Your wallet is stolen - you live in an apartment, how can you beef up security?

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JLStorm

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Lets say you were mugged and your wallet was stolen and the perp now had your home address, possibly proof that you had firearms (CCW), and other personal information. Now lets say you live in an apartment or rental home where you cannot buy a dog or install a security system, and live in the second story of a two story unit so there is only one way in and one way out which is the front door. Lets further complicate the situation be saying that the front door of your apartment or rental home is the only door a perp has to get through to get to you and your loved ones. Your protection is limited to handguns at the moment. Would you buy any other firearms or change anything in order to beef up security?

This is basically a description of my living situation, which is why I am being so specific. Luckily I have not had my wallet stolen, but I had a dream that I had this happen, and I woke up wondering what I would do about it or change about my defensive strategy and started to draw a blank. :uhoh:
 
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Have you changed out the screws on your door?

In my experience I've noticed that apartment doors are screwed in with 1-1 1/2 inch screws. One of the first things I do when I move in is change them out to longer 3" screws.

Also check the (can't remember the term for it) base plate directly across from your locks, replace those screws also.

Another thing I've done in the past is install extra dead bolts on the door. I usually set them up on the bottom and top corners of the door. When it comes time to move a little toothpaste and paint make the holes "invisible" again.
 
Agree with beefing up front door.

-Ask Law Enforcement to keep check on your complex.
-Trusted neighbors, also ask them to keep tabs, be aware and report any unusual persons, vehicles, or occurrences.

-Peep hole? Install a bigger one giving larger degree of viewing.
-Radio Shack and other sources for DIY alarm systems.
-Door Stop placed such so (1) at night door cannot be opened from exterior (2) when answering door you/ family can "kick" to prevent door being forced more open gaining entry. [slows down anyway].

Get an extra deadbolt lock. Everyone should keep extra locks anyway, especially Apt dwellers. Locks break ( at the wrong time) and Maintenance persons (exterminators, HVAC, etc) Apt complexes use often let these folks have master keys.

Yes, folks have gone to Mgmt and "posed" to be someone, or relative and given the (one of) set of keys to gain entry.
I lost my key, I am dad/mom/ grandpa/ uncle/ brother / sister...etc.

Timers.
Lights , radio/ TV to give impression one is home. Change the times often to make establishing a pattern more difficult.

ID Theft.
Inform everyone about anything about this. Establish a password / pin number to protect yourself.

Inform anyone you do business with, and ask them to contact detectives in the event anything comes up.
Like someone asking about YOU at a gun store, wanting to see if you have Lay-a-way there ( pretending to be relative and make a payment for a gift surprise), asking what is on your "want list" ( again posing as relative and gift idea).

Change travel routes, and times. One should never be predictable, in a situation like this- especially wise to not be.
Even having a routine of taking trash to dumpster on Apt Complex "every Sat evening" - needs to be changed.

Security is great, easiest way to defeat is use a human being to bypass alarms, locks, safes, etc.
You or family gets forced at gun point to re-enter Apt, what are you or other family going to do? Just catch one at the dumpster, getting mail at the complex "pigeon box".
Applies to being forced to go to a place of business someone in the family has a set of keys to, and can turn off alarms, open safes, etc.

Do a search on yourself on the Internet, all sorts of sources that reveal a lot about folks.
See what is "out there" and take steps from what gleaned to protect yourself.
 
I like the lasershield idea...my wife thinks an alarm system is a waste of money. She likes the idea of an extra lock and says she has a 38. special, thats her security...of course I had to remind her that she might go shooting once a year, so I dont think the .38 should be relied upon...I highly doubt she would be able to get to it or fire it accurately in an emergency because she just doenst practice.
 
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All the above are excellent suggestions. I'll add one more, but first, remember, IF someone wants to get in to your place, for a known item, they're gonna break or cut a glass window, and do it in less than 5 mins, easy.

But, if your wallet is ever stolen along with, or LOSE, your keys, with ID, Gun card, etc., one thing you could do, or 2 is, first, buy a brand new lock/doorknobs combo, they're fairly standard in the same size. It will have new keys, lock, everything you need, so if you forget to use your mental checklist, and tap your wallet whenever you take it out to pay for something, and it's not there, or, double-tap, again when you reach your car, just tap where it should be, peace of mind. But say you have the brain-fart, and forget it, along with your keys, somewhere, then you can at least, have a new door lock, or 2 (front and rear doors), however many locking doors you have, backup/s to change it out right NOW.

That's one reason I always carry 2 sets of car and house keys with me, for that moment you lose them, or lock yourself out of your car or house.


