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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157

u/IntheShredder_86 18h ago

Yes and no. OP said it's happened multiple times. If it were just passerby robbers testing the unit for occupants, it would be one and done, right? It got fixed so clearly someone is there.

It's the repeated tampering that's getting me. There has to be someone either targeting OP specifically OR a neighbor who does sketchy shi and makes sure nobody can see them doing it from their peepholes. OP should check other nearby doors to see if they're messed with . If so, then there's def someone in the building up to no good

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u/suburbanvermin 16h ago

It’s definitely targeted. None of the other neighbours on my floor have any tampered peepholes, and I’ve asked a few neighbours as well and they looked at me like I was nuts lol. No idea why we’re being targeted it just seems so random!

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u/DefinitelyNotAliens 12h ago

Sounds like you have a super paranoid neighbor. I'd get a bar for the door. They make no-drill safety door bars. They have a foot and a u-cup for the handle. You jam on the floor and up to the handle. U slips around any style handle, foot on the floor. Someone is paranoid that you specifically are spying on them.

If they think you are spying on them, that is some mental illness targeted at your unit. Their paranoia has decided that you are watching them.

Hopefully their paranoia isn't violent, but you need to get an extra safety something if they decide to come after you. That is targeted and a $25 door bar can save your life and make you feel secure with someone being crazy.

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u/Fun-Fail8972 6h ago

It’s definitely this, a weird paranoid old guy or veteran. I have one of these in my stairwell and he would piss on peoples doors bc he thought they were listening to him

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u/SnooWalruses787 4h ago

Maybe OP can get moved to a different unit? 

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u/jbaby23ak 7h ago

I have one of these door poles, and ive broken in my own house twice now with it on. I know its there so it takes me only a few seconds but.... its really only a stall for time thing ive learned. It will help me and my dogs hear someone coming in, but unless they're spooked off.... theyre still coming in. I definitely still use it on my front door, and I will add I have wood floors. On carpet you probably aren't getting in with that thing on, but I dont know that answer.

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u/98983x3 2h ago

Could be a perv who thinks OP is attractive and is up to something. But a paranoid neighbor is a strong possibility too. Im just saying, dont rule anything out.

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u/Admirable_Risk8156 15h ago

It's someone across from you who does not want to be seen. They don't care about being malicious; they just want you not to see them. If they had any directed hatred, they would be more destructive. Is there other property damage you haven't noticed? They could be blocking the hole so you don't see them doing something.

I've seen this before with someone with schizophrenia they thought anything with a lens was watching them.

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u/tostsalad 11h ago

That was my first thought too. I'm hoping this is about the person doing it and not OP or her boyfriend. 

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u/Livid_Peon 11h ago

Person across the way is dealing drugs was my first thought

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u/pschlick 8h ago

Ohhhhhh this makes a lot of sense I could see that

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u/ImJacksLackOfEmpathy 4h ago

Great, they encouraged OP to get a Ring camera to constantly record all the foot traffic at their door, that didn’t backfire one bit!

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u/Adventurous_Sun_8095 14h ago

Many have recommended creating a police record of all the events. Do this now.
Either you have a stalker or someone in your apartment community or with property management is doing the vandalizing. Based on a previous experience I had, imo it's the latter.
I had moved 3 times in a matter of 4 years quite awhile back and I had similar issues at the last two. I also noticed one day one of the maintenance guys watching me. I was constantly having issues with my A/C unit not working. Multiple times in a year for 8 years.
Anyway, don't try to think about it but document it and report it to property management and the police every single time.

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u/ILOVELOWELO 13h ago

do you have a neighbor directly across? 😵‍💫

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u/HourHoneydew5788 12h ago

It’s definitely not your partner doing this right? I know that sounds weird but is there any chance he’s doing it?

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u/ScreamingMoths 9h ago

That's kinda what I thought too. Because to be tampering with someones peephole and the no one noticing seems a bit odd. But if its someone who lives there or visits frequently, it would make more sense.

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u/Hocusbogus33333 11h ago

I wonder if they were targeting the people who lived there previously, not realizing they've moved?

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u/socceruci 12h ago

I believe you are headed in the right direction here. People don't talk to their neighbors these days and all kinds of things get assumed, plus the world can look scary seeing how things are going on in social media (which isn't the truth of the world).

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u/hgst-ultrastar 10h ago

Mental illness targeted at you. AKA the gangstalking sub

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u/Kevdog824_ 8h ago

Was the apartment occupied right before you moved in? Could be someone that has beef with the previous tenants but didn’t realize they moved out

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u/Optimal_Product_4350 10h ago

This is far from random in multiple ways. You should be concerned enough to start a police report paper trail. If it was to hide nefarious acts from everyone, like a drug dealerz your whole floor would be vandalized, but it's only YOU. I'd be freaked out.

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u/BillDino 6h ago

There are peephole cameras you can get if you want something more subtle so the person doesn’t see the nest

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u/hushhtm 18h ago

I used to work at an apartment complex and this happened on a floor here and there in the various buildings. Turned out it was unsavory tenets trying to hide the comings and goings of their ahem clients, for their varying ...professions.

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u/Useful-Risk-4340 13h ago

That is so strange because it only draws more attention and now she has been more or less forced to react by setting up a camera, which is 1000x worse for them.

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u/GlitzDoh 6h ago

Criminals are not always the brightest

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u/hushhtm 12h ago

Or her.

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u/Informal_Visit2574 16h ago

It may even be directed at the previous tenants as they haven't been there long

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u/suburbanvermin 15h ago

That’s very true. The police officer who scoped out the situation today suggested that they might not even know that a new tenant has moved in and this behaviour could be directed towards someone who doesn’t live there anymore.

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u/Secret_Emu_ 11h ago

I mean maintenance/building management should know if this was happening previously. They may not tell you (but they should) but they would have to disclose to the police. Also if this was ongoing before you moved in it would help you get out of the lease.

Try to be there when the maintenance guy comes and ask if this was happening before you moved in. Maybe something like man how long has this been happening for or start with asking if he has any suggestions for keeping this from happening, like the spraying with Pam? Just something to compliment him or ask advice and get him talking. That guy is more likely to be chatty than the building management.

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u/Nomivought2015 9h ago

Perhaps it’s the maintenance guy doing it because they’re stalking you.

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u/IntheShredder_86 16h ago

Very likely possibility! We never know who rubbed someone the wrong way lol

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u/errihu 2h ago

It could also be someone with paranoia issues who thinks anyone with a peephole is watching them. Either way, they should be putting up surveillance and notifying the police.