Popular Mechanics Home Security Handbook 0878512136, 9780878512133

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HOME SECURITY

HANDBOOK

.k-..

\

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2009

http://www.archive.org/details/popularmechanicsOOcowa

Popular Mechanics

HOME SECURITY

HANDBOOK T.

COWAN

^

HEARST BOOKS NEW YORK

\

©

Copyright

1982

by Cloverdale

Press, Inc.

All rights reserved.

No

part of

book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any

this

means

— graphic,

electronic, or

mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems without written permission of the publishers. For information, address Hearst Books, 224 West 57th Street, New York,

—

N.Y. 10019. Illustrated by Alphonse Tvaryanas

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication

Cowan,

Data

T.

Popular mechanics home sehandbook. Includes index 1. Dwellings Security measures. I. Popular mechanics magazine. II. Title. III. Title: Home security handbooks. curity

—

TH9745.D85C68 1982 643'. 16

82-11770

ISBN 0-87851-213-6 10

98765432

Printed in the United States of

America

While the advice contained in book is based on information supplied by recognized home security experts, no book can provide total assurance that your home will be completely safe from intruders. The highest degree of security can best be achieved by consulting with home security experts in your community this

in order to tailor protective

measures ation.

to

your unique

situ-

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: YOUR

HOME

1

YOU CAN STOP A

2

HOME SECURITY SURVEY

9

THIEF

10 16

Security survey 19; Evaluating security measures 21; Apartment security survey 24

3

DOORS

28

Hollow core doors 31; Screen doors 32; Solid wooden doors with panels 32; Steel doors 32; Sliding glass doors 33; Doors that do not fit snugly 34; Doors with hollow door frames 34; Doors that open outward 35; Reinforcing wooden doors around the lock 36; Two overlooked doors 36; Peepholes 37

4

DOOR LOCKS Terminology

41;

38

For extra security 43;

A

secure

strike 44; Cylindrical locks 45; Mortise locks 46;

Deadbolt rimlocks

48;

Tubular deadbolts

50;

Lock

cylinders 52; High security cylinders 54; Fox locks 55; Double Fox bars 55; Chain locks 55; Chain alarms 56; Pin-tumbler locks and locksmiths 56; New key styles 59

5

WINDOWS

60

Double hung windows Sliding

windows

breakable glass 66;

6

65;

Aluminum windows 65; Casement windows 65; Un63;

66; Skylights 66; Air conditioners

Basement windows

67; Grilles for

windows

68

YARD SECURITY Fences 72; Fence alarms 75; Gate locks 75; Building codes 75; Outdoor lighting 76; Areas to light 76; Guidelines for purchasing outdoor lights 77; Designing an outdoor lighting system 77; Three types of lighting problems 78; Lighting tips 79; Automatic lighting control 79; Converting a lamppost fixture into a mercury- vapor light 80; Indoor lighting 81; Canine protection 82

70

7

PADLOCKS

84

Hasps 88; Hasp locks Shrouded shackle locks 89; Nuisance locks 89; Combination locks 89 Features

8

of padloclcs 87;

88;

PERIMETER ALARM SYSTEMS

90

Complete home security systems 93; Sensors 94; Control boxes 95; Alarm and other attachments 97; Floor mats 97; Panic button 99; How to install a perimeter system 100; Installing a mercury switch 102; How to run wire in a finished room 103;

How to wire open-circuit atShunt switches and remote conWireless perimeter alarm 108; Line carri-

Window

tachments trols 106;

foil 104;

104;

er alarm 109

9

MOTION DETECTORS

110

Self-contained motion detectors 112; Ultrasonic motion detectors 113; Microwave motion detectors 115; Infrared light beams 116; Thermal sensors 117

10

GARAGES

118

Automatic garage doors 121; Overhead doors Swinging garage doors 123

11

AUTOMOBILES

124

Automobile alarm systems 128;

128;

Pendulum sensors

Voltage sensors 128; Ultrasonic alarms 129;

