Someone Tried to Enter Our Building

anonymous

Last night, a man tried to force his way into my building by following a neighbor of mine. She managed to get the front door closed just in time. He was obviously really drunk or otherwise fucked-up. The police took about 15 minutes to show up, and the guy was still in front of the door. Either they misunderstood the dispatcher or the dispatcher gave them a bad description of what happened, but for whatever reason the cops the cops let him go. They told us that he was barely coherent and that he had said something about how he worked in this building, so they got his address (or whatever address they gave him) and told him to go home.

Obviously, I'm annoyed at how they handled this. People should be careful in case he tries this again. Our building is on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington.

emily

Was it the same guy discussed here, do you think?

gmilner

I'm the person who posted above. I'm not sure why it says "guest."

EmilyM wrote: Was it the same guy discussed here, do you think?

It could be. I didn't get a very good look at him, but I'll ask my neighbor. The police response in both cases is really annoying.

unterberg

I live across the street and peeked out my window to see the cops as well, and was curious as to what had happened.

On my way home from the train last night, just minutes before I'd seen the cops outside on the street, I noticed someone waiting outside my building, as if they were waiting for someone to open the gate. Luckily, two people were smoking in the courtyard, and maybe that scared the guy off.

strange....

bewitched

Last night a man was waiting to be buzzed in at my building, but before he could be buzzed in, he came in behind me. The vestibule to my building is really small and I was hoping he would get discouraged at how difficult it would be to squeeze in behind me, but he didn't seem to mind at all. I didn't feel threatened, but would have liked to hear him actually be buzzed in, and preferrably after I'd hiked up to my floor and locked the door behind me.

I heard him ask his friend on the intercom which apartment he was in and it was the one directly below me. As we (he was right behind me) rounded the corner to the floor below me, I was trying to dig out my cell phone and be ready to dial 911 if he kept coming up to my floor, when I noticed the door open to the apartment he was visiting.

In hindsight, I wish I'd politely asked him to wait to be buzzed in, but that still wouldn't have prevented him from being in the stairwell with me at the same time. Just because he didn't look scary or crazy doesn't mean he couldn't have caused me harm.

What would you have done?

emily

I'm big on the "Oh shit, I left my umbrella someplace and need to dart off in the other direction!" or "D'oh, I need to fish around for something in my bag until you walk past me" sort of maneuver.

muteflute

that's a problem, definitely. Luckily, I haven't had any moments like that, but I'm sure it's inevitable. As for what I would do...ideally, I think I would ask if they were being buzzed in, or, if I knew the neighbors well, who they were visiting. My building doesn't have a buzzer, though, so that would complicate matters a bit.

hm. food for thought.

bewitched

EmilyM wrote: I'm big on the "Oh shit, I left my umbrella someplace and need to dart off in the other direction!" or "D'oh, I need to fish around for something in my bag until you walk past me" sort of maneuver.

There's nowhere to dart but up, but I suppose I could hang in the vestibule like I'm checking my mail or something, until I hear a door close.

candicissima

bewitched wrote: There's nowhere to dart but up, but I suppose I could hang in the vestibule like I'm checking my mail or something, until I hear a door close.

Or he could be waiting upstairs to knock you in the head! :twisted:

Sorry. My inner old lady just escaped for a second there.

bewitched

Candicissima wrote: Or he could be waiting upstairs to knock you in the head! :twisted:

Sorry. My inner old lady just escaped for a second there.

Gee whiz, way to put my paranoia into overdrive! ;-) Anybody know where I can pick up a tazer?

stacey

bewitched wrote: [quote=Candicissima]Or he could be waiting upstairs to knock you in the head! :twisted:

Sorry. My inner old lady just escaped for a second there.

Gee whiz, way to put my paranoia into overdrive! ;-) Anybody know where I can pick up a tazer?

I was always afraid to carry a stun gun or mace in my pocket so I keep a lighter and a small can of aerosol hairspray :twisted:

alafairnadia

stacey wrote: [quote=bewitched][quote=Candicissima]Or he could be waiting upstairs to knock you in the head! :twisted:

Sorry. My inner old lady just escaped for a second there.

