For years, the 16-unit building where I live had a video camera aimed at the entranceway. Then, about 8 years ago a thief pried open our front door, and broke into a first floor apartment. I learned at that time what the thief already knew--The camera was fake. When our security failed, we met with the local police department. After touring our building, they suggested we improve the way we distribute keys, the lighting on the dark sides of the building, and reinforce the front door.

There are many steps a condo association can take to make their building more secure. Start by meeting with the police and the fire department. At least in the community where I live, they offer very practical and realistic advice. Also, tour the outside of your building and try to think like a thief. They prefer a means of entry in a dark secluded space that offers them a view of the surroundings.

You can make it more difficult for thieves to hide by pruning back hedges and installing motion sensor lighting. This lighting comes in many different types and styles, as can be seen in the e-lights website. But, before buying motion sensor lighting, talk with your electrician for recommendations as to which type of lighting is best for your situation. For instance, you probably don't want to install a motion sensor light that will send light into your bedroom every time someone walks by!

In addition to outdoor lighting, public indoor areas--such as entranceways--should be well lit. Typically, these areas have their lights controlled by a timer so that they are only on from dusk to dawn. Though the better timers should be installed by electricians, there is at least one affordable device that you can easily install yourself: the AutoChron Programmable Timer.

Since you can't get rid of most doorways, your only choice is to make them more secure. This is done in a number of ways, many of which are not very expensive. The most costly issue may be the door itself. If your building has a hollow front door, know that it may not be strong enough withstand a hard push or kick. You should strongly consider replacing hollow exterior doors with solid hardwood, steel, or fiberglass ones. Handcrafted doors can cost well over $1,000, but companies such as Jen-Weld and Trustile produce attractive looking ones in a variety of materials at a great range of prices. You will need to hire a handyman or carpenter to properly install a door, and s/he may discover that your door frame needs replacement (as a result of wood rot or warping, for instance).

A doorway, of course, does not increase building security unless it has a security system. Let's start with the lock. After our building experienced a break-in, one of the steps the Cambridge Police Department suggested was to change our exterior locks. We had a good conventional lock, but there was no way for us to regulate the flow of keys. Anyone could take the key and have copies made. After awhile, common sense told us building keys were owned by previous residents, friends and neighbors of residents, and service people who needed access to an apartment. One neighbor who I'm friends with told me she had given out ten keys.

There are several options for a better entryway lock. Larger buildings may use keyless access systems--in which you enter the building by punching in a PIN (personal identification number) or waving a keycard in front of a reader. To change a traditional lock and key system, you need to buy a new lock and distribute new keys. To change a keyless access system, you only need to reprogram the device to accept a different code, and either tell tenants the code or give them new keycards. Another advantage of keyless access systems, especially keycard systems, is that they can be set up to record whose keycard entered the building at what time. For the most part, this level of security carries a pricetag of several thousand dollars. To investigate this option, you might visit the HID Corporation website.

After the breakin in the building where I live, we had our locks replaced with Medeco locks. Their lock systems use specially designed keys that are extremely difficult to duplicate by anyone but Medeco professionals. The only people who can request duplicate keys are those individuals, such as a trustee or building manager, who are authorized to do so. Although duplicate keys cost about $10 each, the extra cost is worth the knowledge that only a few keys are in circulation and that our lock itself is of very high quality.

Door security can be further enhanced with latch guards that make it more difficult for someone to try to pry open or jimmy the door. Latch guards are available at hardware stores. To view some online, check out Ace Hardware or Chown Hardware . If your door does not have a glass window, then get a peephole so that you can see who is outside without opening up the door. The Hardware Hut has a good selection of peepholes. Further, make sure that your exterior doors have their hinges on the interior and that your door always swings shut.

Windows, of course, provide another means of access into your building. Unlike doors, however, windows are more likely to be left open for extended periods of time. However, there are several steps you can take to make windows more secure. For instance, there are locks that prevent double-hung windows from opening more than you want and chain locks for sliding windows. These are often available at local hardware stores, or visit a site like C.R. Laurence, which offers a good selection. In addition, companies like Robsecure Home Security sell window bars to protect vulnerable windows. Before investing in window bars, be sure to talk with your local fire department or go to the State Farm Insurance website, which has a good article on windows bars.

For more security tips, see the Condopedia Safety FAQ or go to our forums and share your ideas, experiences, and questions.