SimpliSafe’s Top 10 Ways to Secure Your Apartment

ApartmentCrimeApartment complex living opens residents up to a host of security risks due to their close proximity to multiple tenants and a lack of complete control over visitor access to the property. As such, apartment complex owners have a legal responsibility to protect residents and guests from any foreseeable harm.

However, there are security precautions tenants can implement to protect their families and reduce vulnerability.

SimpliSafe offers 10 Ways to Secure Your Apartment:

10. Secure all windows and doors before you leave or go to sleep, as this is the easiest way for a burglar to enter a home or apartment. Remember to lock kitchen windows, bathroom windows, sliding doors, and back doors. Purchase a steel security door bar or other similar product to secure a sliding door.

9. A heavy duty deadbolt lock should be installed on every exterior door. Never depend on a door chain to secure your doors to the outside. Remember to ask the landlord to change the locks if the apartment was formerly occupied and you are a new tenant. Avoid having many extra keys made, as they can easily be lost or forgotten, and change the locks immediately if easily identifiable keys are lost or stolen.

8. Install a wide angle viewer commonly called a “peephole” on exterior doors. Use your peephole to interview visitors at your door. Ask all solicitors, salesmen, technicians, and information seekers to produce valid credentials such as a driver’s license or employee ID. Be cautious of technicians or utilities persons who come to your door when you have not contacted the company or were not notified of the visit by the company beforehand.

7. The ground floor is the most vulnerable to a break-in. If you live on the ground floor make sure that your windows are secured with window bars, all window locks are functional, and you close your window blinds while away.

6. Install security lighting. Whether it be exterior motion lights, lights controlled by electronic darkness sensors, or interior lights on a timer, it is always recommended to make use of at least one of these affordable options found at your local hardware store. Adequate wattage of bulbs is important as well as promptly changing any blown-out bulbs.

5. In your absence, do not let mail or newspapers pile up outside your door. This is a clear sign that you are away from home. Have mail or deliveries picked up by a friend or neighbor, or give the post office notice to hold your mail until you return. Also, do not leave messages or notes for the postman, paperboy, landlord, etc… on the outside of any exterior door promoting your absence.

4. Know who your neighbors are, whether they are in your building or next door. Creating strong relationships with your neighbors is a great step in protection for all parties involved. Often if there is a problem, one of your neighbors will be a witness to the event and most likely can alert emergency services if they are concerned. A well structured and active tenant association is always especially useful, as is any functional Neighborhood Watch association.

3. Be aware of the crime statistics in your area. Reports published by American Fact Finder or the US Census Bureau provide useful information for you to be aware of which will ultimately help you prepare for specific threats. Websites such as SpotCrime provide you with email alerts, local crime maps, and crime reports and are a good tool to stay up to date on crime in your area.

2. Adhere to any and all building security policies. These policies are in place to ensure your protection and include but are not limited to: rules that require visitors to be screened outside by the resident to prevent unauthorized access, intercom policies, parking procedures, and electronic access policies.

1. Install an apartment security system designed to fit your needs. Wireless systems…require no hard wired installation…and are portable when you move to another apartment or home.

Read full article here.

Know Your Rights

Apartment residents have a right to feel safe and secure while on premises. By law, apartment owners and management companies are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.

We Fight for Victims of Apartment Security Negligence in Georgia…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
SAC EM Update

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.