It’s important to do your part so you know what to do if you don’t feel safe in your apartment. Nobody wants to feel unsafe where they reside. This can cause anxiety and be detrimental to your health. Therefore, I’ve compiled some actions you can do to make you feel safe.
If you don’t feel safe in your apartment, consider these safety tips:
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors
- Lock your doors
- Use a Door Stopper
- Get a Doorbell Camera
- Keep pepper spray bedside or something to protect you
- Get a dog
- Take different routes when walking into your apartment
- Leave men boots outside your door
- Be aware of your surroundings
As someone who has lived alone for most of my adult life, I would recommend doing this to feel safe. This still applies if you live with family or with a roommate.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors
One of the first things you should do is to introduce yourself to your neighbors when you have a chance. Don’t be shy! I always introduce myself when I first move in with anyone I see around my apartment. It’s not difficult and keep it simple.
All you need is their name and what unit they are in. To get this information, I start by telling them my name and what unit number I am in. This usually breaks the ice, and they end up responding the same in return.
Getting to know who lives where will make you feel safe knowing if they belong in the area or not. It also allows you to open communication with them as they get to know you as well. If you are in good terms, they can become extra eyes for you in the neighborhood. Feeling safer can come from having someone you can trust around you.
Lock your doors
Locking your doors when you’re inside should be a habit if you don’t know what to do if you don’t feel safe in your apartment. This presents a secure barrier between you and the outside world.
You should never keep your door unlocked if you feel unsafe. Make sure you have a deadbolt that functions properly and keep it locked always. Having a deadbolt is one of the best ways from preventing unwanted entry. If you don’t have one, ask your landlord to add one. They are cheap, easy to install, and is a reasonable request.
Use a Door Stopper
When you’re going to sleep at night and want an added security measure, consider getting a door stopper. This device lays on an angle between the door handle and floor to make the door Impossible to open.
I’m sure you’ve seen those action movies where someone uses a chair to keep the door secured. This device does exactly this. It is cheap and affordable and can make you rest easy knowing no one can open the door at all from the outside.
Get a Doorbell Camera
Get yourself a doorbell camera. They are easy to install and don’t cost much at all. Most of them do charge for a monthly paid service to use, so be aware of that.
These little devices are becoming more common that ever before and are great deterrents. Who wants to break into an apartment knowing that a camera has already recorded them before they even committed the act? This is a great tool to have in your arsenal to make you feel safe.
Most cameras even come with communication capabilities so you can talk to whoever is outside, so you always have a barrier between you with a locked door.
Additionally, you need to talk to your landlord before you install one as it does require acknowledgement about a camera recording 24/7. I’ve never had an issue when I bring this up to a landlord, but you never know.
Keep pepper spray bedside or something to protect you
Keep some sort of protection at arm’s reach from your bed. In case of a midnight break-in, you can grab it fast to defend yourself immediately.
I would advise against using weapons unless you are trained. Using a simple pepper spray or a broom can be enough to make you feel safe incase you need it.
Get a dog
If you have the time and money to own a dog, consider getting one to make you feel safe in your apartment.
Dogs make noise when you’re not home. They can warn people around if something wrong is going on. Additionally, people will think twice when they hear a dog barking at the door as it will attract attention.
You don’t need a huge dog or a guard dog for this. A small dog will do more than enough to keep you and your home safe.
Take different routes when walking into your apartment
Be erratic when going into your apartment. Most people who break in will usually know your routine and route when you get home.
Therefore, it’s important to not always do the same thing every time you get home. Take another route when walking to your apartment if you can. This makes it harder to be predictable and can deter someone from entering your apartment when they can’t guess your schedule.
Leave men boots outside your door
As a female living alone, I received this tip from a police officer. Leaving some huge dirty boots outside the apartment is a great deterrent. Do you think someone wants to break into an apartment knowing there is a huge guy inside that wears size 13 boots?
Get some old boots from a thrift store or garage sale and leave them outside of your door. This will make people think twice.
Be aware of your surroundings
Always be aware of your surroundings when you’re outside or inside of your home. I don’t mean be a nosy neighbor, but when you hear something out of the ordinary, look outside to know what is going on.
When you walk into your apartment, always look behind and ahead of you for potential danger. The best way to prevent danger is to prevent it by paying attention.