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6 Common Security Issues Plaguing Apartment Communities

Security is often an issue of concern and a challenge that property managers deal with on a daily basis. For many reasons, apartment communities tend to be a target for theft and burglary, and, in some cases, the damages can be severe on the affected individuals. 

Ensuring safety and security involves being vigilant to make sure that no areas are left unmonitored, from the parking lot to the walkway and storage rooms. To help you be proactive, here are six common security issues plaguing apartment communities that you can address. 

1. Theft 

As an apartment property manager, you most likely have seen residents become victim to vehicle or property theft. According to research by Consumer Advocate, 65 percent of residential theft occurs during the day when people are busy working. 

Be sure to educate your residents about necessary precautionary measures to help these situations from occurring, as such incidents can set them back financially and also give them a reason to look for a safer community. Posting reminders about the bare minimum efforts like locking all windows and doors when they leave their apartment or car can be a starting point in protecting your property from theft. From there, do a walkthrough of your community to see what issues you can proactively take action on, such as adding more lighting, will help reduce the opportunities for theft to occur.

2. Break-ins

Break-ins also can happen to apartments or cars on property and can lead to serious safety concerns and significant financial losses. 

Property managers can leverage technology to identify suspicious individuals who are likely to be on the lookout for a chance to cause damages. More importantly, take stock of your access control systems. To ensure residents’ safety, do you have a gate, key fobs, or more in place? Is that technology outdated? Does it require maintenance? When’s the last time you had it tested?

By setting up systems ahead of time, you can limit access to only authorized guests and your residents and also keep track of who enters and leaves a building. 

3. Vandalism 

Vandalism on your property may include intentional breaking equipment, damage of entry points during forced access to property, graffiti, and more. This form of crime can cause extensive property damage, which may require a lot of money to repair. Even worse, it can make residents feel uneasy or even fearful that their own stuff could be next.

Dealing with vandalism begins with being able to spot potential vandals before they cause damage, whether that involves patrolling the building and surrounding areas or using cameras. 

4. Loitering and Trespassing

Every property manager can agree that trespassing is quite an ubiquitous issue in apartment communities. Regardless of their intentions, a suspicious person lurking around could make residents feel unsafe and vulnerable to crime. These individuals could turn to be criminals, which further puts the safety and property of residents at risk. 

Enforcing security measures can go a long way in deterring trespassers. Would-be trespassers and loiterers are likely to leave the property if they know they are being monitored or see a patrol vehicle. Again, using technology and working with security professionals can help to eliminate the issue. 

5. Tailgating

Tailgating happens when residents allow unknown (whether knowingly or inadvertently) individuals onto the property or into a building. It mostly happens when an unauthorized person follows a resident through the gate and into the property. These people could have malicious intentions, such as stealing, that could end up posing a lot of problems to you and your residents. 

Enforcing entry procedures into a community is paramount in dealing with tailgating. By controlling who enters through the gate and into the community, you can keep out unauthorized individuals.

6. Frivolous Lawsuits  

Property managers could encounter frivolous lawsuits from wrongful accusations, leading to property management company paying huge sums of money for compensation. For example, a person can get injured within the property and accuse the owner of neglect. Even without evidence, they can tie up your tie and resources.   

Lawsuits can be avoided by using audio and video surveillance to help document everything in order to show what happens within the community. If anyone fakes an incident, say theft, there will be evidence to prove their involvement.

Increase Resident Safety and Retention

Did you know that one in five residents leave an apartment community due to security issues? Addressing these six common security issues and enforcing the necessary security measures can go a long way in preventing crimes and keep your rate of retention high.

Need help? Learn more about how mobile security from Signal can help bring peace of mind to you and your residents.

For Barb Alekna and Greg Pencosky, building Signal of West Virginia has always been about more than growing a security business. It’s about creating an organization where people can build meaningful careers, develop into leaders, and make a lasting impact in the communities they serve.

Since launching Signal of West Virginia in September 2024, that vision has guided the team’s approach to growth. From earning their first client to developing their first leaders, Barb and Greg have focused on building the business one relationship, one employee, and one client at a time.

That commitment to people, consistency, and continuous improvement is helping Signal of West Virginia establish a reputation for professionalism and dependable service across the state.

Building a Culture People Can Grow In

When Barb and Greg reflect on what makes them most proud, their answer comes back to their team. From the beginning, they wanted to create more than a successful security company. They wanted to build a career culture where employees could grow, take pride in their work, and become leaders.

