Apartments are 85% more likely to be the target of burglary than single-family homes. Apartments represent unique security challenges because of the many techniques which tenants are prevented from using to enhance the security of their persons and possessions.  However, there are many which tenants can and should use to improve their security postures. Start with a Secure Building The best first step to achieving a secure apartment is to rent an apartment in a secure building.  The optimal security building should feature: A location in a low-crime neighborhood External gates to prevent unapproved vehicular or foot traffic A keyed […]

Perimeter security defines protection layers against both physical ingress and information egress of your property. Defining Your Perimeters If you have a single family home in a fenced yard, you might define your fence as the outer perimeter and the walls of your home as the inside perimeter.  In an highly urbanized environment, you might not have a yard and a fence.  The walls of your home might be your only perimeter.  On the other hand, if your home is a farm house far from civilization, you might define an outer perimeter far from your house which is not protected […]

A home alarm system can be part of a complete home protection system, but it is important to view an alarm as just one component of a larger strategy. An alarm system won’t protect your home from a flash flood, a drive-by shooting, or a no-knock BATF raid executed at the wrong address. Alarm Types Home alarm systems typically report using one or more of these methods: A loud bell or siren Bright and/or flashing lights A landline or cell phone call to you A landline or cell phone call to an alarm service company A landline or cell phone […]

Floor safes have several advantages over other home safe designs.  In combination, these advantages often make floor safes the best option for protection of your valuables. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider. Advantages Concealment Flood safes are very easy to conceal, mostly because few people look for floor safes.  A large stand-alone safe is obvious.  A small safe hidden under a bed or in a closet will show up in any routine search.  Even wall safes will be revealed after most searches — because people are accustomed to looking for wall safes. A floor safe can be hidden […]

Fire extinguishers can help to put out small fires, but should not be relied on to put out fires that have already become large. Most home fires begin in the kitchen, so I recommend maintaining a larger capacity fire extinguisher there. The workshop or garage is another good location for a larger capacity extinguisher. In addition, there should be at least one larger extinguisher on every floor of your house. In the US, these larger extinguishers might be labeled 2-A:10-B:C. Smaller capacity fire extinguishers can be maintained in other rooms to ensure that you are never more than forty feet […]

A sturdily constructed bomb shelter can save you from the initial blast of a nuclear attack, only for you to die a short while later from contaminated air.  The solution is to add an NBC air filter to your bomb shelter.  These filters are designed to protect you against nuclear, biological, and chemical toxins in the air.  In addition, they also protect against carbon dioxide build-up in your emergency shelter. Overpressure Maintaining a true air-tight seal is nearly impossible.  Because of this, NBC air filters utilize overpressure.  Overpressure systems ensure that the air pressure inside your facility is higher than […]

The United States has been a model of stability since the end of the Civil War in 1865. Over one hundred years of domestic tranquility has caused many Americans to forget that all governments tend towards tyranny. The United States faces many risks, some created by the nations successes, others by its failures, and still other which are simply bad luck. The wealth and power of the United States attracts fear and resentment from members of less capable cultures. The U.S. has largely been able to ignore those people up to this point, but within a few decades many groups […]