9 security measures for living alone! Crime prevention measures for women living on the first floor of a rented house are also introduced.

9 Security Measures for Living Alone

So, let's take a look at nine security measures for those living alone. The security measures for those living alone are as follows:

• Nearest train station and bus stop
• Living in a room on the second floor or higher
• The manager is always on duty and patrols the property.
• The front door is locked with one door and two locks.
• Intercom with TV monitor
• Auto-locking property
• Install locks on mailboxes and letterboxes
• Don’t let people know you live alone
• Install security cameras in the room

I will explain them in order.

Nearest train station and bus stop

When choosing a property, make sure to choose one that is close to the nearest train station or bus stop.

Being close to the nearest station means there are relatively many well-lit roads and people around, which increases the crime prevention measures.

Another reassuring factor is that living near a station or bus stop reduces the distance and time you spend walking alone on the streets at night.

Check the route from the station or bus stop to your home,

• Is there any danger?
• Is there a lot of foot traffic?
• Presence or absence of street lights

It would be a good idea to check.

Living in a room on the second floor or higher

If you live alone, choose a room on the second floor or higher. It takes longer for burglars to break into a room on the second floor than on the first floor, so it is less likely to be broken into.

However, since it is possible to climb up a second-floor property by climbing over pipes or plants in the wall without using conspicuous objects such as a ladder, it is dangerous to neglect security measures.

The risk of intrusion is lower on higher floors than the second floor, so if you're worried, it's best to choose a higher floor if possible.

The manager is always on duty and patrols the property.

Rooms that have a manager on-site or patrolling 24 hours a day have high security.

Generally, the manager's office is located near the entrance to the building so that they can monitor people entering and leaving the building.

This makes it more difficult for suspicious people to break in and increases safety for residents.

In addition, if any equipment problems occur, they can be dealt with immediately, which is reassuring for people living alone.

The front door is locked with one door and two locks.

Lock your front door with one door, two locks.

Rooms with two-lock front doors tend to be avoided by intruders because it takes time to unlock them.

In particular, using different keys for the top and bottom will further increase security.

Having one door and two locks as a basic system will give the impression that your home has solid security measures, and is likely to deter intruders.

Intercom with TV monitor

Choose a room with a video intercom.

An intercom with a TV monitor is a device that displays the scene at the front door on a monitor inside the room when the intercom is used.

Since it is possible to check for and record suspicious people through the monitor, this is a reassuring device for people living alone.

Check the call on the monitor and refrain from responding to anyone who seems suspicious.

Auto-locking property

If you have the budget, choose a room with an auto-lock function.

In properties with automatic locks, occupants must go through two steps - the entrance and the hallway - before they can enter their room, reducing the risk of suspicious individuals getting in.

Generally, only residents and staff from the management company are allowed to enter the building, but it is possible for suspicious individuals to enter along with other residents, so other crime prevention measures are also necessary.

Install locks on mailboxes and letterboxes

Install locks on mailboxes and letter boxes in your building.

The mail and parcels that arrive in your mailbox contain a lot of personal information, such as your name, phone number, address, and date of birth.

To prevent this information from being stolen, it is essential to install a lock.

However, please be careful not to let too many newspapers, direct mail, etc. pile up, as there is a risk that the contents may be removed through the insertion slot.

Don’t let people know you live alone

By not letting anyone know that you live alone, you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

• Say "I'm leaving" or "I'm home" when you open the front door
• Use only the family name on the nameplate or do not display the nameplate at all

Let's take measures such as the following.

Also, if you are a woman, make it seem as though you are living with a man.

What intruders fear is the presence of a man living with them, so it is important that they do not realize that you are a woman living alone. (More details will be provided later.)

Install security cameras in the room

Increase security by installing security cameras indoors.

Security cameras can record people entering and leaving a premises 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing valuable evidence in the event of a crime, and are a form of security equipment that can lead to early detection and resolution of damage.

Simply installing security cameras can help deter crime and make your home appear to be crime-conscious, making you safer if you live alone.

Installing security cameras is important, but installing security cameras means handling personal information.

Therefore, if you are renting a property, you cannot install one on your own. We will explain this in detail in the next chapter.

Security cameras cannot be installed in rental properties without permission.

In the case of rental properties, you cannot install security cameras without permission based on personal judgment alone.

This is because it involves handling personal information, and since it is a rental property, permission is required from the landlord or management company.

In particular, when handling personal information, it is important to consider whether or not it violates the Personal Information Protection Act.

There are two problematic cases here:

• What kind of images qualify as personal information?
• If an individual installs a security camera, does that qualify as a business that handles personal information?

Let's take a look at them one by one.

What kind of images qualify as personal information?