Automobile safety habits

12

122;

130

PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLES Outboard motors

132

Motorcycles and bicycles 135; Trailers 136; Skis 137; Paintings 137; Desk drawers 137; A sprawling house 138; I.D. numbers 138; Homeowner's insurance 138; Family security room 140; Safes and secret compartments 142 Pull aparts 134;

13

135;

AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

144

APPENDIX Vacation security checklist Suppliers source list 155

INDEX

150 150;

Seasonal surveys

153;

157

INTRODUCTION

YOUR HOME be home a place where you deserve Your where you where you can know your family to

is

is

safe;

safe;

can safely keep your hard-earned possessions. Sadly, you can no longer take that for granted. We live in an era when crime is a problem, when too many Americans have already suffered the trauma of robbery or worse. But with the basic strategies and simple hardware described in this book, you can prevent the trouble. If you want to safeguard your family and property, you should know where and how a thief will try to break in, what he looks for when he approaches your house or apartment, and what will make him avoid you and move on. If you can use an electric drill and other common household tools, this book will tell you how to secure your house at no great expense. If you don't want to do the work yourself, use this book to learn what you need to get the job done. If you read this book from cover to cover, you can put yourself at the bottom of a thief's list of likely targets. The following chapters will give you an overview of home security, then teach you how to secure the entry points and approaches to your house, how to use alarm systems, how to protect your garage and automobile, how to solve special problems protecting your valuables, and how to react safely when the worst happens and your security breaks down. You owe it to yourself and your family to know your adversary, and know what stops him. You can use this book to lock out crime. If you foUow the strategies detailed in these pages, common burglars won't bother you because they'll know there are easier houses to rob waiting down

—

the street.

#

/ll {1}

%

YOU CAN STOP

A THIEF

If

you know the

profiles of

burglars, petty to profes-

you can moke a start toward keeping them out of your home. You are only as likely to get robbed as you let yourself be, and simple precautions can sional,

make

that very unlikely.

\

YOU CAN STOP A THIEF

are not helpless. In spite of the soaring crime rate across the nation, in spite of the fact that you cannot be at home twenty-four hours a day to guard your property, and in spite of the fact that you may never even see the thief who tries to break into your house, you are not helpless. The war against crime the crime in your own front yard is a war of wits, a question of creativity, a matter of foiling the criminal, beating him at his own game of security. Though there is no such thing as total home security, there is no reason for homeowners to surrender to what they wrongly think is the inevitable. The "if it's going to happen, it's going to happen" attitude plays right into the criminal's strategy. He's banking on your having the attitude that nothing can be done. Why? Because he knows that a lot can be done. By reading this you're doing

You

—

—

something about your security. The average thief realizes that it doesn't have to happen. Not to you. He knows thousands of creative, far-sighted men and women have taken the necessary steps to outwit

him by making their homes less vulnerable to forced entry. By learning the basic principles of home security, you too can stop a thief before he breaks into your home and robs you, or threatens the lives of you and your family, or merely vandalizes your property and leaves. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to know at least as much as the average thief knows about locks, alarms, doors, windows, and the many protective devices which when used effectively can thwart a robbery. Every successful thief, even the amateur, knows how to break into your house. Do you know how to stop him? First, you should know who your enemy is. The most common burglar is not a professional. He's a young, opportunistic amateur out for some easy bucks. He knows he wants to make some money. He wants to rob. He usually doesn't know who will be his target. Most of the time, the specific victim of a home burglary is not part of the original plan. The plan is simply to make a heist. Choosing the victim is a matter of circumstances and impulses, often determined on the spur of the moment from the hunches that occur to a thief. For a variety of reasons that he recognizes spontaneously, a thief decides that it will be your house and not another's. A crucial consideration for him is his own security. The 12

ssS-^X^

#

YOU CAN STOP A THIEF

and

easier a robbery can be, the better. No thief wants to get caught. So the average burglar will look for the house that promises the best payoff for the least amount safer

of time

and

trouble. In the best of all possible worlds of crime, he looks for a sitting duck. A professional thief, one who relies on robbery as his main source of income, may spend more time casing a

neighborhood, sizing up potential targets, estimating

and learning

the daily living habits of the family

house he thinks

will

phisticated tools,

risks,

whose

be most profitable. He will have more

so-

some as precision-made as the security deHe knows what he's

vices installed in the house to stop him.

