1. Get new locks. As soon as you’ve signed the lease or condo agreement, be sure you ask your landlord to change the locks on your property. You don’t have any idea who might have a key. Be sure the locks are secure for all your doors, including your sliding glass door.
2. Check smoke alarms. Do you actually have smoke alarms? Are they properly installed, and are they working? You want to be sure you test them. For added safety, you can put up a simple LifeShield Siren Detector near each alarm. These detectors contact the Monitoring Center if the adjacent smoke alarm sounds.
3. Lock your doors. This may sound obvious, but many people feel a false sense of security in a condo, especially one with a monitored entry. You want to be sure you keep all the doors locked, even when you’re home. That includes your sliding glass door, unless you’re planning to be out on the balcony. If you don’t have a deadbolt lock on your balcony, a simple stick in the track of your door can deter people from entering.
4. Don’t admit strangers. You want to be careful you don’t open the building doors for people asking to be buzzed in or anyone who’s on your doorstep. Ask your landlord if you can install a peephole in the door. If the management won’t supply this, it’s worth the extra expense, provided you’re not violating a clause in your lease by installing one.
5. Check the exits. Take a look at the fire stairs. Is there a one-way exit for that door to keep anyone unauthorized from entering the building?
6. Report security problems. If you spot anything or anyone suspicious in or around your building, be sure to let the building management know. Also, suggest that any overgrown bushes or trees might protect someone suspicious from view are cut.
7. Stay aware. When you’re in common areas of the property—especially any that are enclosed, like a parking garage, laundry room, storage room or elevator—avoid distractions like cell phones or headphones. Trust your instincts: if someone looks or seems suspicious, leave the area as quickly as you can.
8. Be discreet. Chances are you’ve got a building common area for mail. Don’t put your full name on your mailbox; just use your first and last initial.
9. Insure your stuff. Many renters aren’t aware they can get rental insurance. It’s a good idea, whether you’re in a condo or an apartment. Take an inventory of your things and keep it somewhere safe and off the premises. Be sure to note models and serial numbers. While you’re at it, take pictures of your property, transfer them to a flash drive along with your inventory and store it off the premises.
10. Be even safer. It’s easy to do this with a wireless home security system like the one LifeShield offers. That way, you get a state-of-the-art system you can easily install, along with reliable 24/7 monitoring—all for a lot less money than you might think. The great news is that your system is portable, which means that if you move, you can easily take it with you to your new place. Plus, with LifeShield’s propriety program, LifeView™, you’ll be able to remotely access your system from your laptop or smart phone from anywhere in the world.