Personal information refers to information that can identify or identify an individual.

In other words, the footage captured on security cameras

• The person's face is clearly visible
• Your name is clearly visible on a name tag, etc.

Any image that is clear enough to identify an individual is considered personal information.

If an individual installs a security camera, does that qualify as a business that handles personal information?

On the other hand, a personal information handling business is defined as "a business that has held more than 5,000 pieces of searchable personal information."

However, in many cases, it is unlikely that more than 5,000 pieces of personal information could be collected from security camera footage installed for personal security purposes.

Therefore, simply installing a security camera as an individual does not violate the Personal Information Protection Act.

However, it is important to understand that as long as the data can identify specific individuals, it may lead to a violation of privacy.

The pros and cons of living on the first floor of a rental property

So far, we have explained security measures and security cameras for people living alone.

One of the security measures mentioned is to "live in a room on the second floor or higher," but there may be cases where you live on the first floor due to rent and other issues.

Next, we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of living on the first floor.

5 benefits of living on the first floor of a rental property

Here are five benefits to living on the first floor of a rental property:

• Rent tends to be cheaper
• No need to worry about going downstairs
• Easy entry and exit
• Some properties have gardens
• Comfortable for summer

I will explain them in order.

Rent becomes more affordable

In rental properties, rent for the first floor generally tends to be cheaper than for the second floor or above.

Even if the rooms have the same layout, the room on a higher floor may have a rent that is several thousand yen higher.

If you want to keep rent low, it's best to choose a property on the first floor.

No need to worry about going downstairs

There is no floor below the rooms on the first floor, so you don't have to worry about footsteps or other noises.

Noise is a common problem in apartment complexes.

Especially for families with small children, it may be a good idea to consider living on the first floor, where you can live without worrying about affecting the floor below.

Easier entry and exit

On the first floor, there is no need to use stairs or elevators, making daily tasks such as taking out the trash and moving easier.

Another advantage is that the first floor, which does not require an elevator, is less affected by breakdowns or disasters than the higher floors, and is less affected by shaking caused by earthquakes.

Some properties have gardens

Some properties come with a garden for first floor tenants.

Even if it is a rental property, you can enjoy it as a space for gardening, growing vegetables, or other hobbies as long as it is within the bounds of the management regulations.

You can also install a shed and use it as storage space.

Comfortable for summer

In summer, the first floor tends to be cooler because it receives less sunlight than rooms on the second floor or higher.

Also, since air has the tendency to rise, hot air will rise and the room temperature will be higher on the second floor.

Therefore, it can be said that the first floor is more comfortable in the summer.

Four disadvantages of living on the first floor of a rental property

On the other hand, there are four disadvantages to living on the first floor of a rented property:

• There are great concerns about security
• Poor sunlight and humidity
• I am easily concerned about what other people think
• High risk of pest infestation

I will explain them in order.

There are great concerns about security

Since it is easier to break into a home through windows and balconies on the first floor, security is a greater concern than on the second floor or higher.

Some properties have enclosures such as block walls or lattices, but there is still a higher risk of being burglarized or stolen compared to rooms on the second floor or higher.

Poor sunlight and humidity

Depending on the location and the direction the windows are located, the first floor gets less sunlight than the second floor or higher, and is more susceptible to the effects of the ground, making it more prone to moisture building up.

High humidity can lead to problems such as laundry not drying easily and mold and condensation becoming more likely to form.

I am easily concerned about what other people think

In particular, the first floor of a building facing the road makes it easy for the inside of the room to be seen from the street, making it an environment where you are concerned about people seeing you.

Also, if the parking lot is right in front of your room, you may make eye contact with other people, making it difficult to relax at home.

The following article introduces ways to conceal your balcony that can be used even if you are renting, so please refer to it if you are considering living on the first floor.

Suitable for rental properties too! Introducing 8 ways to hide balconies

High risk of pest infestation

The first floor is at a higher risk of pest intrusion than the second floor or higher.

The first floor is close to the ground, making it an easy environment for pests to enter rooms.

Especially during the summer, the risk of encountering pests such as centipedes, cockroaches, and mosquitoes increases.

7 Crime Prevention Measures Necessary for Women Living on the First Floor of a Rental Property

We have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of living on the first floor of a rental property. If you are planning to live on the first floor, please take various measures based on this information.

In particular, crime prevention measures are essential to avoid mental and physical harm.

Women living alone are especially vulnerable to burglary, underwear thieves, and stalkers, so it's important to take proper precautions.

So, next we will introduce 7 crime prevention measures necessary for women living on the first floor of a rented property. Please keep the following 7 crime prevention measures in mind.

