Apartment dwellers....feel secure? yes/no?

[RDCL]

I'm an apartment dweller. Likely will be for the rest of my life and I'm ok with that. I hate yardwork and just don't have the time or desire for home maintenance, so apt. living just suits me fine.

It also occured to me in reading threads here about home invasion.....that I DO feel relatively secure against such events....more so than if I lived in a normal average home. Some things to consider as an apartment dweller:

a) I'm on the third floor....No-one is gonna come in through one of the bedroom windows.

b) The living room balcony/deck could only be accessed with a very large ladder...which would draw attention from many other watchful tenants.

c) The invader(s) would have to break through two sets of "security" doors before they even get to MY front door.....which of course is locked at all times.

d) ALL the tenants within this apartment complex I live in ( or most that I've met)....always have their ears & eyes open. My neighbors DO keep an eye on whats going on in the hallways if noise is involved (this is both good AND bad I suppose)

e) Like a lot of folks.....I am armed.

Now...that's all NO absolute garantee for secure peaceful living, but these points are signifigant enough to bear importance. Lastly...why-o-why would any thug wanna go through all the high-visibilty & noisy work just to get to little 'ole me and my stuff when an isolated house down the road would be more tempting?

Thoughts? Am I overly optimistic?

Russ

 

[Birdmang]

I live in an apartment at school on a college campus. My doors are always unlocked, and I am on the bottom floor. I keep my door to my room locked. I am armed as well and feel completely safe. I feel you have less reasons to worry! Nice analysis though.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

 

[lions]

I feel pretty secure. I live on the second story in the back of a complex with only one exit. Its not the best target but I've still got alarms and locks etc. That and the whole being armed thing helps too.

 

[rondog]

Ewwww, I'll never live in a People Hive ever again. If I were single, I'd move as far out in the country as I could and still be able to commute to work, just to get away from it all. I've never felt safe in an apartment, and can't stand them. And there's NFW I'd ever live in a duplex!

But, to each his own.

 

[Shadow 7D]

But have you thought of all the people who have keys to you place?

Nothing like a "moving" crew hired the maintenance man to clean you out.......

 

[kanewpadle]

Your ok IF you have strong deadbolts on all doors. The only threat is this (see link). This threat is real. I have seen it used in burglaries. The worst part is that insurance will NOT cover the loss because there are no signs of forced entry. Make sure to watch the video.

http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/uncovers/BO108043/

 

[Deanimator]

I feel relatively secure. There's only one door and it's got a dead bolt.

The light in the parking lot doesn't always work, but I know the area and am always armed.

It'd take a ladder (or Spiderman) to get in a window.

I always have a loaded handgun or am close to one.

A lot of the neighbors seem to be from Azerbaijan. If they catch somebody breaking in, they'll probably slit his throat and dump him off the 100 foot cliff into the Metropark...

 

[Yo Mama]

I wrote on here a few months back about a buddy of mine who I taught how to shoot after he had a break in to his apartment. It was quite evident they didn't find what they were after (jewlery), and were going to come back.

We even put the target up from the range on his door to show them not to come back, but they did.

They shoved the door open, and shot at him. He had a handgun, and returned fire into the first guy's leg. Second guy ran, and police got him a few days later when the first guy gave name.

Bottom line, my friend used to be a jewler, and it wouldn't have mattered if he was in an apartment, or a home, his old partner wanted the jewles. You have the same problem, if trouble is looking for you, you better plan no matter where you live.

 

[RDCL]

You have the same problem, if trouble is looking for you, you better plan no matter where you live.

Point well taken, but as I stated I do understand there is NO garantee in absolute security, but I'd feel less secure in a free-standing isolated house. It's just that where I live their are roughly 500 pairs of eyes & ears watching things here (as I stated also, that's good & bad)....I do take some consolation in that fact.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing like a nice home....a mans "castle" after all (altough there is NO moat!). I just feel that a home is an easier target. Rual Islolated homes even less secure. See the movie "In Cold Blood".

Russ

 

[alexpkeaton529]

I just moved this past weekend from one apartment to another and I really think that it depends on where you live.

My previous apartment was student living just south of campus where you were unable to have any firearms on the premises. In my two years of living there, there was a rash of robberies due to people leaving their doors unlocked, multiple car vandalisms, and I witnessed a drug deal gone bad which resulted in a man being shot outside my apartment. This is one of the safer apartments around campus mind you.