doing because he has years of experience behind him. He's less scared, less nervous than the youthful amateur, but like him, he wants to avoid confrontation. He wants an easy and safe job. He doesn't want to interrupt a career which, if he's good at it, can net him over $500 a day. Another type of thief is the drug addict who operates more recklessly than the amateur and the professional thief. Desperate for the money to maintain his costly drug habit, he'll take chances the others won't. He's also more

dangerous when confronted.

He'll try anything. Basic to every burglary are three questions a thief wants answered early in his plotting: What does this house con-

tain that's

worth stealing? Where

best time to steal

it?

considering, he wants to able,

where you keep

it,

is

it

kept?

When

is

the

your home he's know what you've got that's valuand when it will be the most vul-

In other

words,

if it's

And basically those are the three questions that every homeowner should also ask— because is in those three areas that a homeowner can outwit a thief. is appalling how few people consider these questions seriously. Many innocently assume that they have nothing nerable.

it

It

worth stealing, so even if someone did break in, there would be nothing for him to take. But the black market is enormous, and even the most modest home has the appliances and electronic equipment that a robber can dispose of rapidly. Even should there be nothing worth taking, a frustrated thief can vent his rage by vandalizing your furniture and clothing out of spite for having wasted his time on the wrong house. The destruction may not amount to much in dollars lost, but it may take a considerable toll in memories and sentiment attached to what is lost.

13

.^''V^%. /tV %.

i

YOU CAN STOP A THIEF

Anyone who owns expensive property must consider how vulnerable his or her possessions are. In the average home, the usual items are in the usual places. And a thief knows that. Too many people never take the extra precautions that protect those valuables.

And when

could you be robbed?

You know

the proper security measures, every time

that without

you leave the

house unattended, you give a waiting thief the opportunity to break in. Of course you can't be there continuously, but the locks and alarms you mount on your doors and windows, the way you illuminate your property at night, and the simple habits of safety that will make it harder for a criminal to spot your house as empty could mean the difference between losing or retaining your cherished items. What do you have, where is it, and when is it most vulnerable? Three simple questions that the security-minded homeowner must not fail to answer. You do not want to live in a fool's paradise of security, a paradise easily invaded by the thief lurking in the neighborhood. Proof that there are very few islands of security is the fact that crime has spread even into those towns and neighborhoods that were once considered safe. Gone are the good old days when you could leave your house unlocked when you ran out to the store. In fact, the affluent neighborhoods, which have traditionally been considered safer than the poorer areas of town, have now become the prime targets for home burglaries. It makes sense. The more affluent homes have more loot. The sad conclusion derived from recent years' statistics is that there are no more places to move to in order to escape being victimized. Achieving affluence and moving to a better section of town is like setting yourself up to be robbed. It would be wonderful if people had a balanced and reperception of their vulnerability. But frequently this is not the case. We tend to jump to one extreme conclusion or another. Either we never give a second thought to our alistic

we become obsessed by the

fear and worry that between is the more realistic position for most Americans unless of course you live in the heart of a high-crime area. But average Americans living neither on a fortressed estate nor in the midst of an urban slum can assess their vulnerability and take security or

we

will

be

hit next.

Somewhere

in

steps to battle the rising crime rate.

