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Mar 3, 2025

How CPTED Principles Enhance Urban Safety

Urban environments present unique security challenges, requiring a proactive approach to crime prevention. One of the most effective strategies is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a security framework that integrates design, infrastructure, and human presence to reduce criminal opportunities.

How CPTED Principles Enhance Urban Safety

Feb 17, 2025

Understanding Foreseeability in Security Negligence Cases

In security negligence cases, foreseeability plays a crucial role in determining liability. Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to protect individuals from foreseeable threats, and failure to do so may result in claims of negligent security. But what exactly does foreseeability mean in this context, and how is it evaluated?

Understanding Foreseeability in Security Negligence Cases

Jan 30, 2025

Crime Demographic Analysis: Using Data to Support Litigation

In today’s data-driven world, crime demographic analysis has become a cornerstone of expert witness consulting in litigation. When addressing premises liability, security negligence, or related legal cases, crime analysis provides objective, actionable insights that can significantly influence outcomes. By combining statistical data with expert evaluation, attorneys can better substantiate arguments and present a compelling narrative in court.

Crime Demographic Analysis: Using Data to Support Litigation

Jan 17, 2025

The Role of a Security Expert Witness in Premise Liability Cases

In the intricate world of premises liability cases, the expertise of a security expert witness is invaluable. Whether it’s negligence, foreseeability, use of force or related, these cases often involve determining whether the threat was known and if adequate controls were in place to minimize the potential for a threat occurrence. A premises security expert should bring unbiased insight to support the understanding of the trier of fact. This role requires a deep understanding of security management, security technology, crime,foreseeability, and best practices in safety protocols.

The Role of a Security Expert Witness in Premise Liability Cases

Sep 19, 2024

How CPTED is Shaping Safer Communities: The Role of Design in Crime Prevention

In today’s world, crime prevention is often viewed through the lens of law enforcement and surveillance technologies. However, there's a subtler yet powerful approach to creating safer spaces—Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This method focuses on using architectural and landscape design to deter crime and create environments where people feel secure. By reshaping physical spaces, CPTED empowers communities to take crime prevention into their own hands.

How CPTED is Shaping Safer Communities: The Role of Design in Crime Prevention

Aug 7, 2024

Mitigating Risks in Parking Garages: Security Assessments and Recommendations

Parking garages, despite their apparent utility, are often hotspots for various security risks. These structures rank third in areas of victimization across the United States, highlighting the critical need for effective security measures. This blog explores the importance of security assessments in parking garages and offers recommendations to mitigate these risks.

Mitigating Risks in Parking Garages: Security Assessments and Recommendations

Jul 22, 2024

Hotel Security Management: Addressing Threats and Improving Safety

Ensuring the safety and security of guests is a top priority for the hospitality industry. Hotels are bustling hubs of activity, accommodating guests from all over the world, hosting events, and managing a constant flow of staff and visitors. With such dynamic environments, effective hotel security management is crucial to address potential threats and improve overall safety. This blog will explore key aspects of hotel security management, common threats, strategies to enhance safety, and insights from expert security witness Sean Ahrens.

Hotel Security Management: Addressing Threats and Improving Safety

Jul 3, 2024

Data Review for Parking Garage Security: Analyzing Trends and Patterns

Parking garages/parking lots are one of the highest points of victimization. Ensuring the safety of parking garages is a critical aspect of urban security management. Parking facilities, often overlooked in security discussions, are unique environments that present specific challenges and risks. As a security expert witness and consultant, I've found that analyzing trends and patterns in parking garage security data is essential in ascertaining liability. In this article, we'll explore the importance of data analysis in parking garage security, key trends, and how these insights can enhance safety.

Data Review for Parking Garage Security: Analyzing Trends and Patterns

Jun 19, 2024

Modern Urban Environments: Criminology's Role in Crime Prevention and Security

Modern urban environments, characterized by dense populations and intricate infrastructure, pose unique challenges in crime prevention and security. These sprawling urban centers are hubs of economic activity, cultural diversity, and social interaction, but they also present fertile ground for various forms of criminal activity. Understanding these challenges through the lens of criminology is essential for developing effective security strategies that can safeguard residents and property.

Modern Urban Environments: Criminology's Role in Crime Prevention and Security

Jun 5, 2024

Criminology and Security Vulnerabilities in Modern Urban Environments

Modern urban environments, with their dense populations and complex infrastructure, present unique challenges in crime prevention and security. Understanding these challenges through criminology is crucial for developing effective security strategies.

Criminology and Security Vulnerabilities in Modern Urban Environments

May 29, 2024

Chicago Crash-and-grab thieves target currency exchanges to steal ATMs

Sean Ahrens is a recognized expert in workplace violence and security, frequently advising businesses on best practices to enhance safety. His expertise is particularly valuable in addressing the growing trend of thefts involving ATMs in Chicago. Ahrens recommends proactive measures such as removing cash from ATMs overnight, using thicker glass, and bolting down machines to prevent theft. His insights help businesses understand the importance of protecting high-value assets and implementing strategies to deter criminals effectively.

