Tips to Avoid an Apartment Burglary

The Art of Keeping a Low Profile in Your Apartment 

Burglary is a significant problem in apartment complexes across the country. However, you can significantly reduce your chances of being burgled through these simple common sense measures.

If you live in an apartment, you work hard for what you have and you make compromises in order to live among other people. You can prepare for a home invasion by using a Master Lock 265DCCSEN Dual-Function Security Bar and a quality handgun like the Smith & Wesson Enhanced Sigma. But, burglary also seems to be a serious risk in apartment complexes. Fortunately, there are simple things that you can do to reduce the chances that your apartment could be burglarized. The keys to avoiding an apartment burglary are discretion and deception.


1. Be Discreet with Your Treasures.  If you don't want to be a target, keep a low profile. Don't flash your cash or your prized consumer goods. Don't let your flat screen TV or expensive stereo be visible from outside of your apartment. Can someone on the sidewalk in front of your building see your TV, stereo, or computer? If you don't want something stolen, don't let people see it. In an apartment, that means you should keep your blinds and curtains shut so that passersby can't see what you own. Any small valuables should be hidden away. Any stereo systems, video game consoles or other consumer electronics should be kept behind the closed doors of an armoire or wooden cabinet. Store valuables discreetly so that they won't be immediately seen by the cable guy, the maintenance men, the pest control person, and other workers who may come into your apartment.

2. Don't Divulge Your Plans.  If you want to minimize the chance that your apartment will be burgled, you need to remember the old World War II adage: loose lips sink ships. If you are planning a week out of town, don't tell random people. Only those with a real need to know should have knowledge of your impending departure and travel plans. In particular, you don't want people to know that you will be out of town for holidays or other major events.

3. Stop Mail / Package / Newspaper Deliveries.  When you do leave town, do everything you can to stop your mail deliveries, stop your package shipments, and hold any newspapers. If you do have a trusted neighbor that you know well, you might have them pick up any packages that appear on your doormat and snatch any pizza flyers or Chinese menus that get thrust into your door. Bulging mailboxes, packages and menus can mark your apartment for burglars and let them know it is unattended. If you live in an apartment, you may just want to get your mail at a nearby UPS store.

4. Park Your Car in Varying Locations. If you park your car in the same space at the same times everyday, people will get to know your habits. If you park on different sides of your apartment building and in different spaces, your habits will be less obvious to potential burglars.

5. Use Varying Exits. Just as you move your car around, you should also vary the exit you use when you leave your apartment building. When you leave from different exits, it becomes harder for burglars watching your building to predict your schedule or plan a burglary.

6. Leave For Trips By the Less Visible Exit.  Sometimes activity in front of an apartment building happens in a fishbowl. Everyone in a building can see what is going on. If you can exit for a trip through a less visible exit and pack your car discreetly, your movements are less likely to be observed. It may be worth moving your car to a temporary space near the building just for loading and unloading.

7. Leave Carrying Non-Luggage.  If you don't want potential burglars to know that you are leaving for an extended period of time, try to leave without luggage. Put your luggage in a large black trash bag or in a box marked "Salvation Army." The key is to disguise your luggage as trash, charitable donations, or anything else. You might also take one bag at a time over a period of time. If you bring one bag of clothes out in the evening before you leave, then you can leave with a smaller bag of your valuables.

8. Appliance Timers.  Appliance timers are perhaps the most important tool in reducing the chance that your apartment will be burglarized. With appliance timers, the lights in your apartment will continue to turn on and turnoff in accordance with your regular routine. You can even use appliance timers to turn radios and televisions on and off. If the lights are on and potential burglars can hear noise when listening to your door, they are likely to move on to an apartment that they know is unoccupied. Appliance timers are available for $5 to $10 apiece. You simply have to test them for reliability before you use them.

There are lots of simple things you can do to make your home safe and secure. If you incorporate these simple steps to keep a low profile and mislead potential burglars by making your apartment look occupied, you'll have done your part to reduce crime in your apartment complex.