MetaChat - Someone just tried

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12 June 2007

Someone just tried to break into my apartment→[More:]
I'm sitting in my living room, watching a movie, when I hear a noise. It sounds like someone's trying to open the locks on my front door. I go over to look through the peephole, and sure enough! someone is there, with a key, fiddling with my locks. I jiggled the door handle and he ran off.

I just called 911 and the building maintenance folk, and the police got here in record time, but they missed him. They took all my information down and my vague description of what I saw through the peephole, but I doubt they'll find the guy.

The thing that worries me the most is that something similar happened a few months ago. Someone had keys to all the apartments in the building, opened them all up, and took a bunch of electronics. I got lucky because my locks are weird and they couldn't open them, but to think it's happening again gives me the shivers.

I'm going to drink heavily now.

post by: backseatpilot at: 20:44 | 10 comments

How terrifying! Would you be able to install your own lock on the door? Even just a bolt or a chain or something?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 12 June | 20:48

I've got a chain, but I have to supply the building manager with a copy of the key to any lock I install. If there's someone gaining access to the building's keys, an extra lock isn't going to help much (I've already got three on the door).

posted by backseatpilot 12 June | 20:52

Can you have animals in this apartment? I have a friend who, once upon a time, dated a cat burgler, and the burglar said any dog, no matter the size, was worth her skipping the place because dogs make noise. Noise is bad for burglars. Most parrots or other large birds I've met also make excellent "watchdogs." Just a thought.

posted by Luminous Phenomena 12 June | 21:33

Yikes. That is kinda scary. Be safe!

posted by chewatadistance 12 June | 21:33

If some contractor has been given a set of keys, that's the likely culprit. You should get all the tenants to demand the landlord change all the locks.

posted by me3dia 12 June | 22:47

Yikes! Yeah, the landlord should definitely change all the locks.

posted by treepour 12 June | 23:19

Just think, if this was Mefi there would be a 300 response debate over gun control right now. Whew.

posted by craniac 13 June | 01:44

I'd install a lock and either not tell the building manager or give him/her the wrong key (you can always plead ignorance; oops, I thought that was the right key), if at all possible (they're not supposed to come in without your permission anyway). Your safety comes first, I'd say. You could also look into an alarm system, but you might not want to go to the expense, with monthly monitoring fees and all.

posted by Pips 13 June | 08:42

backseatpilot, how scary. I'm glad you didn't have to come face to face with the intruder.

posted by LoriFLA 13 June | 10:26

Install your own cylinder to the lock on your door and don't give your landlord the key. The only reason they ever have to go in your apartment is if you're there with them, and the only reason they'd find out is if they tried to get in without your permission. They have absolutely zero legal reason to own a key to your place. Obviously their shepherding of the keys in their possession is not secure. Change your lock.

And take a deep breath, that's some scary shit. Invest in a couple of those half-length baseball bats and have them in handy places. Braining intruders is unpleasant but legal.

posted by Hugh Janus 13 June | 10:35

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