Apartment firearm security

[JimR]

Ok, so we're in an apartment for the time being. Probably at least a year or more. I've just started to acquire enough firearms that I'm wanting a safe for all but our carry pieces. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see having one of those monster heavy safes in an apartment. Additionally, one of the cheaper light safes that would need to be mounted to the wall won't work for obvious reasons.

Anyone have any ideas for gun safes in an apartment? Are there safes that aren't super heavy but too heavy for the average punk criminal to haul off?

Thanks in advance.

[joe817]

Jim, have you looked at the sticky thread "Links For Gun Safe In The Works" in this section of the forum?

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=6705" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's pretty comprehensive.

[G.A. Heath]

A friend of mine had a similar problem, and his solution was to get a 1/2 inch steel plate that was too wide in all four directions to go through the door. He then had studs welded to it so that they went up into the residential security container (RSC, but some people say safe). he took the plate inside, then set the RSC on it, ran the nuts on the studs and put the covers for the studs on. He made the stud covers from wood and wrapped them in foam rubber so that there would be little chance of damaging his firearms. This setup allows him to have his safe in his apartment and avoid drilling holes that would violate his lease while preventing someone from taking it out the door without using power tools or knocking down a portion of the wall. He has since covered the steel with carpet to make it look "clean". I have to say it was a little on the expensive side but it works to keep his stuff in his apartment.

[03Lightningrocks]

Ok, so we're in an apartment for the time being. Probably at least a year or more. I've just started to acquire enough firearms that I'm wanting a safe for all but our carry pieces. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see having one of those monster heavy safes in an apartment. Additionally, one of the cheaper light safes that would need to be mounted to the wall won't work for obvious reasons.

Anyone have any ideas for gun safes in an apartment? Are there safes that aren't super heavy but too heavy for the average punk criminal to haul off?

Thanks in advance.

If your in a first floor apartment a heavy safe would be no problem. Of coarse you can't bolt it to the floor, but there are other things you can do to make hauling it off a chore. Load a few hundred pounds of ammo in the bottom of it. Ammo is heavy and adds up real quick. Buying a light weight safe is better than nothing, but realize that it is pretty easy to pry the door open on most of those. it will slow them down but not for very long.

If your on a second story or higher unit...you may be limited on what you can do. I am not sure how much weight the floor in an apartment can support. My safe weighs in excess of 1200 lbs empty. Loaded with guns and other goodies, it may weigh 2000 lbs. I can't imagine the average floor handling that kind of weight concentrated on a 36 inch x 36 inch area, not even in a house.

If I were in a second story or higher apartment, I would probably concentrate on hardening the entry. Typically, there is only one point of entrance in a second story unit. They aren't going to come in with a ladder to access the windows. They make door alarms that can be quite the noise makers...heck...rig it to a speaker and point the speaker toward a spot that will get attention if it goes off. Maybe get one of the high decibel sirens that actually make it hard to function while it is going off. Burglars don't like noise and light...either one can get them noticed.

[drjoker]

If I were in a second story or higher apartment, I would probably concentrate on hardening the entry.

Dude, remember that apartments have lots of other people who will have key access to your apartment such as; handyman, a/c guy, exterminator, landlord, etc. Even if they do not steal, if they spot a safe, they could tell their friends who'll tell their friends and one of them could be a thief. Just store all your guns (other than your daily carry gun) with trusted family members and friends who have a bolted down gun safe. Keep your daily carry gun with you at all times. Just do some favors for your friends and family every once in awhile to show your appreciation. I "hardened" my dad's and my best friend's house with ballistic glass and steel door/doorways to prevent theft of their guns (since I own zero guns as I've given them all to them).

Once, I felt that my apartment didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it just didn't feel right. So, I left the webcam on my computer on and left the apartment. I came home and hit fast forward/play. To my surprise, the handyman came inside and my dog was wagging his tail. The handyman slipped my dog a treat sat down and watched my TV. Then, he ate a cookie from my cookie jar and left!

