Security Products:
Apartment & Dormitory
Burglary Prevention

As of 2010, this site has NO financial ties (commissions) with commercial security product retailers. This site is pro-bono – a PSA (Public Service Announcement) free to all 2+ million visitors from 162 countries.

Learn from crime victims about security products for burglary prevention: Serial killer Danny Rolling was peeping in an apartment’s rear windows waiting for Tracy Paules and Manny Taboada to go to sleep. He quietly pried open their sliding door and stabbed them to death.

Find security hardware for patio doors in Sliding Door Security Hardware. Also see Apartment Security.
Serial killer Timothy Krajcir said he was peeping in a St. Louis apartment building's windows and found an unlocked bathroom window. He climbed in, hid in the shower behind the curtain, and then killed a woman when she entered - similar to the horror film "Psycho."

Before Renting an Apartment

Finding a new apartment swamps you with the usual things like cost, location, etc. and you'll forget to check deeper into the most important things: security, and the type of neighbors. Even one bad neighbor can make you miserable. And even one breach of your security can be dangerous.

• Many landlords do not provide security products beyond the bare minimum and are also lax in enforcing security rules. And find out if they run background checks on all new tenants. You can check yourself for registered sex offenders living nearby at FamilyWatchdog.us.

• What is their access control on strangers entering the main lobby door when tenants are coming in or out?

• Tour a prospective apartment in the evening to check for good lighting in entrances, hallways, carports, and the laundry room.

• Look for secure doors and entries as described in door reinforcement.

• Look for Sliding Door Security Hardware and Home Window Security.

• Do they re-key your entry door deadbolt when you move in? See Vivian's horror story at Home Security - Cracks to see why.

• Ask tenants how they feel about security. And are they friendly?

• Call the local police and talk to the community officer for that neighborhood to see how often police are called to that building.

If you've already moved in, develop:

Neighbor Allies

Form a tenant network (see Neighborhood Watch in Home Security - Neighbors). All tenants must be careful as they come and go to not allow an intruder to enter – as well as be vigilant about intercom buzz-ins at the main entrance. And as a group you’ll have a collective weight for petitioning your landlord to enact reasonable security measures, such as:

• Alarms: for any outside fire escapes you might have (wired to the drop-down ladder).

• Window-guards for windows accessible to a burglar’s climbing, or opening onto an outside fire escape. Decorative folding grills do effectively fortify, but by law must be easily opened by residents and guests so they can escape a fire.

• Convex Mirrors reveal anyone lurking around corners or nooks.

• Kids distributing restaurant ads can get inside “secure” apartment buildings by using the intercom to fool a tenant into buzzing them in. Criminals can, too. See Elevator Security in Apartment Security.

• If anyone knocks on your door, never open it (not even an inch) unless you're sure you know the visitor well. Get a portable wireless intercom.

• If you see or hear anything suspicious, call police and your apartment manager. Talk to your Neighborhood Watch allies.

Portable Electronic Security Products
for Renters & Dormitories

• Door-Stop Alarm – a door wedge (both a siren and a physical barrier to forced entry) will slow unwanted entry, alert you, and likely scare off an intruder.
• Doorknob Alarm.
• Door-brace: leans diagonally from the floor to the door.
• Intercom to know who's knocking at your door before you open it.
• Window alarms
• DIY Home Security Systems protect your apartment with no monthly fees.
• See Safe Room to create a simple bedroom fortress.

Of course, NO security products are guaranteed to prevent any crime - but might serve you well if combined with the guidance in Home Security Overview and Outdoor Safety Overview.

Crime-Safety-Security > Security Products Overview > Apartment & Dormitory Security

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.