Now I am living in a much nicer apartment further away from campus, not as well known as others, cheaper, more space, and it isnt student living. I can keep a firearm with me with no trouble or worry of being evicted. There is only one point of entry to my apartment as it is located on the second floor with access from an interior stairwell behind a door with deadbolt and alarm.

I am also living with my fiancee as opposed to three other guys so in the event that something does go bump in the night I have an easier time figuring out if I need to call the cops or not.

As I said it really depends on where you live. I realize that I am still vulnerable to robberies or other crimes but my odds have probably gone down due to my change of scenery. Because of that I can sleep a little better at night, and without the need for ear plugs.

 

[FiveOneFiveFiveFive]

+1 on Shadow 7D. I never could get used to knowing someone else had keys to my place.

 

[BBQLS1]

That sounds pretty secure for the most part. You might want a blind lock that has no keyhole on the outside to "bump" by a bg. Doesn't mean it won't happen, someone would need to believe that the risk is worth it.

Another thing, be prepared, aware, and alert when leaving and arriving.

 

[Lou McGopher]

b) The living room balcony/deck could only be accessed with a very large ladder...which would draw attention from many other watchful tenants.

In some apartments, it can be accessed by climbing up from one balcony to another.

See: "Spiderman" Derrick James

c) The invader(s) would have to break through two sets of "security" doors before they even get to MY front door.....which of course is locked at all times.

Most apartments I've seen, people wanting in simply wait for someone coming out to let them in. That is, unless the lock or keyless entry is broken, in which case it can be opened by anyone. I've seen that a lot, too. Maintenance isn't always the best in some places.

d) ALL the tenants within this apartment complex I live in ( or most that I've met)....always have their ears & eyes open. My neighbors DO keep an eye on whats going on in the hallways if noise is involved (this is both good AND bad I suppose)

Or, false security. If they hear a noise, depending on the circumstances they may simply dismiss it, even if they are usually nosy by nature.

e) Like a lot of folks.....I am armed.

With what? Something that will go through the wall and into your neighbor's unit if you miss your intended target?

Lastly...why-o-why would any thug wanna go through all the high-visibilty & noisy work just to get to little 'ole me and my stuff when an isolated house down the road would be more tempting?

Because the type of person to break into someone else's home isn't always the most rational and calculating type of person. Or maybe they are, and there's something about your apartment building that attracts them... some weakness they perceive. Maybe they'll break into your place after they break into the house down the street. Who knows?

I see you live in Westlake, which is one of the nicer suburbs around Cleveland. Certainly nicer than University Heights/Cleveland Heights where I live, so at least you've got that much right. I'll never live in an apartment building again if I can at all avoid it. I think I'd rather get an RV. I'll still rent, but a house or duplex instead. Fewer people whose habits you have to learn and worry about. It's easier to know whether a noise is suspicious or not. Fewer noises in general. Fewer reasons for people to be walking right past your front door, so it's much easier to know if someone belongs there or not. Fewer kitchens to smell. And if I have to shoot at someone, there's a much lower chance of it entering a neighbor's property should I miss (especially if the house is brick, like mine).

 

[Deanimator]

Now...that's all NO absolute garantee for secure peaceful living, but these points are signifigant enough to bear importance. Lastly...why-o-why would any thug wanna go through all the high-visibilty & noisy work just to get to little 'ole me and my stuff when an isolated house down the road would be more tempting?

Don't fall into the trap of believing that criminals think the way you do. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, if they thought like you, they probably wouldn't BE criminals.

 

[TimM]

A friend of mine lives in the exact same setup you describe. Just last week three known felons broke through the security doors at 3:30 PM and used crow bars to access three apartments where they scored a cache of guns and ammo, jewelry, cash and electronics. A neighbor at the end of the hall heard the commotion and called 911, the now armed felons were apprehended shortly after.

No matter how safe you think you are, you really aren't - don't fall into that trap.

 

[DHJenkins]

Far too many people knowing my business for me, whether it's an apartment building or an apartment complex.

I don't need some kindly old woman sharing my schedule or goings-on with my "brother" or "uncle".

Also, at my last job, we did retrofits in apartment complexes. Manager after manager just handed us keys to the entire complex with no oversight whatsoever.

You aren't just at the mercy of your maintenance crew, but anyone they see fit to hire.

 

[Templar223]

Sounds like you're in a nice place as far as the rare home invasion. Especially if the previous residents there weren't crack dealers or other criminal types.

