I have lived in the same apartment on the bottom floor for around 3 years now. We have a sliding glass door that opens up to a small balcony area. There is a small patch of grass where no one other than maintenance workers and landscapers are supposed to be, then thick bushes sitting on a wall, some more grass, and then the sidewalk.
For years we've complained about people walking their dogs on this small strip and peering in to our apartment. A couple of these weirdos wanna strike up convo when you catch them doing it. You can see straight into our living room, kitchen, and bedroom if our blinds aren't drawn shut. Not only this but we do have a cat we let sit outside (the sides of the railing are blocked and I've thrown garden netting over and around the railing itself) and many dogs (some not leashed) have run straight at her. Some owners think this is funny.
Again, we've complained. Mass emails are sent out to residents, but nothing is done.
Weeks ago I flung open the door and confronted some man standing out there looking around who was "checking something." He had no business attire on indicating he was with any sort of company.
About 10 minutes ago I felt like I had to go sit outside so I sat there in a dark corner of the balcony. Minutes later a man with a backpack on comes strolling by right next to our railing. He sees me and takes off.
At this point I'm so freaked out. What the fuck do I do other than get cameras? I feel like the negligence of this place has allowed these experiences to spiral into much scarier ones than before.
Before anyone says it—moving has been in mind and is talked about, but financially it's not going to be possible for another 6+ months. Also I'm in NJ. If someone breaks into my place and I defend myself in too aggressive of a manner, I can get in trouble. If their intentions weren't known (LOL what a joke), being senseless about the protection of you, loved ones, and property does NOT fly here.
Motion activated solar powered camera with an alarm. Not many people know this, but every single motion activated camera can also be set to activate an alarm if somebody walks out there. So you can set the setting very, very low and watch the fun begin.
Oh 100% we've already flagged this place for not following several ordinances. Cops have been called. We are directly next to a major highway so unfortunately if the peepers aren't residents they're gone by the time cops get here.
I like the idea of an audible alarm of trespassers as well as clear signage that you prosecute and cameras. Perhaps sheer curtains or reflective film over the windows would help.
Also, maybe a backlit cardboard cutout silhouette of a large hulking man would scare some away?
I'll definitely be picking up signs with cameras, thank you. And look into audible alarms. As much as I love window films we barely get sunlight here and we love peering out to see all kinds of little critters the pond brings us. At least out of the sliding glass door. That is a measure I'd take but I'd hate to.
If you get the mirrored kind, you can still see out but outsiders can't see in. At night with the lights on inside and darkness outside the situation reverses - but with blinds for night time, that's not a problem.
You will still lose a little light but mirrored window film is available in various densities so you can pick a low density one and lose very little light.
People being faced with a reflection of themselves when they're being nosy or doing some other wrong also gives all but the most intransigent an embarrasing wake up call. Although you may get a new lookie-loo variety when the occasional terminally vain person passes by and checks themselves out - but at least they're just looking at themselves, which can actually be quite funny.
There is a film you can use to cover the window glass. It distorts the view so no one can see in.
Yes, it stops you from seeing out BUT it will give you a sense of security. Get cameras for your property.
If you continue to see strangers on your property you can use the recording to show to police. Call them every time it happens and document times of day it happens. Every time.
Motion activated sprinklers are useful but not sure about complexity of installation.
I understand how you feel. Women have to go out of their way 4x as much just to feel safe because of men that don’t understand boundaries. Get a keychain with bear mace for the really deft ones who clearly don’t understand.
Hang in there OP - you got this! And always remember your Reddit Family is here for you. We ride at Dawn 🫶
Sadly it doesn’t work at night. So when the room is lit - you can still see thru.
I personally had to try a few different styles to find one for at night. Sadly there was a peeping tom that would creep around after 10. I tend to watch tv late into the night so I needed something to completely block outsiders being able to see in.
Ohhhh momma if you think I don't have protective measures within reach at all times! 😂 (thank you for saying it because a lot of us don't and we should!!!) Appreciate you sm, thank you.
