Identify Your Security Risks: Use police crime statistics , crime forecast reports, and historical data to properly identify your risk of crime in each category (burglary, car break-in, physical assault, etc.). Once identified, prioritize your risks based on the likelihood that they would occur, and the severity of the consequences were this type of crime to take place.

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Develop a Written Security Plan: Create a proactive plan for security at your property rather than implementing security measures haphazardly in response to specific problems as they occur. Determine the most cost effective way to mitigate each type of security risk that you have identified. Address your highest priority risks first, then deal with others as your budget permits.

 

Take a Balanced Approach to Security: Recognize that an effective security program consists of a proper balance of security procedures, physical security measures, and electronic security systems. Understand that security is a process, not a product. Don’t look for quick fixes or “magic bullets” that may feel good but only marginally increase security.

 

Educate Residents About Security: Provide security awareness training to residents to make them part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Use in-person gatherings, newsletters, and social media to continually remind residents of the steps that they can take to keep themselves and the property safer and more secure.

 

Encourage Good Communications: Ask residents to promptly report crimes to the property manager after they have reported them to the police. This allows management to keep track of all incidents occurring on the  property and to identify upswings in any particular type of crime. Management should keep residents informed when there is an upward trend in any specific type of crime and use this as an opportunity to remind them of the proper security precautions that should be taken.

 

Harden Your Exterior Doors: Install latch guards or security astragals to make doors more difficult to force open. Install door and frame reinforcement kits to strengthen wood doors. Add security studs to out-swinging doors that have exposed hinges that can be removed.

 

Strengthen Your Windows: Install auxiliary locking devices to supplement the factory-supplied locks on windows. Consider installing security window film or bars on windows that are in vulnerable locations.

 

Prevent “Tailgating”: Reduce the opportunities for intruders to sneak into the building as residents enter or leave. Adjust the time that door openers keep doors open to a minimum. Educate residents to wait for the door to close behind them when entering or leaving and to be aware of unknown people trying to enter the building.

 

Don’t Create Temptations: Keep packages, bicycles, and other desirable assets in locations where they can’t be easily seen from outside of the building. Don’t advertise the locations of the assets most frequently sought after by thieves. Remove signs that identify bike rooms and resident storage rooms by name -use just a room number instead.

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Be Aware of Common “Hacks” Used By Criminals:  There are several methods commonly used by criminals to gain access to multifamily properties. The following are some of these “hacks” and the ways that they can be prevented:

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• Most brands of pin tumbler lock cylinders used at multifamily properties can be compromised by “lock picking” or ”lock bumping”. To reduce this risk, consider the use of high-security locks on all exterior doors and on doors to common areas. Examples of high-security locks include ASSA, Mul-T-Lock, and Medeco.

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• The proximity access cards and fobs used at most multifamily buildings can be easily duplicated using inexpensive devices available online. To prevent this, upgrade card readers and replace access cards and fobs with a type that cannot be readily duplicated, such as the HID Seos.

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• Many popular brands of telephone entry systems come with a standard lock that is the same on all of the units that are produced. Many criminals targeting multifamily properties have obtained keys to these standardized locks, giving them access to any property who is using them. To thwart this, the standard locks on telephone entry units should be changed to a high-security lock that is unique to your property.

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• Most exterior key boxes with combination locks are notoriously easy to open using techniques shown in instructional videos available online. Avoid using exterior key boxes entirely if at all possible. If a key box must be used, use a heavy-duty type constructed of thick metal rather than plastic.

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Properly Maintain Landscaping: Trim trees and shrubs so that they do not obscure visibility or create places to hide. The bottom of tree canopies should be at least 6’ off of the ground, and shrubs should be no taller than 3’ to create an “area of visibility” that allows improper activity to be easily spotted.