YES! When I had to move into an unsafe neighborhood (after divorce), I def did not feel safe. I could NOT sleep @ night. I was up and down all night long, "checking things". And then I could not concentrate on work well because I was worrying about the apt during the day. I was the victim of a daytime break in/robbery (on the other side of town) a few yrs ago and I vowed from then on I would take all precautions to deter anyone from even "thinking" about breaking into MY place again! When I moved here, I bought wooden dowels and installed them in the window tracks, along with window locks. I bought "Beware of Dog" signs and put them in 3 windows (I do not have a dog). I came acrossed an ADT security sign and put it in my yard, and took pics of it and reduced the size, and printed them, and packing taped them in the corners of each of my windows (I cannot afford, and do not have the security service) I bought mock dome security cameras and installed them in the eves of the house. They are neat because they have a blinking red light which is on a motion detector and blink to give the impression that they are operable. I installed heavy duty dead bolts of both doors along with chain/bar locks for when I am on the inside. I/we NEVER use the front door to enter or exit the apt because it faces the street, and I don't want onlookers to see who goes in and out, or what our schedule is in case they are "casing" the place out. I lock my laptop in a hardback combo lock brief case which is cabled (with a thick cable) to the bedframe with a super duper heavy duty padlock EVERYtime I leave the house. All my important papers like Birth Certificates and Social Security cards, stash cash, unused credit cards, and other important papers are locked to the bedframe in the same fashion in a fireproof, key locked safe. Our bicycles, and BBQ are locked directly to the block wall with eye bolts and Master U-locks, and cemented in. My back door swings outward, so I did some fancy hinge tweeking so the door cannot just be lifted up and off. I also put locking screws above the hinges, and cemented them over. I have motion detector flood lights in the front and back-and they are really sensitive so even if a cat or a even as small as a mouse goes by, at night, they light up. I have been called a bit paranoid, but IDC. I sure do feel a lot better at all times of day now. I can concentrate on work when I am away, AND, I sleep at night. There are home invasions broadcasted almost everyday on the evening news. I HAVE to do what I can to protect my home and my being to the best of my ability. I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't, and something bad happened. I feel OK now about buying and bringing in an expensive "toy" like a surround sound DVD/CD stereo, or a game box, or a new computer, or a printer, or ANYthing. I cannot afford renters insurance otherwise I would have some of that too.
I do not live in fear anymore. I realize that $hit happens, and if someone wanted to get in, they could, even after all the stuff I have done to prevent it. And If someone was going to hurt us, there always is gonna be an opportunity, BUT, HOWEVER, I have DETERRED them as best as I can. To the best of my ability I have made it really, really difficult for them. I am aware of my surroundings at all times, and I can pack a pretty mean punch if needbe.
I used to hang with "bad" people. I used to be a "bad" person. I know how they think. There is NO way someone is going to take the chance that I do not have a dog, or that my mock security cameras do not really work. They are not going to take the chance that I really do not have an ADT security system. They are going to go somewhere else. I have lived here for 2yrs now w/no incidents, and am confident there won't be any. I have done my best to make this crappy apt a safe and secure home for my daughter and I. I am a single mom. I just love this place. I have never felt safer or more at home anywhere else.
My advice to you is to do what you can to make yourself feel safer. You will not regret it. Safeguard you home, the things in it, and learn some self defense. Many communities offer basic self defense classes for free, you just have to do some footwork to find them.