Really Need Advice/Theories (Break in...stalker?!)

[Megan Russell]

So, some scary/strange things have been happening to me lately.

Posting online probably isn't the smartest thing to do, but what the hell, I'm already screwed if what I think is happening is actually happening, so...

Anyway, last night I (stupidly) left my apartment key in an envelope for my security officer to use to take my dog for a walk since I was going to be at the Black Keys concert all night. I left at about 2pm and she sent me a message around 5pm saying there was no key. They used a master key and said nothing seemed to be missing from my place, that my dog was still in his kennel and my laptop and car keys where still there, but no key and no envelope. So anyway my boyfriend and I get back to my place around 1am after the concert and he was brave enough to go inside and check everything out for me. Nobody was there and nothing was missing still. I was tired and was about to crash but he got all nervous and said he didn't feel like it would be a good idea for me to stay here overnight even though I had a deadbolt and that he had a bad feeling that something was going to happen. But I'm glad he made me go stay with him, because...
Before we left around 1:30am I decided I was going to put tape on the top and bottom of the door in hopes that whoever has my key would come back and try and get in. Sure enough, this morning when we go up to my door we notice that the tape is bent and the door was clearly opened. Not wanting to go in we called the police. When the cops got there they opened the door and it was unlocked (we had locked it- I am POSITIVE) and he said there were clear signs that somebody had been inside (he didn't give too much detail). But again, nothing was gone! (although I did notice my dog made a hole in the wall, probably out of being terrified
By the way, YES, I am sure that nobody say me put the key under my door, I checked twice.

So here are some other things that may or may not be related but that is up to you guys to decide and give your opinion/advice on:
About 4 or 5 months ago I noticed my peephole thingy in my door was open/unscrewed. At the time that is when I first had my puppy and was hiding it from management so I was afraid he had barked and maybe they heard it and since they can't go in without permission they did that to the peephole-but today they confirmed it definitely wasn't them.
Last week I got a strange package from Amazon on the same day I received an item I had ordered off of Amazon. Came in separate packages but had the same tracking number, order number, etc. In the box I didn't order was Rogaine (laugh if you want, but I actually DO wear wigs-long story) so I automatically assumed it was some cruel joke. But I texted everyone who knew my address and they all said they wouldn't do something like that, and I truly believe them, because 99% is family. There was no packing slip with the Rogaine. I contacted Amazon and they said they have no record of the item whatsoever. Still can't figure out who sent it and why and if it's connected to this 'break-in'.
Last night when my boyfriend and I came back to my apartment we saw some suspicious guy with a mohawk wearing all black walking around talking on his phone. We saw him when we went up to my place and when we were driving away to go stay somewhere else for the night. Then earlier today around 7pm security and I see this guy again, and he hurries into his car and drives away. We got his place and are tracing them in case.

Am I being paranoid?
Does this seem random, or do you guys think whoever got my key knows me or was watching me?
I'm afraid that I am being stalked.

At least if I end up dead all of you will know all of this and can tell the police. But seriously, I'm extremely freaked out. They changed my locks, but I'm afraid they'll come back tonight and even though they can't get in just the fact that I can hear them trying to get in is horrible enough.

So, what is the deal? What should I do? I need my awesome MDS detectives on here.

[Olivia]

My suggestions would be to get a camera set up. Or to move.

[Megan Russell]

My suggestions would be to get a camera set up. Or to move.

Moving was my immediate reaction, but my parents (who help with rent) told me tough, but I have to wait until September.
But I'm definitely going to try the camera thing.

Right now I'm more afraid of being alone at night more than anything though, whether my locks are different or not.

[Olivia]

Moving was my immediate reaction, but my parents (who help with rent) told me tough, but I have to wait until September.
But I'm definitely going to try the camera thing.

Right now I'm more afraid of being alone at night more than anything though, whether my locks are different or not.

Do you have any idea who it could be? If I were you, I would stay at your boyfriend's place until you have a night where you can stay up and see what happens.

[Megan Russell]

Absolutely no idea. Police think it's more likely it's some random stranger who started watching the complex and noticed I was a female living alone.
And I really want to stay at his place, but unfortunately he lives about an hour away and I have work early and so that would make it pretty difficult to wake up at pretty much 3am just to beat traffic and get to work. I guess it's better than staying here though.
Tomorrow night he'll be at my place and possibly Friday too. But I'm just sitting here hiding under my covers like a little kid right now.

[Seraphim]

In none of this did I see where you changed your locks.

[Megan Russell]

In none of this did I see where you changed your locks.

Near the bottom I wrote that my locks were changed.
But this actually happened about 15 minutes after the police came, because they apartment already knew about the situation.

[Seraphim]

Haha. Sorry. Was trying to get my Kid ready for school and read at the same time. Is there no way to get a camera set up for when you leave? Web or otherwise?

[Megan Russell]

Haha. Sorry. Was trying to get my Kid ready for school and read at the same time. Is there no way to get a camera set up for when you leave? Web or otherwise?

