Condo Security
By on Jun 16, 2008
Limiting risk to condominium complexes and ensuring condo security hinges on open lines of communication between each and every owner. I recently attended the site of a break-in at a condominium complex. While repairing the damage, I was questioned by a number of residents as to what had happened. It was apparent to me that the occupants were not informed of the violation.
Condo dwellers have a right to be notified of all suspicious activities associated with their building. An informed resident is a safeguard against an intruder making a return visit. Don't put your condo's security at risk by adapting a nonchalant attitude towards crime.
Council members must accept the responsibility of informing all residents of every occurrence. Letters should be sent out from the strata council or building manager informing residents and owners of any violation, making sure to give a detailed report of the crime scene. If available, they should also attach a copy of the police report and include any recommendations that could prevent the situation from reoccurring.
But condo security is not just the responsibility of the strata council members. Residents must also do their part to help keep the building safe from intruders. Concealing knowledge of a break-in or an attempted break-in is an unforgivable offence. All too often, residents are hesitant to report suspicious activities at the risk of sounding paranoid. This lack of regard for the safety of others is quite often the reason a building gets targeted a second or third time.
Even an attempted break-in is serious business that could end up costing homeowners thousands of dollars in collective deductibles, not to mention a hike in insurance rates. Don't let the bad guys get away with an encore performance because you didn't report suspicious activity the first time around. Go ahead, take a risk and report any dubious behaviour - it's better to be safe than sorry. Nobody is going to fault you for leaning on the side of caution.
It's also a good idea to schedule a special emergency meeting with all the condominium residents to discuss building violations and condo security. Somebody may have information about a break-in that has not been reported yet or may offer suggestions to help prevent such an occurrence from happening again. Meetings may also divulge how other buildings in your area have dealt with similar problems. These ideas often come from residents who have family or friends in other complexes, and a meeting gives them a venue to showcase their ideas.
A strong proactive strata council or property management company should have familiarity in dealing with these serious crime issues. But if your strata council finds itself in a position of "what do we do now?", it's time to call in a security professional to assess the situation. A government-licensed security consultant will be able to provide expert, professional advice and information on how to protect your property from vandalism, intrusion, trespass, or theft.
Your security consultant can set you up on a three-stage program to help spread the costs over a specific period of time. Stage one might include target hardening the perimeter of the building to ensure the utmost protection against a physical attack. Stage two could involve upgrading the security in the parkade area by restricting access to key holders only. Stage three might involve securing doors inside the building to ensure better resident security from within.
No matter what decisions you embrace, your security professional will make sure that safety and security are the main ingredients. However it's imperative that condominium buildings are in compliance with fire codes to ensure the utmost safety for all residents. So as a final precaution, contact your local fire department for approval of all proposed changes.
Strata councils working together with residents, owners, and fire departments is just a small example of how communities can stay safe from today's criminal element.
