apartment window safety

Hey hey
I'm moving into my first "by myself" apartment next Friday.
I chose the ground floor model, because I can have a barbecue and walk chester and dynah out on the little bit of grass in front of it if I choose too. The downside to having the groundfloor is security of course.
I have a sliding glass door that I bought a bar that snaps down and holds it in place for. It will be installed first.
I also have a window that slides side to side. We're going to have to measure it when we get there. The man at home depot suggesed a mechanisim where you drill a hole or two into the opposite window, attach the mechanisim to the one on in inside and the lock has a pin that pops into the holes, essentially attaching one to the other. I think it'd work, but I'm wondering if I need something more visible. All of the bars and such that I've found for windows get applied to the outter edge on the inside (not holding the window in place at all).
We're going to bring a piece of wood and a saw to cut for it for the first night, then figure out what's next the next day.
Do any of you have special locks on your windows and doors (past manufactuers)? If you do, what would you suggest. I just want to make sure I'm safe, even though it's in a nice neighbourhood.

I don't have any advice for you, but I was wondering....is Midland a large city ??????? You seem really concerned about your personal safety, so maybe you could call the local police and ask them how safe that neighborhood isl

Ours all have locks installed on them (and did have when I moved in), I just make sure they are locked before leaving.

I have bars on all of my windows. They're a pretty good form of security.

Make sure and talk to your landlord before installing anything that can't just be pulled and taken with you when you move. I only say this b/c for some reason my landlords won't let us do much to our place. We asked if we could put a chain and/or a peep hole in our front door, and they said no . So we just have to be extra careful when someone knocks, and look out the window before we answer. Good luck in finding something that works for you!

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Make sure and talk to your landlord before installing anything that can't just be pulled and taken with you when you move. I only say this b/c for some reason my landlords won't let us do much to our place. We asked if we could put a chain and/or a peep hole in our front door, and they said no

. So we just have to be extra careful when someone knocks, and look out the window before we answer. Good luck in finding something that works for you!

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Definitely make sure your landlord is ok with any alterations - ours will let us put bars etc up if we are leaving them but not if we intend to take them out, and check with the local city bylaws on what security features (and other features) they have to provide - because here they need to have peepholes and/or other forms of security on doors.

actually the piece of wood that doesn't allow the door to slide is one of the best security messures. I have a friend who used to break into houses and now she shows people where the weak points in their houses are. and sliding glass doors and windows all need a bar so they can't slide.

One of the best security measures you can take is... get to know your neighbors. People look out for one another when they actually know your name and a little about you.

Midland isn't a large city, it's quite small actually...I'm moving 3 hours from here to St Catharines where I've never lived and don't have any friends (yet). SO being alone, and a young woman in a ground level apartment makes me want to be overly cautious.
The landlord said that she bought a bar for her door, as did her assistant (they both live on the main floor). She also suggested it when I brought the issue to her. I don't know if she'd allow me to take it with, although I can't see why not (if I chose to). If she didn't, it's only $25, so it's not a huge loss, but IS a huge advantage in terms of feeling safe.
I wonder why I can't find a bar for the window...just the sliding doors. I also have to wonder if I might be able to fit it in a window even if that's not what it says on the packaging.