Hey, I’ve actually looked into this, and it’s a pretty smart question. Most street benches—the ones you find in parks, bus stops, or city plazas—have screws that are either exposed or recessed, and the choice depends on what the city cares about more: cost or security.
Exposed screws are common on older or cheaper benches. They’re easy to install and replace, but anyone with a basic screwdriver can unscrew them in seconds. That’s a big problem because people sometimes steal the slats or the whole bench for scrap metal or home projects. I’ve seen public benches stripped completely in just a few hours in some areas.
Recessed screws, on the other hand, are intentionally designed to prevent theft. The screw heads are sunk into a small cavity in the metal frame, so you can’t get a tool directly on them. Often, the bench manufacturer will use a specialized driver bit that only maintenance crews have. This makes it way harder for a thief—they’d need a drill, a custom tool, or a lot of patience.
But here’s the trade-off: recessed screws are more expensive and harder to maintain. If a screw gets stripped or damaged, you might need to replace the whole bracket. So cities with tight budgets might go with exposed screws and just accept the occasional theft.
In my opinion, if you’re designing or buying street benches for public use, recessed screws are the smarter long-term choice. They might cost a little more upfront, but they save money and hassle by keeping the bench where it belongs.