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[__ Prayer __] i think someone went in my apartment

Christ_empowered

Christ_empowered

Member
ugh. me -again- ...

ok, so I live in a modest, but comfortable, apartment. by the grace of God, my parents were able to buy it...because the units are all owned -- most by individuals, some by businesses, real estate trusts, etc. (over 200 units spread over more than 15 buildings...its something of a mini-community, I guess), they're technically considered "condominiums." ok. moving on...

i have a key. my parents have a key. the home owner's association has a key, but that's only in case of emergencies and if someone like the exterminator needs to get in and can't, stuff like that. my parents didn't go in. i was just out running errands. im not -sure- someone came in, but...

not to sound paranoid, but I"ve had suspicions, before. like when there was a dead rat in my bath tub. i don't have rats. or when my favorite pair of shoes went MIA and have not yet reappeared. little things.

this time...ok, its a basic apartment door. top lock, bottom lock. both with the same 1 key. i always lock both. the bottom lock is one of those on the knob (inside the apt.) that you can rotate upwards, to the lock position. i always rotate it up, into the lock position, before I go outside. then, i lock the top lock and lock the bottom lock (again), so I can be sure that both locks are...well, locked.

so, i come home, unlock the top lock. felt...loose? trying not to be paranoid, I tried the door, before touching the bottom lock. popped right open. and...

im creeped out, but not really super scared or anything. its a long story...ive never been well liked around here, and I was truly poor, and now....



i've had some problems with animosity, here, since i moved in. excrement (I hope it was dog) out on the front area. i mean...what to do? clean up, disinfectant spray. one night, someone was pointing a laser pointer through my peep hole, in the front door. that was...not good. not good at all.

i have a label/diagnosis of some flavor 'severe mental illness.' ok. i kinda...doubt it, honestly. im medicated, that's not the issue, its just...i doubt it. l have overheard people yelling about putting me in the state hospital, in jail, "have him committed," etc. did i mention that mental health, inc. people have a problem with me? long story....legal action, court case, deal, probation. sealed.

so, im nervous. but not crazy insane afraid. 'perfect love casteth out all fear'

i just...don't like this. and i don't know what to do. my parents could get me a Ring or whatever those camera things are, but if i ask it'll set off red flags about 'paranoia,' when...sigh...i just don't think im 110% secure, that's all.

please pray. my life is not a dramatic, horrible series of unfortunate events like back in the day (did I mention that my parents saw fit to lift me out of real poverty? yeah...that helps, tremendously), but...

kinda feeling uneasy. thanks. :)
 
I know you've had suspicions of this before and I don't think you're crazy. I remember living in an apartment and we'd leave home and there would be some things out of places and a few groceries from our fridge or hangers for our clothes that would flat out go missing and we know not all of the maintenance team liked us. So, we figured that a member of maintenance had a key and would come in and take what they liked. We could never prove it, the stuff was so insignificant and small and we were so broke that we couldn't afford a camera, but I wish we would've found a way to purchase one. Coming home, things would feel a little unsettling like something wasn't right. I've been there, I know it's annoying.

Definitely do anything you can to get a camera. There are many good ones floating around out there that aren't too bad in price. Indoor cams can be purchased for less than $100. Just turn them on before you go to bed and/or before you leave home in spaces they wouldn't notice and if you catch somebody on your camera, call the police and contact your landlord if it was one of their staff like maintenance or something. Get one that backs up to an SD card or the Cloud or something so that if you do have an incident you are able to show somebody or send the video. If you have one that is accessible through a phone app or something that you can access away from home, that's a plus, too. That way you'll have alerts if there is movement and if you see someone in your apartment while you're out, you can call the police.

If you suspect that someone has been messing with your lock, you can contact your landlord and suggest that your locks be changed. They are allowed to charge you a fee for this, but it might be worth the request. Then, if you still have issues, it could be apartment staff that has a key or someone that's skilled in bumping locks.

Look into an alarm system. I know with a condo you may or may not be able to get anything super fancy with a lease. Some systems need to be hardwired into the wall, but you can get some cheap alternatives like ones that stick to the wall that work on a magnetic system - if the magnets separate, the door alarm goes off. I guess they usually fall under window alarms. My husband and I found a few at the dollar store before. The alarm on these is very loud when it's set.

