Imagine relaxing in your apartment, feeling completely safe, when suddenly a stranger walks in with a key. That is exactly what happened to an Indiana woman who was left terrified when an unknown man entered her apartment unannounced. She was home at the time, and as soon as he saw her, he quickly apologized and left without explaining how he even had a key.
Understandably shaken, the woman called her apartment office to find out who he was. The staff told her he was a maintenance worker sent to “fix the washer.” But there was one major problem. Her washer was working perfectly fine. When she questioned that, the story changed. They claimed the man thought the unit was vacant. If that were true, why would he be there to fix a washer in an empty apartment?
To make matters worse, her lease clearly states that tenants must receive a 24-hour notice before anyone enters their apartment.
In another video, the woman shared that she contacted the police and filed a report. She also started using a door jammer for extra security. Her fear was validated when the officer himself told her to get out of that apartment because the place was “SKETCH.” She was so terrified that she didn’t want to stay there any longer. Since her safety had been put at risk, she was able to break her lease and make plans to move out. “I was able to get out of my lease thank god. They don’t wanna deal with me,” she said about the apartment office.
The situation would be frightening for anyone, but it was especially upsetting for her because she had experienced trauma in the past. No one should ever have to feel unsafe in their own home.
People Reacting to the Indiana Woman’s Story
Many people agreed that the Indiana woman’s fear was completely understandable. After all, a stranger had entered her apartment with a key, so being scared was only natural. Because the office’s response seemed suspicious, one person commented, “He was going to rob you, he was just surprised someone was there during the day. Ask your neighbors if things have gone missing. The office is in on it.” That explanation seemed possible since the apartment office’s story didn’t quite add up. Another person advised her to end her lease, saying, “Lease is void. Your safety is compromised. Break the lease. If they walk in while you’re there, you KNOW they come in when you’re not.”
It’s a fair concern because there’s no way to know if the man might return.
More people shared advice with the Indiana woman about what she should do next. “File a police report since the office changed their story. That’s fishy. Get cameras and send emails to the office asking for clarification about the incident so that you have written evidence,” one person wrote. It was clear that most people didn’t believe the office’s explanation. Another person pointed out, “And why did he not say this to you?! ‘Sorry, I’m maintenance, I am supposed to check the washer.’ Or, like any maintenance work should, knock and announce themselves before using the key.” That is a good question. Thankfully, she was able to break her lease without any issues. Things could have turned out much worse if she had stayed after what happened.
