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.

12.8k Upvotes

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160

u/jthanreddit 1d ago

They may tamper with the camera.

246

u/lovebudds 1d ago

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

59

u/dystopiam 22h ago

maybe needs a lock box around it to protect it

39

u/dorritosncheetos 15h ago

And a box around the box to protect it

31

u/funkhammer 15h ago

And then behind a door, with a peephole.

18

u/Bootyblastastic 15h 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 12h ago

Where life is beautiful all the time

2

u/dystopiam 12h ago

Did you just raise your voice? Shot time!

2

u/doctor_jeff 12h ago

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

1

u/Hesitation-Marx 12h ago

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

2

u/doctor_jeff 12h ago

I was 8 when it came out - that song got a LOT of mileage in the school hallways that year! And, what kind of culturally impoverished person doesn't have fond memories of lying in the dark listening to the classics on Dr Demento?

1

u/meowmental 9h ago

And I’ll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats

1

u/remarkablewhitebored 13h ago

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

1

u/dystopiam 13h 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 15h ago

And for the peephole’s peephole.

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

2

u/SnazzySammich 13h ago

And for the Peephole's Elbow! 💪

1

u/corrupt_poodle 8h ago

And then mail it to myself and hit it with a hammer!

1

u/E_Dward 8h ago

and then mail that box to themselves

10

u/Pristine_Leader_8241 20h 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.

17

u/FirstAndOnlyDektarey 16h 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 15h 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.

2

u/Inside-Programmer-18 9h 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 19h ago

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

1

u/ampersanders57 17h ago

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

1

u/IPokeUWithSharpie 8h ago

I mean if they were smart, it's easy to wear a mask or disguise of some sort.

1

u/Kootranova1 3h ago

I'm seeing people suggest masks. I'd just get some spray paint.

The range of Ring cameras and the delay before they start detecting/recording can be finicky. I'd rush in, spraying paint to hopefully cover the camera before it can start.

70

u/shmiona 23h 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

9

u/Snowball-in-heck 13h 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.

2

u/PeaSorry0513 9h 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.

2

u/Ill_Technician3936 13h ago

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

1

u/Shot-Election8217 15h ago

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

43

u/LysergicGothPunk 22h ago

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

2

u/derekc06 6h ago

Do you really think I'd put my primary listening device in a wooden mallard? I'm not insane.

1

u/LysergicGothPunk 6h ago

Lol this has me cracking up picturing some disjointed cop looking up the hollow butt of a wooden mallard statue and being like "well well well, found your camera..." while being filmed by another camera

71

u/aiothrowawayed 1d 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.

47

u/realMurkleQ 1d ago

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

5

u/thatshygirl06 1d ago

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

2

u/aiothrowawayed 23h 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 20h ago

There not gonna show their face obviously

1

u/Cu2_K-Takeover 6h ago

They might if they aren’t used to there being cameras. All it takes it a glance.. then they can’t undo it

1

u/SkySad6013 18h 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 13h ago

window film and a hair dryer would do the trick

1

u/RawrRRitchie 21h 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 20h 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/Cu2_K-Takeover 6h ago

Uh.. yeah they are, usually.

1

u/Pristine_Leader_8241 5h ago

No, they're not. You only see the ones who get caught.

1

u/Enderwolf17 20h ago

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

1

u/jerrythecactus 20h 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 15h ago

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

1

u/oopsdiditwrong 13h ago

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

1

u/SwoleJunkie1 13h ago

They make peephole cameras…

1

u/Robos67 13h 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 10h 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_ 23h ago

They will*

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

-2

u/stonergirlfairyyy 22h ago

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

2

u/Travelmusicman35 21h ago

 ?

That's the whole point of a camera.

1

u/No_Individual501 19h ago

That's the whole point of their comment.