How do I keep my rooftop apartment un-broken-in-on?

May 23, 2008 6:29 PM

Parapet defense 101, or, how to discourage home invasion of an overly-fab rooftop apartment without turning it into a prison.

My neighborhood is in the grip of a lasting wave of property crime -- not violent crime -- and is clearly a very low priority for the overtaxed police force. Our old-ass car was stolen last month, and last night at 2am there were people apparently going from rooftop to rooftop and our peaked (!) rooftop was repeatedly run (!) over. The ground floor apartments in my building have been broken into and looted while the owners were gone.

I moved here a decade ago when the neighborhood was safe, and my apartment has all kinds of nice features which are now liabilities: big skylights, big terrace with big terrace doors, roof access.

I don't think the crime wave is permanent. It has been closely tracking the diminishing economic health of the neighborhood, which is gradually showing signs of improvement. So, here are some givens:

1. Robbers here are not likely to carry firearms or come in prepared to do violence. The usual profile is a junkie or teen boy who wants to steal your stuff to resell if it doesn't look too difficult to get away with, i.e. no one seems to be home.

2. A thief who woke us up would probably tend to feel that they had chosen the wrong house. Our electronics are old and ugly (big 12-year-old CRT TV, too heavy to walk away with, and it's defective!), and we are unusually wealthy in aggro. Any attempt at entry would be loud and slow going unless executed by a Mission Impossible - style catburglar, which isn't what we're talking about here. But I have a good laptop, which is expensive and has expensive data on it, and of course the safety of the other resident and myself is priceless.

3. We don't just want to wrap everything up in security gating. Moving would be prefereable to waking up every morning in darkness and cranking up the cage doors before we can see the sun.

I would love to hear any advice on how to make our place more unattractive to the shitheels who may be casing it. I am considering moving, so it isn't necessary to point out to me that there is a lot at stake, OMG, get out of there right now! I'm not blasé. I'm also trying to see if there is any neighborhood watch possibility. But while I'm thinking about moving and neighborhood watching, I would also like to consider methods of jackass deterrence. My question is about practical ways of dissuading the kinds of not-super-violent, effort-averse thieves that we're plagued with around here at the moment. For instance, I was thinking motion detector that shined a very bright light when someone is on the terrace after 1am, to start with. I would be grateful for your ideas along these lines, particularly regarding the terrace, which is the weakest spot. Feel free to contact at [e-mail]. Thank you!

posted by anonymous to home & garden (29 comments total)

Can you get a dog? A barking dog would likely scare away any would be burglars.
posted by All.star at 6:47 PM on May 23, 2008

Game cameras can help you inexpensively collect evidence of trespass. Razor wire can be a cheap and effective access control improvement. Andura Anti-Climb can be effective.
posted by paulsc at 6:49 PM on May 23, 2008

Cooperation works wonders.
posted by Mblue at 7:07 PM on May 23, 2008

"For instance, I was thinking motion detector that shined a very bright light when someone is on the terrace after 1am, to start with"

Lighting is good. Moderate, diffuse lighting is much better than a bright spot/flood light though. This is because a very bright light creates glare which makes people lurking in shadows harder to see.

paulsc writes "Razor wire can be a cheap and effective access control improvement."

Razor wire requires a permit or is outright illegal in some places. If you don't see it around your neighbourhood you might want to make an enquiry to confirm it's legality. It's also really nasty stuff to work with, if you go that route I'd advise getting someone else to install it.
posted by Mitheral at 7:12 PM on May 23, 2008

Razor wire is overkill if you see the neighborhood improving, as you'll want to remove it eventually. It also will impede access to future roof repairs, which could bite you or a future tenant in the ass.
A motion detector and a dog are good ideas.
You seem to have thought about this a lot already, so I assume you've already made a decision about firearms. If those aren't an option, an axe or 3-4 ft. prybar will make people turn tail and shit their pants.
Grates for your skylights and terrace doors might also be worth investigating.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:26 PM on May 23, 2008

We live in a neighborhood in decline, next to an abandoned house and across the street form an abandoned house. I've gone with the More Light Is Better approach, so we have multiple solar powered motion lights around the exterior of the house. In order to make things more difficult to get in the windows next to doors and the doors where they have windows have transparent security film applied. When the film is cured it turns your basic plate glass in to a similar material as found in windshields. The glass, even if broken, generally won't come out of it's frame. Makes it a big pain in the rear to get through.

