.png)
I live in an apartment by myself. While sleeping at night, the alarm tripped. I locked my door and hid in my closet while calling 911 and my parents as witnesses. The fire department came 20ish minutes later to turn off the alarm from the outside switch and left. Luckily it appears it was a trip or smoke and that no one attempted to break in, but I am disappointed that no cops never showed up to assess the situation or follow up on it. Like I knew that the police are not the best people, but at least show up to assess area if someone was there. I couldn't sleep that night and when I talked to my complex about what happened, they didn't give a good response, so I ended up getting cameras for my front door and inside my apartment for my safety.
It sucked knowing that the police didn't do a thing. With everything going on and realizing that I am the only person to look out for myself, what else I can do to protect myself as a woman living alone?
There is a reason many women feel unsafe in their own home in our society. You must have been terrified when the alarm tripped. You did exactly the right thing though by calling your parents and locking yourself in a room.
If it helps you in any way, this is my setup for security at home. I live alone as well and I've had someone break into my home while I was sleeping when I was much younger.
Pepper spray: I have small canisters near the entrances and common areas of my house so it's readily available. An attacker can take the form of a seemingly harmless person at the door asking for directions or it could be a contractor who seemed nice initially, but now I'm getting a bad feeling that he's dangerous. If I need to get away fast, I won't have time to rummage through a purse to find pepper spray.
Gun: yes I have one, next to the bed with a round in the chamber. Don't get one unless you've taken training in gun safety and definitely don't leave it out loaded if there are kids anywhere near your premises.
Ring security system: You can purchase relatively inexpensive sensors for doors and windows. These are magnetized so that if you are in ''home' mode and the door or window is opened (breaking the magnetic field), the alarm will go off.
I'm hopeful you have an apartment on a high floor. Never get a ''garden" level apartment as a female living alone.
Make sure your drapes are completely closed at night. If you do have a high floor apartment and there is not a fire escape, I'd recommend a fire extinguisher and rope ladder to get out.
Lastly, invest in a deadbolt and make sure you have the locks rekeyed upon moving in. Don't trust that the landlord took care of it on your behalf. Don't let strangers in who need to ''borrow your phone".
Apologies if this reads as a bit paranoid, but it helps me sleep through the night.
Honestly the holy grail of protection is a loud dog + a gun. Depending on your living situation or lifestyle you might not be able to get a dog, but if it's legal where you live I encourage all women to get familiar with a gun. I'm a lifelong democrat and was always uncomfortable regarding guns so I totally understand any apprehension. But at the end of the day men can murder you with their bare hands so we need to make use of the tools available to us.
If the above isn't feasible, do as much as you can to make your home a difficult target. Lighting at night, motion activated lights, loud alarm, double locks on doors, a security camera, etc.
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I know that must have been very scary. Being in an apartment, break-ins are less likely but not impossible. Maybe a ring doorbell camera or something similar would give you more peace of mind. I’d also recommend keeping a baseball bat, knife, pepper spray or other means of defending yourself in your bedroom and lock your bedroom door at night too.
My main defense is dogs- cameras- signs for cameras. Make sure you put up a sign that says “you are on camera” or some variation, as in my personal experience the sign seems to deter as many issues as the cameras themselves.
That sounds really scary, and I'm so sorry the police didn't come to help. Personally, if I had the time for it, I would have a dog. A big one. Get a big sweetie, and just teach it to bark on command. That will stop most ill-intentioned men. Bonus is that you can walk outside at night fully relaxed if you want, with your big lovely monster by your side :) I do have a good lock and security camera, and I've taken a self-defense course (krav maga). I highly recommend it.
Maybe get two different alarm sounds? One for smoke and one if someone is trying to break in, I think the chance is low because you live in an apartment, the chance that your home will be broken into is small because there is only 1 entrance and exit and no garden or multiple doors to run outside. I'm not sure but I don't see a burglar attempting a rental home or an apartment complex..