Apartment Security Tips: Protect Your Home Beyond Advertised Security Amenities | By Jordan Frankel

Home Invasion Facts: Understanding the Risks and Protecting Your Home | By Jordan Frankel
July 21, 2023
How to Secure Your Apartment: Tips to Protect Against Burglary and Home Invasion | By Jordan Frankel
July 21, 2023

When it comes to feeling safe in your apartment, those advertised amenities like gates or security patrols might sound comforting, but they’re not always enough. Even in a “gated community,” determined criminals can still find ways in. The good news? Keeping your home secure is something you can take into your own hands with a few smart, simple steps. In this article, home security expert, Jordan Frankel, will share some of his top apartment security tips to help keep you and your property safe.

Why Apartment Security Tips Are Necessary

The perception that apartments and condos are inherently safer because of their close proximity to neighbors or their security features is misleading. Statistics paint a starkly different picture. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, apartment and condo residents face an 85% higher risk of burglary than those living in single-family homes.

In 2018 alone, the U.S. saw approximately 13.5 million property crimes, with 2.6 million involving burglary. This heightened risk can be attributed to several factors:

  • A lack of personalized security measures in apartments compared to single-family homes.
  • Increased population density, making it easier for criminals to blend in.
  • Over-reliance on community-level security features that are often insufficient.

To bridge this gap, residents must take an active role in securing their homes.

Apartment Security Tips for Residents

Securing your apartment requires a multi-layered approach. From adequate lighting to advanced security devices, these tips can help you safeguard your space.

1. Prioritize Lighting for Safety

Proper lighting is one of the simplest yet most effective crime deterrents. Criminals thrive in darkness, so eliminating poorly lit areas around your apartment can reduce the risk of burglary or assault.

Here’s how to use lighting effectively:

  • Bright Outdoor Lighting: Ensure parking lots, pathways, stairwells, and entryways are brightly illuminated to make it easy to spot any suspicious activity.
  • Motion-Activated Lights: Install motion-activated security lights outside your entry door and balcony (if you have one). LED models are energy-efficient and long-lasting, making them a cost-effective investment.
  • Interior Lighting with Timers: Use timers to turn lights, TVs, or radios on and off when you’re away, giving the impression that someone is home.

3. Invest in a Reliable Alarm System

An alarm system is one of the most critical components of apartment security. While it cannot prevent someone from attempting to break in, it can deter them and alert you to danger.

For maximum effectiveness, your alarm system should include:

  • A Loud Siren: A deafening alarm can scare off intruders and attract attention.
  • Motion and Glass-Break Sensors: These features detect unauthorized movement or attempts to break windows.
  • Monitoring Services: Choose a system connected to a monitoring center that can immediately notify law enforcement.
  • Panic Button: In case of an emergency, a panic button provides an instant alert to authorities.

Display alarm company signage prominently near your door or window to deter potential intruders before they act.

3. Reinforce Entry Doors and Windows

Entry points like doors and windows are the most vulnerable areas of your apartment. Taking steps to fortify them can make it significantly harder for intruders to gain access.

  • Upgrade Entry Doors: Replace hollow-core doors with solid wood or metal doors.
  • Install Deadbolts: Use a heavy-duty deadbolt and reinforce hinges with 3-inch steel screws for added strength.
  • Use Security Door Braces: A quality security door brace like the OnGARD can withstand significant force, preventing doors from being kicked in. To see the OnGARD in action, watch this video demonstration.
  • Secure Sliding Glass Doors and Windows: Place a metal rod or wooden dowel in the tracks to prevent sliding.
  • Apply Security Window Film: Security window film like BurglarGARD makes breaking windows more difficult and creates noise, which often deters criminals.

4. Assess and Improve Landscaping

Landscaping might seem unrelated to security, but shrubs, trees, and other features can provide cover for criminals.

  • Trim Shrubs and Bushes: Ensure greenery near windows and entryways doesn’t create hiding spots.
  • Report Risky Landscaping: If overgrown trees or fences near your unit allow easy access to balconies or windows, notify your property manager.
  • Be Vigilant in Common Areas: Stay alert when parking your car or walking through the complex, especially in areas with dense landscaping.

5. Develop a Personal Security Plan

No list of apartment security tips is complete without emphasizing personal safety. Beyond securing your physical space, you need a plan for various scenarios.

  • Know Your Escape Routes: Familiarize yourself with all possible exits in your apartment and building.
  • Create a Safe Room: Convert a small room or closet into a secure space with reinforced doors and emergency supplies.
  • Don’t Open the Door to Strangers: Verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a delivery worker or maintenance staff.

Why Advertised Security Amenities Aren’t Enough

Many apartment complexes market themselves as “gated communities” to imply safety and reduced crime. However, gates, fences, and security patrols offer minimal resistance to determined intruders. Gates can often be bypassed, and guards may not be present during every shift.

Security features provided by the property are beneficial but should never be your only line of defense. For example:

  • Card-Access Doors: These can malfunction or be bypassed by tailgating, where an unauthorized person follows a resident inside.
  • Cameras in Common Areas: While cameras are helpful for evidence after a crime, they do little to prevent one from occurring.

Take Control of Your Apartment’s Security

Ultimately, your safety depends on your proactive efforts. Advertised amenities might deter opportunistic criminals, but they cannot replace personalized, layered security measures. By implementing these apartment security tips, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of being targeted by burglars or intruders.

Final Thoughts on Apartment Security

Securing your apartment requires effort, but the peace of mind it provides is invaluable. From improved lighting to advanced security devices, taking proactive steps ensures your home is protected.

Criminals often look for the easiest target, and by applying these apartment security tips, you can make your home far less appealing to them. Whether you live in a gated community or not, the responsibility for your safety ultimately rests with you.

Click here for more street-smart security tips by home security expert Jordan Frankel.