Moving advice

[Nick1236]

My fiance and I are moving into an apartment coming up on the 1st. I went by the place the other day to get some measurements and check out the inside one last time. While I was there I very briefly met my new neighbor, we passed eachother on the stairs and kinda glanced at eachother. Right away I can tell hes a douche bag and not the type you would want knowing you have guns in your place. Anyone have any expierence or advice for moving your gun safe and equipment into an apartment without letting the entire complex know what you have? I have a small 5 rifle safe and two lock boxes to move as well as my 3 long guns and two handguns. Not too worried about the handguns as they are easy to conceal but what about the rifles and safe?

-Nick

[XYZ]

A safe is kind of hard to conceal to others when you're moving it around. You may want to throw a bed sheet or comforter around it so no one can see the combination or keypad sticking out. To them it would probably be a refrigerator or something and at that point most people wouldn't give it two thoughts, unless they're a gun owner as well .

[chuckdc]

Blanket over it while it's on the hand-truck going into the apartment. Anyone asks, tell them its a cabinet that you don't want to get marks or scratches on from moving.

[joelj320]

I would agree cover them up with something. It sucks living in an apartment because when you are going to go shooting you always have to worry about who is going to see you with the cases.

[VictorFranko]

Get a refrigerator box, they come in many sizes and you can probably find one that fits close enough.

[amd64]

conceal the safes with large appliance cardboard containers or dark bedsheets when you move them in.

[Nick1236]

Thats what I figured. Thanks for the advice. who wants to come to the house, err apartment warming party?

[DaveFJ80]

Blanket over it while it's on the hand-truck going into the apartment. Anyone asks, tell them its a cabinet that you don't want to get marks or scratches on from moving.

This. Use the moving padded blankets and cover the entire safe. Strap it to a dolly and move it. If anyone asks, just tell them it's a fridge as that's what it'll look like. And consider moving it during the middle of the day on a weekday, when most people are at work.

Most fridge boxes won't fit in the stairwell or through the doorways, which is why movers or delivery guys always take the fridge out of the box when moving into your house/apartment.

[gunn]

Also, perhaps its different in SD because of the large military presence but in SF most people don't know what guns cases look like unless they are festooned with NRA/Enthusiast stickers. My neighbors always asked me what instrument i played...
-g

[23 Blast]

^ you mean you didn't hide your arsenal in a guitar case like El Mariachi?

btw, wasn't there some movie (or probably Half a dozen) where some musician hides a submachinegun in a violin case to assassinate some president or prime minister in the audience for a concert?

[k1dude]

Before you move in you might want to ask management to install a deadbolt on every door that doesn't have one. After you move in replace your hinge and strike plate screws with 3" long ones.

Make sure you put in extra window security (dowels/additional locks). You can also buy battery powered window alarms at Blowes or Home Despot for cheap. They're small and unobtrusive and stick with double sticky foam tape to a window or door. They scream at about 105 dB's when triggered.

Consider putting in a nanny cam somewhere near your guns or stereo.

Good luck. Whenever I've moved next to scary people it came back to haunt me. They looked problematic and it turns out they were.

[Nick1236]

Before you move in you might want to ask management to install a deadbolt on every door that doesn't have one. After you move in replace your hinge and strike plate screws with 3" long ones.

Make sure you put in extra window security (dowels/additional locks). You can also buy battery powered window alarms at Blowes or Home Despot for cheap. They're small and unobtrusive and stick with double sticky foam tape to a window or door. They scream at about 105 dB's when triggered.

Consider putting in a nanny cam somewhere near your guns or stereo.

Good luck. Whenever I've moved next to scary people it came back to haunt me. They looked problematic and it turns out they were.

great advice there. I managed to knab an upstairs corner unit so the only way in is through the front door or via ladder. The unit does come with a 24hr alarm monitor that can be linked the police station 3 blocks down the road. I cant remember if its dead bolted or not but I'm for sure puting one in once i move.

[dmcag69]

Simple, blankets and move it in at 2 in the morning when no one is around. Your neighbor will eventually see your rifle cases though when you go shooting. Add a alarm system or extra deadbolts. Get a deadbolt for your closet door and bedroom. The Purpose is to slow a thief. DON't leave your handgun out until you go to bed. Make sure you bolt the safe to the floor and wall.

[RTE]

Another vote for the moving blankets.
Harbor freight had some nicer cheap ones.

If someone asks what it is........It's something you don't want broken.

[taloft]

Some good advice from other posters.

Don't fool yourself. The average crack head can shimmy right up to your patio without a ladder. I've seen one run right up the wall and snag the patio slab with one hand. From there he pulled himself up until he could grab the railing. After that, he was up and over in a heartbeat. When I was in college my buddies apartment was robbed. They came in from the bedroom window that was easily 25'+ off the deck. It was a 2nd story apartment over another unit that was over a parking garage. The thief leaned out the window from the unit next door, pushed open my friends bedroom window, then jumped for it. Secure all openings to your apartment.

Utilize the alarm, you should get a break on your renters insurance if you mention it to your insurance agent. The money you save will probably cover most of the alarm fee.

Also, move the safe in around 9:00 a.m. Most working people are gone by then and most losers are still asleep. Get another friend to help you hussle it up the stairs and into the unit. Quick and safe is what you're aiming for. Banging up the stairs at 2:00 a.m. will draw unwelcome attention. People moving in the middle of the night stand out and cause others to speculate. Don't do this unless you can muscle it up without dragging it up the steps. Wrap it in cardboard or shipping blankets. They will hide the outline the best. They tend to slip so, make sure you secure them properly with line or tape.