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Security for Renters Tips
Sound The Alarm!
If a burglar tries to break into your apartment you want everyone to know it. You want a siren so loud the thief cannot think straight; one that gets the attention of everyone in the area so they know someone is committing a crime.
Protect America offers alarm sirens that will make a burglar turn on his or her heels and run like the wind. Devices like the X10 Powerhorn Siren can reach 105 db. They can be plugged in anywhere in your apartment and work through your existing home wiring.
The siren responds to an alert signal sent from your home alarm system Command Station and makes a sound no burglar is going to stick around and listen to.
The point of home security alarms is to make criminals uncomfortable. If they are uncomfortable when they come to your door they will not stay. In your home you want an alarm that does not just notify the alarm company, but one that notifies everyone within earshot and scares the intruder into leaving before they get the chance to take anything.
The noise won’t bother your neighbors when they realize that burglar won’t be coming back to the building again. Protecting your own home improves the apartment building security across the board.
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Window/Door Security Stickers For Apartments
Security system window stickers are thought to be just for houses, but they can work well for your apartment, too. Since you do not have a lawn to place yard signs in, do the next best thing.
Take those window stickers and place one right on your apartment door. Let everyone who walks by your door know that you are protected by a home security alarm. This is just as effective as a lawn sign for a house. Visual deterrents can work in any setting.
The rest of those stickers can be placed on the windows in your apartment facing outward. They are especially important if you are on the ground floor or your windows can be accessed by a fire escape or other means.
When a burglar sees that sticker saying your apartment is protected by a GE security system from Protect America, they know the risk is too high. Request as many stickers as you need for all your doors and windows so that there is a warning to intruders at every access point to your home.
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Apartment Security Can Save Money In Different Ways
Apartment security is not only essential but it is very affordable as well. Home alarm packages vary based on the size of the property and the equipment needed to secure your home.
Unless you are wealthy enough to live in a suite in a Las Vegas hotel and casino, your apartment is most likely a little smaller than your average house. This means fewer access points like windows and doors. You do not need outdoor security lighting and motion detectors. It also means that you most likely do not need to secure access to a garage.
Because apartments have less area and points of entry to secure the home alarms needed tend to be less expensive than those used in houses. A system that is monitored 24 hours per day by a monitoring company can also get you a reduced rate on your renters’ insurance as well.
Contact your insurance provider once your system is installed and see what kind of discount you may be eligible for. Home security systems can save money on insurance and in possible property losses incurred without one.
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Guards Are Not Enough
Living in an apartment building that has security guards can often lull people into thinking they do not need a home security system. If ever there was a time the old adage about not putting all your eggs in one basket applied, this is it.
Even the most competent of security guards is still just human. If a burglar manages to get by a guard you are left completely vulnerable without an alarm. While we all want to live in a world where you do not have to lock your doors at night, sometimes your neighbor across the hall is a question mark. Another tenant would not be scrutinized by security guards and it is difficult to get to know and trust every neighbor in the building.
Apartment buildings often have several entrances, while individual apartments have far fewer. So even if it is easy to gain access to the building itself, it is also easy to secure your apartment. Home security alarms work just as well in an apartment as they do in houses, and your belongings are just as important. No one ever said their property was expendable because they don’t live in a house. Apartment security is just as important.
Security guards are like a yard sign. They are there for visibility. But a sign does you no good if there is nothing to back it up, and the same applies for security guards.
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Strong Door Locks
Your average apartment complex, especially older buildings, generally do not use the best door locks right off the bat. Adding a newer and stronger lock is a great way to compliment your home security system, but it is never a substitute for an alarm.
If the door to your apartment is splintered, damaged or just not up to snuff, talk to your landlord about getting it repaired or replaced. The idea is to place as many barriers (locks, doors, alarm systems, etc.) as possible between your home and would-be burglars.
A steel-reinforced door lock will not do much good if the door itself falls apart like Mr. Potato Head at the sight of a bag of Lays. There are many different options when shopping for a new lock, including deadbolts that require a key to lock and unlock on both sides of the door.
If you are not sure what the best option is for you, ask your alarm company what they recommend to compliment your alarm and increase renter’s security. And always make sure to let your landlord know what you plan to install just so there are no problems later on.
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Securing Apartment Windows & Doors
A common mistake among people living in apartment buildings is failing to secure windows. You may think that you are safe because you are on the twelfth floor, but thinking like that can get you into trouble.
Windows can be accessed by fire escape ladders, patios, a window from the building next door if close enough, and more. Patios with sliding glass doors are particularly vulnerable and often targeted by burglars. Protect America home alarm systems come with sensors for your windows that can detect if they are opened or if the glass breaks.
Some apartments are joined by a door that has been sealed shut and is no longer in use. These can still be used by burglars to gain access to your home. Security packages come with sensors for your doors as well as windows. Place one on these types of doors as well as all the “working” entry points.
Any potential access points should be secured. In apartments people often overlook these things because they do not recognize the vulnerability that they present.
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Dangerous Spare Keys
You see it all the time on television and in the movies. People hide a spare key to their apartment in a light fixture above the door or a potted plant in the hallway. The idea is if you lose yours or need a friend to get something at your apartment, there’s the key.
What this does is leave you completely at the mercy of anyone who takes a minute to look in these areas. Burglars are the exact type of people that will take the minute to look. Doing this is no different than leaving your door unlocked.
If you want to keep a spare key somewhere, leave one at a friend’s house. If you have a safety deposit box you can even put one in there, but never leave it outside your door.
If a burglar manages to pick or break the lock on your door and get in the apartment, an alarm system will often scare them away. They won’t know the code to enter in the control panel and they won’t know your password to give the monitoring company.
The easiest thing you can do is make it hard on criminals.
