Apartment Security When On Vacation


There are two different situations for which you'll need to prepare with regards to your apartment security:
  • Security when you are on vacation
  • Security when you are not on vacation
Apartment Security System

Security When You Are On Vacation

Obviously, when you are away from your apartment for a long period of time there is far more risk of an attempted break-in. This doesn’t mean you can’t go away but you do have to take the appropriate precautions. The trick is to make it appear that your apartment is occupied.
  • If you have any valuable possessions such as expensive jewellery take them with you or put them in a safety deposit box. However carrying expensive items about with you poses different risks. Alternatively, leave them with a trusted friend.
  • Just in case you are unfortunately burgled whilst away have pictures available of valuable possessions to give the police and insurance company. Also keep a list of your possessions together with the receipts. This not only proves you owned these items but reminds you of your possessions. With the stress of coming home to a burglary you may not immediately recognise what has been stolen. It will provide a check list to help identify what it still remaining in your apartment and what appears to have been taken.
  • Purchase timer for your lights and television or radio to give the impressing someone is at home. These are inexpensive and available from most hardware stores.
  • Don’t allow your newspapers, magazines or mail to pile up next to your front door. Criminals can peak through letterboxes – they know what to look for. Get a trusted neighbour to pick up your mail and put it out of sight. Cancel your newspapers and mail if neccessary.
  • An ideal situation is to get a trusted friend to house-sit for you. Many people will often do this for free but you could buy food in for them for their time and trouble.

Security When You Are Not On Vacation

  • Always lock your doors and your windows when you are not at home.
  • Never leave a door ajar/unlocked if you just nip out for 5 minutes to get some groceries or to go to the laundry room or refuse bin. In this short time a would-be burglar could be watching.
  • In the event that you may actually walk into your apartment while a crime is in progress, do not enter it under any circumstances and call the police immediately. They could be armed and you could get seriously hurt. It is not worth the risk.
  • Never leave a spare key anywhere outside of your apartment. Any burglar knows the first place to check for door keys is under the doormat or behind the flower pot. You may as well leave your front door wide open. If you are concerned about ever losing your keys, or accidentally leaving them locked in your apartment then leave a key with a trusting neighbour or with the doorman.
  • Never let anyone in who you don’t know who you don’t expect to call. For example, if a repairman claims you called him and he says he needs to get into your apartment then send hi away. Even if you did call for the repairman, always ask for identification before letting them in. If they cant provide these, then send them away. Remember, you are putting your safety at risk by letting away in who you don’t know.
  • Do not be overly flamboyant about expensive possessions as you never know who is listening. You want to minimize the attractiveness of your apartment to any would-be thief and don’t go around telling everyone about your expensive new possessions.
  • Many people write their full name on their nameplate near the front door of the building. Do not do this as it gives too much information away to the would-be thief. Instead, write either your surname and first initial or just your surname. This point should be particularly noted by women living alone. They tend to be likely targets and potential criminals will look for women’s names and go there first.