Attic access

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Sky

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A friend had been missing small things from his condo; camera, clothes, silverware, and finally an antique gun.

He and his wife lived in a very nice condo that was joined via the roof with 8 other units via the attics. Two of these units were investor owned therefore rented at times.

Come to find out that one of the renters had knocked the firewalls out between all the units and when the people went to work etc the BGs had full access to all eight units via the attic stairs.

Be active and if you live in a joined abode of any kind it might be worth checking your attic and firewall on occasion.
 
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Good tip for condos, townhouses and apartments.

if you have attic access in a garage or carport it should be secured in some way.
 
Yes if there is access to your apartment/condo from the attic it is wise to figure out a way of locking it.

If they really want in at least it will mess up the lock and let you know you have been robbed.
 
In college I lived in an apartment, and my sister lived in the apartment next door. Made for some awesome pranks before they figured out that our attics connected with NO firewall.

Best one: poking a needle/syringe through the ceiling sheetrock right over my sisters bed. Drop a few drops of water on her face at night to wake her up, and she looks all around and sees no hole or leak anywhere.
 
Years ago my wife and I lived in a townhouse that had the crawlspaces connected between the units. I went down there to look at a pipe and thought "wow, its a lot bigger down here than I imagined".

Access to the crawlspace was through a trap door in each unit's hall closet. I screwed mine down...

Bob
 
Wow, that's pretty crazy, having some guy with free run of all the units during the day. In addition to theft, that's also a classic voyeurism set up in this day of wireless mini cams.
 
Yep. While installing security alarms in apartments or condos, we always recommended contacting the attic access. Some houses in this area have the pull down stairs under the carport OUTSIDE!! It's pretty easy to get them to contact that one. It's just common sense once you explain it.
 
This is excellent advice for anyone in a similar housing situation. When I was in college we lived in a large complex that had open attic space that would allow access to all the condos on the 2nd level.

One afternoon, an apartment of young ladies arrived home and went upstairs to find the attic cover being pulled shut as someone was making a hasty escape. Apparently they had gotten in through a different condo where the door had been left unlocked and was roaming from unit to unit. We tried to catch up with the thief, but they were able to drop down into another condo and escape out one of their doors.

The HOA came through and locked up all of the attic access, but the damage was already done. It's just a good reminder that unsavory characters will find any little opportunity they can.
 
Once the subject is broached at a social gathering it is funny how many people admit they have not thought of BGs having access to their place with locked doors!
 
A real eye opener. Maybe I'll go ahead and check my access in my apartment when I get back from classes.
 
SSN Vet said:
they must have read the Magician's Nephew...
Click to expand...
That was my thought. My old apartment was the only unit in the building that was connected to the laundry room, and all it would take is a strong kick to break in through there.

We keep our valuables in lockable containers that are bolted in place, guns & important paperwork especially. Helps provide peace of mind.
 
Guillermo said:
If you can gain access to the house via the garage, a garage door with an automatic opener is not a secure barrier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMz1tXBVT1s
Click to expand...
It is if your garage door doesn't have windows. Good luck figuring out where the release is if there's no windows and you can't see the exact mechanism. And some pulls are a lot stiffer than others and would simply bend that wire. Our garage door is a rollup garage door made of metal panels, not wood. No windows anywhere. My grandfather's door is a slab door, also solid metal.

As for attic access, it's always a good idea to secure the doors on shared attics. If you can't install a contact alarm, you might try some tamper tape which will make it evident if the door has been opened.
 
WardenWolf,

If you can't install a contact alarm, you might try some tamper tape which will make it evident the door has been opened.

This is to prove what? That somebody "can" and "did" in fact get in, and then steal everything left lying around? Tape didn't work did it?
 
It's an issue,
Hell my niece had her clothes stolen and computer smashed by the ex (as in fired) maintenance mans junky GF, she left a numbers of valuables and stole minor stuff that didn't get noticed until she came in (she had the EX maintenance mans keys) and my niece was home.... and bounced her down the hall around the living room and outside (unfortunately the computer was bounced upon too)
 
Huh, that is kind of an eye opener. The latch in my garage is back far away from the door up by the opener when it's closed and is seperated from the house so no worrys here.
 
788Ham said:
WardenWolf,

If you can't install a contact alarm, you might try some tamper tape which will make it evident the door has been opened.

This is to prove what? That somebody "can" and "did" in fact get in, and then steal everything left lying around? Tape didn't work did it?
Click to expand...
This is to prove you've got a problem, and show how and where someone got in. It was previously mentioned that lots of little things started going missing. Most likely they weren't all taken in a single trip. It's better to at least know you've got a problem and where it is than to be completely oblivious.
 
Attic access is also important for stand alone single family homes. When I lived in Houston one of my bosses told me how his brother-in-law's house was broken into. He and his wife came home one night and when it rained it leaked into their bedroom. Looking in the attic to find the source of the leak they discovered that burglars had broken through the roof to bypass their alarm system. The crooks did such a neat job that the break was not evident until it rained.

Those were professional burglars that choose that couple because they were very wealthy. However, should you ever have an alarm system installed have your attic wired as well. I keep my stair access to my attic locked and I am not rich. :(
 
Bottom line it does not hurt to check (that means you not some hired hand) and while in the attic take a look around with a light that provides visibility to see possible access points.

If there is a hole in your firewall (easy to bust sheet rock) Then there is a possibility you are being set up (or already have been) for someone to enter your home unannounced.

This type of access/crime is not that rare or known by the average resident.
 
It is if your garage door doesn't have windows. Good luck figuring out where the release is if there's no windows and you can't see the exact mechanism.
Click to expand...

I've broken into my own garage door with no windows, by tripping the release with a coat hanger. It took several minutes to do this by feel, rather than by sight, but I'm not practiced at this.

As Guillermo suggests, find a way to secure the release from being tripped.
 
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