Apartment Security is Important
Despite what many people think, condominiums and apartments are frequent targets for criminals. This is why apartment security is so critical.Toronto Police are currently searching for two men who are suspected of breaking into a condominium in the Yonge St. and Church St. area. The men allegedly broke into the condo during the night while the residents were sleeping. They stole a set of car keys from the unit, entered the building’s underground parking garage and then used the keys to steal the residents’ car.
Video footage of the men was captured by the building’s security cameras and police have released the images in hope that someone will be able to identify the two men.
This break-in shows how easy it can be to break into and steal from a condominium unit. It also shows why apartment security is so important.
Many people believe that living in an apartment building or condominium means that you don’t have to worry about security. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Apartment security is very important. Condominiums and apartments of all sizes are often targeted by criminals. To make matters worse, since many people living in apartments and condos don’t dedicate enough resources to security, once a criminal accesses a building, the criminal knows that it will be quite easy to break into and rob many different units.
Breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft are two of the most common police-reported offences in Canada. Every year, there is an average of about one break-in every three minutes in Canada and there is an average of one motor vehicle theft every seven minutes. These statistics show how important crime prevention is.
Apartment Security: Preventing Crime in Apartments & Condominiums
The key to preventing property crime is being prepared and having effective security measures installed. Here are some crucial apartment security tips from our loss prevention experts that will help you prevent apartment and condominium crime.Change your locks
When you move into a new apartment or condominium unit, have your locks changed. You have no idea how many people may have copies of your keys and, therefore, complete access to your apartment. Talk to your landlord or building management about having the locks changed as soon as you move into the building.
Always lock windows and doors
Keeping everything locked is important for apartment security. Always make sure that you securely lock your doors and windows, especially when you’re not at home. You may think that your condo is safe and that you don’t need to worry about locking it up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Criminals frequently use unlocked doors and windows to gain access to a property.
Securing windows is especially and important apartment security tip for people who live on lower floors or who have balconies. Criminals often take advantage of these situations to enter units through the window. To prevent this, consider installing a physical security tool such as window bars, if building management permits doing so. If your building does not currently allow such physical protection, get together with other residents and request that the rules be changed to protect those living in the building.
Make sure no one follows you in
As mentioned earlier, once a criminal gains access to a building, he or she is free to scout the building and potentially break into several units. When you’re entering your building, be careful and make sure that no one sneaks in behind you before the door can lock. This is true for the parking garage as well. Apartment security begins by being diligent.
If you have an alarm system, use it!
Some condominium and apartment units come with alarm systems installed. If your unit has one, be sure to use it. Alarm systems drastically reduce crime. Make sure that you speak with your building’s management in order to figure out how to use the system properly and for information on what you should do if it isn’t functioning correctly.
If you don’t have an alarm system, you should get one.
As mentioned, alarm systems are crucial in the fight against crime and for apartment security. If your unit doesn’t have an alarm system, you should seriously consider getting one. We recognize that it may be difficult (or even impossible) to install a wired system in an apartment or condo, but a wireless alarm system is easy to install, can protect you against other hazards such as flood and fire and an effective way to keep you and your family safe. Wireless systems require no drilling making them perfect for condominiums and apartments and a big part of an apartment security plan. Plus, they are easy to relocate so you can take them with you to your next home if you decide to move!
Our dedicated security professionals and loss prevention experts can help you find the right apartment security tools for your particular needs. Contact us today for more information on apartment and condominium security and for details on how security technology can keep you safe.