I hate this....

For many years I have lived in a house with room-mates I trust. Both of them
are shoters, stand-up, blue colar, hard working folks. We had different work
scheduals, a fence around the place, and dogs. Now it is just me and I hate it.
I come home and I check my stuff. I check my windows, locks, and every
other thing you can think of. I have spoken to those that live around me but
never speak of my firearms.

I live in an A+ apartment complex, gated, and have a guard. I'm still shaken by
the fact that it aint mine and 20+ people live within 100 feet of me. What
can I do to make things more secure?

You might actually want to post this over at APS - the thread might get locked by mods here, as it isn't really gun-related.

Best of luck though.

Nyah, I think it is enough on topic...

1) You need a safe. Bolt it to the floor (assuming the place is carpeted). Should be good enough.

2) An alarm system doesn't hurt. You walk in, see that everything is normal and nothing's been going off, and you're happy.

3) A radio or something quietly playing does a great deal to "erase" noises from other apartments.

Get a guitar case to move boomsticks to/from your vehicle.

A safe is the best peace of mind money can buy.

Even if you buy one of the lighter, less expensive safes, you can bolt it a stud or line the bottom with a few hundred pounds of lead shot.

If there are any kids in the house, it is an even better idea.

Sounds like you need to consider moving out into the boonies ;) .

Honestly, I prefer living alone and if I wasn't married I'd never have another roommate for the rest of my life.

Anyway, if you're worried about your guns getting up and walking off, a safe is a good idea, but you might also want to consider insurance. If you're an NRA member you already have $1000 coverage for your firearms, but you can add to that for $1.66/yr per $100 coverage. http://www.locktonrisk.com/nrains/armscare.asp

I suggest you throw a BBQ for your apartment neighbors.

The more involved they are in your life the more likely they are to notice when something isn't right, and more interested they will be in taking action. Maybe you could organize a party every few weeks to a month, just something casual, so that everyone gets to know each other. With that many people around you have a built in neighborhood watch, you just have to build the familiarity that it needs to work.

This is why I dont live in the city. You cant make me, and I am perfectly content. If I wasnt a single dad I would get a dog.

Get a safe, an alarm and a dog.

Maybe you could organize a party every few weeks to a month, just something casual, so that everyone gets to know each other.

You could also organize a garage sale for the whole apartment. Muuuuch less risky in terms of someone spotting guns in your apartment or evidence thereof, since they won't have to actually come into your place.

I'm pretty circumspect about making friends with my apartment neighbors, so I'm kind of doubtful about the idea of getting to know everyone. However, if you think the "neighborhood watch" idea is a good one, you might try the garage sale bit.

At work, I'm about the most gregarious person you could ever meet, but around the apartment bulding, I choose friends with great care and consideration.

As far as living alone is concerned, the first time I ever lived all by myself, I was 47 years old. There were always family, college roomates, spouses around until then. I tried a couple of roomies for a couple of years after that, but discovered that living alone is the way to go for me. I'm 68 now and still prefer it.

Wouldn't mind having a cat, though. They mind their own d@mned business for the most part until they want something. A patch of sun, a little kitty kibble, a litter box, a scratching pole, and they're happy.

Does your apt complex allow big dogs?

I know when I come home I know that, if my german shepherd(Zeus) isn't there to greet me, then something is seriously wrong and he is more than likely dead...Zeus doesn't like uninvited guests.

In an apt complex, I'd just as soon have Zeus than an alarm...If he gets shot then the police will get called because of the noise and if someone tries to break in w/o a firearm, he will be on their arm before they have a chance to swing something at him; not to mention the the noise he will cause as he is tearing off the BG's arm.:)

A safe would definately be nice, but if you live upstairs then it's going to be a PITA.



Basically, if it is an option, getcha a dog.;)

<snip>

I was actually thinking of the party being outdoors, that way there isn't a bunch of people wandering around the apartment. Virtually every nice complex I've lived in (since he has a gate and guard I'm guessing it's decent) has a common outdoor area with tables, such a spot would be perfect.

Therapy?

change the locks

Get a guitar case to move boomsticks to/from your vehicle.
+1
I actually do that.
But just because my rifle and revolvers just happen to fit nicely in my guitar case.

Yeah, the guitar case thing is a really good idea. Can't believe I didn't think of it, myself, but I'll probably do that.

Therapy?
Awwww.... thanks crazed_ss I knew I could count on you to inject proper
guidance. Oh and I got this rash......

I like the guitar case idea for getting in and out.
I do have a safe 800+ lbs but am not allowed to bolt anything to the slab.

Dogs would be great (no size restriction) if I did not have many times where I
was gone 24 or more hours a day. I live real close to work so I do go home
on lunch when I can and do work from home when I can. It would just be cruel
to have any beast tied up in a small area for long time frames. It is a great idea
but not great for the four legged when I'm gone for a day or two.

We do have alarms already set in each apartment. I guess I'll activate mine as soon
as the office opens.


I have been thinking along the same lines as many of you suggested that I get
more involved with my "neighborhood". Darn.... and I paid good money to be a
quiet troll under the bridge.

Get renter's insurance, take pics of all your big ticket items and be sure to record serials of all the firearms.
Put all your info into a word document and save it to an online storage space like yahoo briefcase or something, that way you can retrieve it from anywhere on earth in addition to having a hard copy.

