Man Finds Chewed Gum in His Apartment After a Night Out. Now, He Suspects Someone Entered His Apartment
He should have probably taken action a little bit earlier
There are a lot of things you need to keep in mind when renting an apartment, but perhaps someone breaking in is one of the least of your concerns, unless you see signs that tell you otherwise. Sod Akhtar (@sodakhtar) said in a TikTok video that he noticed a few things that made him believe that someone was entering his apartment when he was away.
“Someone has a key to my apartment. For the last year, I’ve experienced so many weird things that make me believe that someone genuinely has a key to my apartment. They’re just doing things when I’m away,” Akhtar said. He mentioned he had been out with his friends for the night, and when he got home, he found two pieces of chewed-up gum in his house, even though he hadn’t bought them.
He didn’t stop there. Akhtar also mentioned another instance when he thought someone entered his house while he was away. He said that one time he came back to his house and saw magazines lying around.
“It just feels like someone just comes into my apartment when I’m away, and I just can’t prove it, and it feels like I’m going insane,” Akhtar said, highlighting the toll the experience was taking on his mental health.
“Get ready to sue your landlord”
Akhtar’s video has gained significant momentum on TikTok and has been watched over 88,000 times. The video also has around 450 comments, and some of them are pretty simple and straightforward. They are asking Akhtar to take action and suggesting ways to do it as well.
One user suggested the landlord is behind it and asked Akhtar to sue, like this woman did and won. They wrote, “Set up a camera and get ready to sue your landlord.” Another urged Akhtar to change the locks said, “girl change the lock it’s easy.”
A few others shared similar experiences. One user commented, “This happened to me and it was my maintenance entering my apt without proper notice/warning – had to submit a complaint to my state.” Another remarked, “That happened to me in my first apartment. I always leave a lamp on when I know I’m coming home when it will be dark. I kept coming home to a pitch black apartment. I got my locks changed and it stopped.”
Experts stress the need to act quickly in case of breaking and entering
Sam Himmelstein, a lawyer at Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph, recommends using a hidden, motion-activated camera to document intruders in the act according to Brick Underground. “I think this issue is more widespread than people realize, especially for young women living alone or as roommates,” he said.
He cited a case where his clients found someone entering their homes without permission, and a motion-activated camera helped them identify the intruders and take appropriate action. These clients, three women who were roommates, discovered that while they were away or in their bedrooms, a man entered their apartment.
Himmelstein noted that once they found out, the women quickly moved out and canceled their lease because they felt unsafe. When the landlord tried to sue them, his office showed them the footage to support their case. He also shared another case involving a woman whose building superintendent entered her apartment without her consent, emphasizing that gathering proof can lead to action against perpetrators.
Both incidents demonstrate the importance of acting swiftly. Akhtar, in his video, mentioned noticing strange activity in his home for a year, almost believing someone was present when he was away. This underscores the need for installing security cameras. Once installed, like this woman, he can identify any perpetrators and notify authorities.
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