We also have a dog who is terribly sweet but has a deep bark and knows if anyone is within 10 feet of the house and voices extreme displeasure at this discovery.

Honestly the most effective deterrent we've found (we being the folks on the block) is aggressively questioning anyone who doesn't look like they have a legitimate purpose being in the neighborhood. Nothing seems to do the job as well as making sure folks who wander through the neighborhood understand that we are watching out for the neighborhood and will make note of anyone who looks like they aren't filled with pure motives.

You can also look in to building a Water Hobo
posted by iamabot at 7:37 PM on May 23, 2008

Put stickers for an alarm company (eg. This premises protected by Brinks) on your windows, doors, and skylights whether you actually have an alarm or not. The type of thieves you describe are looking for an easy mark and will take a pass on an alarmed or pretend-alarmed house.

Secure your terrace doors and other windows with a stick in the track or by drilling holes through the frame and door/window and threading a bolt through.

A real dog is good but if that's not a possibility then there's this option.

Seconding the security window film that iamabot mentions.
posted by lunaazul at 7:40 PM on May 23, 2008

There is a book out there, written by a thief who, once caught, decided he needed a new line of work. Most of his advice was similar to the punchline of the old joke: "I don't have to outrun a bear, I just have to outrun you."

In your case, you need to make your house less attractive that the others around you.

Lights help. A dog helps, or, if not a dog, a giant sized somewhat chewed on dog dish full of water near the doors. Things that make your house look uninviting.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 7:40 PM on May 23, 2008

If you don't have renters insurance (I am assuming this is a leased apt) get some. It isn't as expensive as you think it is ( I think I pay 12-15$/month for my renters which covers approx $15,000 in case of theft or fire and another 8 or so a month to cover my laptop). For the laptop get a specific policy that covers it only, I think its called a personal property policy. Take pictures and inventory of all your valuables even if they are 12 years old they will still cost you money to replace them.
posted by meeshell at 7:42 PM on May 23, 2008

Is it possible to rent or otherwise acquire a big heavy safe that you can put your laptop into?
posted by amtho at 8:13 PM on May 23, 2008

Actually keeping a determined burglar out is very difficult -- it takes expensive and nasty-looking fencing, razor wire, barred windows, etc, supplemented with armed security guards, controlled access entries, and so on, and even all of that only works some of the time. Look at photographs of urban Latin America to get a sense of how visible these sorts of barriers are -- you will see tall fencing with razor wire on top across rooftops, long spikes to keep people from climbing onto balconies, fully caged terraces high up in apartment buildings, etc.

So you are looking for subtle things that might help someone decide to break in next door instead. Lights are good; CCTV seems to help. Look at accessible windows and doors -- are there easy changes you could make? Better locks, a few security screens, etc? Is it easy to tell if someone is home? Can the door easily be kicked in?
posted by Forktine at 8:15 PM on May 23, 2008

this for when you're not at home

if you think robbers would not flee the apartment while you mare your presence known, this might scare them away

also one of these to alert the neighbors and the entire block/town
posted by spacefire at 8:28 PM on May 23, 2008

Dogs are fantastic deterrents. If you're not keen on making a 12 year commitment, you might consider fostering through a rescue group. Robbers aren't great at evaluating temperament, so it doesn't really matter if the dog's not protective. A dog's presence alone is deterring.
posted by freshwater_pr0n at 8:29 PM on May 23, 2008

also, fake, motion sensing security camera:
http://www.prankplace.com/fakecam.htm
posted by spacefire at 8:35 PM on May 23, 2008

Have you ever seen the show It Takes a Thief on the Discovery Channel? It has a lot of great tips about security, I love it.

I liked what was said above about making your house less attractive than the ones around it. Without setting up a neighborhood watch or joining an existing one (which I definitely think you need to do), nothing you do will stop the crime; you can only protect your own property.

