Estate and mortgageHigh-Rise Apartment Safety
High-rise apartment buildings are generally considered to be safer
residences when compared to other varieties of multifamily housing. Such
properties often have a full-time doorman or front-desk clerk and are
constructed in a manner (for example, interior hallways, underground
parking) that makes it more difficult to be approached by an intruder.
Nevertheless, high-rises have their own security issues that you should
take into consideration. Regardless of how much money you shell out in rent
to move into a respected high-rise property, the fact remains that everyone
is vulnerable to crime.
One of the biggest advantages of living in a high-rise is that it"s easier
for residents to band together and form cooperative crime-watch
organizations. Don"t assume that your doorman or the management staff has
it covered. They can only do so much, and some of them aren"t doing enough.
When it comes to safety, the only person you can count on is yourself. But
it"s a good idea to team up with your neighbors to look out for each other.
In the process, you"re getting to know each other, which makes it far
easier to spot strangers.
To get started, introduce yourself to the neighbors living on your floor.
Propose the idea of a crime-watch organization, decide on a convenient time
for your first meeting, and call the local police department to see if a
representative can attend. Distribute flyers, and post an announcement on
each floor and in the main lobby as a reminder. The points you"ll want to
cover in your first meeting -- and in all future meetings, for that matter
-- include:
Vigilance in the lobby.
Much like hotels, the lobbies of high-rise
apartment buildings are the easiest place to spot intruders. When you"re
selecting a high-rise in which to live, be sure you choose one with a
single point of entry in and out of the lobby. It"s an added safety feature
if the lobby is small. Both of these elements make it easier for a doorman,
clerk and even residents to spot unfamiliar faces and/or people who seem to
be loitering. If you do spot anyone who looks suspicious, report it to
security or management immediately. And by all means, if you notice that
the front desk staff seems to be lenient in their approach to visitors --
merely waving people in without asking questions -- it"s time to issue a
complaint to management.
Front-door safety.
Remind fellow residents through flyers and constant
reminders in your crime-watch meetings about the importance of keeping the
front doors of your building completely closed and locked at all times.
Never allow strangers to "scoot in" after you as you enter the building --
especially those who are waiting by the front door for the earliest
opportunity to enter. If you feel rude shutting the door in their faces,
that"s a small price to pay for safety. Alert security or management staff
that someone is waiting outside.
Report suspicious activity.
If you spot anyone in your building who"s
roaming the halls or the lobby without being noticed, report it to
security, management or the police. In big cities, neighbors are living in
close quarters and tend to place a particularly high premium on preserving
fellow neighbors" privacy. So when they see strangers roaming about, they
choose not to get involved. Unfortunately, this approach is what leads to
burglarly or worse. So be a busybody, and alert someone. Your neighbors
will appreciate you for it. Furthermore, if you spot a stranger leaving
your neighbor"s apartment with items in hand, call your neighbor just to
make sure he or she is at home. (And no, you"re not being nosy, just
protective.)
Be selective.
The vast majority of high-rises alert residents -- usually
by ringing your phone or signaling a buzzer in your apartment -- when
visitors arrive and need entry. Although it may sound obvious or even
hypervigilant, don"t indiscriminately buzz in visitors, even if you"re
expecting company. Check on their identity first. You may even consider
having a code word for family and friends.
Vacation precautions.
If you"re planning on leaving town for any length of
time, make sure you notify management and security before you leave -- and
let them know if a housesitter or petsitter will be dropping by when you"re
gone. Leave a number where they can reach you in case of emergency.
The best approach is to cancel the delivery of mail while you"re out of
town, period. But if you don"t want to do that, ask a neighbor, friend or
even management (if you"ve established a relatively high degree of trust
with staff) to accept packages and other deliveries while you"re gone.
Obviously, you don"t want to leave a note on your front door or on the
bulletin board in the lobby that announces your absence. If you"ve been
planning to order a piece of furniture or other large item, never ask to
have it delivered while you"re away. Store your jewelry, important papers
and other valuables in a safe deposit box, and leave a radio and a
time-activated light on to give the impression that someone"s home. The
management staff and a close neighbor are the only people who need know
you"re out of town.
If neighbors band together and look out for each other"s safety, a
high-rise can be one of the safest residential environments available to
city-dwellers. Close quarters can sometimes invite security risks, but
reaching out to neighbors and getting to know your management staff and
local police department will go a long way toward establishing trust and
increased security in your building. It"s in everyone"s best interests.
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