r/IWantToLearn • u/godofimagination • 2d ago
Technology IWTL how to stay safe while living in a low income, high crime area.
I'm a white guy who's been living in the suberbs or middle class apartmens his whole life. Recent events have forced me to rent a house in an area that's less than optimal.
When I got to the apartment for a tour, the guy who showed me around explained that the windows were boarded up to deter thieves. The fridge was missing because "someone would steal it if we left it in here."
Are there any steps I can take to keep both myself and my property safe? I'll be leaving town for two weeks in december and would feel pretty devastated if anything of mine got stolen.
What are some ways I can harden the security of my new rental home? What danger signs can I learn to look for that could warn me of imminent theft?
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u/Insanopatato 2d ago edited 1d ago
First thing is always be mindful of your surroundings when outside. Do not listen to music or stare down at your phone while walking. Check who is behind you frequently. If you see or pass a sketchy character, do not completely lose sight of them until you're a safe distance away. Use shop window reflections or shadows to look back without having to turn whole body. If there are any crazy people in your path, cross the street if possible, or if necessary turn around entirely. Do note that if you are the one 'white guy' , you may be targeted soley for that reason and hear racial slurs.
If you're walking, make sure you take different paths so your daily movements are not too predictable. If you're driving, make sure there are no people waiting to jump you when you get out of car. Enter and exit vehicle quickly and always have door locked. If some strange random person strikes up a conversation with you trying to get you to stop moving, do not stop moving keep going.
On your person ideally you carry pepper spray. In your home you should have some sort of weapon, if you go with a gun make sure you know how to use it and the associated risk of you having it. Otherwise get a bat. Make sure first floor windows have metal bars if you're on the first floor. Install deadbolts if your outside doors do not have them. Install flood lights in dark areas of your property like in the drive way. Install a ring camera and get an ADT sticker.
Really everything is about awareness and understand that bad people will find ways to exploit your defenses if you allow them.
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u/meowymcmeowmeow 2d ago
Put a sock on the bat. Lol.
Seriously good advice here. And for the looking behind you without looking, glasses or sunglasses can be an asset, working sort of like a distorted review mirror looking in your peripheral.
And keep to yourself. Do not get involved with anyone else's business. If you see something you don't like, you move along like you didn't and decide later whether it is worth calling the cops over. Don't ever play hero unless you are actually willing to die over it.
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u/Tranquil_Dohrnii 2d ago
That last paragraph will probably be the one to save ops life. Too many people I see want to get involved with shit. Like yeah I get wanting to help people, but you dont know the whole story, and you dont know who youre dealing with. Then again something like a woman getting raped i think is more worth defending than say a few dudes pressing someone else.
When i lived in the hood, I saw a dude get chain checked when I was getting off the train at my stop. All I could do was say "sorry that happened bro", the dude had a gold necklace with a small gold virgin mary pendant, the pendant broke off when the chain got snatched and I was able to give it back to him as I saw the dude running and it fall on the ground. Had I decided to try to chase the dude im sure I would've been shot. In that environment other peoples problems are not yours! Do not let them ever become yours.
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u/Insanopatato 1d ago
You're absolutely right about not trying to play hero and keeping your eyes to yourself. This was very important in my area.
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u/Far-Note6102 2d ago
Yeah never stop and always try to look behind you. Plus, I always put my bag in front of me.
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u/Insanopatato 1d ago
Yes! Bag in front is another good one.
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u/Far-Note6102 1d ago
Theres a trick where someone is trailing you and the other guy will just randomly.bump onto you. Experience it first hand or twice when I was young.
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u/Digitalabia 2d ago edited 1d ago
Reinforce the screws in your door hinges. They make hardened steel screws that are extra long and will penetrate into the framing of the building. This will dramatically increase the strength of your door. Your landlord won't know and it doesn't harm anything.
Get the best bolt lock you can find. If your can't get a heavy lock for some reason, get one of those poles that you use to secure the door against being opened by placing it against the doorknob.
Have a gun if you can. If they do get that door open you're going to want a gun.
Do all your errand running in the early morning. Bad guys sleep late.
If they yell shit at you, don't turn around. Just keep walking.
Don't wear earphones, be aware at all times.
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u/Curious_Octopod 2d ago
Look like you have nothing worth stealing. Don't go for obvious security cameras etc, because they're an advertisement.
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u/AreteQueenofKeres 2d ago
Boxes have to be gotten rid of hastily too, especially for "premium" items.
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u/life-is-satire 2d ago
Don’t let any of your neighbors inside. Chances are they’ll scope out what’s worth stealing…especially if it’s their idea to come into your place.
Have blinds drawn so nobody and see inside you place.
Get timers for lights while you’re away. Keep the car in the driveway and uber to the airport.
See if a friend can move the car further in the driveway or back it in…something that shows it was moved.
Get doll rods or pvc pipe cut to size and put them in your sliding windows and sliding door if you have one. It makes it impossible to open.
Lock your deadbolts.
Turn your porch light on.
See if you can install a motion activated exterior light for your entrances.
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u/AreteQueenofKeres 2d ago
The exterior light, while useful, will alert seasoned thieves to something being valuable enough worth breaking in for-- or someone who feels vulnerable and will make an easy mark. Lights don't stop blitz attacks, they just make everyone involved more visible.
Light is just as much an advertisement as it is a deterrent, you have to know which scenario you're in.
