[Roadracer]

Originally Posted by highwayrider02

To put it short I live in a rooming house with a bunch of crackheads, alcoholics, petty crooks, and thieves. I've got a 12 gauge and a 30-06 that people have already tried to steal from me. I'm the only legit guy here, I'm not like them. I just moved into a bigger room down the hall and I have a window that abuts the community balcony, and I want to make it more secure. What are some ways I can secure that window and reinforce my door so they can't get in? I know nothing I do will completely secure my stuff but I want to prevent a break-in as much as possible.

I totally understand the not being able to afford to move. I'm in the same boat. Here's two cheap yet effective items:

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-SP5...6179531&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/51107-Smart-Wi...6179571&sr=8-3

Those stickers are a great deterent. Yes, Crackhead Bob all smoked up won't care one bit but it's better than not having them.

I have those alarms as I use them to alarm a hotel room...& yes, it does scare the living crap out of housekeeping if you forget to turn it off for them. They are screeching loud when they go off & the panic should make them split.

If your landlord allows dogs but you can not afford one then put a "Dog Warning; Dog will not bark but will attack. Please allow me time to put the dog away" on your door. Unless they observing you for a while to see if you have a dog or not it's a good deterrant.

Leave light's on when your not home. If your TV has a timer set it to come on after dark loud enough to be heard from the hallway when you are away.

Barracade your windows by cutting a 2x4 to wedge into the window frame to keep a window from being jimmied.

Make a cross peice to wedge in the frame. If you choose to screw it fast then that's between you & the landlord but just it's presence makes those on the outside see that braking the glass & crawling through may not be an easy possibility.

A rubber .99c door jam makes a door almost impossible to open once in place. Cut the tip off so the person on the other side doesn't see a piece sticking out on their side that they could push away from the door with a pocket knife. Buy one for every room in case of a break-in while your home. This gives you more time to get to your safe by jamming your bedroom door or where ever you need to go. If your apartment building has steel doors & steel doorframes that's more than enough. Even Police struggle to get in a door like that with a battering ram.

Think like a thief & look around to see how would you try to get in from the outside & what would deter you.

RR

[highwayrider02]

Moving out is a goal I have in mind, though it is a distant one. But ya gotta realize one thing: living here in a place like this does have its perks aside from cheap rent. I believe that if one endures such hardships, among other kinds, builds character. If I can see the worst, endure it, and come out on top in the end, I believe I will be a stronger person because of it. I don't wanna call it a right of passage, per se, but I think it tempers the mind like heat tempers steel.

I used to keep my shotgun loaded by my bed, but now I know the ins and outs of this place and also have seen the patterns in the behavior of the people that reside here. They won't break in at night while you're in your room, they won't break in during the daytime, and they'll try to be all buddy-buddy with you and figure out your schedule before they try anything. No one's allowed in my room, no one gets my phone number, no one knows my schedule, and no one would leave my room alive should they try to escape.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by highwayrider02

But ya gotta realize one thing: living here in a place like this does have its perks aside from cheap rent. I believe that if one endures such hardships, among other kinds, builds character.

Whatever floats your boat but the first rule of survival is to stay out of dangerous situations.

Your choice of lifestyle but if you examine Musashi's life story, you will learn that he lived as a hermit and didn't even bath for risk of assassination.

Good luck, you are going to need it if you stay there.

[girlfromstelle]

Originally Posted by highwayrider02

I believe that if one endures such hardships, among other kinds, builds character. If I can see the worst, endure it, and come out on top in the end, I believe I will be a stronger person because of it. I don't wanna call it a right of passage, per se, but I think it tempers the mind like heat tempers steel.

It's good to face challenges, but it's also important to be wise.

Hardships come along when they're meant to. The most important kind of challenge you can face is the one that comes along unexpectedly. That's when you're really put to the test.

In the meantime, practice wisdom. All of us would hate to hear a story about you getting your things stolen, or worse. Survival is about doing what you can to remain as safe as possible. If you want to do that, you should get out of your current unsafe environment.

Just my thoughts, for what they're worth.

[highwayrider02]

Originally Posted by DanT

Whatever floats your boat but the first rule of survival is to stay out of dangerous situations.

Your choice of lifestyle but if you examine Musashi's life story, you will learn that he lived as a hermit and didn't even bath for risk of assassination.

Good luck, you are going to need it if you stay there.

I agree, but on the flipside, sometimes you have to put yourself at risk for a greater benefit. SHTF scenario: you see a food supply that's heavily guarded and regardless of your moral stance you decide to go after it, otherwise you and your family will starve. That's a risk you take in order to survive.

I don't know Musashi's story, but just from what you said about him I would say he lived his life in fear. My choice of lifestyle is to face my fears, and when death smiles at me, I will smile back.

Luck was never on my side, thank you but I won't be needing it. =)

[highwayrider02]

Originally Posted by girlfromstelle

It's good to face challenges, but it's also important to be wise.

Hardships come along when they're meant to. The most important kind of challenge you can face is the one that comes along unexpectedly. That's when you're really put to the test.

In the meantime, practice wisdom. All of us would hate to hear a story about you getting your things stolen, or worse. Survival is about doing what you can to remain as safe as possible. If you want to do that, you should get out of your current unsafe environment.

Just my thoughts, for what they're worth.

I appreciate your concerns, I really do. But even though I'm stuck where I'm at, I think it's a good staging ground to get into the mindset of a SHTF scenario. Always on watch, always on guard, ready to fight. Granted it can be stressful at times, but no one ever said survival was fun. My current living arrangements will be a walk in the park compared to what could really happen, but I am getting my feet wet.

Even though I do live with degenerates, people tend to let their imaginations run when thinking about what could happen. Yes there are dangers, but I will be fine. I will survive.

[highwayrider02]

Today I bolted down the safe to the wall and floor. Let's see 'em get my guns now!

[dtcepl]

If you are allowed to, you may want to consider changing the door to a fire-rated door, damn solid and no one can kick it down, and of course with all those proposed locks and bolts to secure it.

[Slade N. Illinois]

I have lived in a boarding house before. It sucks I know. I would say for your windows, get a security film, slide bolt locks, and a cheep ($10) buzzer alarm. For the door, if you can, an extra sheet of plywood on the inside may be enough to keep someone like a crackhead out. Along with extra locks I mean. Thats the cheapest thing I know of and exactly what I did. I kept all my gear, guns, and toys in my room. I also let everyone know that I installed a full on system (i just let the little cheap window alarm go off a few times)

[snowshoe67]

Originally Posted by Slade N. Illinois

I have lived in a boarding house before. It sucks I know. I would say for your windows, get a security film, slide bolt locks, and a cheep ($10) buzzer alarm. For the door, if you can, an extra sheet of plywood on the inside may be enough to keep someone like a crackhead out. Along with extra locks I mean. Thats the cheapest thing I know of and exactly what I did. I kept all my gear, guns, and toys in my room. I also let everyone know that I installed a full on system (i just let the little cheap window alarm go off a few times)

Good Idea buzzers sheet goods,and locks are key!