Criminals hate light. They also hate a challenge--heck, they're burglarizing houses so they don't have to work at a real job. So if they know your place as the one that lights up like a football stadium when they go by, they're more likely to stay away.

If you have sliding doors, you need an item specifically made for the purpose of securing them; I believe it's called a Charlie bar. It clamps onto the frame and holds the door closed. You don't want to stick a piece of wood in the track because often one or two kicks can dislodge it.

That security laminate mentioned above would also be great--I've seen demos of that stuff and it's really amazing. I think you'd probably have to get a professional to install it but it would deter people from doing the kind of smash-and-grab jobs you seem to be afraid of.


Anyway, those are a few basic ideas. If you're serious about protecting your home, I would suggest finding a security professional in your area, possibly someone from an alarm company, and see if there's any way you can get a consultation. We can all give you general ideas, but without seeing your specific home, it's difficult to point out the trouble areas.
posted by DMan at 8:43 PM on May 23, 2008

I took an environmental criminology class one time, and we were taught theory, theory, theory for the first half. The second half, we were supposed to apply it to situations that the prof made up. Well after each exercise, we found documentation/research about an actual situation like that. What helped, what didn't help, how people coped, etc. NOTHING works better than a organized neighborhood watch. If 1 out of every 100 residents gets involved, your numbers are AWESOME. Get the signs, pass them out to everyone that has a window facing an alley or street. Post them near apartment communal entrances, post one on every other lamp post (make sure the Popo is down with it first). It will work wonders. Your neighborhood property crime rates can change in one week if you do this.

Good luck.
posted by hal_c_on at 9:27 PM on May 23, 2008

I am all for the razorwire on your roof but it may require you to jump through some hoops with the city first. los angeles would be one of those places. it does sound to me that you do live in an area where the city gov should be open to hearing your case though if this is a matter of state law you may be out of luck. still - this is your roof. nobody has a reason to be there.

I also second (third?) the need for renters and/or home insurance. make sure to have backups of important legal documents, receipts for items and photos of them stored in a separate place.
posted by krautland at 10:31 PM on May 23, 2008

I would take it easy on trying to set up fake cameras and whatnot. Thieves are either really good or just plain dumb. I've personally seen places get robbed and all they had were fake cameras set up. It's kind of ridiculous after the fact. Most likely your going to get the dumb kind who won't notice these things, stickers or whatever, and will end up where you don't want them. Motion sensing lights, big dog, and an actual loud alarm are a good places to start. Also you could always get broken glass, and attach it to specific areas: Windowsills or ledges.
posted by P.o.B. at 10:40 PM on May 23, 2008

String a solid wire about 8 inches off the peak of the roof. No one will notice it, but someone running across your roof in the middle of the night won't do it twice.

A dog is great. Even a small one will deter thieves.

If you don't want or can't have a dog, Google for motion activated dog recordings.

Motion sensitive lights aren't bad, but I think Mitheral had it with the diffuse lighting. Low wattage lights illuminating the exterior of your place will make an obvious silhouette of anyone approaching your house. It can also make other security arrangements more visible (like the alarm stickers in your window and the fake security cameras.)

If you can, trim bushes and trees away from the front of your house to make it as visible as possible from the street.

It's an apartment, so I'm not sure how many of these your building owner will allow. If you're looking at doing something outside the lease agreement, talk to the owner and offer to pay for (part of) the improvements. They'll have nothing to lose.
posted by Ookseer at 2:48 AM on May 24, 2008

I'm going to Nth the neighborhood watch. Neighbors who know each other, look out for each other, question strange activity, etc. It can really make a difference.

If it makes you feel any better, the economy seems to be reviving property crime in a LOT of places. Definitely in our 'hood and we are a rather sleepy family 'hood on the fringes of Chicago. Some theft of electronics but more theft of anything metal that can be traded in for cash (even lawnmowers, ladders, air conditioning units, catalytic converters cut out of cars, etc.) Sigh.
posted by jeanmari at 4:42 AM on May 24, 2008

If you feel like geeking out, real security cameras are not all that expensive anymore. MicroCenter in the Twin Cities, for example, carries them on shelf; I'd expect there are loads of online sources. If you're the sort of person who would find setting this up more fun that, say, razor wire, there might be side benefits.

