It's definitely true that living in a big city comes with its own set of rules. While it might be tough for the uninitiated to navigate the streets of New York City, or even somewhere like Chicago or San Francisco, those who are local know how to get thing done. And getting things done means a whole lot--it's that delicate balance of being constantly surrounded by a barrage of people, but still managing to pull off an inner calm. It's going to work on a crowded subway train with no personal space, and then retiring to an apartment that might be smaller than your childhood bedroom. It's understanding that home security means a reliable doorman rather than having a dog running around in the yard. It's simply a different way of life.

And whether you're a newcomer to New York City with big dreams and even bigger hopes or someone who has been a local for generations, it is definitely a different world when it comes to matters of safety. After all, there's the old adage that everyone in the city is crazy and out to get you, which might actually be perpetuated by overprotective moms from the Jersey and New York suburbs more than clueless midwesterners. But there is definitely something helpful that comes from this level of worry: potential that people will actually make better choices when it comes to home security.

Because while most New Yorkers do have street smarts in droves, they don't spend as much time worrying about how they manage to take care of their apartments. After all, if you have a building with a doorman or a well-versed super, you don't need to be as concerned about investing in a home alarm system. You have someone at the door monitoring who comes in and who goes out, and that tends to matter a whole lot more. Likewise, if you're a New Yorker living in less than stellar digs, there tends to be an attitude that if someone wants to ride the train all the way out to Greenpoint to take the one piece of electronic equipment in your studio apartment, that they are welcome to it.

Neither of these mindsets is helpful when it comes to actually keeping your property and your person safe, though. It is far more efficient to actually figure out how to combine outside resources with common-sense and skills. For one thing, don't hold the door to the building open for people that you don't know. It's the oldest trick in the book for people who are trying to break into buildings, and not all robbers look the part. New Yorkers won't be offended if you don't hold the door open, either.

It's also crucial that you consider the home security of your apartment specifically. Are you dealing with an air conditioning unit that makes breaking in through the window easier? Have you ever changed the locks or bothered to use the deadbolt? Try to spruce up your own methods, and you'll definitely keep yourself a whole lot safer than before.