Gee whiz, way to put my paranoia into overdrive! ;-) Anybody know where I can pick up a tazer?

I was always afraid to carry a stun gun or mace in my pocket so I keep a lighter and a small can of aerosol hairspray :twisted:

that sounds a mite more dangerous.
this is a good reason to stop for a bottle of wine on your way home. you either have a convenient weapon to clock the jerk with or you have something to calm your nerves. of course, since you hopefully don't get followed every day, this solution can cause acute alcoholism.

anonymous

Subject: Re: Someone Tried to Enter Our Building

Anonymous wrote: Last night, a man tried to force his way into my building by following a neighbor of mine. She managed to get the front door closed just in time. He was obviously really drunk or otherwise fucked-up. The police took about 15 minutes to show up, and the guy was still in front of the door. Either they misunderstood the dispatcher or the dispatcher gave them a bad description of what happened, but for whatever reason the cops the cops let him go. They told us that he was barely coherent and that he had said something about how he worked in this building, so they got his address (or whatever address they gave him) and told him to go home.

Obviously, I'm annoyed at how they handled this. People should be careful in case he tries this again. Our building is on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington.

If I were you I would call the precinct and ask to speak to Inspector James O'Connell, he is the Commanding Officer of the precinct. Also you should go to the next precinct council meeting and bring this to the attention of the community. The main number to the precinct is 718-735-0611.

muteflute

alafairnadia, a bottle of wine a night is not acute alcoholism! but maybe I'm just being self-charitable.... :twisted:

lovemynabe

Perhaps you should be more proactive in your building and hopefully that will end some of the paranoia that is going on. You can ask the landlord/building manager to improve lighting in front of the building, repair front doors and make them more secured, finally get to know your neighbours so that if someone that you don't know tries to enter the building without a key, at least you will know not to let them in.

anonymous

Can you be more specfic with the location of the St. Marks incident (Bldg address or bldg near your place or maybe something monumental)?
I walk down that block often

sje

Could it have been someone trying to get into {but too messed up to realize it's the wrong building} the recently abandoned and boarded up crack & ho house next to the car lot? I'm a bit shocked the cops didn't arrest him.

alafairnadia

muteflute wrote: alafairnadia, a bottle of wine a night is not acute alcoholism! but maybe I'm just being self-charitable.... :twisted:

er. I was just lying. my problems should be so basic and singular.

anonymous

Subject: you should definitely report this

take it to a higher authority or the media. this is not a situation that should just be brushed off or taken lightly.

my bldg is having a problem with a guy sneaking in & living in the basement. this is in clinton hill.

alafairnadia

Subject: Re: you should definitely report this

heynow wrote: take it to a higher authority

oh man. I read this and wondered what jesus would do ...

anonymous

I've got the solution for this: Try beating these fuckers to a pulp. See if they come back when the neighborhood is less tolerant/ submissive and more brute.
This tolerance is best for a Utopian society, but a beat down is probably warranted in PH.
The local block associations have fools running them. I attended a few in the past and they are as political (Gag) as they can get. The majority of them have lived here for sometime and, either, don't see much of the shit you do because they're smart to avoid certain blocks @ certain times or their present view of PH is much better than when they were pioneers during the 80's.
I say use common sense. When you get off the subway in the evening and have to trek a long ways home, I suggest digging deep in your pockets and paying a $3 gypsy cab to get to the front door. And ask for the cabbie to wait for you to go inside before they leave

alice

My push-in happened on a sunny afternoon, Guest. And I can barely do a push-up, so I'm not sure how much brute force I could have inflicted.

Anyway, part of me wants to say that this sounds like the same guy who pushed into my vestibule (that sounds so Freudian every time I say it) but I'll bet most push-ins sound like this--that is, when they don't evolve into something truly horrifying. I'm sorry your neighbor had to have this happen. It's scary and I still think of it every time I open my door. I never open my door without double-checking my surroundings, now, and I guess that's a good thing.