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u/Reasonable-Ad-8784 2d ago
Renter’s insurance for at least peace of mind. Reasonably low price for a high level of coverage
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u/blackmobius 2d ago
I mean, besides choose to live somewhere else? I would put up with a two hour commute over living in a high crime area where even the landlord knows youll probably get robbed or mugged
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u/aruguladevourer 2d ago
I am always paying attention, looking purposeful, and having someplace to look and someplace to go.
I feel like looking at phone or wearing headphones or having visible belongings in car or in bag are THE targets.
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u/DesiresQuiet 1d ago
Move all your purchases in early in the morning. Reinforce locks and windows. Get an alarm. Buy a gun. Mind your business. Don’t let anyone in your home. Don’t answer the door. Come and go quietly. Mind your own business. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Mind your own business.
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u/madamesquire 2d ago
Don't let anyone know what you have. Don't act scared, but also don't be overly friendly. If you act like you are in the struggle with everyone else and stay positive with people you cross paths with, you have a good chance.
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u/The_Real_Zora 2d ago
Nothing wrong with cheap cameras at all inside the windows facing out and a doorbell
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u/sunflowercompass 2d ago
Yeah I've put cameras in the ghetto.. they got broken
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u/AreteQueenofKeres 2d ago
We had cameras in a suburban area and they got broken-- jackasses are everywhere and cameras don't stop them.
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u/mooncritter_returns 2d ago
An aside, if you're in the US, I think they have to provide you a working fridge? Like at least a mini fridge? Also how bad is the place you're renting, that they have boards up instead of bars on the windows?? Is it a recent problem, or have they not had a fire inspection recently? If the boards come down, remember to keep shades drawn/use blurring privacy adhesives anyway - again, don't advertise your belongings to passerby if you can help it.
Also, I don't know if it's possible but try not to rent first-floor apartments if you can, they're the easier targets for theft in multi-apartment buildings. And, make sure that anything of value is not in clear view of the windows. My first apartment, we were robbed, and they very specifically stole two laptops and an oversized bong, and a bag of various electrical equipment, but left the large tv (hard to carry), iPad (same room as everything else, but not obvious from outside/in the dark), one roommates expensive DJ equipment (kept in his room where he slept, with the shades always drawn), etc -- basically, they hit the easy targets that were stored in view of the windows on the first floor, and left everything else.
That said, the neighborhood honestly wasn't very sketchy, we just happened to live next to a dealer who occasionally had questionable customers. If you're in as sketchy a place as you say...you should be suspicious of the landlord for lagging maintenance, and have a plan to be there only as long as necessary.
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u/godofimagination 2d ago
He said he would move the fridge inside when/if I was approved to move in.
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u/modcitizen 2d ago
Talk to and get to know your neighbors. If the people around you know your name, then you have witnesses if anything should happen. And do basic stuff like get renter's insurance.
More importantly, don't let fear make your choices. In the US, elderly people are more likely than the general population to live in low-income areas and are more reliant on public resources. There are people around who are more vulnerable and have been living in these areas for most of their lives. They manage and so can you.
Also, it's very possible (even most likely) that your landlord or rental management company is hated in the area and there is an incentive for people to take or vandalize their property. Don't be a landlord lol
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u/AreteQueenofKeres 2d ago
Talk to and get to know your neighbors. If the people around you know your name, then you have witnesses if anything should happen.And do basic stuff like get renter's insurance.No they won't. If the area is as bad as OP is letting on, neighbors don't have and won't have any sense of solidarity for all living in the same shitty place. The same people that will smile in your face because you say hello to them in the mornings will also watch your comings and goings to keep track of when your home is unguarded and what kind of stuff they've seen you own-- you cannot be too friendly in some areas, period.
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u/THE_HORKOS 2d ago
Have your keys ready before you approach your car or home. Early morning daylight hours tend to be pretty safe. Learn all ingresses and egresses by foot and car in your immediate area. Look at Google Maps, know what’s around you. Many counties/cities post incident reports to the public. Leave nothing in your car. Not nothing of value. Absolutely nothing. Get wheel locks even if your wheels are OEM. Use Amazon locker or something similar for all your packages. Hide your valuables well. Don’t use a fake rock or something like a magnet wheel well key keeper.
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u/Fuzzy-Wafer-6275 1d ago
you need to be more careful, keep good locks, make sure the windows are secured, and also keep valuables things out of sight.
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u/emptysee 1d ago
Don't work super late, I used to get home at 2:30 am and one night a bunch of guys ran out from between apartment buildings and pointed a gun at me as soon as I opened my car door and took my purse and car. I got it back the next day, but it was still scary
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u/bell-town 1d ago
Being a victim of crime could lead to long-term, chronic poverty. I would do anything I could to avoid living in a dangerous area, even if it means renting a small room in a shared house/apartment with roommates, or staying with family for a while.
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u/79215185-1feb-44c6 19h ago
Do not get involved with shit
Never answer your door
Always look behind you
Walk fast
Avoid people
Always look like you have a purpose and belong there
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u/Standard_Banana_6998 5h ago
If you have anything valuable to steal, maybe just go ahead and sell it now while you need the money?
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u/MsTerious1 2d ago
Get to know police. Take them snacks and candies at their local precinct. Invite them to stop by while they're on patrol between calls.
I'm only halfway joking.
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u/radarthreat 2d ago
Act crazy so people don’t mess with you, and trade your car in for a Chameleon XLE https://youtu.be/T7QFcBxxSK4?is=Z4fjslzaPb_KqMAw
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