First-floor apartments are great because you don’t lose time going up and down the elevator or the stairs. Moving heavy items into a first-floor apartment is easier, and if you have young children, your safety concerns are less than someone on the upper floors. However, first-floor apartments are at a disadvantage when it comes to safety.
First-floor apartments get robbed more because moving items from the house to a waiting car is easier. Thieves also can get away faster when robbing a first floor apartment. It is also difficult to identify a thief since everyone passes the first-floor on their way to the upper floors.
People living on the first floor have to take precautions to secure their homes. In this article, I’ll discuss the safety risks, what you can do to feel safe, and if you should even consider living in first-floor apartments.
Are First Floor Apartments More Likely to Be Burglarized?
When choosing the apartment floor to live in, there are several things you need to consider, including security and ease of movement.
If you have an elderly person or a sick family member who sometimes needs urgent medical attention, you may have no option but to live in a first-floor apartment. However, the convenience may be at a cost.
First-floor apartments are more likely to be burglarized if you don’t take precautions, such as securing doors and windows. Burglars can easily go in and out of a first-floor apartment than on the top floors. Upper-floor tenants can also more easily identify a stranger than first-floor residents.
People living on the upper floors will open their windows without worrying about someone peeking. You may not have this luxury when living in a first-floor apartment. You will need to secure your home to make it more difficult for burglars to access your apartment.
Why First Floor Apartments Are the Least Secure
Security is an important consideration when choosing where to live. You may be forced to choose between paying more for a more secure neighborhood or living in a place prone to break-ins, but at a price you can afford.
Fortunately, you can minimize the risks by going for an upper-floor apartment because the first floor is usually more vulnerable to burglary.
First floor apartments are the least secure because:
- They are easier to access than the upper-floor apartments, both through doors and windows.
- It is harder to identify tenants, visitors, and thieves from the first floor. The higher one goes, the easier it is to tell if a stranger is in the building.
- The first floor is closer to the ground, so a burglar can easily escape.
- The activities in the surrounding area are more noticeable in the first-floor apartments than in the top apartments. Neighbors may not differentiate the usual noise from a burglar breaking into a first-floor apartment.
- You may hear your top-floor neighbors’ movements, but they won’t notice someone moving around your house in your absence.
How to Secure a First Floor Apartment
If you have no option but to live in a first-floor apartment, you can look for apartment blocks with an elevated first floor. These apartments are not easy to reach, so you are safer than in an apartment with the first floor closer to the ground.
You should also insure your valuables so that you can at least receive compensation should they be stolen.
If you already live in a first-floor apartment or have no choice but to live in a non-elevated one, you can take steps to secure your home. Thieves are more likely to break into an apartment with minimal to no security. So, securing your home will give you peace of mind, and you can be a little relaxed knowing that you won’t get robbed easily.
Here are some ways to secure a first-floor apartment:
Automate Your Apartment
Having a smart home will help you keep track of everything going on in your home, even when away. Have motion sensors, cameras, and a security lock system to alert you when anyone breaks in. It is a heavy investment, but it will save you the cost of replacing items in your home in the long term.
This motion sensor kit features two wireless sensors and one receiver. The door alarm has four volume levels and works with a 30 to 40 m (98.42 – 131.23 ft) range. It will ring like a doorbell once it detects visitors or strangers approaching your door.
Install a Glass Break Detector
You will be alerted when someone breaks into your home through the window when you have a glass break detector. Glass detectors have sensors that will sound an alarm once it senses glass vibrations. Sometimes, the alarm is enough to force the burglars to escape.
The EVA LOGIK Glass Break Alarm Sensors produce a loud alarm when intruders break the glass in your home. The alarm can be heard 300 m (1,000 ft.) away. It has settings for low and high sensitivity, depending on your preference. It has a red LED light that warns when its battery runs low. It is easy to install and requires no wiring.
Invest in a Thick Door
Such doors are difficult to break into unless one uses special tools, which may alert neighbors that something unusual is happening in the building.
In addition, you can install more heavy-duty locks on your door so that it would be more difficult for burglars to break-in. Installing multiple locks could also help delay a burglar’s entry into your home, making it easier for passersby to recognize a threat.
Install a Door With a Peephole
Make use of the peephole to ensure you do not accidentally open your door to strangers who may turn out to be thieves.
If the guest isn’t visible through the peephole, you can also use a metal door lock chain that can allow you to open the door a crack wide enough to check who’s outside but small enough to prevent forced entry.
Form a Pact With Your Neighbors
While it may seem unusual and awkward for apartment residents, it is highly valuable to establish a culture of trust among neighbors, especially for those living on the first floor. When you look out for one another, you will all be safer.
Have a Doorbell Camera
If you cannot automate your entire home, you may opt for a door camera. You can set the camera to send a notification on your phone when someone is at your front door.
This Morecam Wifi Door Video Camera is a wireless doorbell camera that is easy to install, even for people who are not tech-savvy. It has a built-in rechargeable battery and has a two-way audio and video message feature. It offers clear video and image recordings, so you will have clear footage even if a burglar breaks in. It doesn’t have monthly fees, and it lasts a long time.
Pros and Cons of Living in a First Floor Apartment
| Pros of Living in a First Floor Apartment | Cons of Living in a First Floor Apartment |
| Convenience when carrying a heavy load. | No or limited privacy. |
| Lower rent because of low demand. | Noise from the upper floors can be annoying. |
| Easy access to the outdoors. | Unattractive view. |
| Minimal disagreements with neighbors over noise disturbance. | Noises from honking cars, or people going up the stairs can be frustrating. |
| Quick exit in case of an emergency. | During winter, the heating bills will be higher because cold air rises to the first floor faster than it would on the upper floors. |
| Safer for families with younger children. | |
| Cooler temperatures during summer. |
This video analyzes some of the benefits of first-floor apartments. If you can compromise on security, there are advantages you may not want to pass.
Final Thoughts
You need to feel safe wherever you live. Unfortunately, some places are more secure than others. If you have no option on location, you should at least choose an apartment floor with a lower likelihood of being robbed.
First-floor apartments are easily accessible not just for you and your family but also for thieves. If you can forgo the inconvenience of living on the upper floors in an apartment building, you have more to gain from choosing apartments above the first floor.