Get to know your neighbors. Invite them out for a beer or over to your place to eat.

Live your life. Apartments and houses get burgled from time to time. Just take precautions and make sure you'll be compensated for your losses should something happen. There's no way you can stop a determined thief.
You can only make it more difficult on them.

Make sure you develop a home defense strategy that takes your neighbors into account as well. (bullets go through walls and floors and ceilings)

Along with the other good advice given, make sure you have recorded all the information on your guns and take pictures (for insurance purposes) and keep that information off-site in case something does ever happen.

As some have stated.............get a gun safe!! Not only would that give
you peace of mind but also a major step in securing your weapons. IMO.

Sounds like either the Boonies, or a small town are just your ticket. However, to alleviate some of your paranoia:

Get the safe, looks like you already have one.

Activate the alarm.

Change the locks.

Ensure you have adequate renter's insurance.

Ensure that your Guns' descriptions, serial numbers, and pictures are stored offsite, like a Bank's safe deposit box.

Ensure that you have adequate insurance for your collection.

Try Satellite Radio for some good format. One of our own, Tom Gresham, even has his own radio show for gun owneres on either Sirius or XM.

+1 for satellite radio!

Inthis border town, 2/3 of the AM & FM stations broadcast in a foreign language :barf:.

I got the satellite radio shortly after moving here, and use it almost exclusively. The only time I listen to the locals is when I'm in my car; but when traveling cross-country, my XM radio is on board.

Tom Gresham is on XM, incidentally; always a good show - with call-ins, too.

My buddy lived in place just like you described in north Dallas. He bought a safe and bolted it to the wall. Nobody ever broke into the apartment but they did steal all of the tools out of his truck. So don't leave anything in your vehicle.

Working Man, is buying a house a realistic option for you? I live in the DFW area myself and was astounded at how reasonably priced homes are when I moved here compared to where I moved from if you have the resources to do so. I don't know if that helps or not, but outside of moving into a house, it seems to me that your best bet is to make your neighbors your allies rather than strangers you can't trust. And good BBQ is better than any sledgehammer at knocking down barriers between people.

Get a safe, an alarm and a dog.

(too bad on the dog)

Along with the other good advice given, make sure you have recorded all the information on your guns and take pictures (for insurance purposes) and keep that information off-site in case something does ever happen.

Serial numbers, and report as soon as possible if anything does happen.

Ensure you have adequate renter's insurance.

Ensure it covers guns, and join the NRA as well.

Change the locks.

Ensure your landlord approves, or he might change them back.

What's unsecure about your current set up? Don't want to bolt the safe down...Cable lock all the guns together. Lock the bolts up somewhere else. If somebody REALLY wants your stuff, they are going to get it. You want to deter the opportunist. Making their job harder is what you're after. Sounds to me like you've got that part covered pretty well.

Seems like you don't have an external security issue, you've got an internal one. You've made a pretty substantial life style change. It's going to take some time to adjust.

1. Stop being paranoid. A house is probably at higher risk of break-in than a good apartment.

2. Carefully examine every means of entry into the apartment (doors and windows) and ask yourself how you can make it stronger and more break-in resistant. Think like a thief.

3. Make sure deadbolt lock are installed on all entry doors.

4. If the apartment has a wood door, ask the apartment manager to replace it with a steel door.

5. Replace all the screws on the hinges and strike plates with 3-4" screws that firmly anchor into the door frame.

6. Consider installing a Strikemaster strike plate on doors.

7. If you have a sliding glass door, install something in the upper groove so the door can't be lifted out of its track. Breaking in via a sliding glass door is as easy as using a crowbar to lift it out of it's track. Also, install a bar to prevent if from sliding.

8. Install a blocking device on all windows so they can't be forced open from the outside. I use little thumbscrew clamps that block the window from sliding even if someone jimmy's the lock.

9. Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

Try Satellite Radio for some good format. One of our own, Tom Gresham, even has his own radio show for gun owneres on either Sirius or XM.

Don't want to hijack, but I would really like to know more about this!

Anyone?
CH

Wouldn't mind having a cat, though. They mind their own d@mned business for the most part until they want something. A patch of sun, a little kitty kibble, a litter box, a scratching pole, and they're happy.

230RN, it's obvious you've NEVER had a cat... (got 4 of my own :rolleyes:)

So far...

1. I'll be checking with the complex shortly to see what they will replace or reinforce.
2. Came up with what seems to be good blocks for the windows.
3. Attempting to make better contact with my neighbors without creeping them out.
Some of them seem like scared field mice scurrying from their cars to their
apartments when they come home. I'll keep an eye out for any activities postings
in the complex.
4. Will be checking with monitoring service for the already installed alarm system.
5. Additional accesses to work related systems so I can work from home more often
or at least change up my habits more.

A house would be great but not financially an option for another year or so.

After everything else I guess it does boil down to just getting adjusted to the new location
and having so many people around. Last place I lived had about 20 or so people on the whole
block.

Get a guitar case to move boomsticks to/from your vehicle.
Yep, I've been doing that for years! My neighbors know I play and they are used to seeing me carry guitar cases, amps, and band equipment in and out constantly. A Fender Strat soft case has been ideal for my purposes. Pistols get carried in and out using a soft briefcase.
As for living alone? You are never alone, someone is always watching you. :uhoh:
Jack