14

—

YOU CAN STOP A THIEF

home is a matter of common sense, practical measures to make a burglar's job harder for him. It's not romantic. Some people imagine that owning a sleek Protecting your

attack dog, brandishing a handgun in a prowler's face, or taking a karate course in a nearby community center will

be

they need. Perhaps the heroics of television crime the unusual human interest items on the evening news distort our perception of crime and the ways to deter it. You should question your own knowledge of crime all

shows and

and

the

methods you can employ around the house

to cre-

ate better security.

you are an average homeowner, statistically you fall into the large group of people who are relatively ignorant of crime and ways to prevent it. You may even be among those who show little concern and assume it will never happen to them. Your home was probably constructed with the minimum of security devices since the average builder and contractor tries to eliminate the more expensive materials and security features in order to keep costs down. But by reason of your having bought a book such as this, you are now in that ever-growing group of Americans who are taking a stand against neighborhood crime. According to the New York City Police Department, good technology can reduce home burglaries by 40 to 70%. Discovering your most vulnerable entry points and protecting them will reduce the probability of your home's being vandalized, as a California study showed that more than twice as many burglaries occur at locations around the house If

that are not well

or that are concealed from the street. Similar investigations in California showed that a burglary

was

lit

more likely to occur where there are no functioning alarms and ten times as likely in homes that have no Operation Identification or other program for thirteen times

marking possessions. But keep in mind that all your efforts and the suggestions contained in this book only work to reduce the probability that you will be burglarized. As you will discover in these chapters, no lock or alarm system is 100% foolproof. The security improvements you make in your home will only make the job riskier for the burglar by creating obstacles of noise, light, or time all of which contribute to his chances of being discovered.

—

—

15

—

#%% # -rn % {h

HOME SECURITY

SURVEY

Use

this

chapter

to

survey

the strong and weak points in your home secuall

rity

program.

inviting

fenses,

If

you

find

gaps in your deyou can remedy

them with the

instructions

Find the problems yourself, don't

later in the book.

wait for a thief to you.

show

\

/S\ HOME SECURITY SURVEY

When

a burglar looks at your home from his slowly passing car or from across the street as he strolls casually down your block, he sees things you don't see. He isn't just admiring your house, he's casing it with a critical eye that knows exactly where to look for vulnerable entry points. He observes shadows and shrubbery that would provide him with cover. He notices a second story window that is always slightly open, a tree limb that almost touches the window. He knows when all the automobiles in your household are customarily gone. He sees that you always leave the garage door open. He compares your home with others around it, deciding which looks most vulnerable, which too risky, which not worth the effort or the chance of getting caught. In short, a burglar even an amateur one wants to play it safe. A burglar knows something that you will learn as you read this book in fact, it's the reason why you should read this book: feeling safe and being safe can be two different

—

—

—

things.

Many

because they've never been hit before and assume "it can't happen to us." Others have reasonably new locks and outdoor lights and suppose that people

feel safe

are all they need, when in fact the locks will not strengthen an already weak door frame and a lighting system, while illuminating walks and drives, may create a tunnel of dark shadows leading directly up to a bedroom window. In these cases and others like them, a false sense of security can prevent homeowners from taking the extra measures necessary to fortify their homes adequately. On the other hand, some people never enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their homes are as burglar-resistant as possible. An unjustified sense of insecurity keeps some people constantly worried and adding new but unnecessary gadgets to an already efficient burglar defense system. Ideally, you should have a realistic perception of your vulnerability and rest assured that you have taken measures that will protect you and your property. Unfortunately, some people never know to what extent their property, their home, and their possessions are vulnerable until they have been burglarized. And then it's too late. Coming home to find that you've been robbed is a rude way to dislocks

and

lights

18

4s^^wir%

# HOME SECURITY SURVEY

cover that your security defenses were weak. On the other hand, you can do some preventive casing of your own home and determine to what extent your house may be a likely target for a thief or vandal. You should undertake an exhaustive security check of your house and premises to determine how difficult or how easy it would be for a thief to break in and rob you. The Security Survey that follows is the start of your home security efforts. The remaining chapters detail specific measures you can take to fortify your against criminal intrusion. Remember that conditions change year by year. A survey of your family's safety should be an ongoing process, repeated seasonally or

home

yearly as your living situation

demands

it.

