For as long as people have been victimized, there have been attempts to protect oneself and one’s family. The term crime prevention, however, has only recently come to signify a set of ideas for combating crime. Many people suggest that crime prevention today is new and unique. In reality, many recent activities classified as crime prevention can be seen throughout history, and “new” crime prevention ideas and techniques are often little more than reincarnations of past practices. This chapter offers an historical look at preventive activities and the development of modern crime prevention. The chapter also offers a definition of crime prevention and presents a general crime prevention model (as well as alternatives) that can be used to organize crime prevention discussions.