Safe Luxury

Home security? just moved into a apartment in a rough area, need some advice on home security.?

As most of us would, I would like to feel safe in my own home, any Tips and advice please?

Public Comments

1. First thing=== Buy Renters Insurance. You can Put Burglar Bars on the Windows and Doors. You can get a Large Snake( any Kind) and Put a Beware of Snake Sign on the Door. I did that once and NOBODY Messed with my place.
2. Good lock on front door, security chain and peephole. Put a few lamps on timers so you never enter a dark apartment. Window locks and use them.
3. Make sure the windows have stoppers installed to prevent opening them any more than @3". Hope you have a steel-core door or else a bar will not stop a determined burglar. If you have a storm door as well as a regular door, lock both at all times. That locked storm door could give you an extra second to prevent a home invasion. Use your peephole! Make sure your deadbold lock has a long throw (goes deep into the door jamb), not just a 1/2" or 3/4" throw. Check how solid the installation of your door chain is -- someone determined can still kick in the door and rip the screws right out of the wood. Set timers on a couple of lights, especially one in the bathroom! See if you can put a timer on a stereo, TV or radio, or set a clock-radio to go off periodically (sounds like someone is home). Also put a light-sensor type of nightlight in a couple of strategically placed outlets. All the gadgets in the world are useless if you are not incredibly street-smart. You are your own best defense. Be very observant at all times. Stand up straight! And walk briskly -- no nonsense, no hesitation. Body language matters a great deal more than most people suspect.
4. Put in an alarm system. No amount of ugly bars on your windows will protect you rather they will kill you as you can't get out in a fire and no one get in to rescue you in case of fire and you can't use them in an apartment anyway. A good alarm system monitored by an alarm company will be your best friend and protector. I wouldn't live in a home without one even in the upscale areas we live in. There are easy alarm systems specifically for apartments. Check into them. You may not be able to get monitoring systems but you can get a great sound alarm that will chase off any possible problems.
5. All of these are great ideas!! Just wanted you to keep in mind that any security measures that you install, you need to inform your Landlord of. You may be required via your Lease Agreement to provide your landlord with the code for a security system, a key for additional locks, permission for physical enhancements, etc. Good for you. You can NEVER be too safe.
6. I'm not sure what to suggest. I just want to point out that if you are renting you need to get landlord approval before installing anything, even just a dead bolt or chain. and anything that gets attached (screwed in) becomes part of the property and is to be left when you leave. My dad calls that the law of screw-ability.
7. Get a dog - statistics show that houses/apartments with dogs (any size even toy) have a far smaller chance of being broken into. Also think about it from the criminal's point of view - they want the easiest target with the best reward. Make sure valuables are not visible from the windows and get bars or security screens to make it more difficult to break into. If you're a more difficult and less lucrative target than your neighbor, then you're good. Insurance is also important.