Apartment Security
Tips
For Families
Your home is your castle...or is it? Are you really safe once your
get apartment and lock your door? In an open society your apartment
should be the sanctuary for you and your family. Your apartment is
the only environment where you have control over who can get close to
you or your family. Protecting your apartment and family from
criminal intrusion should be high on your list of priorities
By far, the most common threat to an apartment unit is burglary.
Burglary, by definition, is a non-confrontational crime but being
victimized can leave a family feeling vulnerable and
violated. To prevent a burglary, it
is important to first gain an understanding of who commits them and
why. The majority of apartment burglaries occur during the daytime
when most people are away at work or at school. Burglaries also occur
at night when there are obvious signs that no one is home. Most
apartment burglars are young males looking for things that are small,
expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Items like cash,
jewelry, guns, watches, laptop computers, and other small electronic
devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living
expenses and drugs. Statistics tell us that more than 30% of all
apartment burglars gained access through an open door or window.
Ordinary household tools like screwdrivers, channel-lock pliers, small
pry bars, and small hammers are most often used by burglars. Although
apartment burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually
involve a selection process.
The burglar's selection process is simple. Choose an
unoccupied apartment with the easiest
access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape
routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk
by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.
DOORS AND LOCKS
The first step is to "harden the target" or make your apartment more
difficult to enter. Remember the burglar will simply bypass your
apartment if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and
tools than they possess. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or
garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is
usually the weakest followed by the
back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover.
Burglars also know to look inside your car for keys and other
valuables so keep it locked, even inside your garage. Apartment
managers should use high quality locks on exterior doors that will
resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. A quality
deadbolt lock will have a beveled casing to inhibit the use of
channel-lock pliers used for forced entry. A quality door
knob-in-lock set will have a 'dead latch' mechanism to prevent
slipping the lock with a shim or credit card.
- Use
a solid core wood or metal door for all entrance points
-
Doors should fit tightly into the door frame
- Use
a quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt
- Use
a quality, heavy-duty, door knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch
mechanism
-
Use
a heavy-duty strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a
wooden door frame
- Use
a wide-angle 160° peephole mounted no higher than 58 inches
The most common way
used to force entry through a door with a wooden frame is simply to
kick it open. The weakest point is almost always the strike plate
that holds the latch or lock bolt in place. The average door strike
plate is secured with only 1/2-inch screws set into the door frame
molding. These lightweight moldings are often tacked on to the door
frame and can be torn away with a firm
kick. Because of this construction flaw, it makes sense to upgrade
to a heavy-duty strike plate. They are available in most quality
hardware stores and home improvement centers and are definitely worth
the extra expense. Install this strike plate using 3-inch screws to
cut deep into the door frame stud. This one step alone will deter or
prevent most through-the-door forced entries. You and your family
will sleep safer in the future.
SLIDING GLASS
DOORS
Sliding glass doors are usually installed at the rear of an apartment
making them good candidates for entry by a burglar. In warm climates,
an experienced burglar knows that sliding glass doors are often left
standing open for ventilation or for pet access. Since they slide
horizontally, it is important to have a secondary blocking device in
place to prevent sliding the door fully open from the outside. This
can be easily accomplished by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into
the track thus preventing or limiting movement. Other blocking
devices available are metal fold-down blocking devices called "charley
bars" and various track-blockers that can be screwed down.
Sliding glass doors are notorious for failing
to prevent a forced entry attempt especially in apartment buildings.
This is because of the wear and tear and lack of maintenance they
receive and due to the inadequate nature of many of the latching
mechanisms. Sliding glass doors usually do not have locks on them,
only latches. The latches are often made of aluminum and can become
worn or out of adjustment. The most common methods used to force
entry, aside from breaking the glass, is by prying the door near the
latch or lifting the door off the track. The blocking devices
described above solve half the equation. To prevent lifting, you need
to keep the door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted. You
can also install anti-lift devices such as a pin that extends through
both the sliding and fixed portion of the door. There are also
numerous locking and blocking devices available in any good quality
hardware store that will prevent a sliding door from being lifted or
forced horizontally. Place highly visible decals on the glass door
near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog,
or block watch/operation identification is in place, if applicable.