I have a good laptop, which is expensive and has expensive data on it

Backups, backups, backups--stored in a separate area from the laptop itself. If the data is *that* valuable, why not schlep the backup to a safe deposit box every couple of weeks or so? That also protects you against residential fires, natural disasters, and such catastrophes.

Speaking from experience, examining the strike plates on your doors (what are they bolted into? just the thin frame?) is good to do. "Professionally installed" doors and windows means that they look good, not necessarily that they're secure. There are easy DIY fixes that you can do to strengthen the area, one example.

Also, what everybody else said. I'm bookmarking a couple of good suggestions above myself for later followup.
posted by gimonca at 7:46 AM on May 24, 2008

Security cameras would be good, but the only problem I foresee is that by themselves they aren't very conspicuous and so they might not serve as a deterrent. And it does no good to have your intruder captured on video if your overtaxed police force doesn't have time to track the guy down. You mentioned that most of the criminals are probably teenagers or junkies--unless the police officer watching your video happens to know the guy, the chances of finding him are slim. Real life isn't like CSI--even in a big city, the police probably aren't going to spend all kinds of time finding one guy.

So you need to be looking at deterrents, and I feel like there are much more visible and effective measures you can take than installing security cameras. Of course, if doing that would help to make you more interested in your home's security, then by all means do it. What's important here is that you and the other resident(s) are on board and gung-ho about the idea of keeping your home safe. It sounds like that's the case.
posted by DMan at 8:23 AM on May 24, 2008

the police probably aren't going to spend all kinds of time finding one guy

Of course: because 99 times out of 100, they don't have a photo. Anyway, they're not going to "track down the guy in the photo", the point is to have evidence around in case the perp get busted later, info to share with neighbors, the media, etc.

Nothing here is a silver bullet solution. This is something that's done in layers, adding one on top of another.
posted by gimonca at 9:34 AM on May 24, 2008

Anyway, they're not going to "track down the guy in the photo", the point is to have evidence around in case the perp get busted later, info to share with neighbors, the media, etc.

Fair enough, and I didn't mean to imply that security cameras were pointless. I just think that it shouldn't be the focus of the OP's security setup....it'd be a great addition if money allows, but other things are much more important.
posted by DMan at 10:44 AM on May 24, 2008

Ookseer: "String a solid wire about 8 inches off the peak of the roof. No one will notice it, but someone running across your roof in the middle of the night won't do it twice."

Oooh, I'm not so sure about this being a good idea. In some places in the world, someone who is injured on your property can sue you -- even if they were there with burglarizing on their mind.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:10 AM on May 24, 2008

"Oh yeah... I put that wire up when I got interested in ham radio. I did not intentionally put it up there to maim anyone. Who would do such an awful, horrible thing?"
posted by Kikkoman at 2:56 PM on May 24, 2008

Better have a HAM radio then, and a license. That may keep you from going to prison, but it might not help with a lawsuit.
posted by sideshow at 3:01 PM on May 27, 2008

I'm puzzled as to how the wire a TV antenna or dish is more dangerous than the other suggestions of razor wire or broken glass embedded in concrete.

In many jurisdictions you are not liable for injuries incurred during criminal trespass. (For example if I lacerate myself while smashing your window.) Of course in some jurisdictions you can get arrested for photographing police or having an annoying dog, so YMMV, consult local experts before installing any security measures.
posted by Ookseer at 11:51 PM on May 29, 2008

Ookseer writes "I'm puzzled as to how the wire a TV antenna or dish is more dangerous than the other suggestions of razor wire or broken glass embedded in concrete."

The concern is if a device like this is considered a booby trap. Razor/barb wire is OK (some places) because you can see it. A low taunt wire designed to trip someone running across a roof starts getting into "shotgun pointed at the door activated by trip wire". Cops, if only out of self interest, take a dim view of the latter.
posted by Mitheral at 7:50 AM on May 30, 2008