Whether we like to admit it or not, there are bad people out there who will do anything to make an easy buck. That "anything" includes breaking into apartments or cars and taking things of value. Rather than live in fear, the best course of action is to realize that there is always the possibility and be prepared.
First of all, it's vital when parking pretty much anywhere, to be aware of not leaving anything of value in your car. That much is clear.
But what about my apartment? With the possibility of keys out there which may be in the wrong hands and could easily gain access to my apartment, what can I do to help prevent theft at my apartment though?
The answer is easy: Hole up in your apartment and never leave. KIDDING!
Seriously though, you should always keep a few things in mind regardless of whether someone has your apartment keys or not. When you are at home, ALWAYS keep your doors locked and the deadbolt bolted. Many deadbolts are unable to be unlocked from the outside. You should always keep your windows locked whether you are home or away. An unlocked window is simple for a professional thief to break into and don't let the screen fool you. A simple pocket knife makes the screen non-existent, so NEVER leave your windows open or unlocked when you aren't at home.
Consider adding a security system to your apartment. Many communities these days have apartments wired for alarm systems and you merely have to sign up for a service. Basic alarm service is getting cheaper and cheaper. If you want to add a little added security the old fashioned way, consider placing a baseball bat in an accessible place in case you ever "god forbid" need to use it. If your apartments allow, you might even consider picking up some cameras that connect via your Wi-Fi and store surveillance video in the cloud and alert you have strange movements on your phone.
Have a lot of jewelry? Keep it hidden in drawers when you aren't wearing it. Leaving it out on your counters or on top of the dresser is begging someone to grab them first if they ever broke in. You should make these items difficult to find. You could even buy a safe to keep your valuables like this hidden in.
I have a friend who leaves out decoy items, just in case. He has a jar of pennies in plain view with a ton of fake quarters and nickels in it. He also has a broken VCR placed on top of his other TV peripherals in hopes that a thief will run off with it, rather than the rest. Theoretically, this isn't such a bad strategy, but who knows if it works or not.
Another great strategy is to get a dog. Dog's can be great theft deterrents, but make sure you check with your community manager to see if they are allowed. (Never try to sneak a dog in...you will end up regretting it from your bank account.)
Whatever your method is in being safer around your apartment, just take the time to think things out. Don't live in fear, live to be prepared. That's how I live...and with two fearsome house-cats...........that eat and sleep all day..................but I swear they'd scare away a burglar! None of these steps above can assure that you will never be a victim of theft, but they certainly could help.
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Updated: 10/21/2021