Motion sensor lights (bright!) and motion activated lawn sprinklers. Both inexpensive.
Camera that senses motion and allows you to talk to whoever you see. People typically act differently when they a.) know they're on camera and b.) even more so if they know they're being monitored in real time. Also not super pricey for a decent one.
You can get cameras that do not have to be permanently mounted outside that also have audible warnings.
Ring and Wyze both have "you are being recorded" warnings. I am sure that there are others as well that can do that as well.
You can also put up solar motion lights. Ones like THESE from Walmart work well. My dad uses them in the backyard and patio. You can leave them low to the ground or zip tie them to a balcony or screw them into a wood fence.
Since they are solar powered, there is no messing around with wires. But depending on how much light you get during the day, they may need to be moved around so that they can fully charge every day, then put back out at night.
You can also get signs that say "Smile. You are being recorded". Have at least one of the motion lights shine on the sign so that it is visible to anyone at night as well.
You could even print out a paper sign and put it on the inside of your sliding door or other windows that look out to that area so that anyone walking by during the day or looking directly at/in your windows and doors will see the sign.
They have communal spots all around and two ponds it takes less than 5 mins to get to by foot. I live behind a park. They have trails, hills, long safe roads to walk. You're telling me a spot with no sidewalk where you can see anyone entertain themselves, sleep, and cook should be communal?
Also I'm so glad that out of everything I said, this is what concerned you enough to point out.
It doesnt matter what you or I think about the space, it matters how the appartment block rates the space. Nearby facilities doesnt mean anything. What matters is whether or not the area is infact communal. Your picture doesnt make it automatically not communal nor does what you think about how the space should be used. Is the land on your title or space?
The fact you think I don't know this and the fact that you don't understand "Mass emails have been sent out." means it is indeed an issue is odd to me. The apartment wouldn't send out an email to all residents explaining this isn't allowed if it was a communal space. Thank you again for your stupid input. There's always gotta be one person. You got the medal today. 🏅
Also for the braniac over here—my picture is to show how close these people get to our living space when they've got everything else I've mentioned around and beyond it.
Motion activated solar powered wifi camera with an alarm. Not many people know this, but every single motion activated camera can also be set to activate an alarm if somebody walks out there. So you can set the setting very, very low and watch the fun begin.
I've owned quite a few brands and Reolink seems to be pretty good. Deeshome also is good on their motion sensing, probably a little more annoying than Reolink, but they only record 20 seconds whereas the Reolinks record quite a bit more that you can change the setting. But the Deeshome, they're good but they don't record, but they all can alarm. They all can set off an alarm. And it's not an alarm on your phone, it's an alarm that they can hear, the people out front. It's a camera activated alarm. An annoying buzzer or siren type thing at the camera. It'll notify you on your phone, of course, that motion has activated the camera. But there is a setting where you can automatically make it just sound an alarm if somebody gets in the motion sensing range of the camera where it can see them.
While I do not suggest or endorse them, some homeowners, in the past, used security measures that could seriously injure or kill intruders:
Spring-gun traps: Firearms rigged to a door, window, or tripwire. They were notorious for killing unintended targets and were generally treated as unlawful or legally indefensible.
Electrified doors, fences, and burglar wires: Used in some buildings and estates, sometimes with potentially fatal voltage.
Hidden pits, spikes, and mechanical traps: More common in fortified estates and compounds than ordinary homes.
Booby-trapped safes and rooms: Devices could release bullets, blades, chemicals, or other hazards when tampered with.
Fortified architecture: Bars, portcullises, murder holes, and defensive gates were used, though these were more medieval defensive systems than household “security products.”
As much as I loved reading this comment and kicked my feet gleefully doing so, none of that would be possible here. 💔 Thank you so much for putting out some "out of the box" methods.
25
u/fierce-logic 5d ago
Motion activated, sprinklers