Apartment managers should be careful not to misrepresent that these
devices are in place if they are not. Burglars dislike alarm systems
and definitely dogs.
- Use
a secondary blocking device on all sliding glass doors
-
Keep the latch mechanism in good condition and properly adjusted
-
Keep sliding door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted
- Use
anti-lift devices such as through-the-door pins
- Use
highly visible alarm decals, beware of dog decals, or block watch
decal, if applicable
WINDOWS
Windows are left unlocked and open at a much higher rate than doors.
An open window, visible from the street or alley, may be the sole
reason for an apartment to be selected by a burglar. Ground floor
windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons. Upper
floor windows become attractive if they can be accessed easily from a
stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies. Windows have
latches, not locks, and therefore should have secondary blocking
devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside. Inexpensive
wooden dowels and sticks work well for horizontal sliding windows and
through-the-frame pins work well for vertical sliding windows. For
ventilation, block the window open no more than six inches and make
sure you can't reach in from the outside and remove the blocking
device. In sleeping rooms, these window blocking devices should be
capable of being removed easily from the inside to comply with fire
codes. Like sliding glass doors, anti-lift devices are necessary for
ground level and accessible aluminum windows that slide horizontally.
The least expensive and easiest method is to install screws half-way
into the upper track of the movable glass panel to prevent it from
being lifted out in the closed position. Place highly visible decals
on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an
alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification system is
in place, if applicable. Apartment managers should be careful not to
misrepresent that these devices are in place if they are not.
-
Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices
-
Block accessible windows open no more than 6 inches for ventilation
- Use
anti-lift devises to prevent window from being lifted out
- Use
crime prevention or alarm decals on accessible windows, if
applicable
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Good neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your
neighbors on each side of your apartment and the three directly across
from you. Invite them into your apartment,
communicate often, and establish trust. Good neighbors will
watch out for your apartment when you are away, if you ask them. They
can report suspicious activity to management, to the police, or to you
while you are away. Between them, good neighbors can see to it that
normal services continue in your absence by allowing authorized
vendors to enter your apartment. Good neighbors can pick up your
mail, newspapers, handbills, and can inspect the inside of your
apartment periodically to see that all is well. Allowing a neighbor
or management to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside
the door. Experienced burglars know to look for hidden keys in planter
boxes, under doormats, and above the ledge. Requiring a service
vendor to see your neighbor to retrieve and return your house key will
send the message that someone is watching. This neighborhood watch
technique sets up what is called 'territoriality' which means that
your neighbors will take ownership and responsibility for what occurs
in your mini-neighborhood. This concept works great in apartment
communities. This practice helps deter burglaries and other crimes in
a big way. Of course for this to work, you must reciprocate and offer
the same services.
- Get
to know your adjacent door neighbors
-
Invite them into your home and establish trust
-
Agree to watch out for each other
- Do
small tasks for each other to improve territoriality
-
Return the favor and communicate often
LIGHTING
Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of occupancy inside a
residence. A darken apartment night- after-night sends the message
to burglars that you are away. Light-timers are inexpensive and can
be found almost everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not
just when your away. In this way you set up a routine that your
neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when
your normally lighted apartment becomes dark. Typically, you want to
use light-timers near the front and
back windows with the curtains drawn. The pattern of them clicking on
and off simulates actual occupancy. It is also comforting not to have
to enter a dark residence. Timers can also be used to turn on the
television or radio to simulate occupancy. After dark a bright
television can be seen flickering through the curtains and gives the
feeling that someone is home. Similarly, the radio or television can
be heard through the door if turned on loud enough.
