How To Improve Home Security In An Apartment Building:
From the outside, apartment buildings look far more secure against burglaries than single-family homes. In order to enter, a thief must first get through a secure outside door, avoid any doormen or concierges that are on duty, and then without being noticed by neighbours force their way in through another locked door. This however can give apartment dwellers false security: robberies do happen in multi-occupant buildings.
For a start, apartments are more likely to be located in urban areas or cities, where crime against property is often far more common than in the suburbs or rural areas. The constant coming and going of people in an apartment is also a risk, as it is difficult to tell if a person in your building lives there, is a friend of a resident or has in fact entered in order to burgle a flat. For these reasons and more, the sensible apartment-dweller pays as close attention to improving home security as someone living in a stand alone house. There are some basic tips you can follow to make sure your home is as safe as possible.
Change the locks on moving in: You have no way of knowing who may have a copy of your apartment keys when you move into a new place. And if they have a copy of your key, they may also have one for the outside doors; meaning they can waltz straight in to your home and take everything with very little effort. For this reason, change your front door locks as soon as you can after moving in for added home security.
Don't let unknown people into the flat: It's a situation familiar to many apartment residents; you pass someone at the doorway waiting to be let in, and you wonder if you should let him pass. The safest way to do things however is leave them outside, as there is no way to know if they are innocent waiting, or looking to con their way inside. In any case, if they have rung the intercom they will be let in within minutes.
Don't let someone in without knowing them: Through a crackly intercom it is easy to buzz someone in without being really sure who it is. This, like the previous case, can also be a con, where a thief presses buttons wildly in the hope that they can pass. If you're not sure who is buzzing, ask again, and if still in doubt go to the door. If they are claiming to be from an authority such as the police, always ask to see ID.
Work with your neighbours: Many people who live in apartment buildings end up living separate lives, with very little personal interaction. Getting to know your neighbours can however help home security for all in the building, as you will build a better idea of who lives and moves around you.
For a start, apartments are more likely to be located in urban areas or cities, where crime against property is often far more common than in the suburbs or rural areas. The constant coming and going of people in an apartment is also a risk, as it is difficult to tell if a person in your building lives there, is a friend of a resident or has in fact entered in order to burgle a flat. For these reasons and more, the sensible apartment-dweller pays as close attention to improving home security as someone living in a stand alone house. There are some basic tips you can follow to make sure your home is as safe as possible.
Change the locks on moving in: You have no way of knowing who may have a copy of your apartment keys when you move into a new place. And if they have a copy of your key, they may also have one for the outside doors; meaning they can waltz straight in to your home and take everything with very little effort. For this reason, change your front door locks as soon as you can after moving in for added home security.
Don't let unknown people into the flat: It's a situation familiar to many apartment residents; you pass someone at the doorway waiting to be let in, and you wonder if you should let him pass. The safest way to do things however is leave them outside, as there is no way to know if they are innocent waiting, or looking to con their way inside. In any case, if they have rung the intercom they will be let in within minutes.
Don't let someone in without knowing them: Through a crackly intercom it is easy to buzz someone in without being really sure who it is. This, like the previous case, can also be a con, where a thief presses buttons wildly in the hope that they can pass. If you're not sure who is buzzing, ask again, and if still in doubt go to the door. If they are claiming to be from an authority such as the police, always ask to see ID.
Work with your neighbours: Many people who live in apartment buildings end up living separate lives, with very little personal interaction. Getting to know your neighbours can however help home security for all in the building, as you will build a better idea of who lives and moves around you.
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