Living in an apartment can be a great experience. The rent is generally cheaper than what you’d be paying in mortgage; amenities such as an exercise room or swimming pool are often included, and responsibility for basic repairs falls squarely on the shoulders of the property manager. However, there is a downside when it comes to security. According to the Justice Department, burglars prefer complexes in which residents are less likely to remain for extended periods of time because it allows the criminal to blend in and not arouse suspicion while they investigate the area. As such, one of the best things that you can do to help keep your apartment secure against intrusion is to get to know your neighbors. Of course, there are other steps that you can take as well, and they won’t even necessarily cost you much money to implement. Here are five inexpensive steps you can take to making your apartment as secure as possible.
1. Make a checklist
Did you know that approximately 30% of burglaries occur as a direct result of doors or windows being left unlocked? Instead of inviting burglars into your home by neglecting to lock up when you leave, create a simple checklist for yourself. Every time you get ready to go to bed or leave the apartment, take a moment to run through the checklist and check every window and door to make sure that they’re all adequately secure. If you get into the habit of checking the most obvious points of entry, you’ll be doing a lot to ensure that your apartment remains protected against incursion.
2. Secure sliding doors/windows
Sometimes the locks on sliding doors and windows are too weak to stop a determined prowler. Reinforce those locks by placing a strong wooden dowel rod securely into the track of the sliding door or window. Now, even if the lock fails, an intruder will be unable to force their way inside, due to the added strength of the dowel blocking the door or window from sliding. The dowel will generally sit well out of sight in the track, so you won’t have to worry about it upsetting your decor.
3. Use door/window contact alarms
If you really want a secure apartment, you should invest in a security system. Unfortunately, most home-security devices—especially those that network together and allow for remote access—come with a fairly steep price tag. On the other hand, not all electronic home security needs to be expensive in order to function well. Contact alarms are simple, small, battery-powered devices that come in two parts. On part is attached to a door or window, and the other part is attached to the frame in such a way that when the door or window is closed, the two pieces are touching. Then (when the device is turned on), any time the door or window is opened, it breaks the connection and an alarm sounds. Thus, the device can be used to ensure that anyone attempting to force an entrance will be greeted with an earsplitting electronic shriek, and hopefully will choose to leave.
4. Invest in decoy devices
Most criminals are looking for something easy and low-risk when it comes to choosing a target for robbery. If you can give them the impression that your home will be neither easy nor risk-free to enter, then you will have already gone a long way towards having a secure apartment. You can start by purchasing security window decals. These inexpensive stickers adhere to the outside of your glass windows, and inform potential burglars that the property is protected by a state-of-the-art security system. And although you may not actually have the impressive security measures that the sticker references, most criminals aren’t going to risk capture just to make sure. Likewise, devices that make it look as though someone is in the apartment can end up saving you far more than the initial investment. Light timers that can be set to turn house lights on and off while you’re away are a good way to give the impression that someone is home, and lights that mimic the shifting glow of a television set can add credence to you bluff.
5. Adopt a dog
OK, so this one isn’t exactly inexpensive. In fact, the average expense of owning and caring for a dog can end up costing you anywhere from $700–$3,000 per year. However, having a dog at home to raise the alarm in the event that an attempted break-in occurs can be invaluable. Besides, there are other benefits that come from owning a dog (companionship being the most obvious); so if you’ve already been considering adopting a dog, think of the added home security as just a happy side benefit. Just make sure to double check your rental agreement before you bring a dog home to your apartment so that you don’t inadvertently get in trouble with your property manager.
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