SECURITY SURVEY following questions should give you some indication as to how vulnerable your home is to criminal assault. They should also start you thinking about

The answers

to the

home security. Inspect the places and fixtures referred to as you read the survey, and refer to the relevant chapters more information. Do all your doors and windows lock securely? Can each door be locked from inside and out? • Are your locks old, rusty, poorly installed, worn with

for

•

age, loose? Are they the deadbolt type?

your locks be easily jimmied? Is the bolt protected so that it cannot be sawed through? Would it be easy to saw, hack, cut, drill, or pry off any lock? Are your locks capable of withstanding a forced entry for sufficient time? •

Can any

•

Have you locked

of

all

unused doors?

What about the door frames? Are all Could the hinges be removed? Are the pins removable your doors sturdy?

•

from the outside? there a gap between the edge of any door and its frame large enough for a thief to slip a tool through? • Do your doors have panes of glass or thin wooden pan•

Is

els?

Could a

thief

reach

and unlock your door wooden panels?

in

if

he broke

through the glass or the • Do your windows fit snugly? Is the putty or glazing dried and brittle and easy to chip off? Are any broken? • Are you as concerned about locking basement and second floor windows as you are about the ones on the 19

HOME SECURITY SURVEY

ground floor? Have you permanently secured all unused windows? • Do you lock your windows every time you go out? • Does your house have a particularly vulnerable window like one above a porch roof, near a fire escape, reachable from the limb of a tree? • Do you have any doors or windows (including the basement and attic) that cannot be locked at all? • How effective is your alarm system? When was it last the batteries work? Does it need new parts? be expanded or modified? Does it cover all the entry points to your home? • Is it easy to trespass unseen across your property? Are tested?

Do

Should

it

there trees, high shrubs, stone walls, or outbuildings to

hide behind? At night are there deep shadows leading from the edge of your property to the house? Are there thick bushes to offer concealment to a thief up close to your house? • Do you have fences and gates? Are they purely ornamental or do you expect them to keep prowlers and trespassers out? Do the gates lock? Are the hinges secure? • Is your property well lit at night especially the areas you walk through and use the most? Would the light pattern aound your house help or hinder a prowler? Does your lighting system create dark shadows where a thief might hide? Do you turn your lights on at night? Do you have an auxiliary power source for emergencies? Are the outdoor switches securely protected? • From a burglar's point of view would your house look less protected than others on the block? Does it look more open and accessible? Or, consider how a burglar would evaluate your home and property in terms of loot. Does your home look more affluent than others? Do you leave expensive sporting equipment outdoors, such as campers or boats? Could a burglar see your living room furnishings from the street? Do you leave an expensive car or motorcycle in the driveway? In other words, when you compare your home with others on the street in terms of accessibility and affluence, does yours look like the likely target? • Are your security measures clearly observable to a robber? How can you make them more visible? Are they such that a thief would probably give up when he ran up against them?

—

20

r {1} % HOME SECURITY SURVEY

a burglar approached your property or got into your house, is it likely that his presence would be detected? By whom? You and your family? By neighbors? By a dog? No one? • Are your neighbors usually around? Are they dependable? Would they respond if they saw your home being vandalized? Do they know what your security measures are? Do they know what your burglar alarm sounds like? • Is there a particular entry to your house that is not observable, such as a door or window in back, or on a side of your house where there is little surveillance? Is there an entry where a thief could spend time breaking in and not have to worry about being seen or heard? • Who has keys to your house? How many keys are there? Have you lost any keys lately? Are there master keys? Who has one? Have you hidden a key in an obvious place like under the mat? Can your keys be easily duplicated? • Where do you keep your most valuable items? Do you keep a lot of cash on hand? Where are the hot items that burglars can sell on the black market? Are they locked up? Can they be seen from the street? Are they in a direct line of a window? Are they in a remote and poorly protected section of the house? •

•

If

Do you have property insurance? Would you be able

financially to replace your stolen property?

