Tag: ways to protect yourself from intruders

Guide on how to protect yourself from intruders

As long as you keep yourself focused, use common sense, and keep in mind at least basic safety precautions, you should enjoy your stay in the apartment or hotel abroad without any issues.

1. Choose an apartment in a building with a doorman
The main job of the doorman is security. You won’t have to worry about who’s entering the building. The doorman will monitor all the movement, who is coming, and why, and ward off intruders.

2. The higher floor the better
A ground-floor apartment is usually an easy target for a burglar. Even the 2nd and the 3rd floor are still not the best options. The intruders may climb in and enter the apartment if you didn’t lock the window or patio door. Try to rent an apartment on a higher floor to reduce the risk of a break-in.

If it happened you had no choice but to rent an apartment on the ground floor, ask your landlord whether locks can be installed on the windows.

3. Lock up everything
Unless it’s really hot or you leave at least on the 4th floor, make sure to keep all the windows and patio doors locked. When you’re going out, it’s worth taking an extra minute to double-check whether everything is locked.

4. Keep your expensive belongings hidden
Don’t leave expensive electronics, cash, purse, or jewelry near open windows. Make sure to place your valuables in places where intruders cannot easily see them. If there is a safe in the room or drawers with a good lock, use them.

If there is nothing where you could lock your belongings, just find some hard-to-reach spots, where intruders cannot easily notice your stuff. You can put your laptop on the top of the cabinets, behind the couch, or somewhere in the kitchen behind the cooking pots, packages with pasta, and cereal boxes.

5. Choose an apartment in a modern building
It’s very romantic to rent an apartment in the old town of the city. But the old buildings can have disadvantages like old doors, squeaky stairs, and shabby entrances.

When you rent via Airbnb, always send the host a message to clarify whether the apartment is in a modern or old building. It is great if there is a camera on the entrance door or at least a door viewer, so you can see who is calling before opening the door.

Renting an apartment in a better building with a good security system will eliminate 95% of all potential problems, including the risk of break-in or burglary.

6. Think like an intruder
When you check-in, try to inspect your home for possible safety problems. Make sure all windows and sliding glass doors close and locks work. If there is any issue, notify the host immediately and request to fix it. Be alert and watch who is lingering in your building.

7. Ask to reset an Airbnb lockbox
When you rent Airbnb, you do not always meet the host on the first day. Sometimes you just need a code from the lockbox to enter the apartment. It’s good to ask how often the lockbox code was updated, and whether it is possible to reset a code before your arrival.