Condo and apartment lifestyle is certainly different than living in a single family home. One thing they do share is the importance placed on safety and peace of mind when it comes to security.
Safety and security is a responsibility shared by each one of us and should be kept top of mind to keep yourself, your property (the entire property) and your neighbors safe. Please help protect yourself and your neighbors by considering some basic steps that can help deter suspicious and/or illegal activity:
- Suspicious activity should be reported to the non-emergency police line at 403-266-1234, and then to your property manager. If a break-in is imminent and/or in progress — call 911. If you have experienced a break-in, please report it to the police.
- If you don’t know them … please don’t let them in. No one should follow you in the front door or into the parking areas without request. You might to consider saying “Hello” to people trying to follow you into the property, as criminals hate being engaged. This is also a great reason to get to know your neighbors.
- Keep vehicles free of valuables and personal items when they are left parked. This includes documents with personal information, garage door openers, keys, etc. (… just make sure you have the necessary documentation with you when you drive!) When you have removed valuables from your vehicle, consider placing a sign visible to potential thieves that says: “All valuables have been removed”.
- Protect yourself and your property. Lock all your doors and windows when you are not at home and be mindful of open doors and windows when you are home. Even if you are above the ground floor, a balcony can still be a target for theft or intrusion. If you notice a door property open or not locking securely, let your building or property manager know right away about the security risk.
- Be aware of your surroundings. If you see someone that doesn’t belong, please take note. Contractors should all have identification and we can’t imagine anyone that would mind identifying themselves when respectfully asked if they belong in the building or on the property. Report any suspicious people. This builds a strong case for getting to know your neighbors. If you see someone behaving strangely, don’t hesitate to contact the police.
- Be mindful of the lighting and landscaping in and around your property. Report any burnt out bulbs, damaged lighting or overgrown landscaping. Proper lighting and smart landscaping is a very good deterrent to crime. Notify your building or property manager about dimmed, burnt out lights or maintenance issues to help to improve everyone’s safety.
These 6 tips are all great safety and no (even low) cost measures that can be put into practice for condominium community, even your single family home or multi-family rental property.
For clients of Emerald Management & Realty Ltd., issues that require attention can be reported to any of our property management team members at 403-237-8600 (24-hour emergency line) or by completing our online Maintenance Request Form.
By taking steps to treat the entire building exactly as would your home, these simple security measures could save you and your neighbors from avoidable damage and even theft and improve your sense of security.
