The latest trend in urban living is the Apartment Complex. This is rental living at it’s best, because of the myriad of amenities for the money. Unfortunately, apartment complex living has it’s downside, which includes an increase in crime. Because complexes often include open areas such as pools, computer rooms, laundry facilities, club houses, 24-hour gyms and tennis courts, dwellers need to use extra caution to ensure they are not victims of assault, robbery, arson, attempted rape or kidnapping. There has been an increase in large cities of these types of crimes, simply because targets are more accessible and may have their guard down because they feel a false sense of safety within an apartment complex.

Below are 10 Security Tips for apartment complex inhabitants. Law enforcement in many major cities is providing safety information and news alerts to keep renters safe. Below are the first three.

Ten Security Tips

1. Chain locks offer little protection and cheap locks can be disabled easily. If the apartment does not have a good deadbolt lock on the door, ask permission of the apartment manager to put one on the door. Do be certain that the management has a key if they need to gain access into your apartment.

2. Never leave your apartment door unlocked. This includes when you leave to get the mail or take out the trash. Someone lurking in the breezeway could gain access quickly.

3. Most apartment complexes have peepholes already installed on the door. If not, ask if you can install one for your added safety.

Please visit: Apartment Safety Tips

There are over 36 million renters in the U.S., and based on statistics by the National Crime Prevention Council, the likelihood of a single-family home being burglarized is 15%, as compared to a whopping 85% for apartments. Burglars are smart, and know that people who rent don’t spend the money on security measures–and they are utilizing this knowledge to their criminal advantage.

• If you are depending on security gates and lighting provided by property owners for safety, you are not doing enough to protect yourself or your belongings. Following are some security tips for renters:
• Install a wireless security system.  This is an affordable deterrent to thieves, and kits run from under $100 to just over $200. They are portable and easy to install.
• Purchase Renter’s Insurance. Some policies are only a few dollars a month, and offer some piece of mind for a small investment. Plans can range from protection against burglary to fire and other disasters.
• Ask if your landlord or apartment managers will change your apartment locks. This is not usually the case–most often, new tenants are often simply given a new key for the same lock. What this means is that if a tenant made a spare key and did not turn it in after vacating the apartment, they still have a key to your place! Also, don’t ever leave a key under your doormat. It’s the first place people who want to get in will look! Leave a spare with a trusted neighbor or friend.

For more tips on Renter’s Security, visit: Renter’s Security

By Jack Krohn

Home ownership is at an all time high. That is a good thing for them and the economy. Home ownership is not for everyone though. Many people for a variety of reasons choose not to live in a home but rather an apartment or duplex.

For those who do live in an apartment, they may end up with a serious false sense of security. Don’t fall victim to that feeling. The advice for apartment dwellers as it relates to home security is slightly different than for homeowners. There are no shrubs to hide behind.

It is no less important just different. Here are some tips for apartment dwellers to follow to allow you to sleep a little better at night and make your living environment more secure.
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