EVALUATING SECURITY MEASURES When you

consider the costs of a security system for your home, there is more to consider than the initial cost of the equipment. Here is a list of factors you should think

through when evaluating the level of protection necessary for your personal needs.

What is the crime pressure in your neighborhood? Crime pressure means the number of burglaries compared to the number of households in your area. Don't be misled by 1.

"crime rate," which is usually calculated in terms of the number of crimes per 100, 000 population. As defined by the Federal Government, the crime pressure ratio is a more realistic estimate of crime in your neighborhood because, as you know, most homes represent more than one individual.

A relatively low crime rate can conceal the danger

#-"{i^S HOME SECURITY SURVEY

that

becomes obvious when

the facts are stated in terms of

burglaries per residential unit. In some cities, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., for example, the police departments have broken down precincts into smaller units of a given number of city blocks. By using census data and the crime statistics for these units, it is possible to calculate the crime pressure. Then, by taking the average number of residents per dwelling, one can develop a clearer picture of how likely the chances are that the citizens of that neighborhood will become victims of If you are interested in this type of overview for your neighborhood, call the crime analysis (or crime statistics) department of your city's police department.

crime.

your home when compared with other homes in the neighborhood? Would a burglar be more likely to pick your house over your neighbor's because yours looks more expensive? Can he see through your windows that you have valuable items around? Look at your home through a burglar's eyes and consider whether it looks more open or less protected than your neighbor's. 2.

How vulnerable

3.

How much do you

is

anticipate

you would

lose

if

your

hit? Obviously, even a professional heist would wipe you out completely. What would they take? Which items would they probably not take? Why? For example,

home were not

and frequently stolen, but if yours is a grand console model built into a heavy piece of furniwould probably not be taken as readily as a small ture,

televisions are hot items

it

portable model.

how

system you are thinking of purchasing would be in terms of reducing the apparent vulnerability of your house. Think in terms of making your house look protected. Sturdy doors, grilles over windows, light fixtures on your gables would be easily seen from the street and might discourage a thief from choosing your home. 4.

Next, consider

effective the security

How effective would the security devices you are considering be in reducing your loss anticipated in Question Three? For example, would the valuable equipment you keep in your garage be adequately protected by backyard lights alone? Or would the garage need new locks as well? 5.

22

HOME SECURITY SURVEY

own fear and worry when evaluatYour peace of mind should be an important result of the security improvements you invest in for your home. What are your real fears and worries? For example, you may have invested in the best lock money can buy for your door, but if you still have fear of prowlers or peeping toms, you may need floodlights as well. Or, even with high security locks, you might feel safer with an alarm system that would warn you should a thief defeat your Don't overlook your

6.

ing

home

security.

locks.

But be sure your peace of mind is grounded in reality. Know precisely what your security defenses require. Don't just try to keep up with the Joneses by installing every security device they have. Equally important, don't let emotional advertisements that play on your fears railroad you into buying expensive, technologically flashy equipment if you

need

it. Don't suppose that just because a prodincorporates the latest technology that it adequately insures your safety^ You may need other, more traditional devices in addition to the latest wonder.

don't really uct

new and

is

7. Will the new security measures complement and enhance the protection you already have? Or are they unnecessary? Or do they not contribute to your existing system at all? Consider how effective a new deadbolt rimlock would be mounted on a weak door that is installed in a

rotting frame.

others

Many

example, mounted. lock, for

8.

security devices are interrelated to

and cannot be is

installed in isolation from them.

only as strong as the door on which

In addition to the initial cost of the

and maintenance

purchase, keep

A it's

in

you have your alarm system installed by professionals, you will pay perhaps twice as much as you would if you installed it yourself. Similarly, a system that includes a monthly contract with the installer to come and check out your system will raise the overall cost. Far cheaper in the long run is a system that requires less maintenance or maintenance that you can perform yourself.

mind

9.

the installation

Another point

that

is

worth checking

costs.