• Avoid drying laundry outside as much as possible
• Do not choose feminine colors and patterns for your curtains
• Use a U-lock or door chain
• Measures to prevent prying at the front door
• Apply security film to windows
• Prevent others from discovering your daily routine
• Lock the door even if you are only going out for a short time

I will explain them in order.

Avoid drying laundry outside as much as possible

One important crime prevention measure for women living alone is to not hang out laundry outside.

There is so much information that can be gleaned from laundry, so it's important to hide it indoors as much as possible.

If you absolutely must dry your clothes in the sun, be sure to dry men's clothes and underwear together.

However, rather than continuing to dry the same items, try to have a few patterns on hand and rotate them.

Intruders often come to inspect the property several times and do thorough research, so if the intruder always comes in the same way, they will think it's a fake and will realize that the property is a woman living alone.

Do not choose feminine colors and patterns for your curtains

When it comes to curtains , avoid choosing colors and patterns that would make it obvious to anyone that a woman lives in the house.

Curtains are an essential part of window treatment, so we tend to choose them based on whether they are "cute" or "stylish."

However, burglars and other intruders observe the interior of a room through the windows to target their targets, so curtains that clearly identify a woman's at a glance are a no-no.

Choose something dark, subdued, or masculine to make intruders imagine the shadow of a man.

The first floor in particular is a likely target, so it's important to think about crime prevention just as much as creating a special space.

Use a U-lock or door chain

Lock your U-lock or door chain along with your keys.

A U-lock or door chain is an auxiliary key attached to the inside of a front door.

If an unknown visitor arrives and you open the front door with the U-lock or door chain still in place, you can check who the visitor is without having to open the whole door.

If it is okay to open the door, simply remove the U-lock or door chain.

However, since U-locks and door chains can be unlocked from the outside, they should not be used as keys but rather only as auxiliary locks.

Measures to prevent prying at the front door

Cover the doorscope, the lens attached to your front door, to prevent people from peeking or taking pictures of you.

Doorscopes are designed to be invisible from the outside, but recently there has been an increase in crimes involving the misuse of monoculars to take secret photos and spy on people.

By simply placing a monocular over a doorscope, you can see into the room from the outside just like with normal glass, so there are many cases where people fall victim to crime without even realizing it.

To prevent such crimes from happening, we recommend installing a security door scope cover to protect your door.

Apply security film to windows

Apply security film to your windows.

By applying security film to windows, which are one of the entry points for burglars, the glass becomes less likely to break.

Breaking the window glass to break in would take time, and even if the window is broken, it will be difficult to enter from the outside, so the damage will be reduced.

Security film can be purchased at home improvement stores or 100 yen shops, so it costs less than installing security glass and does not require any major construction work.

In addition, by making it less likely to break, it also helps prevent the glass from shattering if it does break during a typhoon or other disaster.

Prevent others from discovering your daily routine

Don't let the people around you know your routine.

• Leave and come home at the same time every day
• Always shop at the same place

If you follow the same routine every day, such as those mentioned above, your home may be known at times when you are not at home, which may draw your attention to intruders.

Therefore,

• Turn on the lights on a timer to make it look like you're at home
• Set a timer to turn on the radio or TV to make it look like someone is there

Measures such as the following are necessary.

Radios in particular are recommended as they consume little power and allow you to hear people talking, making it seem like you're at home.

Lock the door even if you are only going out for a short time

Always lock your door before going out, no matter how short your trip.

Do you think it's okay if you only leave home for a few minutes to go to a nearby convenience store or supermarket?

However, burglars do thorough research to understand your lifestyle and personality before breaking into your home.

Even if you have strengthened your home's security by applying security film to the windows, it's all for nothing if the front door is unlocked.

That's why, no matter how close you are or how short the time you're going out, always lock the door properly.

Crime prevention measures are essential for women, not just if they live on the first floor of a rented property, but on any floor of the house.

The most important thing is to not let people know that a woman lives alone.

To that end, pay particular attention to things that are easily visible to others, such as laundry, curtains, and daily routines.

[Finally] Check the security information released by the police

In this article, we have explained security measures for people living alone and crime prevention measures specifically for women.

Women who live alone in particular are vulnerable to burglaries, thieves, stalkers, molesters and other suspicious individuals, and so cannot feel safe even on their way home.

That's why we recommend choosing a property in a safe area as well as a room with high security.

For example, in Tokyo, the Metropolitan Police Department publishes data on the number of reported cases by ward, city, town, and village, by type of crime, and by method .

Based on this data, it would be a good idea to match it with your own conditions and search for a property in an area with as good a security situation as possible.

You never know when or where a crime will happen to anyone. To give yourself even one more piece of mind, please make use of security information released by the police.