• FAIL Blog
  • Employee
  • Workplace
  • Horrible Bosses
  • Neighbors
  • HOA
  • Family Drama
  • Parenting
  • Customer Service
  • Entitled People

  • Links
  • About Us
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • DMCA Policy
    • search email community favorite this article chev-right latest posts article list comments tags video article login twitter facebook menu pinterest whatsapp

    Vigilante property manager brings a package thief to justice, catching the tenant on surveillance video and saving other residents from future theft: ‘You can tell she's trying to hide it’

    Property managers are rarely on the side of their tenants, but when there's a thief on the loose in the complex, perhaps the status quo can change.

    A landlord or a property manager will always feign to share their tenants' best interest, but when they show their true colors (usually on the first of the month), it becomes clear that they're really only in it for the money. In the modern era of tenancy and renter lore, it's best to stick to yourself, stay in your lane, and not count on your property manager or landlord overseer for much else apart from a spare key or a calendar reminder. If you're a renter and there's a leaky faucet or if you had your Amazon deliveries repeatedly stolen, usually you'd be hung out to dry, but in the rare case of the residents in this next story, the property manager was as keen on finding a delivery thief as the residents were.

    And for that, he's a real one. 

    With nothing to go on but delivery timestamps and a resident's word, this property manager got to work on catching a rampant, entitled thief. 

    Like what you see? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google. 

    Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer Jesse Kessenheimer
    Add us on Google
    Advertisement
    • Couple sitting in the package room of their building lobby.
      via Ivan S

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Advertisement

    • "CAUGHT RED HANDED"

      Resident came to me and said her package is missing. She gave me the tracking number and the photo the delivery driver took when dropping off so I knew what time it was delivered and what the package looked like.
      via 99centlips
    • I did have some time today so I looked started to look through the video footage. My favorite feature of our camera system is I can highlight a section on the screen and I can quickly go through only the footage of motion within the highlighted section.
      via 99centlips
    • Cheezburger Image 10602777856
      via Leah Newhouse

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Advertisement
    • Unfortunately, the distinctive (well known expensive brand) package was delivered outside near the main entrance of the lobby (high rise) as it was a Sunday and we were closed.
      via 99centlips
    • We have the Butterfly MX (fancy access control) system so residents should be entering delivery notes for their deliveries with access codes and delivery instructions, (but we know they won't.)
      via 99centlips
    • Advertisement
    • Security guard watching CCTV footage
      via Africa Images

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Anyway the package stays outside for a while and then a few hours later, someone else got food dropped off right next to the package. This is a nice resident who brought the package inside and left it on the table directly by the door.
      via 99centlips
    • Advertisement
    • Package remains overnight and then janitor moves it to the package room on a shelf in the morning. "Chain of custody" of the package was never lost.
      via 99centlips
    • Another resident comes into the package room late that night. (using her code to enter the package room) and is seen on video taking several packages, including the package from the delivery photo and you can tell she's trying to hide it. Everything matches. Boom. Caught.
      via 99centlips

    • Using every tool and every surveillance camera on the premises to their disposal, this property manager scoured this luxury complex for the thief's true identity. Little did they know, and after many hours of piecing together grainy footage, the culprit was none other than one of the esteemed residents themselves: A lavish, luxury woman with a set of sticky fingers. Although they would never admit it openly, there was no denying their face on the security cameras pocketing what looked like another person's mail. 

      Hmm, could this be cause for eviction?

      Regardless of the final outcome, without the dutiful diligence of the property manager, this information would have never seen the light of day or the swift hand of justice. We all know how tenacious a property manager can be; it's just nice to see them wielding that strength for the good of the people instead of the good of their pockets. 

      Although the first of the month will always roll around, this property manager has forever earned the respect of their tenants. All it took was an ounce of humanity and a comprehensive CCTV system to get this landlord to feel a change of heart. Finally, we have a story where a feudal lord wields their landlordly power with an iron fist for the sake of their tenancy. 

    • Man carrying a package into a city building.
      via Yan Krukau

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Advertisement
    • To bring it home, months ago someone else was missing a package. I looked through the footage and wouldn't you know?!!
      via 99centlips
    • It was the EXACT SAME RESIDENT on camera seen possibly removing their missing package as well. BUT I wasn't quite as sure for this one as the resident did not know which specific cardboard box package was theirs in the very blurry delivery photo and there were many and so I had no definitive proof. Please guess how do you think she responded?
      via 99centlips
    • LedFoo2 It wasn't me
      via LedFoo2
    • Advertisement
    • OP 99centlips it wasn't me but i'll pay for it to be reimbursed...
      via 99centlips
    • superduperhosts Call the police
      via superduperhosts
    • OP 99centlips i put a report in and so did the resident but i doubt pd will do anything.
      via 99centlips
    • Advertisement
    • justbored858 "I was just keeping the packages safe from theft in my apartment"
      via justbored858
    • OP 99centlips she choose the contradicting narrative some run around and denial, said she had gifts for my and my pup she's been meaning to give to us since Christmas...sad story about a violent death of a family member (i empathize but please, what does that have to do with you taking a package not addressed to you) and then... "I have no issue paying for a package and will do so but I have not stolen anything." "I'm not sure what package was taken and what it was but I'll pay for it; I have no
      via 99centlips
    • hiroo916 what video system are you using and how long do you retain footage? record continuous or motion only?
      via hiroo916
    • Advertisement
    • OP 99centlips digital watchdog, would recommend but definitely take the training, it's a pretty complicated program/software and i still don't know how to do everything. i think we have enough storage to go back about 1 month. we have 20 cameras. some are continuous, some are motion only. you can set it up how you want.
      via 99centlips
    • Mail-Upset Wow, you provided excellent customer service like that which is seldom seen these days... kudos to you!
      via Mail-Upset
    • OP 99centlips thank you! this resident is super nice, always respectful, doesn't demand immediate attention, didn't fly off the handle and blame me for her package loss. which makes me happy to help her. everyone says i missed my calling as a detective or investigator because i love to dig, gather clues and solve the mystery. so admittedly. it's also a bit self- serving! but it's when they are absolute assholes and bitches is when i don't have time to look through the cameras :)
      via 99centlips
    • Advertisement
    • Turing45 That's a For Cause eviction notice and a police report. A thief in the building is bad for business. Evict her ass.
      via Turing45
    • Utterly_Dazed I agree this is grounds for eviction
      via Utterly_Dazed
    • pandito_flexo She even caught me on camera (it wasn't me) She saw the code that I entered (it wasn't me) Saw the boxes that I tendered (it wasn't me) She watched until it was over
      via pandito_flexo
    • Advertisement
    • Vivid_Win5052 EPD is the best course, and eviction Shows you try to keep your community safe and people like this should know that there are repercussions
      via Vivid_Win5052

    Like what you see? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google. 

    Tags

    landlord tenants packages property manager theft
    Like
    Scroll Down For The Next Article
    Show Comments

    Also From FAIL Blog

    Employee gets even with entitled coworker by stealing her pizza and wings after she discarded everyone's lunches the week before: 'I don't feel bad and I would do it again'

    Employee gets even with entitled coworker by stealing her pizza and wings after she discarded everyone's lunches the week before: 'I don't feel bad and I would do it again'
    Next Article