Keeping it Safe at these Omaha Apartments!

June 10, 2013
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Have you ever heard the stories from your grandparents about how they would play in the street all day and keep their doors unlocked so neighbors and friends could come in? Well, today’s world is not as nice and cheery as it used to be, and we all have to make sure we are aware of the dangers surrounding us.

* Keys and Locks: Keep your keys safe. Never hide extra keys outside your apartment in a secret place; you never know who could be watching
you pick up that key from under the doormat.

* Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors can be a life-saver, literally. Studies have shown that in homes with working smoke detectors, there have been a considerably less amount of fire injuries and deaths. This also means that you should test out your smoke detector regularly to make sure it works properly. So remember to cook safely, turn off the oven and burner, and only smoke outside.

* Parking: Try to park your car in at least one (if not all) of the following places at your apartment complex:

  • well-lit area
  • close to an elevator or a staircase
  • high traffic area

* Car break-ins are very common, but there are ways to avoid that from happening! The best ways to not be a victim of your car being broken into are:

Lock your doors – While this piece of advice should be a no-brainer, up to a quarter of vehicle thefts are from unlocked cars, according to some law enforcement agencies. Simply locking the doors will deter those who might just be waiting around for an easy target.

Keep it tidy – Almost any worthless personal item that’s visible from the outside — even an empty shopping bag — could be seen as a valuable or a carrier of valuables. If you have a wagon or SUV that leaves your cargo area on display, consider getting a cover.

Conceal all the evidence – Don’t leave any bait out for thieves; stow your electronics and accessories well out of sight-or better yet, bring it with you. The evidence alone might be enough to pique the interest of thieves, so hide that too, including power plugs, telltale iPod adapters, or nav-system windshield suction-cup mounts, and even put the cigarette lighter back in place.

Stash before — not after — you park – Get in the habit of putting shopping bags in the trunk right when you return to the vehicle, rather than after you park at the next place. Thieves sometimes linger in busy parking lots looking for valuables being moved out of sight. Don’t display to them what you have.

Completely close windows and sunroofs – No, it’s not just because thieves might reach in through the gap and open your locks with a coat hanger. Open windows will disable the pressure sensor in some car alarms, leaving the vehicle more vulnerable to break-in and potentially giving thieves more time before the alarm sounds.

Get an alarm – If you don’t have an alarm system, get one. The noise alone may be enough to scare away an inexperienced thief and prevent the break-in. Factory-option alarm systems are generally best, but a carefully installed, properly calibrated aftermarket system can provide just as much safety. Beware, many less-expensive new cars have remote entry but not a true alarm.

Park for visibility – Park in a busy, well-lit area, and avoid concealment from larger vehicles, fences, or foliage. Except for the most brazen thieves, the greater the chances are that someone might see a crime in progress, the lower the chances are that the potential thief will attempt it.