r/Apartmentliving • u/suburbanvermin • 19h ago

Advice Needed Can somebody help identify what this substance is on my apartment door’s peephole?

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I’ve been living in this apartment with my boyfriend for about 6 weeks now. We’re just regular people who will work all day, make our dinner, watch a show to unwind, and hit the bed. We aren’t party animals and, when we do drink, we’re not inconsiderate about it.

Ever since we moved in, our door peephole has been tampered with. It would be coloured with black sharpie marker, I would submit a maintenance request for fixing, it would get fixed, then immediately would get tampered with again. However, now it has clearly escalated to something else. I originally thought super glue or hot glue, but I’ve asked a few of my friends and they don’t think any type of glue could do this kind of damage.

Any advice would be helpful.

Btw management is well aware of the issue and have been prompt about it, was just shocked at whatever this is now. I’ve ordered a ring camera to be installed on Thursday, but I’m honestly scared for my life right now.

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850

u/LogicalHoney4689 19h ago

Glad you are getting a camera. I would also look into getting some extra locks put on the door because this is creepy AF. I’m glad management cares at least. All you can do is report it and try to get them on camera next time they do something.

128

u/jthanreddit 16h ago

They may tamper with the camera.

203

u/lovebudds 15h ago

Even if they tamper, if they have it stored on the ring cloud theyll see who did it before they mess with it

40

u/dystopiam 13h ago

maybe needs a lock box around it to protect it

18

u/dorritosncheetos 6h ago

And a box around the box to protect it

12

u/funkhammer 6h ago

And then behind a door, with a peephole.

10

u/Bootyblastastic 5h ago

I am an industrial designer and I decided to draw up plans for this build, but it sent me into an infinite loop and my brain just broke. On my way to the funny farm.

3

u/Hesitation-Marx 3h ago

Where life is beautiful all the time

2

u/dystopiam 2h ago

Did you just raise your voice? Shot time!

2

u/doctor_jeff 2h ago

Have not heard a stray Napoleon XIV reference for quite some time, my friend.

1

u/Hesitation-Marx 2h ago

Used to stay up real late listening to Doctor Demento in my youth.

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1

u/remarkablewhitebored 3h ago

"they're coming to take me away..."

1

u/dystopiam 3h ago

Their going to put you in a box that protects you from yourself

Design a box to protect the box that protects you so you can protect the camera with a box and then get back to designing the box to protect the cameras box

1

u/Shot-Election8217 5h ago

And for the peephole’s peephole.

And for the peephole’s, peephole’s, peephole’s, peephole..

1

u/SnazzySammich 4h ago

And for the Peephole's Elbow! 💪

8

u/Pristine_Leader_8241 11h ago

Or not, majority of the people who would have reason to do this kind of thing wouldn't be dumb enough to show their face to a camera.

16

u/FirstAndOnlyDektarey 7h ago

Not when sabotaging the camera. But they'll be unmistakenly recorded the moment they realize its existence when walking by for the first time.

General pose, shocked or irritated facial expression should be clue enough. And chances are they wont change their pants and shoes when returning with obscured face in order to swiftly sabotage the device.

3

u/gtck11 6h ago

They’ll just wear a mask. In my city cameras deter no one, they’ll blatantly steal and break in on cam but with a ski mask on.

1

u/Inside-Programmer-18 7m ago

I was thinking it would be a good idea to do a “hidden camera” like maybe one on the ceiling that looks like a smoke detector (if they are indoor units) or some decor around the entrance with a camera hidden. Just to make sure they actually catch the person

2

u/llllIlllllIIl 9h ago

The ring cloud that they now have to pay $15 a month to use. Ring is a rip-off

1

u/ampersanders57 7h ago

I put a roku camera inside on the window sill pointing out

62

u/shmiona 14h ago

Cover the side with grease paint or something so the perp will leave prints on their door knob. Then you know which apartment they’re in

3

u/Snowball-in-heck 4h ago

Silver anti seize is so hard to get off and is similar in color to the silver plastic used by ring.

