Safety and Security

When looking for housing off-campus, it is important that you keep in mind your own security and safety. When inspecting a potential rental unit, use our checklist to be sure it is secure. Check our list of police departments and investigate the crime statistics in the area. Once you've moved into a unit, keep in mind our tips for staying safe. Be aware and be prepared!

• Questions to Consider
• Tips on Being Safe
• Information on Crime Statistics
• Physical Structure Security

There are many different things you should ask yourself as you inspect a rental unit's security. Use this checklist to be sure that both the interior and exterior of your home are as safe and secure as possible.

EXTERNAL SECURITY
• Are the buildings and grounds well maintained?
• Are the entryways, sidewalks, and parking areas well lit?
• Are entryways visible from the street?
• Are the residents' names printed on the mailboxes?
• Is the mailbox lockable and in good condition?
• Are the lots and surrounding streets free of abandoned cars?
• Is parking usually available close to your door?
• Is the area well lit at night and on weekends?
• Are there designated visitor parking spaces?
• Does the apartment complex provide security services? (patrols, escorts, etc)
• Do neighbors feel safe?
• How close is the building to high traffic, well-traveled areas?
• Are shrubs cut below window level?
• Are tree limbs cut above window level so that you can see in and out of your home?
• Is the unit number visible from the street?
• Is the property near fire stations and other emergency services?
• Are the alleys around the residence clean?

INTERNAL SECURITY
• Are exterior doors made of core wood or metal?
• What kind of security does the unit have? (knob locks, chains, deadbolts, peepholes, etc)
• Is there a security system in the building?
• Is there a sufficient number of working smoke detectors in the living space and in hallways? Are they battery-operated or hardwired?
• Are there adequate emergency escape routes in case of a fire?
• Are there fire extinguishers?
• Do curtains, blinds, or draperies fully cover windows?
• Are there safe places to go in case of a tornado?
• Is there a high turnover of residents?

SECURITY AT ENTRANCES
• Can the main entryway be easily seen from the street even at night? Is it well lit?
• Are there sturdy locks on all the windows?
• Are security bars/screens provided if it is a ground floor or basement unit?
• Are doors to the laundry room kept locked?
• Does the landlord have a published policy about issuing and replacing keys?
• Does the building have a doorman or buzzer for guests and deliveries?
• Are locks on the doors of the buildings and apartments adequately secure?
• Is there a peephole at the door?
• Do the front and rear doors have 180-degree peep holes?
• Do doors have deadbolt locks?
• If door hinge pins are outside, are they non-removable?
• Does the door securely fit the jamb?
• Is the door jamb fastened tightly?
• Is the strike plate securely fastened to the door jamb?
• Does the bolt extend sufficiently into the strike plate?
• Are key control procedures used to ensure that locks are changed when keys are lost or not returned?
• Are you informed of who has keys to your living space?
• Do sliding glass doors have blocking cleats to prevent opening from the outside?
• Can windows left open for ventilation be secured?
• Are window air-conditioners secured from the inside?
• Are door locks located so they can't be reached through a window?

Once you've chosen a new place to live, review these tips on being safe to be sure that your home stays secure.

INTERNAL
• Leave a light on when you are gone, or purchase a utility timer that can turn lights off and on automatically.
• Check smoke detectors every month. If there is no smoke detector, ask your landlord to install one.
• Purchase renter's insurance. It is not that expensive, and may save you money if there is an accident or a burglary.
• Keep emergency numbers near the phone.
• Know your roommates' security habits. You are only as safe as your roommates allow you to be.

ENTRANCES
• Always keep doors and windows locked.
• Ask to see company ID when utility or service people come to your door.
• Use a peephole to determine who is knocking before you open the door. If you are still unsure about who is there, question the stranger through the door.
• If necessary, get a security system.
• Keep the blinds or drapes closed when you are gone.
• If you lose your keys, work with the landlord to replace your locks immediately.
• Don't put ID tags on your key ring.

EXTERNAL
• Have someone check on your place when you are out of town, and have the post office hold your mail. If you subscribe to papers, hold those as well.
• Get to know your area. Know where not to walk, and where streets and alleys lead.
• Do not walk alone after dark. Contact a friend to take you where you need to go.
• Get to know someone in the immediate vicinity that you can call in case of an emergency.
• Never leave your key outside under a mat or in a place accessible to a stranger.
• Never leave notes on your door or messages on your answering machine indicating that you are away.

Before you make a decision on a particular location, it is a good idea to visit the area both during the day and at night to get a feel for the safety of the area. Pay attention to the noise level, activity, and the appearance of the buildings nearby. Contact local police to check crime reports and to get their opinions on the area. Use the links below to check out crime statistics in this area.

Click here for information on crime statistics on campus and in the immediate campus vicinity.

For nearby crime statistics, check with Prince George’s County Police. The University and its surrounding area are inside PG County Police District One, across sectors A6, A7, B6, and B3. Prince George’s County Crime Statistics

An additional resource is provided by the Washington Post; click here to access its map of recent crime incidents.

For more information on crime statistics, check our list of County and Local Police Departments.

