Being that a large volume of people live in an apartment complex, it’s extremely important to keep a close eye on suspicious behavior. You don’t need a neighborhood watch or a courtesy officer to spot potential crime threats; many of them are noticeable if you pay attention to your surroundings. Here are a few things to watch for around your apartment.

• You probably have an idea of who your neighbors are and what cars they drive. Watch for people you don’t recognize as residents or cars you’ve never seen before. While some of these are visitors to residents, others may be loitering on the property without any connection to residents.
• Another way to determine visitor from trespasser is to take notice if strangers are walking in and out of a unit when you know that the resident is on vacation or at work. While it may be someone watching a pet for the resident, it could also be someone taking advantage of an empty unit.
• Watch for cars that appear to be homes. People who live in their cars may pull into apartment parking lots to stay there, and possibly cause more trouble as well.
• Non-residents may drop by to use community amenities, like the laundry room or pool. While it’s okay for guests accompanied by residents, strangers can cause trouble and liability risks for the complex.
• Children should always be monitored by an adult. Unsupervised, kids can be a source of petty crime, particularly during school breaks. If there’s a problem with unsupervised kids, speak to the parents or the property manager.

If you notice these suspicious behaviors, or any others, report them to the property manager and/or the police. Additionally, protect your belongings with renters insurance so you’re covered from the threat of crime.

We’ve got you covered. Call Waymon Lynch & Associates at (301) 927-6070 for more information on renters insurance.