Can having trees and shrubs near your home facilitate crime by allowing criminals to hide or make a quick getaway? Research from Temple is challenging this long accepted convention and offering tips that could aid in the prevention of aggravated assault, robbery and other crime. Abundant, well-maintained greenery may help deter some crime, says Jeremy Mennis, a Temple associate professor of geography and urban studies. "The first idea is that when you have well-maintained vegetation in places like parks or other kinds of natural settings, that it encourages people to come outside and interact with one another," he said.