The security of the physical structure you rent is an important consideration. Review this information before you look at rental properties to be sure that a unit you are considering can be secured thoroughly.

DOORS
The door system consists of the door, the door’s hardware, and the support framing. Each segment of this system plays a part in providing basic home security. An exterior door system should be constructed to withstand a hard kick or blow to any part of the surface.
The strike plate is the most important part of the door because it is the weakest point. This is where the door will fail after a hard kick or blow. The strike plate surrounds or encases the chiseled out opening which accepts the bolt from the door lock. A high security case hardened strike plate has an extended surface area to displace the force of a blow to the door. Secure the strike plate through the door’s molding and into the doors 2x4 frame with 3 inch wood screws to provide additional resistance to an assault.

EXTERIOR DOOR TYPES
• SOLID WOOD: Doors constructed of either a single piece of wood or several pieces glued together like wood blocks: HIGH SECURITY
• METAL CLAD: A wood or metal frame with wood blocks for interior support covered with a metal sheath: HIGH SECURITY
• HOLLOW CORE: A thin wood veneer applied over a wood frame. This door type is suitable for interior closets and pantry doors: LOW SECURITY
• WOOD PANELED: Paneled doors typically have thin wood panels places within a door's frame. The panels offer a weak defense to a well-placed kick: LOW SECURITY

DOOR SECURITY
HINGES: removing the hinge pin is the first step in taking the door off the hinge. Therefore the spine of the hinge containing the pin should be mounted on the interior side of an exterior door. If the spine is located on the exterior it should be welded into the spine of the hinge or the door should be equipped with a leaf hinge. The leaf hinge has a screw or stud which holds the hinge closed making removal of the door very difficult.
PEEPHOLE: allows the interior occupant to see who is near the entrance without opening the door.
LOCKS: no one lock is appropriate for every door. The most common locks and their uses are described below as a reference. This information can help assess the different types of door locks you will see when you survey a property.
• SINGLE CYLINDER DEADBOLT: a lock that is key operated from the exterior side of the door and equipped with a thumb-turn on the inside. This lock is appropriate for a door that does not have glass within 40" of the thumb-turn.
• DOUBLE CYLINDER DEADBOLT: a lock that is key operated from both sides of the door and is used when there is glass within 40 inches of they lock. This lock prevents someone from breaking glass and reaching in and turning the thumb turn. Position a spare key inside near the door for an emergency exit.
• SURFACE MOUNTED LOCK: a lock mounted to the door frame with 3 inch screws. The bolts should have a vertical movement designed to resist prying.
• CREMONE LOCK: a lock which attaches to the top of a door and locks by projecting a metal bolt into a strike plate in the bottom of the door. A key-operated lock is best for doors containing glass panes.

WINDOWS
Climbing through windows is often how people get back into the house after they've lost their keys. The ease with which people break into their own homes illustrates this vulnerability. Home owners do not realize how often burglars gain access through a second story window or balcony.
• DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS: this type of window consists of an upper and lower sash that overlap at the middle of the window. The upper and lower sashes may both be operable. Equip these windows with key-operated locks, removable security nails, or security window screens. To install the nail or screws, drill holes through the upper corner of the lower interior sash. Another method of securing these windows is to fit the channels with ¼ round wood molding/ Cut the molding to allow the window to open five inches or so for ventilation.
• CASEMENT WINDOWS: these windows open with a key-operated lock and bar placed in the track. A metal screw partially inserted into the upper or bottom door track helps to prevent the window from being lifted and removed.
• JALOUSIE WINDOWS: these are louvered windows with horizontal panes of glass that insert into an adjustable aluminum frame and tilt up and down to open and close. These windows offer poor security. Reinforce the window with burglar bars or expanded metal mesh. Install the protective window treatment on the interior side of the window frames in such a way that the window may be opened for ventilation.
• FRENCH WINDOWS/DOORS: You can have one leaf of the two doors permanently secured and the active door fitted with a double cylinder, surface-mounted, vertial action deadbolt. Another popular treatment for French doors and windows is to use a surface deadbolt with a key operated Cremone bolt lock. This lock is attached to the inactive side of the door or window. The Cremone bolt extends 1.5-2 inches into the strike plates fitted into the top and bottom of the door frame.

WINDOW ACCESSORIES: Install burglar bars on the side of the property you are trying to protect. This usually means protecting the inside, so the security treatment should be on the inside of the windows, not the outside. Painted to match the window trim, the security bars, scrolls, or shutters blend effectively into the window minimizing their presence. Decorative wood or expanded metal-mesh window screens are another alternative to traditional burglar bars. Again, use smoke detectors and plan your escape routes through doors, or designated windows equipped with quick release locks.
Shutters with movable and non-removable louvers are not to be relied on as a means of securing an entrance or window area. The movable louvers may allow someone to reach in and open the shutters. Shutters used for ventilation should have the interior window frames fitted with burglar bars.

ALARM SYSTEMS: An alarm system should be the last security measure applied to a residence. Alarms can never remedy poor physical security and habits. False alarms are common, and many people ignore them. If the home you are considering has an alarm, have the system monitored and maintained by an alarm company.