| Apartment and Condo Security | | | | Prominently display alarm company signage, |
| Risk versus reward-that's how burglars determine | | | | Neighborhood Watch, and/or other crime |
| if your home will be their next target. The risk is | | | | prevention program signs around your residence. |
| simply being caught and sent to jail. The reward is | | | | Layer 2 - Make it Appear Someone's Home |
| whatever benefit the criminal receives by | | | | Many burglars want to get in and out of a home |
| breaking into your home without being | | | | without being seen. So breaking into a home that |
| caught-jewelry, cash, electronic equipment, and | | | | is not occupied is what burglars prefer. By installing |
| other valuables. Harming you or one of your | | | | security devices that help give the impression that |
| family members may also give him some form of | | | | someone is home even when you're not, you can |
| sick satisfaction. | | | | further decrease the chance of your home |
| Homes that are targeted by criminals are those | | | | becoming a target. Consider the following: |
| that equate to fast money. The valuables that | | | | Install a couple of light timers inside your |
| burglars steal from homes can be exchanged for | | | | residence. |
| money, drugs or simply used to whatever benefit | | | | Leave a radio or TV on whenever you leave |
| they choose. Most criminals just want to get in | | | | your home. |
| and out as quickly as possible, without being seen | | | | You can also use timers to turn on a radio or |
| or confronted. However, there are criminals that | | | | television while you're away. |
| will become violent or initiate a physical | | | | Layer 3 - Stop Intruders in Their Tracks |
| confrontation, even rape and in some cases | | | | Some criminals are bolder than others. Although |
| murder. | | | | some will be discouraged by the above |
| Criminals that commit burglary are typically males | | | | deterrents, others may not. So having security |
| between the ages of 16 to 21 years old. Studies | | | | measures in place that make it extremely difficult |
| show that many of these criminals live near their | | | | for an intruder to break into your home is crucial. |
| targets and are familiar with the community. | | | | The following security measures and devices are |
| Some criminals may actually live within the | | | | effective ways to stop an intruder: |
| apartment complex or have a friend or family | | | | Doors constructed of solid wood or metal |
| member who is a resident within the community. | | | | and use only door hinges that are reinforced with |
| Knowing the ins and outs of a particular | | | | 2- to 3-inch steel screws. |
| neighborhood and the people who reside within | | | | Install quality dead bolts and security door |
| the neighborhood is of great benefit to a | | | | braces that have the ability to withstand up to |
| burglar-the more information they possess, the | | | | 1800 lbs of pressure. Both will make it extremely |
| lesser the risk of being caught. | | | | difficult for an intruder to kick down your door. |
| The risk versus reward concept should be the | | | | Insert solid wooden closet dowels or metal |
| crux of your home's security plan. Although | | | | rods in between the tracks of all horizontally sliding |
| thieves are looking for something of value from | | | | windows and patio doors. |
| your home, they are also looking for homes that | | | | Peepholes with wide-angle lenses that are |
| are easy targets. To diminish the likelihood of | | | | within viewing level. |
| becoming a target you must implement a security | | | | Obscenely loud alarm systems that contain |
| plan. With the proper security measures in place, | | | | glass break sensors, motion detectors, back-up |
| you significantly decrease the risk of a potential | | | | cellular dialer, wireless panic buttons, and external |
| intruder targeting your dwelling. | | | | strobe lights. |
| One of the easiest ways to increase the risk to | | | | Windows that are reinforced with glass |
| potential intruders is implementing visible layers of | | | | protection film. These highly effective security |
| security. The more visible they are, the more | | | | window films make breaking the glass much more |
| likely criminals will be deterred from viewing your | | | | difficult. |
| home as an easy target. | | | | Although a burglar may eventually produce |
| The Security Onion: The More Layers The Better. | | | | enough force to smash through a door or |
| Layer 1 - The Perimeter | | | | window, with the above security devices in place, |
| Because burglars usually choose their targets by | | | | it would require a significant amount of |
| scoping out the property first, it's important to | | | | attention-getting noise and effort. This is the last |
| have a layer of security around the perimeter of | | | | thing most burglars' desire, as the more effort |
| your residence. Such security measures will act as | | | | and noise required to break into a home the |
| an initial deterrent for would-be intruders. So be | | | | higher the risk of being seen or caught. |
| sure to do the following: | | | | Protecting your home from burglary is all about |
| Look for areas around your residence in | | | | the layers. Because burglars determine their |
| which perpetrators can hide. Cut back bushes and | | | | targets through risk vs. reward scenarios, the |
| other landscaping and increase lighting to eliminate | | | | more security measures you put in place to |
| dark, shadowy areas. | | | | increase the risk and lessen the reward for |
| Install adequate LED lighting around your | | | | would-be intruders, the less likely your home will |
| doorways, exterior hallways, stairwells and | | | | be viewed as an easy target. |
| sidewalks, including lights with motion sensors. | | | | |