subject: Staying Safe in the Apartment Setting [print this page] People who live in apartments are at a greater risk of being victimized by criminals. In fact, according to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), apartments are eighty-five percent more likely to be burglarized than other housing types.
In a recent survey by Apartments.com, 37% of renters said their number one crime concern was a violent personal attack.
Some recommendations by the NCPC for those living in apartments include the following:
1. Ensure you have a deadbolt installed on entry doors.
2. Insert a wooden rod in tracks and pins in the overhead frame of sliding glass doors to prevent them from being lifted out.
3. Know who has entry keys to your apartment. Request your locks be re-keyed, if necessary.
4. Discuss safety issues with your building manager and neighbors to identify and solve potential problems.
In addition to these NCPC recommendations, there are some relatively inexpensive, yet effective, devices to help apartment dwellers reduce their risk of being victimized.
For instance, battery operated motion alarms, glass breakage alarms, and magnetic door alarms. When configured in your apartment, these devices can alert you to an intrusion providing precious time to react, if necessary.
In addition to security alarms, another consideration is the use of non-lethal self defense devices, such as mace or pepper sprays, stun guns, or Tasers.
A home pepper spray unit typically comes with a mount to attach the unit to a wall. They can be positioned near a door or your bed for quick access if needed.
A personal pepper spray, such as a keychain unit, can be carried with you at all times and is nice to have in an apartment living environment with dimly lit parking areas and corridors, etc. to navigate at night.
Stun guns come in a wide range of sizes and voltage levels. The voltage correlates directly with the amount of time the device needs to be in contact with an assailant before he or she receives the jolt. Stun guns are reasonably priced typically ranging between 30 to 100 dollars, depending on the style and voltage.
A Taser is a step-up from a stun gun, and more expensive; around 350 dollars for a Taser C2. Taser devices are proven effective and are carried by police officers around the world. The advantage of a Taser, such as the C2, is its striking distance; 15 feet. It can also be used as a contact stun gun, if necessary.
Many of these items can be purchased in a very reasonably priced Apartment Safety Kit, designed with the apartment dweller in mind. Always remember, and this is very important, the purpose of personal protection devices is to startle, stun, or incapacitate an assailant in order to make an escape to safety. Don't waste time; get yourself out of danger!
A little preparedness can go a long way toward keeping oneself safe while living in an apartment, or anywhere else for that matter. Don't live your life in fear, just understand the risks and be proactive.
