Choosing a Safe Residence

The following areas should be investigated for security when considering an apartment or house for potential renting:

• Outside Doors: All doors leading to living areas from the outside, garage, cellar, etc., should be of solid construction, with secure hinges and a peephole viewer.
• Locks: All outside doors should be locked at all times with double cylinder deadbolt locks. However, make sure a key is quickly available in case a quick fire exit is necessary.
• Sliding Glass Doors: A pin through the frame or a rod laid in the track will prevent sliding doors from being opened from the outside.
• Garage Doors: Lock your garage door to deny access to your living area through your garage.
• Keys: Do not leave a key hidden outside your door or give your house keys to a parking attendant or anyone else you do not fully trust. If you lose your keys or are not sure who might have a key, change the locks.
• Windows: Windows should have secure locks or pins for both closed and partially opened positions. Curtains or blinds should be used for privacy.
• Lights: Good visibility at night with adequate lighting should be maintained around all outside entrances, hallways, driveways, etc. Light timers can be used to control lights inside your residence while you are away. Extra fuses, bulbs and flashlights should be available.
• Greenery: Check to make sure trees, bushes and shrubs are neatly trimmed to prevent potential intruders from hiding behind them.

 Secutiry Habits at Home

All the security devices in the world will not keep you safe if you do not make it a habit of using them. Healthy caution must become a habit.

• Always check through the peephole viewer to see who is outside your door. Never open your door to anyone you do not know and fully trust.
• When you answer the doorbell or phone, never let the visitor or caller know that you are home alone. Give the impression that someone else is in the house with you.
• In the case of service and repair personnel, verify their identities and purposes with their dispatchers before you open the door. If you allow them to enter, arrange to either have a friend or neighbor there with you or monitoring you with periodic phone calls. Make these precautions obvious.
• If someone you do not fully trust asks to make an emergency phone call, don't open the door. Refer them to the apartment office or a nearby phone booth.
• Be careful about giving out information concerning yourself or where you live, either in person, by mail or over the phone.
• Give no indication on your mailbox or in the phone directory that you are female or living alone.
• Keep emergency phone numbers posted on your phones.
• When returning home, make sure that you are not being followed. Be alert for anyone who may be waiting for you to unlock your door so that they can force their way in. Have your keys ready before you get to your door so that you can enter as quickly as possible. If possible, have your cell phone handy and turned on.
• When returning home, if you have any reason to believe that an unauthorized entry has been made while you were away, go to a safe place immediately, such as a neighbor's house, and get help before you return.