Protecting Your Apartment From Burglaries

In metropolitan cities, apartment buildings are home to thousands of people and may come equipped with buzzers, ID-enabled entry systems, or doormen. Each building has multiple points of entry and many strangers enter and exit, from service people to friends of residents, making it easy for burglars to gain access and blend in. Most burglars are quick, and go in and out in just a few minutes. Yet, there are a few ways to help keep apartment burglars at bay.

Alert Mode - Start by being aware of your surroundings outside of your apartment and within your building. Always be aware of delivery people and solicitors lingering in your building; take note of suspicious behavior and alert the police and your landlord or management right away.

Curtains Up - Install curtains or blinds if you’re on the ground or first floor to prevent burglars from peering in to scope out your space. Close the blinds on windows that are easily visible from the outside and if you’re on higher floors, leave the blinds open to allow timed lights to shine through.

Good Stuff Undercover - Keep your cash, checkbooks, credit cards, jewelry, and other valuables in a safe place and store your laptop or tablet out of sight. If considering purchasing a home safe, get one that bolts to the floor or a wall and place it inside a closet. Other clever options would be vents, and faux wall outlets.

Hidden Key - Request a lock change upon moving in, and monitor your spare keys. Avoid giving keys to anyone doing maintenance or renovation work in your home whenever possible. Unless you or someone you trust is present, don’t let workers or other strangers into your apartment.

Lights - No Action! - When you’re away for long periods of time, use a timer to turn inside lights on and off. The best deterrent to nighttime burglary is lighting. Smart light bulbs can be programmed and turned off and on from a distance with a smartphone app.

Like a Good Neighbor - Consider joining or organizing an Apartment Watch group to get to know your neighbors and look out for one another’s apartment. When going out of town, put a hold on your mail and have friends or a trusted neighbor check on your apartment while you’re away.

Lock It Up - Ask your landlord to install deadbolt locks as well as a peephole on your front door, then be sure to keep the door to your apartment locked, whether you’re at home or not. Sixty percent of all successful residential robberies happen through unlocked doors and windows. Make sure to keep your windows locked as well, especially if you live on the ground floor or in the basement. For sliding doors, it’s a good idea to invest in a dowel or steel bar that you can slide into the door track for added security.

Management’s Help - The more security measures a building has in place, the more information tenants and landlords have available in case something happens. If your building has a front desk staff or a doorman, be sure there’s a system to log visitors as they come in. Have a security camera installed in the lobby if there’s no staff. Having these measures in place may help deter burglars.

Security Systems Go - A wireless security system is ideal for renters and could help save you money on renters insurance. Security systems are often available in basic packages for smaller spaces and are simple and easy to set up yourself. Look for a system with 24/7 monitoring that will alert help if suspicious activity, or any type of emergency is detected. You can also set up security cameras that can be monitored with a smartphone and alert the authorities when triggered.

While there are no guarantees, a renters insurance policy can help give you peace of mind for your most important personal belongings. Visit CityOf.com to find a premier insurance agent in your area.

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