If

into is the

malfunc-

an alarm system. An honest dealer or references by people who have bought a particular model will tioning rate of

23

i.^^«'l''%.

# HOME SECURITY SURVEY

give you

an

indication regarding the future trouble

you

can expect. The alarm descriptions in this book will also inform you as to how and why various protective devices malfunction. 10.

Lastly, is the security

of

alarms or locks you

install, their

effectiveness

related to the alert, conscientious use of

your family, even the

come

to buy Whatever type

system you are planning

consistent with your family's living habits?

kids.

may

A

is

directly

them by you and

family with teenagers

some alarms

who

be a nuisance. Similarly, a household with dogs or cats might have to make unwelcome changes in their lives (and the lives of their pets) if they purchase a motion detector. You don't want your cat to trigger a false alarm in the middle of the night. You should also consider your neighbors when it

comes false

in late at night

to false

alarms.

A

find

to

family that frequently triggers

alarms can lose the good

will of

its

and as component of any neighbors,

you will see later in this book, a vital home's security is a helpful, watchful neighbor. If your alarm system cries wolf too often, neighbors have a tendency to turn a deaf ear. It is important to keep in mind these various components of cost effectiveness as you read about the various products and devices that will improve your home's security. Don't be misled into buying the newest, most expensive, or even the most foolproof system. The so-called best may not be right or even necessary for your home.

APARTMENT DWELLERS' SECURITY SURVEY Apartments present unique opportunities for burglars. Because there

is frequently a steady turnover in tenburglars know that apartment dwellers are used to unfamiliar people coming and going. Living in an area of high population density, apartment dwellers are often accustomed to the sight of people they assume are friends or relatives of their neighbors, walking out of the building, their arms filled with tv's, stereos, cameras, boxes of household goods, sometimes even loading it all onto trucks and vans. The presence of so many single people and couples without children living in apartments encourages thieves who can count on most of the units being

ants,

24

4.^^T>^ HOME SECURITY SURVEY

empty each day while tenants are at work. Often the only people around during the day are the retired elderly who, although they might be in the habit of watching at their windows, often for reasons of their own safety will not confront strangers on the grounds or in the building itself. Indeed,

it

is

impossible

to

be suspicious

of

every stranger in

an apartment complex. After seeing so many unfamiliar faces day in and day out delivery men, repair men, new tenants, their friends, relatives, overnight guests one loses the impulse to wonder whether people have reason

—

—

be in the building or not. Another factor that breeds crime is the wealth of hiding places common to many apartment buildings and complexes. Hallways, stairs, gangways, carports, garages, elevators, balconies, laundry rooms, and, in some apartment complexes, shrubbery, tennis courts, swimming pools, clubhouses, other outbuildings, and parking lots usually overcrowded with automobiles all can provide cover for a burglar as he sneaks up or makes his getaway. Probably two key factors that motivate many burglars to concentrate on apartment buildings are that the apartment units themselves have poor security defenses, and that apartment dwellers can often be oblivious to personal security or careless when it comes to safety. Too many tenants in new security-patrolled complexes or luxury buildto

—

ings with fancy doors and doormen erroneously assume that they have maximum protection. And many take the same attitude toward home security as they do toward home improvements: since I don't own the building, why should I sink money into it? Why put on a new lock when I'll be moving within the year? Compounding this condition is the state of disrepair many owners tolerate in their buildings. Over a period of years, a succession of unconcerned tenants encouraged by uncooperative owners has pro-

duced a situation that is ripe for theft. Doors poorly mounted in weakened door frames, windows that don't lock, hallways with dark nooks and corners, empty units with broken windows and unlocked doors it all adds up to

—

trouble for the apartment dweller.

