Am I overreacting?

[Anonymous]

Ladies, not childcare related but I need a reality check. Please let me know if I'm overreacting here... Please bear with me. It's long...
Last night we lost the power (again - so annoying!) and all the neighbors came out to chat. It was the first time I got to interact with them. DD was playing outside in water because there was no way to stay inside our unit in that heat. It was around 9:30PM.
Everybody started talking about the things they're not happy with in our building and the most terrifying stories started coming up. An old lady had her tires slashed, someone had their GPS stolen, there was graffiti on the garage walls and the police said it's gang related. Someone was evicted last week because they were selling drugs in their apartment!!!! This is all in a garage that has controlled access. Actually our entire building all front and back doors have controlled access devices and we see shoes and door stoppers being used all the time. I shut the doors any time I see these things.
DD's room is right by the main entrance in our building so at night I can hear the door opening and closing through the monitor and several nights I hear it open and not being closed. I walk all the way there in the middle of the night to shut the door myself. Someone even used tape to block the door from locking once.
People are really concerned for their safety here and it all came out yesterday. I was horrified by the things I heard.
I just renewed my lease but I'm regretting doing it now. I don't feel safe in this place. We're in the first floor so our balcony is right by the street. Every shadow I see my heart skips a bit. My husband travels for work so I'm alone here most nights. This is one of the reasons why we rent in such community, just so I'm not "alone" in our home. Is this grounds for breaking a lease? Do I have any rights?

[Anonymous]

To help us- where do you live?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry! I'd be scared out of my wits, too. I don't know about breaking the lease - maybe someone with some legal expertise on here can comment. I'd also like to know, in general, where you are?

[Anonymous]

I don't think they will let you break your lease without penalty. But move if you can.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't feel safe either but please do not go out at night to close the door. What if you catch someone in the act and they dicide they don't want a witness. Maybe I'm watching too many movies but I'd lock the door and stay inside.
Also, definitely write a certified letter to the management explaining that you don't feel safe and that they need to improve on it. You rented there because you thought it had controlled access.

[Anonymous]

Think Tysons Corner.

OP

[Anonymous]

Tysons Corner? Hmm, well then maybe I wouldn't be so scared that I would consider breaking the lease to move...but I would be super-vigilant, as you have been.

[Anonymous]

Call the police non emergency number, see if they have a community liaison and/or support neighborhood watch. See if they will talk to management about being more proactive about preventing crime. You could contact their headquarters if they are bigger than just the one rental property.

And you can get a more accurate idea of crime trends on www.crimereports.com

If your balcony has an outdoor light, install a motion detector light so that movement makes it go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't feel safe either but please do not go out at night to close the door. What if you catch someone in the act and they dicide they don't want a witness. Maybe I'm watching too many movies but I'd lock the door and stay inside.
Also, definitely write a certified letter to the management explaining that you don't feel safe and that they need to improve on it. You rented there because you thought it had controlled access.

I bet the lease has CYA immunity clauses that state that the landlord does not have any responsibility to provide or maintain security systems. And that they are not responsible for criminal acts of third parties. And that you are in violation of the lease if you possess a weapon.

[Anonymous]

If you can't break your lease maybe you can get a diff apt in a higher floor?

Talk to management about your concerns.

[Anonymous]

I have a handicap so I must live in the first floor. That's another issue, I was told the building was handicapped accessible but there are steps everywhere to access the main entrances. So annoying!

Anyway, thanks for all the tips. I love the light with movement sensor.

I already wrote them an email but nobody answered me yet. Let's see what they'll say...

[Anonymous]

I would not be worried in Tysons Corner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the police non emergency number, see if they have a community liaison and/or support neighborhood watch. See if they will talk to management about being more proactive about preventing crime. You could contact their headquarters if they are bigger than just the one rental property.

And you can get a more accurate idea of crime trends on www.crimereports.com

If your balcony has an outdoor light, install a motion detector light so that movement makes it go on.

This is all good advice. Contact Fairfax County police to discuss the situation (they do have community liaison officers) - it sounds like they're already familiar with your apartment building. And document your notifications to management (do it all in writing/e-mail). Note the doors left ajar, the security issues, and your request for a motion-sensitive light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call the police non emergency number, see if they have a community liaison and/or support neighborhood watch. See if they will talk to management about being more proactive about preventing crime. You could contact their headquarters if they are bigger than just the one rental property.

And you can get a more accurate idea of crime trends on www.crimereports.com

If your balcony has an outdoor light, install a motion detector light so that movement makes it go on.

This is all good advice. Contact Fairfax County police to discuss the situation (they do have community liaison officers) - it sounds like they're already familiar with your apartment building. And document your notifications to management (do it all in writing/e-mail). Note the doors left ajar, the security issues, and your request for a motion-sensitive light.

+1. This puts them on notice of unsafe conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a handicap so I must live in the first floor. That's another issue, I was told the building was handicapped accessible but there are steps everywhere to access the main entrances. So annoying!

Anyway, thanks for all the tips. I love the light with movement sensor.

I already wrote them an email but nobody answered me yet. Let's see what they'll say...

If the building is not truly ADA compliant, that is grounds to break your lease.

Also, the poster who said they do not have to maintain security is wrong. Legally, they must maintain a secure premise for their tenants.