Then, if you can afford it, buy a gun safe, small one for pistols, and they come with locking screws (inside the locked safe) to both the floor and wall, again, not that expensive, for what they are holding. Not perfect, but making it harder, and eating up time they might not want to spend in your place illegally.

The door/lock replacements are not that expensive, and look good in their brand new, unopened plastic containers.

Game-plans = peace of mind.


Good luck,


LS
 
Gun safe I have covered...600lbs empty plus at least another 150 - 200 lbs of ammo and whatnot. I constantly check my wallet as you suggest from years of travel, I was focusing more on getting mugged where I have more reason to believe someone with bad intentions now has my address.
 
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Well, JLS, speaking for myself only, the older ya get, the easier the mark you become, both in strength loss, and more in wealth, in the criminals eyes, and the smarter you must become to cover the weakening areas of aging.

Just don't let it back you into a corner of worry, in that, if you made it this far without a major hit of any kind, then tap into your thinking, and luck, blessings, or fate, that have taken you this far, without any major hits, and just add some game-plan for the areas that only you know need improvement.

Remain stealthy (don't stand out) and let the element of surprise be on your side, along with a healthy dose of SA (situational awareness) at all times while "enjoying life" using them.

Dirty Harry said it best: "a man has got-to-know his limitations"



LS
 
Use the redneck method, buy a wallet with a chain on it you won't lose it in the first place.:D
 
If I was mugged, and had a CCW, there wouldn't really be a need for me to worry about the guy who mugged me coming back to find me.
 
If I was mugged, and had a CCW, there wouldn't really be a need for me to worry about the guy who mugged me coming back to find me
Click to expand...

That may have been what this guy thought. You never really know until it happens.


To add to sm's suggestion of a door stop, there are several door stops available that incorporate an alarm. Something like that might be of interest to you.
 
get a chihuahua or yorkshire terrier.

cute as all hell (the yorkie anyway, I hate taco dogs), girls love em to pieces, they love you to pieces, and BARK LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS.

There is absolutely no way to sneak up on one of those dogs when they're in guard mode. They bark even when people LEAVE!!!

And, since you are in an apartment, they are cuddly and cute and managers usually ok them.

You may need to get a less barking mini dog if you live in a high traffic part of your complex.
 
Let's see here -- You surf the web, read gun mags and in between beers and frozen TV dinners you try to think up hypothetical situations? As remarked elsewhere, with a CCW, no one is gonna get my wallet. Pushing 60 and have never misplaced ID.
 
one of my freinds does this. he has a little eight inch tv monitor hung next to the door. from there he has a mini camera that goes to the top of the door from, then straight through to the outside. its right up against the door frame so hopefully managment wont see it. then on the outside he does the same things. he runs it along the molding so the person at the door cant see it. then points it in the right direction. this may be a little out there but it works really well.
 
JLStorm said: I was focusing more on getting mugged where I have more reason to believe someone with bad intentions now has my address.
Click to expand...

OK. Then separate your money from your ID. Get a moneyclip.

Of course, you do realize is less likely you'll get held up and lose your wallet. Its much more likely your wife will, and she'll lose her purse. Its a rare woman that doesn't carry all her crap in a purse. So, how are you going to solve that problem?


In reality, if you lose your ID in a mugging, and the criminal finds out from it you have a gun and where you live, do you really think he's going to try to come in when someone's home? Knowing that you're armed? I'd wait until I knew no one was home if I were a thug.
 
Yep. X10. Will dial your cell or up to 4 numbers No monitoring fees and you can do a pretty comprhensive job on doors and windows for under a $100.
They have these sirens.....:evil: that go off....:D
 
Snicker, snicker, snicker. I carry a "false wallet" and "false keys". Psych! The keys will actually open the doors, start the engine and after about 10 seconds, shuts right off. Gives me time to escape while they think they have a nice new vehicle. No need to worry about stolen I.D. and keys to my home and office either.
 
Re: Wife's purse

A big Amen! to that. I work in the ghetto, and as such I have no ID, cash, or anything of value on me when I travel around.

My wife, however, carries the entire world in her purse. I've recently persuaded her to stop carrying all the check books, but still, I'm unconvinced that she migrates to condition yellow, from white, on a regular basis.

I hope I'm wrong in that assessment!
 
A cheap way to improve you security while you are home is with a simple wooden kitchen chair. Just brace it under the door knob. Have a friend that done that at night to her bedroom door when she goes to sleep. Simple, easy, and cheap.
 
Make sure you have renter's insurance, does not stop the crime, but makes it a lot easier if something does happen. If your downstairs neighbor's crack pipe explodes and burns your apartment, you will also be covered.
 
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