The thing about apartments is people change a lot. While you may have great neighbors this year, next year, you may have a family of illegals next door, or drug dealers, or drug users, or general idiots or even a registered sex offender.

At least with a house, the turnover in neighbors is much less and you have a greater cushion between residences.

I live in a townhome and feel quite secure. Not so secure I leave all my guns in the safe though.

"Feeling" secure is good. Being secure is better. Having both is best.

As for being "armed" to "feel" secure: make sure you've got some training with your personal defense tools.

A gun isn't a magic talisman that will repel bad things. Not without a good dose of luck, anyway. With training. you'll have the skills sets you'll need to know when to use the gun (and more importantly, when not!), how to use the gun, and how to interact with those involved. Hopefully you'll never need to use a gun to "stay" safe, but if you do, with training, you'll have a much, much greater likelihood of coming through the incident unhurt and safe.

John

 

[chaled]

I live in an apartment with a 50lb dog inside. I am well armed. Still, i don't feel safe in an apartment. I can't bring my firearms in and out the house without hiding them. I don't trust my neighbors for anything. Did i mention i live in Southern California? I'd much rather have a house with a yard protected by a dog or a few dogs. I don't think i'm being anti-social when i say, people cannot be trusted PERIOD.

 

[Old Guy]

Living in Apartments normally involve a lack of finances to have a house.

I had lived in them for many years (divorce causes house gone syndrome) now live in a Town House, with my Wife of 16 years, and love the relative safety of a no through traffic complex. Plus a monitored alarm, tried in error! Works real good.

The very least you should do is have a hidden and bolted down safe for your valuables, and GUNS! except the one you carry, and if you can, replace front door and frame for a real steel one.

Where ever you live, being alert to changing neighbors, and not wondering around in condition white, is a must.

 

[hmphargh]

I feel alright, I'm on a second floor, when I'm there I have a deadbolt and a blind deadbolt locked, when I'm not just the deadbolt. I have 2 sliding glass doors which I am not crazy about, but I have locks, security bars, and pins in both of them. My bedroom is at the back of the apartment with a long, straight hall, but my door is off to the side slightly. If I ever had the need, I could retreat to my room and disappear long enough to grab a shotgun if someone actually entered. Additionally, I installed a doorknob that locks on the inside on my closet door, and no one has that key but me. Maybe I have a big of overkill, but it has worked for me so far.

 

[Butter]

I live in an apt and I feel a bit safer, however I do take the concerns of some of the posters who commented on multiple keys being available to the manager and not just my wife and myself.

However, with that said, the garage area is gated and there's a security guard at night with two security dogs for the apartment. When I go out of town, despite the fact that others may have access to the apartment building, I can leave a message with the mgr that I am gone and to be on the lookout for any activity that occurs during the day. I have never known the place to be burgled and feel better that I have others looking after my property when not there.

 

[Cosmoline]

I actually feel a lot more secure in small mom & pop apartments than I would if I had one of those big suburban piles. People are constantly coming and going from the units around me and I know them. It's very difficult to tell if I'm there or not, and the place is a warren of units. Plus I've got the guns secured in a knaack box that would be a real PINA to try to get out of there.

Most of the thieves around here seem to focus on the big houses with big driveways that tend to shut down during the daytime with everyone at work. You do hear about those places getting cleaned out. But someone busting into my place will be running big risks. If I'm there I'll hear them long before they get to where I am. If I'm not there they'll have to contend with some very odd and tricky doorways if they want to get the big box out, plus it's weighed down with lead. Using a blowtorch on it would risk setting the whole place ablaze. There's just nothing easy about any of it, and the gains would be very minimal with easy-to-trace and even unique firearms that aren't worth all that much.

The biggest risk for an apartment dweller would be associating with nogoodnicks, doing drugs, etc. Or living in a flashy place that looked like it might have valuable stuff in it. I intentionally live in a rather run-down place in a good neighborhood next to a fish processing plant. Extremely cheap rent, the smell of the briny deep, plus what amounts to a huge sign saying "there's nothing worth stealing here, boys!"

 

[Deanimator]

The biggest risk for an apartment dweller would be associating with nogoodnicks, doing drugs, etc. Or living in a flashy place that looked like it might have valuable stuff in it. I intentionally live in a rather run-down place in a good neighborhood next to a fish processing plant. Extremely cheap rent, the smell of the briny deep, plus what amounts to a huge sign saying "there's nothing worth stealing here, boys!"

Other than the fish processing plant, we could be in the same neighborhood and building.