If you're an apartment dweller, seeing strangers is an every day occurrence. When you share hallways, elevators and stairwells with fifty other occupants, seeing someone unfamiliar might not even phase you. Unfortunately, that unfamiliar face could be planning to break in to your home as soon as you give them the opportunity. In order to feel more secure in your apartment, you might want to invest in an alarm.

You might feel that you need to purchase the $2,000 super sensitive security system before you feel comfortable. Remember that just because the system is expensive doesn't mean it's better. For example, Jane installed the Super Duper Alarm 2000 into her apartment. It was able to detect any motion at all, and when it did, 200 decibel shrieks exploded from its high-tech speakers. So, the first night it's installed, the cat decides to get up and get a drink of water. Yes... disaster. If you purchase an overly-sensitive alarm, the results are pointless. After the first couple of times the alarm goes off, not only will your neighbors hate you, but they will learn to ignore it, and if that's the case, what's the point of having an alarm at all?

Sometimes less is more. Many security companies offer great protection for under ten dollars. You might want to invest in something as simple as a door stop alarm. Guard Dog Defense offers this product for only $6.95. It won't go off when it senses a particle of dust, or if someone comes within two feet of the door, but it will emit a shrill alarm when the door is opened and pushed over it. If you have pets, and are worried that they might step on it and activate it, the company also offers a device you hang from your doorknob for only $8.95. This alarm can be set to scare off unwanted intruders, or to chime to notify you of incoming visitors. The best part? You can take either alarm with you when your lease is up.

Keep in mind that most burglars are looking for an easy place to break in. One of the oldest, cheapest, and simplest ways to deter burglars is by sticking a security sticker in your window. If you have a

"WARNING - Armed With Security System"

sticker in your window, and your next door neighbor has nothing, the burglar will more than likely break in to your neighbor's home instead. They don't know whether or not you really have an alarm, but why would they want to take the chance? They want to get in, get the goods and get out as quickly as possible. Statistics show that if a burglar spends more than four minutes attempting to get in to a home, he or she will leave and try another place.

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Published: October 22, 1999

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