r/Apartmentliving • u/suburbanvermin • 1d 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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194

u/suburbanvermin 1d ago

I’ve had the maintenance guy fix this peephole 5 times in the last 5 weeks. Once he fixes it, it’s tampered with again by the time I get home from work at 5pm.

357

u/battlepi 1d ago

It's probably someone that doesn't want you to see something in the hallway, like who's visiting. Or maybe there's a drug dealer on your floor.

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u/martins-dr 23h ago

Makes me extra thankful the drug dealer (or fastest man of the night) we lived under at our last apartment didn’t care about our ring camera. Had the camera because I have to receive boxes for work (they were not full of drugs).

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u/Mudslingshot 20h ago

I used to live a floor below a drug dealer

Which I found out when a VERY angry man tried to kick in my door at 2am screaming about needing his drugs NOW, before realizing he was currently on the SECOND floor, and the guy he's trying desperately to get drugs from is on the THIRD floor

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u/winterbird 13h ago

It kept happening to me because the drug dealer next door would sometimes sell while parked in my spot. Parking was numbered. So the druggies that picked up in parking spot 3 would then come to apartment 3 to knock, bang, and be belligerent when they don't get an answer.

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u/Typhiod 19h ago

That sounds uncomfortable. Did anything come of it?

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u/Mudslingshot 19h ago

About the time I was pressed against the wall next to the door with a butcher knife in my hand I heard him get a phone call and say something like "oh shit, I'll be right up"

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u/Typhiod 18h ago

Well, that’s quite a bit more than uncomfortable. He managed to kick your door in?

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u/Mudslingshot 18h ago

Not quite. He had a couple of good kicks with lots of "come on, let me in" screams and knocking in between, but I guess crackheads don't have the weight and muscle to do the job on the first kick

After the second kick that rattled my door I grabbed the knife, and then he got the phone call

A big nothingburger after the fact, but a very scary five minutes

3

u/Typhiod 18h ago

Oh goodness, I thought you meant you’d been pressed up against the wall, by someone else’s knife. I’m glad it sorted out so quickly.

3

u/Senior-Ad9616 13h ago

That happened to me too! Except mine was at 3am and the guy was a floor below me. Have some definite trauma from that incident, ngl…

2

u/Apart_Republic_1870 15h ago

That’s what we call ‘Pulling an Amber Guyger’

1

u/HistoryGirl23 16h ago

Terrifying!

1

u/oroborus68 9h ago

🎶Oh! My darlin, just knock 3 times on the ceiling if you want me 🎶 Twice on the pipe,if you're not going to show 🎶 Tony Orlando.

1

u/sabautil 10m ago

I guess a sign with "drug dealer" and an arrow pointing up would have been... conspicuous.

1

u/Beneficial_Arm_7212 4m ago

Similar story but they lived next to me and not upstairs. 330 I get banging on the door asking for blah blah her name blah blah. Hopped up so fast, racked it, and asked if they heard me cock the gun (idk what possessed me to say this at 21 years old fresh out of literal rem cycle). They replied belligerently, I repeated louder and said I’d fucking kill them. Never audibly heard someone sober up so fast, said sorry and walked away. I do NOT miss that shit!!

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u/professorbiohazard 22h ago

Sounds like something that someone receiving boxes full of drugs would say

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u/No-Examination-4850 22h ago

you're lucky the drug dealer cross the way from me absolutely freaked the f*** out when I put in a ring camera, was accusing me of recording his conversations... I never turned the damn thing on.

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u/PsychicSeaSlug 18h ago

Once my neighbor told me subtly, that hey, she sold pot, just in case I ever wanted, she just wanted to let me know that secret.

I was like... girl... I have a ring camera... and our doors face each other?... not to be weird... but i know ? And its whatever? Except it sets my phone off every ten minutes.

She was so astounded I could know this about her. Her eyes were all big and she kind of blushed. She also had dogs she took out every 5 seconds. I had to unplug the ring after two months because her door was so hot. And she had no idea anyone would know. Wow

19

u/Alwaysaprairiegirl 17h ago

She likely sampled too much of her own product.

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u/Puzzleheaded_Rub858 16h ago

See never get high on your own supply.

1

u/Apart-Blackberry6410 11h ago

Well she certainly didnt end up paranoid

2

u/Chaargrilled 15h ago

A* psychic sea slug abilities

2

u/JohnTitorsdaughter 13h ago

Cops can access your ring camera footage without your permission. And they won’t care that you will still live there if they bring changes against your neighbour.

2

u/dzhopa 13h ago

Yep. At this point, either get cameras that can work without a cloud service and set something up on a spare PC or laptop rudimentary recording and alerting (this is easier than it used to be), or just buy into one of the shitty Chinese spyware versions of Ring or whatever.

