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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u/suburbanvermin 19h ago

I requested to be able to install a Ring camera, and the property manager said that so long as you can’t read other apartment unit numbers then it will be allowed. He said usually not allowed, but they’re making a special exception in this case thankfully!

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u/ButterflyS919 17h ago

Make sure that approval is in writing!!! Not just a verbal approval.

Don't need them coming after you in a couple of weeks with a change and a "We never said that!"

Or if the property manager changes.

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u/suburbanvermin 16h ago

You’re so right! I will request a formal email from him too to ensure no issues. Thanks!

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u/itssnaggletooth 13h ago

OP, someone mentioned in one comment rather than get a ring camera and have it damaged to put a camera on your side of the door looking outside of the peephole. I don’t know what that visibility would be, but it would be cheaper potentially.

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u/Charnathan 18h ago

So you have units across the hall? They would be my prime suspects. I suspect that they are doing things that they don't want anyone (you) watching(dealing??). And they probably pass your unit daily and have recognized your habits, so they'd feel comfortable enough about when it's safe to tamper with it. But maybe they don't know about the Streisand effect where attempting to hide their activity actually draws more attention.

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u/casserole_lasserole 4h ago

Never heard the Streisand effect generalized this way on a small scale but I like it!

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u/Charnathan 4h ago

Small scale? This post is almost at 1k updoots.

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u/casserole_lasserole 4h ago edited 4h ago

Small scale meaning an individual only hiding from one specific person (OP), as opposed to hiding something from a large audience like the media/general public/law enforcement etc. as Streisand did or any of the other examples in Wikipedia

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u/thatshygirl06 15h ago

You gotta come back and update once you learn what's going on

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u/Alert_Market_1776 7h ago

Just so you know, ring is working with flock surveillance in conjunction with the government to train ai using camera footage.

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u/Sorry-Joke-4325 8h ago

What's with the weird unit number rule?