How To Have A Safer Apartment

By Lev Novak

An apartment is like your castle. Unfortunately, castles aren’t the safest places, at least according to Game of Thrones. There are issues to be aware of, both inside and out of your house.

So, how are you going to be safe, so when your Mom asks you if you’re being safe, you can say “yes, Mom” and mean it? Read on. And maybe print this out and tape it all over your house. That’s safety tip #1; no robber wants to deal with a crazed uCribs reader.

1. Lock Your Doors

Yes, this is a really simple one. It’s also one that people forget. I lived in a mediocre area as a college student, and I’ve forgotten to lock up myself. I even used to leave the door unlocked, because I hated taking my keys with me. Look: I know. More than once, I even left the door to my apartment open, simply because I forgot.

And guess what?

I was robbed.

Actually, I wasn’t- but reading this you just know I should’ve been. That’s because when someone else screws up it’s mind-numbingly obvious; but when you do it, it’s fine. Nothing bad could happen to you; that’s for other people. So next time you think about not locking your doors, think of how you felt reading that above- how sure you were that I was going to be robbed, how dumb I was, how you had no pity for me- and then think about if someone read that about you. Lock your doors (and windows) and be safe.

2. Keep Drama To A Minimum

Drama, especially fueled by alcohol, is a pretty prime factor for shoving. At the very least, it’ll make your house less fun; at most, it’ll make it the lame sort of “unsafe” where, while nobody is in danger, someone might drunkenly shove someone into a table and then they bruise their leg really hard.

Avoid leg bruises. A drama free home is a safe one.

3. Do Not Do Anything Blatantly Illegal From Your House

I’m not here to judge, but if you’re doing anything, do it away from your house. Where you live should be a respite from any sort of illegal stress, and, at minimum, a personal safety-zone. Once you break that bubble, suddenly your house is on “record”: for any police officer, rival criminal thinker, or even a dissatisfied customer- they know where you live.

Plus, no matter what, if you know your house has nothing seriously illegal, you’ll never be afraid to call emergency services in a situation. A friend of a friend had a serious gas leak in their house, but they also had drugs. They had to call the fire department and their landlord and were very, very nervous.

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you won’t be able to get the help you need. Keep your house clean.

4. Be Mindful

This is much less interesting, but be aware; accidents happen, so be mindful.

Don’t slip when you step out of the shower- get a bath mat. Don’t step on broken glass. Don’t keep your knife collection thrown all around your table. Don’t fill your house with cactuses if you have a habit of sleepwalking.

It can be simple, but sometimes safety is just that: simple, basic things.

And please, don’t keep a big scary snake as a pet. Yes, I know it’s not poisonous, and I get that it’s “perfectly safe” but it’s creepy. Stop it.

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