Tenants Protect Yourself from Crime

It doesn’t seem to matter where you live, but it seems that crime is on the increase - even in the Raleigh and Wilmington areas. It seems that every night on the news you will hear about an assault or home invasion. Is there anything you can do, as a tenant to protect yourself and your family? Absolutely! Plus, we will discuss a few things your landlord can do to increase your personal safety.

Protect Yourself, Be Alert!

Perhaps one of the most beneficial ways to protect yourself and prevent assaults is to stay aware of your surroundings and be alert to potential problems. When you leave your home, keep your keys in hand. They make a good weapon if needed. As you walk about, stay alert. Know your surroundings. Make brief eye contact with people you pass and especially those who are standing around. If you spy them first, an attacker will be less likely to make a move. Be confident. Have your keys out and ready. Don’t fumble in your pockets or purse for your keys because you will be more focused on that than your surroundings which only opens the door for an attack.

Safety First – Check Your Doors!

Let us now shift gears. Take a few moments to assess the security of the home or apartment where you live. Check your exterior doors. They should be solid – either solid wood or metal. If they are a hollow core door, please contact the landlord or their property management agency.

How are the locks? All exterior doors should have deadbolts. If there is a window nearby, the deadbolts should be opened with a key and not from a turn knob inside to prevent an intruder from breaking the glass and turning the deadbolt. In addition, the throw bolt should extend into the door jamb at least one inch.

If there is evidence that the lock has been tampered with, the door was pried open or there is a large gap showing the throw bolt, please let your landlord or their agent know. We can install a metal faceplate between the door and the hardware to make it more secure.

Of course, a lock will not do you any good unless you use it. When you leave, we know you always lock your doors but how about when you are home?

Don’t Let Them In! Check Your Windows.

All of the windows should be locked before leaving the home each day. If a thief wants to get in through the window, they will have to break the glass which can draw attention to themselves. If you like to let in the fresh air when you are home, there is an easy way to secure a sliding or double-hung window. Simple cut a small board or wooden rod to fit between the window and the casing. As long as your windows are not open enough that a child can crawl through, an intruder will not be able to open them any wider and enter your home.

If you are renting in a high crime area and your unit is on the first floor, ask your landlord about installing burglar bars. They are a great protection against a home invasion and they give its occupants a well-deserved sense of security.

We here at Victory Real Estate care about our tenants. We want you to be safe and we want to help you to live in a home where you feel safe. If you are renting in the Raleigh area, here is the website to the police department (remember to call 911 for an emergency) and their suggestions on how to prevent crime. Here is the website for the Wilmington police department as well. If you have any questions or concerns about safety, feel free to let us know.