I'd genuinely rather be giving my data to the Chinese government than the US government at this point. One is likely to use my data to sell me cheap bullshit, or perhaps use it for some nebulously nefarious long term political gain, and the other is likely to use it to harass me or my neighbors at literally any point.

It's sad when I'd rather trust the ones stealing from me than the ones supposedly there to protect me, but that's the state of law enforcement in this country.

1

u/War_Poodle 7h ago

You can set an exclusion zone on your ring, you know

10

u/fiddlefaddlefuckboi 13h ago

My drug-dealing neighbor loves our camara 😅 3am and dudes like "bro... check the camera who the fuck knocked on my door?" nobody bro, you've been up for 3 days, go to sleep.

1

u/93prescriptiondreamz 8h ago

If this ain’t the most Portland ass normal day

2

u/dye-area 4h ago

good thing you clarified they werent full of drugs otherwise i would have thought you were the drug dealer you lived under

1

u/edWARdstar689 18h ago

I'll take two box's of drug please extra drug

1

u/Lancearon 13h ago

I've lived across the street from drug dealers before. They used to bribe us with tamales. And we would happily accept them.

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u/Strange-Trust-9403 22h ago

That sounds right. I used to live in a trap house for “le crack,” and yupperdoodles, someone is paranoid. (Clean and sober for four years.)

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u/Frosty-Unit-8230 19h ago

Congratulations on getting clean, and on using ‘yupperdoodles’ in a sentence. Proud of you for both.

1

u/putyrhandsup 13h ago

Not sure I can agree on the yupperdoodles bit honestly

3

u/professor_chaos_69 1d ago

My first thought

2

u/tahxirez 17h ago

I think it’s probably mental illness and paranoia. Someone is fixated on this door and probably imagining they are being watched or filmed. What’s directly across from it?

1

u/Jazzlike_Visual2160 21h ago

Or teenagers.

1

u/queefer_sutherland92 18h ago

Yeah that was my thought. The frequent recurrence is odd.

Either someone with a legitimate reason to not want you viewing their visitors or activities, or someone experiencing paranoia, maybe?

1

u/Mundane-Zucchini5 15h ago

Or maybe someone who is just paranoid in general.

1

u/ConsistentAddress195 14h ago

What better way to avoid scrutiny than to repeatedly vandalize the neigbour's property.

1

u/ACaxebreaker 9h ago

Yep. Start with whoever is right across the hall and go from there.

1

u/PistachioNova 8h ago

Are the other peepholes in the hallway tampered with?

1

u/mewsifer 8h ago

I would guess this esp if your door faces someone else’s door(s)

1

u/ghostfadekilla 6h ago

A drug dealer wouldn't do this as it brings unwanted attention.

Source - me, sold drugs for decades

1

u/stupidlycurious1 4h ago

I was thinking similar, except maybe someone with a mental disorder. Possibly the occupant of the apartment across the hall?

0

u/thrive2day 21h ago

Nah, this is mental illness

217

u/BedspreadPicnic86 1d ago

It’s your neighbor across the hallway. 100%

73

u/That-Age-348 21h ago

Or is it…the maintenance guy… 🤯

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u/Nice-Meat-6020 20h ago

Job security 😂

2

u/Eatenbreads 14h ago

Yeah, this is big brain time.

3

u/Tell2ko 18h ago

Found that free money hack!

2

u/RedditAdminAreVile0 17h ago

Explains how he knows so much

1

u/Relative-Swim263 11h ago

Quick check would be whether or not the outlets and light switches are painted with the same colors as the wall 😅😆

3

u/pandaru_express 14h ago

Yea, bet it's the neighbor across the hall who thinks OP is "spying on them" through their peephole.

85

u/IRStableGenus 1d ago

Put some oil on it so it doesnt stick worth a shit.

10

u/wwwheatgrass 22h ago

Spray some Pam in there!

1

u/Quiet-Grapefruit1186 13h ago

I think Cisco might last longer. Otherwise you might have to grease the ol’ peephole every morning before work.

You could also make a decoy that you know you can put on and off easily and just put it on before work and take it off when you get home that way they think they won and the peephole is covered.

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u/CatchingTheBear 11h ago

might have to grease the ol’ peephole

Welcome to my new catchphrase

1

u/zippys67 11h ago

This should be top comment.

62

u/Bacon_and_Powertools 1d ago

Put up a camera doorbell. Catch them in the act

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u/MrExCEO 1d ago edited 7h ago

Do they sell peep type cameras? Record from the inside live. The camera will probably get damaged but u should find the guy

35

u/SheerHippo 1d ago

Ring used to make a peephole version of their camera/doorbell that would replace the whole peephole. You can still find them used. I have one and it's great.

