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My building now feels not as secure as past buildings. It’s a townhouse style complex, with individual outside doors. I guess that’s the same as houses - but it’s an urban neighbourhood. I liken it to a little Bronx. Never a dull moment. I forgot when I moved back to the big city that I’m not 25 anymore and not up for too much excitement lol.

I read a news story recently. Some youths were ringing doorbells and running away in the wee hours, disturbing and scaring people, so a home owner decided to do something about it and put fishing line across/ near the door. One of them fell and had a minor injury - I think the homeowner actually held him - and the homeowner was charged with excessive force (for the fishing line not for holding him until the cops came).
 
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paradox3 said:
When I lived in apartment building (long time ago) I never willingness offered to let anyone in. But how do you handle it when someone just nonchalantly follows you in or reaches for the door?
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Look behind you first and if someone is right there looking like they’re going to follow you in, don’t go in. I was told to tell them directly “I don’t know you so I’m sorry I can’t let you in.” Wait for them to ring the buzzer and the person they are there to visit buzzes them in. Then go in yourself with your keys/ fob. If need be walk away and go through a different entrance yourself. That said, at some point in my life I probably let in a few people I felt were sincere , and I didn’t hear of any problems. Like women with kids visiting grandma who is slow to answer the buzzer and it’s pouring rain, sort of thing. And they told me what apt they’re going to. But even that…shouldn’t do it.
 
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In my old building there was a manager and assistant manager who each lived in the building, and an after hours buzzer linked to a phone number - so I could suggest that people buzz that number (or call one of the phone numbers on the buzzer box).
 
paradox3 said:
When I lived in apartment building (long time ago) I never willingness offered to let anyone in. But how do you handle it when someone just nonchalantly follows you in or reaches for the door?
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I just tell them I can't let them in, they must buzz or phone. There's also a live in manager to call.
I'm pretty outspoken, so I realize this is hard for some people.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
Look behind you first and if someone is right there looking like they’re going to follow you in, don’t go in. I was told to tell them directly “I don’t know you so I’m sorry I can’t let you in.” Wait for them to ring the buzzer and the person they are there to visit buzzes them in. Then go in yourself with your keys/ fob. If need be walk away and go through a different entrance yourself. That said, at some point in my life I probably let in a few people I felt were sincere , and I didn’t hear of any problems. Like women with kids visiting grandma who is slow to answer the buzzer and it’s pouring rain, sort of thing. And they told me what apt they’re going to. But even that…shouldn’t do it.
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I also probably had people follow me in - but I think I would’ve said something, asked what apt they were trying to get to, if I didn’t recognize them. I hope I was always cautious about it. I think I’ve been cautious for a long time though because I lived for years in a neighbourhood densely populated with apartments and I’ve seen squatters in the parking garage and I know break ins and other problems occur.
 
Waterfall said:
I just tell them I can't let them in, they must buzz or phone. There's also a live in manager to call.
I'm pretty outspoken, so I realize this is hard for some people.
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Some things are awkward but that wasn’t as awkward. I’ve also had it happen to me - I forgot the buzzer number of a place I was visiting (names aren’t always listed and buzzers are often different from door numbers). Left briefly and came back - had to phone up for the buzzer number because a resident wouldn’t let me in. I accepted that.
 
You are correct of course @Kimmio Laughterlove but I would find it tough to be that assertive. And if an individual made me feel very uncomfortable, I might be wary of confrontation.

From the other side, I worked for a few years for a home care agency & had many clients in apartment buildings. I often had people offering to let me in or hold the door for me. More often than not, I would say. Maybe it goes with carrying a briefcase.

Some folks had a live feed of their apartment building entrance and would buzz me in when they saw me coming.
 
paradox3 said:
You are correct of course @Kimmio Laughterlove but I would find it tough to be that assertive. And if an individual made me feel very uncomfortable, I might be wary of confrontation.

From the other side, I worked for a few years for a home care agency & had many clients in apartment buildings. I often had people offering to let me in or hold the door for me. More often than not, I would say. Maybe it goes with carrying a briefcase.