Exterior lighting is also very important. It becomes critical if you
must park in a common area parking lot or underground garage and need
to walk to your front door. The purpose of good lighting is to allow
you to see if a threat or suspicious person is
lurking in your path. If you can see
a potential threat in advance then you at least have the choice and
chance to avoid it. Exterior lighting needs to bright enough for you
to see 100 feet and it helps if you can identify colors. Good
lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don't
want to be seen or identified. Apartment management needs to have a
system in place to periodically inspect and replace lighting outages.
Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your
apartment building especially at the entryway. Common area lighting
on apartment properties should also be on a timer or photo-cell to
turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn. Exterior lighting at the rear
of a home or apartment are usually on a switch because of the
proximity to the sleeping rooms. The resident can choose to leave
these lights on or off. Security lights with infra-red motion
sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior
porch light or side door light on
townhouse style apartments with rear doors. The heat-motion sensor
can be adjusted to detect body heat and can be programmed to reset
after one minute. These security lights are suggested for apartments
with patios and back doors.
- Use
interior light timers to establish a pattern of occupancy
- Use
timers to activate the radio or television while away
-
Exterior lighting should allow 100 foot visibility
- Use
good lighting along the pathway and at your door
- Use
light timers or photo-cells to turn on/off lights automatically
- Use
infra-red motion sensor lights for the back door of townhouse
apartments
ALARM SYSTEMS
Alarm systems definitely have a place in an apartment security plan
and are effective, if used properly. The reason why alarms systems
deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of
being captured and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes
from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the
windows. Apartment burglars will usually
bypass a unit with visible alarm decals and will look for
another property without such a decal. Some people, with alarm
systems, feel that these signs and decals are unsightly and will not
display them. The risk here is that an uninformed burglar might break
a window or door and grab a few quick items before the police can
respond. Also, don't write your alarm passcode on or near the alarm
keypad.
Alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained. Alarms
systems can monitor for fire as well as burglary for the same price.
All systems should have an audible horn or bell to be effective in
case someone does break in. However, these audible alarms should be
programmed to reset automatically after one minute. The criminal will
get the message and will be long gone but your neighbors will have to
listen to the alarm bell, sometimes for hours, until it is switched
off. If you use a central station to
monitor your alarm, make sure your response call list is up to date.
Burglar alarms, like car alarms, are generally ignored except for a
brief glance. However, if you have established and nurtured your
neighborhood watch buddy system, you will experience a genuine concern
by your neighbor. It is not unusual to have a neighbor wait for the
police, allow them inside for an inspection, and secure the
residence. A good neighbor can also call friends or relatives for
you, if pre-authorized by you.
The biggest difficulty getting to this level of concern is taking the
first step. You can take it by calling your local crime prevention
unit at the police department. Most police departments in large
cities have neighborhood watch coordinators to help you set this up.
You should invite your adjacent neighbors over to your home for coffee
and begin the information exchange. You'll be amazed how the process
runs on automatic from there.
-
Alarm systems are effective deterrents with visible signage
-
Alarm systems to be properly installed, programmed, and maintained
-
Alarm systems need to have an audible horn or bell to be effective
-
Alarm systems should automatically reset in one minute or less
-
Make sure your alarm response call-list is up to date
-
Instruct
your neighbor how to respond to an alarm bell
OPERATION IDENTIFICATION
This is a program supported by most police agencies. They recommend
that you engrave your drivers license
number or social security number on televisions, stereos, computers,
and small electronic appliances. They suggest this so they can
identify and locate you if your stolen items are recovered. I suggest
that you go way beyond this step.
I recommend that you photograph your home furnishings, electronic
devices, and small appliances and make a list of the make, model, and
serial numbers. You should keep this list in a safety deposit box or
with a relative for safe keeping. Beyond that I recommend that you
photocopy important documents and the
contents of your wallet. You will be thankful that you took these
steps in case your home is ever destroyed by fire or flood, is
ransacked, or if your wallet is lost or stolen.
-
Identify your valuables by engraving your drivers license number not
your SSN
-
Photograph and record the description and serial numbers of all
valuables
-
Photocopy the contents of your wallet and other important documents
-
Store the copies off-site in a safe deposit box or with a relative
I hope
you found these ideas to be helpful |
