Blogs

How to Look at Your Apartment Community Like a Security Professional

With summer dwindling away, schools reopening, and fall fast approaching, change is in the air. And with change comes the chance to reevaluate your apartment community’s safety practices and procedures. 

But everything is fine, you think. Why do I have to change anything?

Hopefully, everything IS just fine and you can look forward to an autumn full of pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters. But apartment communities are always welcoming new residents who do not know your property well or are unfamiliar with your safety practices.

>> Schedule a free security assessment of your property

So as the nights get longer and the weather gets colder, it’s a great idea to take a look at your property with fresh eyes to spot the things you may miss on a day-to-day basis. Here are five things a security professional will look for that you can too. 

1. Examine your property’s layout

You probably know your community and its particulars as well as your favorite sandwich order at Subway. But familiarity can create blind spots.

Walk your property as though you were a new resident, paying close attention to areas at night: are there any dark or hidden areas that an attacker could hide in? Do any buildings or fences cause obstructions? If you have security cameras, do they have unimpeded views? Examining your property layout and its landscaping can help you identify any problem areas.

2. Take a look at the lighting

Autumn means twilight will fall earlier and earlier every night until the winter solstice. With your property in darkness roughly half of the day, it’s imperative that your community feels safe after sunset. Are there areas with poor lighting? Any areas residents avoid because they are not well-lit?

Poor lighting can lead to crimes such as theft, breaking and entering, and even assaults. Make sure your lighting is more than adequate outside all buildings, sidewalks, and parking areas to deter crimes and help your residents feel safe to come and go at night. 

3. Assess the access entry points of your community

Most apartment communities have multiple entry and exit points. How many points of entry does your community have? Are there any that are not utilized, and why? Identify any problems associated with them.

4. Parking pitfalls

With parking lots being the third most common place for a crime to occur, it would behoove you to assess your community’s parking areas. A few things to focus on:

  • Are your lots well-lit? Good lighting deters criminals and makes it easier to identify lurkers who don’t belong there. 
  • How well-maintained are your parking lots? Appearance says a lot about safety. Make sure parking lines are clearly marked, and remove litter, weeds and fallen leaves in a timely manner. If you get wintry weather, make sure snow removal is a top priority for your residents as well. While most people enjoy a snow day, many residents can’t afford the luxury of being late to work because they can’t get out of their parking spot. 
  • Is your signage up-to-date and easy to read? Apartment complexes, especially larger ones, have multiple buildings and more than one entry point. Visitors or those unfamiliar with the layout may end up wandering aimlessly if signage does not direct them properly, making them a prime target for crime.

5. Examine the security risks of your residents and community

Everyone wants to leave when the clock hits 5 p.m., but how do you know everything is safe when you lock up? Do you have a system in place to check that the doors are locked at night? If you have employees that stay late, is there someone to escort them to their vehicles safely? Who monitors your property overnight and responds to incidents? Make sure you have a plan in place before something happens. 

It’s a lot of work to keep your residents and community safe. Signal 88 Security can help you with these and many other security needs. Signal 88 offers full-scale, no-obligation site assessments of your community. 

Passion Award: Stephen Hayes
Signal of El Paso, TX & Signal of Greater Albuquerque, NM  


At Signal, we drive with passion in everything we do because passion connects people to purpose. 

Stephen Hayes exemplifies this every day. A positive and giving leader, Stephen is a role model to others in the network. He stays closely connected to the Home Office, ensuring he is personally executing operational details with excellence and accuracy. 

Beyond his own market, Stephen is always willing to lend advice and support anyone in the network who needs it, while maintaining strong results in his markets. His dedication, energy, and consistent positive attitude make him a powerful example of what it means to lead with passion. 

Honesty & Integrity Award: Jonas Palmer
Signal of Northwest Tennessee & Signal of Jackson, MS 

We live in honesty and integrity because without it, our company and our brand are hollow. 

Jonas Palmer has taken on some of our most challenging markets and turned them around in a remarkably short time. He leads from the front, never asking his team to do anything he isn’t willing to do himself. 

When feedback comes from the Home Office, whether operational or financial, Jonas responds with transparency and immediate follow-through. His professionalism, accountability, and respect in every interaction set a high standard for reliability and trust. 

Relationships Award: Mike Kosmet
Signal of Michigan 

We build relationships because healthy success can only be created with mutual respect for others. 

Mike Kosmet has demonstrated consistent success for more than a decade. He understands that collaboration fuels progress, as shown in his partnership with our Milwaukee office, which helped drive a significant market turnaround. 

Personable, responsive, and easy to work with, Mike prioritizes communication and follow-through. His ability to engage his team and work alongside peers has contributed to doubling the size of his business this year. He proves that strong relationships are a competitive advantage. 

Serving Award: Shane Wimer
Signal of Nebraska 

We serve our communities without hesitation because serving is the active ingredient in service. 

Shane Wimer led the development of Code Enforcement as a new service offering, generously sharing his entire process with the Home Office and fellow franchisees. His collaboration helped create sales and training materials that are driving growth across the network. 

He knows his officers by name and genuinely cares about their success, which is reflected in his team’s outstanding retention rates. Shane’s ability to balance strong financial performance with a people-first mindset makes his franchise a model for serving both community and team. 

Learning Award: Dan Liotta
Signal of Central and Northern Virginia  

We learn something every day by holding an open-minded approach to everything we do. 

Since joining Signal in 2023, Dan Liotta has made a significant impact. As a strategic and thoughtful leader, he delivers strong results and exceptional customer service by staying focused on sustainable growth. 

Dan is constantly seeking ways to improve his operations and bring more value to his market. His visionary mindset and commitment to continuous improvement remind us that growth begins with a willingness to learn.

Core Champion Award: Haris Johnson
Signal of Washington, D.C. 

While each award represents a specific value, the Core Champion brings them all together. 

Haris Johnson represents the full Signal mission in every aspect of his business. He makes a lasting impression in every interaction, from how he supports his officers to the passion he brings to serving clients. 

He is always exploring new ideas to improve his franchise and shows genuine appreciation for others across the network. His commitment to his team, his clients, and the future of Signal makes him a true Core Champion. 

Congratulations! 

These winners represent what makes Signal different. Our Core Values – Passion, Honesty & Integrity, Relationships, Serving, and Learning – are the foundation of how we operate and how we grow.  

To our 2025 Core Award winners: thank you for leading by example and for showing what it truly means to live the Signal mission.

More Articles

Celebrating Our Convention Core Award Winners

Celebrating Our Convention Core Award Winners

March 04, 26 |

At Signal, our Core Values are more than just words – they shape our culture and define how we provide peace of mind to the communities we serve. They are action statements rooted in a fundamental code of conduct that help us meet challenges, make decisions, and lead...