Some folks had a live feed of their apartment building entrance and would buzz me in when they saw me coming.
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We've owned homes for most of our lives, so this is fairly new to me, but it's now our home. The way I see it, I wouldn't want anyone to have the freedom to open the door to my house, so why should it be okay in an apartment building to open the doors to unknown people? We pay for that extra security.
 
If I lived in an apartment building with buzzers in this neighbourhood it’s more likely, I feel, that someone could try to follow me in when no one was around and I too would be wary of confrontation. I pretty much just have one door now though, so it is what it is. I’m as careful as I can be. In my old building years ago it was so densely populated I usually felt like it wouldn’t be a minute until someone else came by so I would’ve been less wary of any dangerous confrontation. Not that it couldn’t happen. But I was less afraid of it. I befriended a few dumpster divers, afterall. One popped up out of a bin to take my water bottles and said thanks, and was quite cheerful lol. But I have more fear in me now, in 2024, when there’s a lot more economic depression, and tension.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
Some things are awkward but that wasn’t as awkward. I’ve also had it happen to me - I forgot the buzzer number of a place I was visiting (names aren’t always listed and buzzers are often different from door numbers). Left briefly and came back - had to phone up for the buzzer number because a resident wouldn’t let me in. I accepted that.
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When most people have phones now, they can phone up if they can't get in with someone who happens to be going in.

We have friends in a new building with lots of security. If you go in with someone, you won't get anywhere else. The elevator only stops at your floor when you have a fob or at the floor of the person who buzzed you in. I had to phone my friends because the panel was small and in a weird spot. They could buzz me in that way too.
 
Northwind said:
When most people have phones now, they can phone up if they can't get in with someone who happens to be going in.

We have friends in a new building with lots of security. If you go in with someone, you won't get anywhere else. The elevator only stops at your floor when you have a fob or at the floor of the person who buzzed you in. I had to phone my friends because the panel was small and in a weird spot. They could buzz me in that way too.
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That’s like many hotels and office buildings. Elevator only goes to the floor your fob is authorized for.
 
Ok, have to share this podcast related to penetrating physical security.

darknetdiaries.com

Deviant – Darknet Diaries

Deviant Ollam is a physical penetration specialist. That means he's paid to break into buildings to see if the building is secure or not. He has done this for a long time and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve to get into buidings. In this episode we hear 3 stories of him breaking into buildings...
darknetdiaries.com darknetdiaries.com
 
paradox3 said:
In some scenarios people may need to consider their personal safety. Someone seeking entry to a building for nefarious purposes could pose a risk.
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My main motivating factor is that spousal abuse is at an all time high and there are many woman, men, children that are at risk from retaliation.
And the elderly are also vulnerable for scams and such.
 
paradox3 said:
In some scenarios people may need to consider their personal safety. Someone seeking entry to a building for nefarious purposes could pose a risk.
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Maybe, yes, but I don’t think it’s a reason to let them in and pose a risk to even more peoples’ safety. Sometimes we have to take personal risks - unfortunately because I don’t always want to take personal risks either - it’s the ethical thing to do.

I think, if in such a situation and you didn’t want any confrontation you could just walk away and say nothing. If they think that’s odd, it doesn’t really matter. A reasonable person would get it. And you could go to a back entrance or wait until enough time has passed that they’re gone. You could call your building mgr if you are still concerned. But if they’re intent on hurting somebody it doesn’t matter if you say something about not letting them in, or not. Saying something isn’t the problem.
 
One of the takeaways, applicable to this dialogue, is that an alert community is key to good security. Alert including their willingness to confront
 
JayneWonders said:
One of the takeaways, applicable to this dialogue, is that an alert community is key to good security. Alert including their willingness to confront
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Confrontation may be a bit strong, perhaps knowledge and assuredness that the proper information is conveyed responsibly?
 
Waterfall said:
Confrontation may be a bit strong, perhaps knowledge and assuredness that the proper information is conveyed responsibly?
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Confront doesn't imply argument

Confront: to face a situation that makes you uncomfortable, or to say something to someone about something they've done that bothers you.

In this case, to name the security concern
 
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