I brought it to the attention of the landlord and she said that it is just procedure to check up on the place once a month, "Don't worry." The truth was that he stopped by every day to enjoy my roommate's big screen TV.

Bottom line, don't store anything of value at an apartment.

[03Lightningrocks]

If I were in a second story or higher apartment, I would probably concentrate on hardening the entry.

Dude, remember that apartments have lots of other people who will have key access to your apartment such as; handyman, a/c guy, exterminator, landlord, etc. Even if they do not steal, if they spot a safe, they could tell their friends who'll tell their friends and one of them could be a thief. Just store all your guns (other than your daily carry gun) with trusted family members and friends who have a bolted down gun safe. Keep your daily carry gun with you at all times. Just do some favors for your friends and family every once in awhile to show your appreciation. I "hardened" my dad's and my best friend's house with ballistic glass and steel door/doorways to prevent theft of my their guns (since I own zero guns as I've given them all to them).

Once, I felt that my apartment didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it just didn't feel right. So, I left the webcam on my computer on and left the apartment. I came home and hit fast forward/play. To my surprise, the handyman came inside and my dog was wagging his tail. The handyman slipped my dog a treat sat down and watched my TV. Then, he ate a cookie from my cookie jar and left!

I brought it to the attention of the landlord and she said that it is just procedure to check up on the place once a month, "Don't worry." The truth was that he stopped by every day to enjoy my roommate's big screen TV.

Bottom line, don't store anything of value at an apartment.

I wasn't thinking about the maintenance guy angle. I haven't had the pleasure of apartment living for about 28 years. Now I remember why... . I would be more worried about the maintenance crew ripping me off than some random burglar.

[aggie06]

I'd look into personal property insurance. It's cheap and gives you a lot of peace of mind. Sometimes you can save by combining it with your renter's policy.

[JimR]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. You've brought up some things I haven't thought of. I'll digest all of this this evening when I have more time.

-Jim

[CrimsonSoul]

My apartment complex said I could bolt mine to the floor, and that they'd even lend me an electric drill to do it as long as I supplied the concrete drill bit.

[Marty Graw]

A friend of mine had a similar problem, and his solution was to get a 1/2 inch steel plate that was too wide in all four directions to go through the door. He then had studs welded to it so that they went up into the residential security container (RSC, but some people say safe). he took the plate inside, then set the RSC on it, ran the nuts on the studs and put the covers for the studs on. He made the stud covers from wood and wrapped them in foam rubber so that there would be little chance of damaging his firearms. This setup allows him to have his safe in his apartment and avoid drilling holes that would violate his lease while preventing someone from taking it out the door without using power tools or knocking down a portion of the wall. He has since covered the steel with carpet to make it look "clean". I have to say it was a little on the expensive side but it works to keep his stuff in his apartment.

I like this idea. You could even do it with a stack-on "safe" and wood. It's not as secure but it's a step up from an unmodified stack-on and slows down smash and grab burglars.

[nmartine]

I have a sentry fire safe that was given to me. My shotgun has a trigger lock on it, my AR parts are all in the safe along with some documents and my other handgun. The safe could be carried away pretty easily but at least no one is going out of your apartment with a loaded weapon. Reading this I'm thinking of storing everything other than my carry piece at parent's house. I try to not put in a work request ever and when I do I remove firearms from my place until the job has been fixed. But now either my door isn't hanging properly or the whole apt is shifting but the front door is half an inch off where I can feel a nice breeze go through at one end. Can't wait to move. Luckily I live in a decent area but anything can happen. I'd move the rifles and the shotgun at a trusted friends and store them there, and load down a safe with a few hundred pounds of ammo or weights and put a few guns in their and call it a day. Let me know what you end up going with.


Nick

[92f-fan]

be careful with sentry fire "safes" and ferrous materials

The fireproofing comes from wet concrete - the humidity in your "safe" may go too high

The sentry "safes" are shipped with the concrete wet - they are designed for PAPER only

about 25 years ago I worked at the factory

[d strokes]

My friends safe has been bolted into his apartment closet for years he just plans to fix the holes before he moves out.