The post-pandemic era has brought new challenges for urban development worldwide as countries grapple with the aftermath of the global health crisis. While some studies suggest that COVID-19 lockdown policies have helped control crime rates in certain countries, the relaxation of restrictions and increased outdoor activities have given rise to new security issues in urban environments. Therefore, ensuring residents’ safety is crucial for urban development in the post-pandemic era. This paper focuses on how people from different backgrounds perceive security artefacts in the face of criminal threats. A cross-cultural online study revealed how risk scenarios impact perceived security, anxiety, behavioural tendencies, and cognitive effectiveness to use safety artefacts among residents of China and Mexico, two regions with significantly different actual security indices. Results indicated that cultural identity could be a crucial factor in people’s perception of security, and this should be considered in the safety product and service development strategy.