“We strive to create an environment where each security officer and team member understands they’re not simply filling a security post,” they explain. “They’re protecting people, building relationships, solving problems, and representing the Signal brand with professionalism and integrity.”

That philosophy shapes how the team approaches every client and every assignment. Whether supporting apartment communities, healthcare facilities, major retailers, or special events, officers are expected to bring more than security expertise to the job.

Professionalism, reliability, communication, and dedication are all part of the standard.

For Barb and Greg, some of the most rewarding moments come from watching that culture take shape: seeing a new hire gain confidence, an officer advance into a leadership role, or a client recognize a team member for going above and beyond.

Earning Growth One Relationship at a Time

Launching a new franchise comes with challenges, but building Signal of West Virginia meant starting almost entirely from scratch.

Before the first contract, the organization had no established presence in the state, no existing clients, no employees, and no revenue. Barb and Greg had experience leading successful Signal operations, but they understood that success in another market wouldn’t automatically translate to West Virginia.

Instead, they relied on proven Signal processes while taking the time to understand the local market and build credibility from the ground up.

“Everything we’ve built since then has been earned one relationship, one employee, and one client at a time.”

That approach required humility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. Not every proposal became a contract, and not every challenge had an immediate solution, but each experience became an opportunity to improve.

From securing their first client and hiring their first employee to celebrating their first promotion and major contract, each milestone represented another step toward building a reputation in West Virginia.

Continuous Improvement Drives the Team

For the Signal of West Virginia team, showing up at their best starts with a mindset of continuous improvement.

“We never want to become complacent or assume we know everything,” they explain. “Every conversation with a client, every interaction with an employee, every success, failure, and every challenge give us an opportunity to learn, improve, and become better than we were yesterday.”

That mindset extends beyond individual performance. Barb and Greg see clear communication as one of their most important responsibilities as leaders.

By staying connected with clients, supporting their team, and being proactive instead of reactive, they work to build trust and strengthen relationships.

For them, long-term growth isn’t something to chase. It’s something to earn through consistent effort, strong relationships, and exceptional service.

Redefining Professional Security

As Signal of West Virginia continues to grow, Barb and Greg want the community to see private security as more than simply placing officers at a post.

Their goal is to build long-term partnerships, invest in the communities they serve, and create a career culture where employees are empowered to make a positive difference.

“We’re here for the long-term, and we genuinely care about making West Virginia a safer place to live, work, and do business.”

That commitment is supported by the combination of Signal’s global resources and local, owner-led leadership.

The team benefits from Signal’s technology, innovation, experienced leadership, and proven operating model while maintaining a local presence built around responsiveness, accountability, and lasting relationships.

For Signal of West Virginia, that means officers aren’t simply providing security. They’re becoming an extension of their clients’ teams—protecting people, safeguarding property, assisting employees and visitors, and representing both the client and Signal with professionalism.

The goal is to become a trusted partner that helps reduce risk, strengthen operations, and provide lasting peace of mind.

Developing People and Leaders

For Barb and Greg, one of the most rewarding parts of ownership is watching people grow.

Whether it’s mentoring an officer into a leadership role, helping an employee build a long-term career, or developing a client relationship into a trusted partnership, those moments represent the impact they hope to create.

They also recognize that growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

The Signal network has provided opportunities to learn from experienced security leaders, including Paul Alekna and the team at Signal of Canton-Youngstown. Their mentorship and willingness to share experiences have played an important role in the growth of Signal of West Virginia.

That collaboration reflects another strength of the Signal network: franchises supporting one another and sharing knowledge to help each other succeed.

Building What Comes Next

For Barb and Greg, the most exciting part of the journey is knowing they’re still building.

“Every new team member we develop, every client relationship we earn, and every opportunity to strengthen our team is another chance to make a lasting impact.”

Their focus remains straightforward: invest in their people, serve clients with excellence, and build an organization that employees, clients, and the community can be proud of.

Being named Franchise of the Month for May 2026 is an important milestone, but the recognition is viewed as motivation rather than a finish line.

Barb and Greg credit their entire team for the franchise’s success and remain focused on creating a career culture where great people can grow, delivering exceptional service, and making a lasting impact throughout West Virginia.

Congratulations to Barb Alekna, Greg Pencosky, and the entire Signal of West Virginia team on being named May Franchise of the Month in 2026. Their commitment to developing people, serving their communities, and growing with purpose is a powerful example of what’s possible across the Signal network.

 

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