. Fully certified properties earn signs and the official logo.

The gold certificate

Full certification earns the right to post Crime Free signs and advertise with the official logo.

See the results

Proven in the field

In the words of the people who use it.

Read all testimonials

16,000

families served

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

“Our Executive, City Council, and Police Commission recognize and acknowledge this program as a success in policing and crime prevention!”
Cst. Dale Brenneis & Cst. Reid Nichol
Crime Free Program · Edmonton Police Service

What the association offers

Training, networking and real-world support.

Our goal is to help anyone involved with rental property management expand their knowledge of the Crime Free Programs through training, information sharing, and assistance.

Training & certification

Instructor certification on all nine Crime Free Programs, taught by the developer of the programs.

Information sharing

A network of agencies and managers who share materials, data and hard-won experience.

Start a local association

Help for regions without a local or state Crime Free Association — including grant-writing information.

Who we train

Built for every side of the partnership.

Training is immediately available for law enforcement, property management teams, security professionals and commercial real estate.

Law enforcement

Become a certified Crime Free instructor and coordinate the programs in your jurisdiction.

3-day Train-the-Trainer
State & National Trainer levels
Instructor on all 9 programs

Property management

Owners, managers, leasing agents and maintenance teams learn to keep illegal activity out.

Single-day certification
Lease addendum & screening
Tactical de-escalation

Security & partners

Security companies, officers and vendors who serve Crime Free properties and agencies.

Security officer training
Associate membership
Conference exhibitor access

How can I get certified?

Getting certified opens up a whole world of training and networking opportunities. Start online today, or become a member of the association.

Associate membersMeet the partners who support Crime Free.Lease addendumThe backbone of every Crime Free Program.Become an instructorCertification for sworn law enforcement.