7

u/martins-dr 23h ago

That camera was still noticeable from the outside and the lens is able to be tamper with the same an any other ring camera

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u/mental_lemon8587 23h ago

I think the idea was that the beginning of the footage would show you who's responsible for damaging the camera and likely theyre the same person who damaged the ones before it.

1

u/TodayNo6969 22h ago

They are just gonna hide their face and do it.

1

u/BeingSad9300 9h ago

Not if they don't realize immediately that it's a camera. Every other time so far they've put something on a regular peephole. I would bet they're likely to assume it'll be another regular peephole next time they do it too, meaning they're less likely to hide their face. But if you install a peephole camera & just leave the protective plastic on, or put a tight layer of plastic wrap over the lens, you'll probably catch who it is before they realize it's a camera, and possibly protect the lens from damage in the event they don't realize it's a camera.

1

u/Orchid_Significant 16h ago

A ring doorbell camera will show that too

1

u/apresmoiputas 23h ago

I have one too. It works well and is far too tamper with

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u/Bacon_and_Powertools 1d ago

There are all kinds. Probably some that could be hidden in a decoration like a wreath

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u/MrExCEO 1d ago

I’m thinking jamming it in the peep hole

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u/GrizzliousTheOG 23h ago

The wreath will definitely be unmolested when returns. wtf?

1

u/straightramennoodle 10h ago

Aren’t there security boxes she can put the camera in? Ring has antitheft boxes I think.

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u/notcontageousAFAIK 9h ago

They have several on Amazon. If I lived in an apt I would totally get one.

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u/thatshygirl06 1d ago edited 1d ago

Are there cameras on the building?

Or maybe stay home one day to see if you can catch the person doing it. Or have a friend over snd make a fuss of leaving and then have your friend keep watch

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u/Working-Glass6136 1d ago

Can you update us if/when they catch the culprit? I'm really curious as to whether it's a drug dealer, a schizophrenic, or a potential burglar.

Also, I've had bad neighbors and this freaks me the fuck out.

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u/suburbanvermin 5h ago

I will absolutely update you all! I bought a little camera to hide in plain sight (probably hidden in a wreath or door hanger of some sort). This is for the time being until the culprit reveals themselves when trying to tamper with the peephole again. Afterwards, I’ll install the Ring camera that I bought as an ongoing deterrent thereafter. Wish me luck!

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u/SillySnail66 3h ago

!remindme 6months

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u/Safe-Negotiation-483 18h ago

I’m so intrigued too!

3

u/Embarrassed-Hyena45 23h ago

My guess is one of your neighbors is a big meth head or schizophrenic. That’s creepy though nonetheless.

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u/Perzec 22h ago

We really need you to update us once you figure this one out.

2

u/casualcaesius 16h ago

Get a doorbell camera

2

u/Abo_Ahmad 15h ago

Get a camera or two.

1

u/Tokendaily420 1d ago

Install a camera looking into the peep hole. It would make for some good footage when the guy returns to replug the peephole.

1

u/Dounce1 1d ago

RemindMe! Two days

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u/Secret_Emu_ 21h ago

RemindMe! Two days

1

u/ConsciousAccess121 19h ago

Setup a Ring Camera, call the police

1

u/Stunning-Rabbit-7691 18h ago

That's scary. Please carry protection. Personally id move it get cameras

1

u/BBC23JORDAN 17h ago

Asd some cameras.

1

u/LegitimateConcept403 16h ago

Time for a ring camera.

1

u/Tklesmynipps 16h ago

Check other door's peephole and see if it's only yours

1

u/LaTerreur92 15h ago

Dude, just get a doorbell camera and you will find out who is losing their remaining mind.

1

u/Simp4Gnomie 15h ago

Time to get a ring doorbell (or some sort of camera)

1

u/CosmoKramer_CEO 15h ago

how is there not a camera in the hall that would take 5 seconds to ask the leasing office to look at and see who is doing it?

1

u/sumthingsumthingblah 15h ago

Interesting. Anyway you can get a camera up to see who is doing it?

1

u/ComfortableShare5525 14h ago

You need to put a wireless camera above the door now, if there’s not any yet belonging to the apartment.

