Much like hotels, the lobbies of high-rise apartment buildings are the easiest place to spot intruders. When you're selecting a high-rise in which to live, be sure you choose one with a single point of entry in and out of the lobby. It's an added safety feature if the lobby is small. Both of these elements make it easier for a doorman, clerk and even residents to spot unfamiliar faces and/or people who seem to be loitering. If you do spot anyone who looks suspicious, report it to security or management immediately. And by all means, if you notice that the front desk staff seems to be lenient in their approach to visitors -- merely waving people in without asking questions -- it's time to issue a complaint to management.

Remind fellow residents through flyers and constant reminders in your crime-watch meetings about the importance of keeping the front doors of your building completely closed and locked at all times. Never allow strangers to "scoot in" after you as you enter the building -- especially those who are waiting by the front door for the earliest opportunity to enter. If you feel rude shutting the door in their faces, that's a small price to pay for safety. Alert security or management staff that someone is waiting outside.

If you spot anyone in your building who's roaming the halls or the lobby without being noticed, report it to security, management or the police. In big cities, neighbors are living in close quarters and tend to place a particularly high premium on preserving fellow neighbors' privacy. So when they see strangers roaming about, they choose not to get involved. Unfortunately, this approach is what leads to burglarly or worse. So be a busybody, and alert someone. Your neighbors will appreciate you for it. Furthermore, if you spot a stranger leaving your neighbor's apartment with items in hand, call your neighbor just to make sure he or she is at home. (And no, you're not being nosy, just protective.)

The vast majority of high-rises alert residents -- usually by ringing your phone or signaling a buzzer in your apartment -- when visitors arrive and need entry. Although it may sound obvious or even hypervigilant, don't indiscriminately buzz in visitors, even if you're expecting company. Check on their identity first. You may even consider having a code word for family and friends.

If you're planning on leaving town for any length of time, make sure you notify management and security before you leave -- and let them know if a housesitter or petsitter will be dropping by when you're gone. Leave a number where they can reach you in case of emergency.

The best approach is to cancel the delivery of mail while you're out of town, period. But if you don't want to do that, ask a neighbor, friend or even management (if you've established a relatively high degree of trust with staff) to accept packages and other deliveries while you're gone. Obviously, you don't want to leave a note on your front door or on the bulletin board in the lobby that announces your absence. If you've been planning to order a piece of furniture or other large item, never ask to have it delivered while you're away. Store your jewelry, important papers and other valuables in a safe deposit box, and leave a radio and a time-activated light on to give the impression that someone's home. The management staff and a close neighbor are the only people who need know you're out of town.

If neighbors band together and look out for each other's safety, a high-rise can be one of the safest residential environments available to city-dwellers. Close quarters can sometimes invite security risks, but reaching out to neighbors and getting to know your management staff and local police department will go a long way toward establishing trust and increased security in your building. It's in everyone's best interests.

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