Apartment Security Systems

Living in an apartment block or condo is both a boon and a bane in so far as the compound's security is concerned.

The housing association or property manager usually takes charge of security issues in any high density or suburban housing projects. More often than not, security guards are contracted to ensure the security of the premises. In the absence of the guards, the managers themselves take charge of monitoring the facilities to ensure the security of the occupants.

Of course, this is an ideal security set-up. The reality is that security cannot possibly protect existing units all at the same time. Aside from the units, security will also have to watch the grounds as well as the perimeter fences of the complex. Even if security had cameras and other active security measures, it would still be impossible for them to cover the whole complex.

What it all falls down to is that the tenants themselves will have to ensure their own personal safety and the security of their own unit. Fortunately, there are plenty of cheap, alternative solutions to this dilemma.

The first step towards protecting yourself and your own home starts with your doors and windows. Keeping these two possible entry points locked will secure your unit. Some building regulations won't allow you to install sophisticated apartment security systems. In this case, installing additional locking mechanisms for the doors and windows will do the job. If you are thinking of this as some sort of unnecessary expense, then you are thinking wrong. Your security is the most important thing to invest in. This is your life on the line anyway, so you might as well do the best you can to make sure that you are safe in your own home. If you're lucky, your building has a policy that will shoulder some of the costs of installing additional security for your unit.

A really inexpensive way of guarding your whole neighborhood is to actively participate in a neighborhood watch program. You'll have to devote some time to this, but it will be worth it in the long run if you can deter any crimes before they even happen. If you don't have a neighborhood watch in place for your area, you might want to take the first step and consult with local law enforcement authorities on how to set things up. Having the advice of professionals will help you a lot because they know most of the methods criminals use to break into homes.

For your own personal safety, you also need to start practicing some safety precautions so that you don't get yourself or your neighbors into trouble. Most apartment blocks have automatic doors that open when a unit owner admits people inside. Sometimes, some people arrive to visit a person who isn't home. They ask neighbors if they can be let in anyway. For the sake of being neighborly, someone will let them in. If you are one of those neighborly people, it is advisable to stop doing this as you don't really know who you are letting in.

Be aware of your surroundings. If you have a wide open parking lot or even a secured underground parking area, it is still wise to keep some pepper spray in hand and your keys at the ready just in case you have to run for it. Men are also advised to keep pepper spray. If you encounter a criminal, chances are that the criminal will have a weapon. Having pepper spray on hand is better than no weapon at all with which to defend yourself.

Don't just open the door and let anyone in. Use your door's peephole. You did pay for it so you should use it. If you don't know the person on the other side of the door, asking for some identification to verify their business is the next smart move.

If you are just starting to look for a place to live, then you are lucky that you are reading this. Before you even consider location or panoramic views, ask about the apartment security systems. Take a long look at the security precautions currently in place for the whole complex. Take a look at the unit too. Ask them if they will allow you to install added security. If so, will they shoulder part of the costs for installation? You better be clear on this from the start. Once you've signed that lease, you'd have to move heaven and hell to be able to get your landlord to agree with you.