Get a timer to add to your lights if this is possible. If they can see light through your windows, definitely do this. You can hook up a timer to a radio or television, too for sound - this might be useful.

I hope that something gets figured out and that you'll have more peace of mind soon.
 
thanks for the suggestions. and thank you, all of you, for taking this seriously and not chalking it up to 'symptoms.' that means a lot.

since my parents own this place, i get a little more leeway. since i'm dependent on my parents, doing much would require their monies, which would raise red flags. -eek-

i could probably save the little $$$ i do get and get some kinda camera, on my own. that'd be a step in the right direction. the way my place is situated, there's only way in/out...the front door, lol. seriously. the back is just to a patio.

i was thinking a Ring? but i dont know anything about this stuff. but that's what The Google is for, lol. seriously. I've gotta get serious about this, on a personal level.

im definitely -not well liked- , and im OK with that, but...sometimes, it gets a little intense. with people insisting on messing with my things and such, i gotta get a camera. maybe i'll just straight up ask my parents for a basic alarm system? i mean...again, they're -not- rich, but i don't think itd hurt their bottom line, much.

ugh. i don't know, i don't know...what to do. i suspect harassment. i also suspect that some mental health people are involved. i know, sounds...paranoid. ugh. my 'treatment providers,' in years past, did horrible things to me. given the legal action, etc....yeah. yeah. im...wow. fairly certain that...I'm getting a Ring product, of some sort. lol.


thanks again :)
 
When you feel like this, I think it is a perfect time to pray to God. Remember that God provides so if you think you really need a camera, then pray about it and you will get it. I do not think you should be worried about money because you know someone who is rich beyond any living soul and will share his wealth with you. I will definitely pray for you but I think you should as well and BELIEVE that God will provide what you need. I hope everything gets better for you.
 
Without drawing attention to yourself, put a piece of scotch tape on your door when you leave and lock it.

You can drop something allowing you to stoop down and get it, and then discreetly place the piece of tape on the door and door jam.

For any other entrances you can do the same on the inside.

If anyone enters it will be pulled off or disturbed.

Quantrill
 
Luminous_Rose said:
I know you've had suspicions of this before and I don't think you're crazy. I remember living in an apartment and we'd leave home and there would be some things out of places and a few groceries from our fridge or hangers for our clothes that would flat out go missing and we know not all of the maintenance team liked us. So, we figured that a member of maintenance had a key and would come in and take what they liked. We could never prove it, the stuff was so insignificant and small and we were so broke that we couldn't afford a camera, but I wish we would've found a way to purchase one. Coming home, things would feel a little unsettling like something wasn't right. I've been there, I know it's annoying.

Definitely do anything you can to get a camera. There are many good ones floating around out there that aren't too bad in price. Indoor cams can be purchased for less than $100. Just turn them on before you go to bed and/or before you leave home in spaces they wouldn't notice and if you catch somebody on your camera, call the police and contact your landlord if it was one of their staff like maintenance or something. Get one that backs up to an SD card or the Cloud or something so that if you do have an incident you are able to show somebody or send the video. If you have one that is accessible through a phone app or something that you can access away from home, that's a plus, too. That way you'll have alerts if there is movement and if you see someone in your apartment while you're out, you can call the police.

If you suspect that someone has been messing with your lock, you can contact your landlord and suggest that your locks be changed. They are allowed to charge you a fee for this, but it might be worth the request. Then, if you still have issues, it could be apartment staff that has a key or someone that's skilled in bumping locks.

Look into an alarm system. I know with a condo you may or may not be able to get anything super fancy with a lease. Some systems need to be hardwired into the wall, but you can get some cheap alternatives like ones that stick to the wall that work on a magnetic system - if the magnets separate, the door alarm goes off. I guess they usually fall under window alarms. My husband and I found a few at the dollar store before. The alarm on these is very loud when it's set.

Get a timer to add to your lights if this is possible. If they can see light through your windows, definitely do this. You can hook up a timer to a radio or television, too for sound - this might be useful.

I hope that something gets figured out and that you'll have more peace of mind soon.
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praying
 
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