5 Ways To Smarten Up Your Apartment Security As A Renter – SlashGear

Windows are a common entry and egress point. On a ground-floor apartment, your windows can be just as important to the security of your home as if you were living in a suburban house. The same can be said for apartment dwellers who have balconies or other easily accessible areas outside their living space (a fire escape, for instance). Installing new locks that will ensure the structural integrity of your windows can go a long way to preventing a burglar from targeting your home.

You can install a variety of different locking mechanisms, depending on the way your windows open. Speaking with your landlord or building manager about a permanent solution can be beneficial in this case. Window-locking devices are often inexpensive and can make for a vast improvement in your peace of mind. However, in a pinch, cable locking or sticky-mounted Lexan installations can prove highly effective without the need to drill holes or screw in equipment.

You may also be able to add security film (like this film on Amazon) to your windows. Speak with your landlord about this option, though, because it will require a slight alteration to the panes themselves. Security film makes breaking a window much harder. The glass will hold together rather than shatter, meaning a burglar will have to draw increased attention to themselves in an effort to enter your property this way. Installing motion detectors near the windows or contact sensors on them can also allow for a more technical defense. You can even install a simple, hanging alarm (like this one on Amazon) that slips over a door or window handle without requiring alterations. Ringing an alarm if the windows are tampered with may effectively ward off an intruder as well.