Does a property owner have a duty to know about ongoing criminal activity in his property and surrounding area?

One thing we frequently hear from property owners about criminal activity, “I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I had no idea there was this much crime.” Well look, all of us have an obligation to look around us and to see what’s there to be seen. If there’s criminal activity that’s going on consistently on somebody’s property, well that’s what’s there to be seen. The law really doesn’t tolerate the excuse of, “Look, I didn’t see what was there to be seen.” It doesn’t make any sense. It’s why the law doesn’t tolerate it. If that criminal activity is going on on somebody’s property, that’s what’s there to be seen. That’s what the business, that’s what that property owner needs to be aware of and needs to take reasonable steps to prevent.

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