Residents of one building in Tapiola, a district in the Helsinki suburb of Espoo, decided to improve security after they found people sleeping in the corridor.

“Some of them had even gotten into the sauna corridor,” said Anssi Aittasalmi, who lives in the building. “We found mattresses and other signs of habitation.”

The building co-op decided to pay for a guard to visit a couple of times a night, and residents have been pleased with the results.

Put a stop to mischief

“The guard has put a stop to all the mischief and unwelcome nocturnal guests,” said Aittasalmi, who believes that the service has paid for itself.

Security companies sell custom-made packages. If the price is right, they can even check the whole building from cellar to attic every hour.

The guards’ impact can be skin-deep. They are not allowed to remove anyone from the building, or carry out an arrest. Finnish homes are, in any case, still rather safe. Burglaries or other crimes have not increased in recent years.

In the opinion of Securitas CEO Jarmo Mikkonen, increasing crime is certainly not the reason for employing guards.

“It’s a desire for security and peace of mind,” said Mikkonen.

According to Mikkonen, modern apartment block guards have a multi-faceted role.

“Guards are replacing the caretaker’s watchful eye,” claimed Mikkonen. “Neighbourhood watchfulness has lessened, because people are so busy and people don’t know their neighbours as they did decades ago.”