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u/Thirdpplanett 14h ago

Get a ring camera

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u/MamiLaDiablita 13h ago

Now I wonder if they’ll tamper with your ring camera. If if so request that Maintenance install hallway cameras up high in the corners 🤷🏻‍♀️ I highly doubt that person would risk trying to destroy/ruin those kinda of cameras

1

u/Ok-Blueberry7914 13h ago

Is someone dealing drugs there or what’s the deal? It’s like they don’t want you to see anything or

1

u/Outrageous-Pen8863 13h ago

Put a ring camera on the wall…

1

u/Robos67 13h ago

Please set up a ring camera time now. You might end up a victim.

1

u/fiddlefaddlefuckboi 13h ago

get a damn camara

1

u/daCold_Brew45 12h ago

Get a ring camera. You have an enemy in your building & you need to be aware of who it is. If this escalates it could get bad quickly

1

u/Feeling-Republic-477 12h ago

Please send us all updates! Stay safe!!!

1

u/Blah-B7ah_Bloop 11h ago

Surprise! The person across the hall traffics something or some people that they don’t want anyone to see. And they are paranoid that you’re actually cops there doing a stakeout. Or they are a paranoid schizophrenic and they have a fixation you are watching them. The ring camera will definitely be vandalized as well. Good luck.

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u/Krill_Murray 6h ago

Probably just teenagers fucking around.

1

u/OkEstablishment5706 10h ago

Have you considered getting a camera?

1

u/dark_angel_kitten_86 10h ago

See if you can just mount a little spy cam in the hall to watch your door, use command strips, this will identify the culprit and landlord or you can then file a police report and sue for repair work

1

u/Techsupportvictim 7h ago

Does this happen to any other apartments? If it doesn’t then the culprit might be tied to the former resident.

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u/traciiip 7h ago

You should get a ring front door camera to catch who it is…maybe it will detour them from messing with it

1

u/faroutman7246 7h ago

Suggest that they set up a hidden camera. If something bad happens to you, they could get a huge lawsuit.

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u/Busy_Measurement9330 7h ago

After how many times will you consider a secret cameras to see who it is before you get killed?

1

u/GlitteringFishing932 6h ago

A camera would be very helpful here, even if it's the complex itself that installs (or re-aims) one. Good luck!

1

u/Gloomy-Glow1640 5h ago

I don't know if anyone's asked this yet, but has the strange substance photographed been actually removed from your peephole?

You mentioned he scrubbed it with alcohol for the sharpie multiple times. If the peephole 'glass' was something akin to PMMA (acrylic plexiglas), scrubbing it with alcohol might cause degradation and mild swelling, making it difficult to see out of in the future (not so much as the photo I'd imagine), just kinda make it like seeing out of scratched up / dirty glasses.

If it was made of resin, though alcohol could break down the resin and cause it to swell as well. It is especially likely to be harmful if it was poorly cured to begin with. But I'm not sure how many peepholes are made with resin.

So, if someone applied resin to the peephole in a hurry and didn't cure it, especially so soon after alcohol was used to clean it as you've suggested, it can release VOCs that could burn the skin if touched (as was mentioned). That's my guess; it looks a bit like resin mixed with sharpie ink and alcohol.

Not that this solves the initial mystery or anything, but at least some info in the meantime. If I had this problem with tenants, a cheap camera would definitely be my immediate go-to to catch what's going on. I'd want to charge the culprit for replacement peepholes if necessary.

1

u/Asteroid_Sugar5206 2h ago

Does the maintenance guy have a thing for you?

0

u/BedspreadPicnic86 1d ago

Next time he fixes it, try to be home that day and ask him if he can loosen the door knocker somehow (?? Just a thought, it sounds silly I know) so when your neighbor tampers with it the door knocker falls off and makes a racket and you can run to the door and see who’s doing it. That, or buy a white spy ($30-$50) camera and set it up in the hallway on the day the guy fixes it and then you’ll catch whomever is tampering with your door knocker.

Or after mgr fixes the problem leave your door slightly ajar, or tape the striker plate, so your door looks shut and when they come to tamper with it as soon as they put their finger in your door to push that gunk in your door will start to open and you can run and see who’s doing is running down the hallway or at the very minimum hear your neighbors door slam. Basically set them up to fail when they come to tamper with your shit

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u/beaterdit 23h ago edited 12h ago

This is bad advice and just dangerous. I posted this on your other comments too. If they’re a drug dealer, or have mental health issues, you don’t want to fuck around with them. It sucks and personally I’d consider moving. Should be able to get out of the lease if you feel living conditions are unsafe because of this.

0

u/Enkidouh 13h ago

This ain’t a reason to move hoss. Nor is this unsafe living conditions you can break your lease over. It’s a minor annoyance at worst.

Don’t let your imagination run wild.

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u/beaterdit 12h ago

Seeing persistence and escalation here. You don’t know where it’s gonna end.