Personal safety, like most things, is partly a matter of awareness. As an apartment dweller, how conscious are you of the conditions in your apartment that nurture crime? How safe is your building? Is it really safe, or does every-

25

# {1} % HOME SECURITY SURVEY

one just talk about it as if it were? Even more than the homeowner, you as an apartment dweller are vulnerable, with the door locked as well as when go to the laundry room, come home late at night and walk through the lobby, park your car in the garage or lot, ride the elevator. You are exposed to more dangerous places and more unfamiliar people than the person who lives on a quiet residential street and knows all the neighbors. For safety and peace of mind, you should make a security check of your living conditions and then take steps to improve those conditions wherever you can.

while you're at

you step out

home

into the hallway,

How dangerous

your neighborhood? Are there commercial establishments that attract shoppers and outsiders during the day? Do nearby merchants provide surveillance during the day while you are gone, or not? Is police protection adequate? • How safe is your apartment complex? Is it located far outside the city where police protection is minimal? Are there guards on duty? Is there a watchman at the gate? Is there easy access to anyone who wants to enter it? Is it surrounded by woods or wild areas? • Do you know the owner of your building? The building superintendent? The resident manager? The doorman? The maintenance crew? The repair people your owner usually hires from the outside? The meter readers from the utility companies? The mail carrier? Obviously you know some of these people better than others, but for maximum peace of mind it is important to introduce yourself and make the acquaintance of as many of the local regulars as •

is

possible. Not only will

you

feel safer

when you

see them,

but because they know you, they will be more willing to help should you ever be in trouble. • Do you know your neighbors? Who are the people on your floor? Can you recognize by sight the tenants who live in other parts of the building? Do you know their names? Again, it is to your advantage to know as many of them as possible by name and be familiar with their daily schedules. The idea is not to become friends with everyone, but to get to know the ones you can rely on in emergencies. • How safe is your parking area? Is it a multi-level building? Is it underground? Is it well lit and supervised at night? If

you have assigned parking 26

spots,

can you spot the make

*S\

#

HOME SECURITY SURVEY

and model of your neighbors' cars? Would you recognize on unfamiliar car there? Is the walk from your car to the building safe or are there hiding places along the way, places created by shrubs, outbuildings, other cars, retaining walls?

How

the entranceway?

Is there a reliable doorthe entrance doors have substantial locks? Are tenants in the habit of locking doors if they do not automatically lock when closed? Is there an intercom system? If not,

•

safe

is

man? Do

do you (and other tenants) buzz

who •

in callers without

knowing

they are?

Does the lobby

your building provide safety once you too dangerous an area? Can transients

of

are inside or is it spend time there? Are there hiding places ? • Is the stairwell or elevator well lit? Are the hallways and stairs free of debris? Are lights turned on? Are they bright

enough? • Are your laundry and storage areas well lit? Are they accessible to people off the street? Could your shouting for help be heard from them? If they are dangerous places, do you go into them alone or take someone with you? • Can a prowler get into the building from the roof? Can he get onto the roof from other buildings? Is the door to the roof locked? Is there a fire escape that leads to the roof? Could someone from the roof get onto balconies? Is the roof inaccessible to tenants or is it used for sunning or partying? The more people that use the roof the greater the chances that it will be left unlocked and that it can be used by thieves breaking into the building. • If you shouted for help while in your apartment, who would hear you? If your walls are thin, would your neighbors respond if you beat on the wall or called to them in an

emergency?

Can people who live in nearby buildings see into your apartment? Can you close curtains or blinds at night? Do you have timers for when you are away to create the illu•

you are still home? Do you leave a be back by night?

sion that will not

light

on

if

you

Questions like these and many others should be on every apartment dweller's mind. Only by being aware of the dangers that you are exposed to every day will you also learn how to be on your guard.

"

1

#

{1}

\

DOORS

Just as you come and go through your doors, so will

— unless you make much trouble. No matter how good your thieves it

too

they are only as secure as the doors on which they are mounted. Battered and insubstantial doors are an invitation to robbery; you can replace or reinforce them. locks,

\

3;

#

DOORS

SOLID

PATIO LOCK

WOODEN DOORS

WITH PANELS A solid wooden door at

,.,-.lll