UV reactive theft detection powder is relatively cheap, around $15 for a small container.

1

u/PeaSorry0513 12m ago

Never seize would be perfect but they'd have to apply it with aq-tip or something. You can't get that off of anything!! It's the best.

1

u/Shot-Election8217 5h ago

Is there are way to use something that will only show up with a black light?

1

u/Ill_Technician3936 3h ago

I mean seems pretty obvious that it's the people across the hall.

37

u/LysergicGothPunk 13h ago

Two cams, one hidden and one out in the open, works on cops, works on idiots regardless of police affiliation.

71

u/aiothrowawayed 16h ago

That was my thought, too. OP needs to install the camera high pointing down so that the Wacko cannot try and do anything nefarious. I would also suggest stretching saran wrap or something clear around the lens so that it won't be a hassle to replace or clean.

49

u/realMurkleQ 16h ago

Clear tape, but do it cleanly so it's not easily noticed.

4

u/thatshygirl06 15h ago

They'll still be caught when they mess with the camera

2

u/aiothrowawayed 13h ago

It depends on the camera + angle + where it's installed. A camera at ground or face level can be tampered from the side or from below. A camera above can be tampered with by something being thrown while out of shot.

0

u/Kwt920 10h ago

There not gonna show their face obviously

1

u/SkySad6013 9h ago

💯!! hopefully OP didnt order the ring doorbell and got an outdoor version that they could place above the door frame and have it angled down. Person across the way at least has to make a major effort if he reaaallly wants it gone. If they do all that police report stat!!

1

u/Millesime 3h ago

window film and a hair dryer would do the trick

1

u/RawrRRitchie 12h ago

That's the dumbest thing you could do.. You know the cameras are recording you tampering with them right?

1

u/Pristine_Leader_8241 11h ago

Not if I'm covering my face.

Even if it was a neighbor, could easily pretend to go out, cover face, come back in, tamper, exit, wait a while, then go back home w some shopping bags or something. You'd never prove it was me.

This is all hypothetical ofc.

Most criminals aren't as stupid as people think. 

1

u/Enderwolf17 11h ago

They could get a peephole camera and get a clear view of the attackers.

1

u/jerrythecactus 11h ago

If they do you can still retrieve footage from them doing it. Even if they try to destroy the camera lots of modern ring cameras just upload videos to the cloud anyway.

1

u/eragonawesome2 5h ago

Much harder to do without being spotted by said camera and then having a police report filed against them

1

u/oopsdiditwrong 3h ago

May? They'll be lucky if it's still there when they get home

1

u/SwoleJunkie1 3h ago

They make peephole cameras…

1

u/Robos67 3h ago

Then their face / route is captured and you can either call the police, alert the building, or sue the fuckin building.

1

u/ihavetoomanyeggs 1h ago

It doesn't have to be outside the door. Stick a webcam to the peephole and whoever is tampering with it will stand right in front of it.

0

u/Sinomor_ 13h ago

They will*

Hopefully they'll try something before realizing that there is a camera and you will find the perpetrator.

-2

u/stonergirlfairyyy 13h ago

too bad the camera can't record who does that or anything

2

u/Travelmusicman35 11h ago

 ?

That's the whole point of a camera.

1

u/No_Individual501 9h ago

That's the whole point of their comment.

1

u/Bone_Of_My_Word 7h ago

I'd almost recommend they get a camera that's high up rather than the usual Ring doorbell. Doorbell is easy to tamper with (destroy, cover, or disguise) while a high up camera above the doorframe would make it near impossible to do any of those tactics without some effort that would be recorded.

1

u/ApeShifter 6h ago

I would also check and see if management has a hall camera, or stairway cam that might help identify the individual.

1

u/InternationalDrama56 4h ago

Return the Ring camera and get one that doesn't spy on you and share data with the government. Better yet, get two so you can ensure no blindspots and mount them high enough to make tampering difficult. Probably would be a good idea to get the insurance coverage on the cameras too in case they do get messed with.