Who goes there? Apartments up security, but many unsafe Chennai: Shaken by repeating incidents of homemakers and senior citizens being killed in their homes, bigger and newer apartment complexes are stepping up security measures, but the smaller and older ones are yet to wake up to the danger. The latest of the horrors came on Wednesday when a telecom technician who went to set right an internet connection in a JJ Nagar house killed a 65-year-old resident. Some apartment complexes, following police advice, spend more than 40,000 a month to ensure thier residents can have a peaceful sleep. A person is monitored from when they enter the Jain Akanksha apartment complex in MRC Nagar till they step inside a flat. They are under surveillance again from the minute they step out till they leave the compound. “As per police instructions, we have installed security cameras at the gates, in lifts and corridors,” says Priya Ramkumar, a resident. “The cameras are monitored through the day by a manager. The night footage is kept for review,” she says. Not leaving everything to technology, some apartment complexes have brought in manual systems to ensure unauthorized or suspicious people don’t enter the compound. “We have given all our maids, cooks, car washers, paperboys and milkmen identity cards with their names, addresses and fingerprints,” says Suresh Ganapathy, president of the Federation of Nolambur Flat Owners’ Associations. At Jain Akanksha, the buildings have six guards patrolling at night. The entrance, exits, corridors and play area are patrolled through the night,” says Ramkumar. Almost all new apartment complexes have been fitted with intercom that connects the security desk with every house. Guards use it to crosscheck about unknown visitors. “When visitors or servicemen come home the guard calls us on the intercom if we are expecting them and are given a gate pass, which is collected back when he leaves the compound,” says S Nirmal, a resident of Arihant Towers in Koyambedu. But some apartments stick to the one watchman concept. With most of these watchmen being elderly people, such houses are dependent on police patrols at night. “Maintaining foolproof security takes some effort,” says Ganapathy. “When some apartment complexes refuse to pay more than 6,000 as monthly salary, they get only old security men.” Police say they have increased night patrols besides conducting vehicle checks, but advise residential associations to put in place a stronger security in the premises.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 09:27:09 +0000
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