Apartments and Condos generally come with some measure of built-in security, but homeowners in residential buildings should still consider issues of home security. Even buildings that do not have a doorman on duty usually have gated premises and a locked front door with restricted access, but these security measures are imperfect at best. With so many people coming in and out of the same door, it is easy for intruders to slip in unnoticed.
If you are in the process of shopping for an apartment or condo, make sure home security is one of your top priorities in comparing different buildings. Take a look around the exterior of the building and its grounds to see what sort of measures are in place to restrict entry. Ask the management about doorman service and if they have a professional security service. Check to see if they are connected to a 24-hour monitoring system that alerts authorities automatically in the event of an emergency.
If you already lease or own, you can still assess the quality of your home security and take measures to improve it where necessary:
Did you change your locks when you moved in? If not, ask the superintendent or maintenance chief if you can have your locks switched with those of a vacant apartment in the building. This procedure is commonly requested for new apartments, is easy to complete, and should be free.
Make sure the door has a solid deadbolt lock and not just a lock-in-knob set. Locks that come in knobs can be shimmied open with credit cards and do not provide sufficient resistance against forced entry. The deadbolt you install should come with at least a 1-inch throw bolt, and check that the strike plate has at least four screws. The door, frame, deadbolt, and strike plate all work together to provide a secure door system, and the whole is only as strong as each of the component parts. If you are leasing, ask the superintendent to do the job or, if you want to do it yourself, get permission in writing before starting any door renovation projects.
Make use of your peephole. Again, do not assume that, just because someone is in the building, they are a) allowed to be there or b) trustworthy. If you own the apartment, or can get permission as a renter, install a wide-angle peephole that gives you at least 130 degrees of viewing.
Another facet of home security that relates especially to apartment and condo owners is fire safety. Some apartment and condo buildings may be as high as 30 or 40 stories, which makes exiting much more complicated in the event of an emergency. Check to see if the building has a comprehensive evacuation plan and if they perform regular checks of the fire alarm system. Evacuating a large building often depends on the cooperation of its many residents, so also ask if the building management conducts fire drills to educate residents on approved evacuation procedures.
While apartment buildings may have built-in alarm systems, some apartments and condos will allow you to install a home alarm system. These are great back-ups to the security at the front door and add extra piece of mind with features such as burglar alarms, and motion sensors that can be armed while you are away.
The best thing you can do for apartment and condo home security is to know your neighbors. Monitoring who is in the building is a difficult task, but it is made much easier if every resident takes it upon him or herself to know who actually lives in the building. Beyond knowing your neighbors, however, it is important that you report all suspicious activity to building security immediately.
A complete approach to
home security will include an alarm with a monitoring service.
Brinks home security can provide you with great advice and complete home security systems at competitive prices.
