How to secure an apartment from burglary

[McRhea]

I'm looking for some security advice specific to apartments. I've read Alkemyst's threads on his ordeal and his solution (monitored security sytem), but I don't think that's practical for my one bedroom apartment.

I live in a brandnew apartment building in Seattle. The building has secure entries (requires a key fob), however the theives get into the building anyway (slipping in when someone uses the door), and three of the apartments have been burglarized during the day (in the last week) when most everyone is at work. They use a drill to get through the single deadbolt, and then use the fire escape stairs to make it out of the building un-noticed.

My apartment has a single entry door with a single deadbolt, no other way to get into my apt. (I'm on the 3rd floor, windows are exposed to 2 streets, no way for them to get in through the window without a huge ladder and lots of attention).

What kind of devices could I arm AFTER I leave for work that would hopefully scare the theives away? I've purchased these two things from Amazon, but am looking for any other advice.

GE 50246 Smart Home Door Stop Alarm

Doberman SE-0109 Entry Defense

I want to startle them away from breaking in, and am thinking that door alarms might do the trick. Maybe some kind of vibration sensor that goes off when it detects them drilling the lock like this: Glass Vibration alarm. I know it's for glass, but it would probably work if mounted on the door.

Any other thoughts/advice?

 

[FoBoT]

web cam
stream it onto the internet
give all of us the ip address and everyone on ATOT will watch the web cam
give us your cell phone number
if we see anything fishy, we'll call you

 

[vi edit]

One of these should do the trick:

 

[her209]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UB3j6Tj5Ng

 

[lokiju]

They do make home security/alarm systems that dial the cops and everything you know.

 

[mikej007]

 

[rockyct]

Buy renters insurance and don't keep irreplaceable stuff in your apartment if you can. I'm sure they don't randomly target apartments, so try not to make it obvious on the stuff you have.

 

[JS80]

 

[FoBoT]

you could get one of these, but you'd have to use the fire escape to get in/out while it is set

http://www.theclub.com/default.aspx...rowse//MenuGroup/Home/desc/The+Door+Club™.htm

 

[McRhea]

Yup, signed up for renters insurance today. Nothing is irreplaceable in my apt, I'd just like to deter them from breaking in.

A gun won't help because I'm not at home when these guys are breaking in.

Are there any other kinds of motion detecting gadgets that will sound an alarm that I can arm after I close and lock the door?

Maybe I should get one of those keyless locks that requires a code...

 

[spidey07]

I'd just get better locks.

 

[darkxshade]

Drop a steaming pile of turd in front of your door. They will be too grossed out and move to the next apartment.

 

[joesmoke]

having absolutely nothing worth stealing is a good start!

 

[CRXican]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1027059/explosive_booby_trap/

 

[El Guaraguao]

him.

 

[AlienCraft]

Put a couple of cams outside your door, in plain sight.
Stream it and remote alert it to your mobile.
Put a "Smile you're on Camera" notice on the door.
Mention all valuables are ID'd for Identification.

Put another door lock on the door.
Make it harder than another door down the hall and put them on notice you're watching. They will seek out easier targets.

Oh yeah, actually doing that stuff really helps put it all over the top.

 

[zerocool84]

They have door and window alarms that sound when opened. Could scare them away. Since you live in an apartment don't know if there's much you can do by adding different locks to the door.

 

[BurnItDwn]

The bear traps and pressure sensor traps in Fallout 3 sometimes would get me towards the beginning of the game. If the burglars are low level, they will likely also have issues with them. I also fell for the tripwires from time to time, but I think that the grenades that are used in the game might be a bit much for an apartment.

 

[MichaelD]

Renter's Insurance is a fantastic idea: I tell everyone I can about Renter's Ins. That said, here's how to avoid getting your apartment broken into.

Stop letting people you don't know and trust come over.

It really is that simple.

That guy that seems cool that you met at the kegger last week (at the home of someone you don't know either)? He's casing your apartment the first time you let him in.

That bimbo you picked up at the bar at 4:00AM and then when you woke up at 3:40PM the next day and she was gone? Yeah, she called her boyfriend and his crack addict friends to tell them about your PS3 and sweet CD collection.

Get the drift? 99% of home robberies are either carried out by someone you let in and they cased/sized up the haul OR they contacted someone who actually did the break in.

 

[Zebo]

I'm an advocate of don't own much until you can move somewhere safe or carry good insurance. There is no securing. Any man can kick in a door or break a window and get out with what they want before cops get there. (avg response is 11 minutes nationwide)

A dog is good but only if his thoroughly trained in food refusal and man stopping. But that $5000 investment can be gone with one shot.

 

[Zebo]

Renter's Insurance is a fantastic idea: I tell everyone I can about Renter's Ins. That said, here's how to avoid getting your apartment broken into.

Stop letting people you don't know and trust come over.

It really is that simple.

That guy that seems cool that you met at the kegger last week (at the home of someone you don't know either)? He's casing your apartment the first time you let him in.

That bimbo you picked up at the bar at 4:00AM and then when you woke up at 3:40PM the next day and she was gone? Yeah, she called her boyfriend and his crack addict friends to tell them about your PS3 and sweet CD collection.

Get the drift? 99% of home robberies are either carried out by someone you let in and they cased/sized up the haul OR they contacted someone who actually did the break in.

Or low life family. My own brother robbed me of about 20K in guns & ammo. Took whole safe with a chain and a pickup through wall.

 

[mizzou]

booby traps are illegal because fireman got sick of getting impaled when breaking into a house to save the owner

just fyi

 

[Leros]

http://www.faketv.com/

 

[StageLeft]

http://www.faketv.com/

Wow that is actually really cool, some people think up cool stuff.

 

[Leros]

Wow that is actually really cool, some people think up cool stuff.

I'm gonna be out of town for 3 months straight, so I'm getting a couple of FakeTVs and some lamps set on timers so it looks like somebody is living there.