Apartment living security
Security in an apartment building can be achieved very
inexpensively. You have to think about the people that lived in your
unit before you. Do they still have a key?
Many apartment buildings now have entry keys that can not be
duplicated. So this does restrict entry to the building to a degree.
We all know how easy it is to wait for someone coming in and follow
right behind them. Not many people will ask if you have the right to
be in the building.
For your own protection you can add some safety precautions for when
you are home. You can put a door chime or screamer on your door.
Should anyone open the door the alarm will go off and alert you and
possibly scare away anyone trying to come in.
Installing a dead bolt is a simple task but you must check with the
landlord. If it is a lock that can be secured when you leave the
apartment, your landlord must have a key so that in an emergency
your suite is accessible to the building management.
If you are on the first or second floor a good idea is to put a
“Beware of Dog” sign in your window. Always make sure your windows
are locked if you are on the ground floor. For women who live alone
it is a good idea to leave a pair of men’s size 14, old work boots
in the hall by your door.
Don't forget, no matter what floor you are on, you should secure
your balcony entrance too. Close both doors and lock them at night.
If you need to leave your door open for air flow only leave it open
a few inches and put a strong piece of wood or metal in the track of
the door to stop it from opening any wider. You should also put a
wedge of wood in the top track of the outer door. This will stop
anyone from being able to lift the door up and out of the track.
Before leaving your apartment you should take a quick look through
the peep hole. Open your door and keeping your head straight ahead,
take one step out and using your peripheral vision check both ways
for anyone. Lock your door and give it a test to make sure it's
securely locked.
Elevator safety has only one law. If someone is on the elevator and
you are not comfortable for any reason, don't get in. Make an excuse
for not riding and wait until the next car arrives. Always check to
your left and right when stepping out of an elevator, especially if
you are entering an underground garage.
Undergrounds can be very daunting to a single female. Look around.
Make sure that you are comfortable walking to your vehicle. Should
there be any suspicious person or persons in the garage get back in
the elevator and go to the building management and inform them.
If it's clear sailing to your vehicle, go ahead. Don't forget, even
if you lock your doors, always check your back seat before entering
the car. If you have automatic door lock/unlock wait until you check
no one is hiding in your car before you unlock the doors. If someone
were to be hiding in the back seat and you notice them, leaving the
doors locked gives you more time to get to safety.
Even if your parking lot is outside it's always good to have quick
look around your parking lot before going to your car. A good safety
defense is to have your keys in your hand with one or two keys
sticking out from between your fingers when making a fist.
No one wants to get that close to confrontation but it can help if
you have the nerve to strike at someone.
Stairwells can be another dangerous spot in your building. If you
have to open the door to the stairwell make sure you push it open
right to the wall. That way you can be sure no one is hiding behind
the door. If you push that door and it doesn't go right back to the
wall don't enter the stairwell. Go back into the hallway and head
for the other stairs or elevator.
All buildings these days should have at least one camera on the
entrance. If yours doesn't you should talk with your landlord. It's
for their protection too.
By Wendy Peacock
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