Haha no problem, I've done that too many times to count.
But yes, I could probably acquire a camera of some sorts to leave running-it's just finding a cheap one somewhere, ha.
But last night I pretty much slept on and off from 2am-7am because I kept hearing noises (mostly out of paranoia I'm sure) but when I went outside to walk my dog this morning I noticed that the towel I usually keep by my door to wipe off my dogs feet when it rains was folded up all nicely.
Probably no big deal, but I found that strange. It has been out there since November and my neighbors have never touched it, and then all of a sudden after all this crazy stuff has happened it shows up folded all neatly on my doormat the next morning. Just weird. My neighbors said they didn't see or hear anything last night though.

[Monter]

Set up a webcam maybe? And if you are friendly with your neighbors, give them a heads up something weird is going on and ask them to keep an eye out.
Im sorry you are going through this it sounds scary as fuck.

[puzzld]

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-6...m-systems.aspx

[Megan Russell]

Set up a webcam maybe? And if you are friendly with your neighbors, give them a heads up something weird is going on and ask them to keep an eye out.
Im sorry you are going through this it sounds scary as fuck.

I don't know if this is a good or bad thing but I generally don't really see my neighbors. Every once in awhile there will be an exchange of a 'hello' if we just happen to run into each other once in a blue moon. But the guy who lives across from me has been away for business for about 2 months, the people next to me I rarely see and they keep to themselves, and the people across from them I never see (not sure if they travel a lot), so basically it is pretty much just me living in my building most of the time.
But I did tell my downstairs neighbors who have kids about what happened just because I worry about them (even though I never talk to them, because they are a pretty strange family). They notified me that 3 months ago a few buildings down a single girl noticed things missing from her place like beer, shot glasses, the blinds being opened when she knew she had closed them. So apparently I'm not the first person these weird things have been happening to-well, if they are in any way connected. Seems like whomever it is is targeting single females.

[Megan Russell]

Thanks so much puzzld!

[Ron_NYC]

I don't know if this is a good or bad thing but I generally don't really see my neighbors. Every once in awhile there will be an exchange of a 'hello' if we just happen to run into each other once in a blue moon. But the guy who lives across from me has been away for business for about 2 months, the people next to me I rarely see and they keep to themselves, and the people across from them I never see (not sure if they travel a lot), so basically it is pretty much just me living in my building most of the time.
But I did tell my downstairs neighbors who have kids about what happened just because I worry about them (even though I never talk to them, because they are a pretty strange family). They notified me that 3 months ago a few buildings down a single girl noticed things missing from her place like beer, shot glasses, the blinds being opened when she knew she had closed them. So apparently I'm not the first person these weird things have been happening to-well, if they are in any way connected. Seems like whomever it is is targeting single females.

I have literally said hello to my neighbors ZERO times.

Also, make your facebook and MySpace pages public.

[bowieluva]

Make sure the landlords know about the situation. I had a weirdo who was squatting in my building and sort of stalking me. He ended up stealing all my underwear and that's when they set up security to figure it all out.

[danakscully64]

Is there any way you can set up a "sting" operation? Maybe leave for work and have a cop or friend with a gun stay in your apartment.

[bowieluva]

You people are insane. All you can really do is make sure that other people know there is an odd situation. And don't leave your panties in the laundry unobserved.

[danakscully64]

You people are insane. All you can really do is make sure that other people know there is an odd situation. And don't leave your panties in the laundry unobserved.

I'm sorry I stole your panties.

[emmieslost]

You people are insane. All you can really do is make sure that other people know there is an odd situation. And don't leave your panties in the laundry unobserved.

this.

[sarabei]

What worries me is if nothing really significant is being taken; it means it isn't for robbery purposes but targeting you specifically (or single women living alone). I would also invest in pepper spray or something. The camera is an excellent idea. Things like this can escalate, I would say if any little things are being taken they are "trophies". I would also talk to the Landlord about installing some type of security system??

[Seraphim]

Fuck the sting operation. Why the hell would you put others at risk?

Do the web camera thing for awhile - see if you can find motion activated cameras. Wasn't there an article about a lady that logged into her web cameras and found a couple of kids robbing her? Let everyone you know about this, give your bf the code to look on the cameras as well. Shit let the cops know too.

Also, like Ron said, make sure your FB is public.

[danakscully64]

I said a cop, that would be ideal. I'm sure the person trying to enter her apartment isn't armed, just a creeper. Although she is in Texas.

Web Cameras, definitely. Is there an app for that?

I would leave your dog with your boyfriend for now.

[strmmrgrrl]

So, some scary/strange things have been happening to me lately.

Anyway, last night I (stupidly) left my apartment key in an envelope for my security officer to use to take my dog for a walk since I was going to be at the Black Keys concert all night. I left at about 2pm and she sent me a message around 5pm saying there was no key. They used a master key

They notified me that 3 months ago a few buildings down a single girl noticed things missing from her place like beer, shot glasses, the blinds being opened when she knew she had closed them. So apparently I'm not the first person these weird things have been happening to-well, if they are in any way connected. Seems like whomever it is is targeting single females.

What worries me is if nothing really significant is being taken; it means it isn't for robbery purposes but targeting you specifically (or single women living alone). I would also invest in pepper spray or something. The camera is an excellent idea. Things like this can escalate, I would say if any little things are being taken they are "trophies". I would also talk to the Landlord about installing some type of security system??

I'm thinking it's a groundskeeper, maintenance/facilities worker who has access to that master key or all the units in your complex. Methinks there's a perv on the payroll.

[Seraphim]

[andrea0121]

/thread