Chicago Crash-and-grab thieves target currency exchanges to steal ATMs

May 29, 2024

Exploring the Use of Drones in Surveillance and Security Operations

Drones have become a pivotal tool in modern security and surveillance operations, offering capabilities that traditional methods cannot match. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are transforming how we monitor and protect assets, both in urban and remote settings.

Exploring the Use of Drones in Surveillance and Security Operations

Apr 30, 2024

The Importance of Security Training in Hospitality and Retail Industries

In the bustling arenas of hospitality and retail, security stands as a cornerstone of successful operation. These sectors, characterized by high customer interaction and substantial employee turnover, face unique challenges that make effective security training not just beneficial but essential. This blog post explores the crucial role of security training in safeguarding both assets and people in these industries.

The Importance of Security Training in Hospitality and Retail Industries

Apr 13, 2024

The Psychology Behind Theft and Vandalism: Insights for Better Security Measures

Welcome to Ahrens Security’s blog, where we delve into the intricacies of security management and share expert insights to enhance your security strategies. Today, we’re tackling the psychological drivers behind theft and vandalism and how understanding these can lead to more effective security measures.

The Psychology Behind Theft and Vandalism: Insights for Better Security Measures

Feb 16, 2024

The Impact of Lighting on Public Safety in Urban Planning

The design of our cities has a profound impact on the lives of those who live, work, and play in them. One often-overlooked element that plays a crucial role in public safety is lighting. Lighting continues to be downplayed through light pollution requirements, dark skies initiatives, and new technology, which creates new opportunities and challenges, more than ever.

The Impact of Lighting on Public Safety in Urban Planning

Feb 10, 2024

Advancements in Access Control: The Future of Locks and Keys

Advancements in Access Control: The Future of Locks and Keys

Advancements in Access Control: The Future of Locks and Keys

Dec 23, 2023

Ockham's Razor and Physical Security: Exploring Premise Liability, High Crime, and Foreseeability

In the realm of security and law, the principles of simplicity and logic are as crucial as they are in philosophy and science. I suggest one such guiding principle is Ockham's Razor, which suggests that the simplest explanation is often the best one. In this blog post, we'll explore how Ockham's Razor applies to the complex world of physical security, premise liability, high crime areas, and the concept of foreseeability.

Ockham's Razor and Physical Security: Exploring Premise Liability, High Crime, and Foreseeability

Dec 19, 2023

A Case for Vigilance: Mitigating Security Risks in the Face of Vagrancy and the unhoused/homeless

In a disturbing incident, a woman was attacked in a parking garage by a homeless individual armed with a steak knife. The knife was obtained from a nearby church providing meals to the homeless. This harrowing event exemplifies the complex interplay between vagrancy, security risks, and community welfare.

A Case for Vigilance: Mitigating Security Risks in the Face of Vagrancy and the unhoused/homeless

Dec 5, 2023

The Importance of Parking Garage Security

Parking garages are prime targets for assaults. Theft and vandalism because of the high concentration of vehicles. A secure parking garage deters such criminal activities, ensuring that both the vehicles and their owners are safe.

The Importance of Parking Garage Security

Nov 19, 2023

Why I deliberately Broke into My Hotel Room: A Lesson in Security

Recently, during a business trip, I encountered a startling revelation about security in the most unexpected of places - my hotel room for an established flag. After a long day, I returned to my room, hearing previously the familiar and reassuring sound of the automatic deadbolt “latching” behind me.

Why I deliberately Broke into My Hotel Room: A Lesson in Security
Chicago-based security consultant specializing in premise liability and security negligenc

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SEAN A. AHRENS

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ean Ahrens, a security consultant and expert witness based in Chicago, Illinois.

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Expert Witness Security Consulting in Chicago

SEAN A. AHRENS, MA, CPP, CSC, BSCP, FSyl, CHPA

Years in Practice: 23

  • General Specialties: Security Management

  • Contact me to see my CV 

Fields in specialization focus: Workplace violence, armed assailant active shooter, operations alarm, surveillance, crime prevention through environmental design, commercial, retail, and hospitality.

Working as a current security consultant, I have current knowledge regarding current threats, and vulnerabilities for a myriad of building types: parking garages, apartment buildings, warehouses, bars, restaurants, entertainment, office, workplace violence and security technology, operations, and architecture. 

My focus is on premise liability, negligence, wrongful hiring, foreseeability, crime demographic analysis, benchmarking, physical security, and security management.

  • My education: I have a master's in organizational security management from Webster University, graduating with honors–Cum Laude. Before that, I did my bachelor's in criminal justice at Western Illinois University. I continue to obtain certifications that further substantiate my security lineage.

  • If you'd like to get in touch, please say hello through any of the social links above. You can also reach me through my employer AEIeng.com

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