That said, it pisses me off how the police brush off this kind of incident.

alex

getting your door pushed in is better then getting your shit pushed in

anonymous

Alex wrote: getting your door pushed in is better then getting your shit pushed in

?????????????

kate

Anonymous wrote: [quote=Alex]getting your door pushed in is better then getting your shit pushed in

?????????????????

Ahahhahahahaahhaaaa

Alex, that's a personal opinion. Oh man, that gave me a good laugh.

bewitched

Argh, page broken, we need a mod on aisle 3.

emily

People, don't quote the post that's breaking the page. Then I just have to fix more posts. :evil:

jarvis

A guy came into my lobby (Lincoln/Underhill) behind me on Sunday night and followed me up the stairs. Here's a recap of our interaction:
I realize he's following me, I stop walking.
Guy: "Where are you going?"
Me: "Upstairs. Where are you going?"
Guy: "Wherever you are going."
Me: "No you're not. Nope. Absolutely not. Uh-uh."
Several seconds of awkward silence during which we are standing on the same step. We stare at each other. More awkward silence.
Guy: "Hmmm...Okay, I feel you."
He skipped down the stairs and out of the building.

alafairnadia

jarvis wrote: A guy came into my lobby (Lincoln/Underhill) behind me on Sunday night and followed me up the stairs. Here's a recap of our interaction:
I realize he's following me, I stop walking.
Guy: "Where are you going?"
Me: "Upstairs. Where are you going?"
Guy: "Wherever you are going."
Me: "No you're not. Nope. Absolutely not. Uh-uh."
Several seconds of awkward silence during which we are standing on the same step. We stare at each other. More awkward silence.
Guy: "Hmmm...Okay, I feel you."
He skipped down the stairs and out of the building.

crack!

outeraccelerator

jarvis wrote: A guy came into my lobby (Lincoln/Underhill) behind me on Sunday night and followed me up the stairs. Here's a recap of our interaction:
I realize he's following me, I stop walking.
Guy: "Where are you going?"
Me: "Upstairs. Where are you going?"
Guy: "Wherever you are going."
Me: "No you're not. Nope. Absolutely not. Uh-uh."
Several seconds of awkward silence during which we are standing on the same step. We stare at each other. More awkward silence.
Guy: "Hmmm...Okay, I feel you."
He skipped down the stairs and out of the building.

damn. that is crazy. do you mind me asking if you are male or female?


i live in lefferts gardens, and of all the buildings on my block (and i used to live in the one next door, same landlord), the one i'm in now seems to have the most people comming in who don't live there, but have friends or other reasons they are comming in. when its dark and i'm by myself its a bit nerve wracking, and i'm always very careful and looking around me, sometimes i'll put the mase in my pocket and hold onto it just incase (i'm paranoid, i know). plus my building has two elevators so you can kind of get the idea if someones going to attempt to follow you up, since they are on opposite ends of the first floor. however. too many people do come in behind people without getting buzzed. sometimes i'll hear it after i go in, but sometimes not.

i think maybe some of the people all live together but don't get entry keys because they only usually give two per apartment, and it could be that people are packing into apartments who aren't on the lease, etc etc.

who knows. once someone was followed in by a group of young men and socked on the head with something, i only know this because they printed it out on flyers and posted them throughout the building to let everyone know, which i thought was good of them. but it made me super paranoid for a good two months.

rockhound

Some months ago a very scruffy lookiing individual with a nasty attitude got into my building on the pretext of distributing flyers to every door in the 28 unit building.

I saw him by someone's door with the flyers while coming downstairs with my dog to go for a walk. He frowned at me belligerently and looked me up and down in a bellicose way because (he thought) my dog was going too close to him (not so).

I'm like 'we live here. Do you live here? no? then what are you doing here? my dog and I have more right to be here than you do.'

he mumbled some stupidity about the flyers, I said he could leave them by the front door like everybody else, there was no reason for him to be inside the building. The flyers were for some very local painting/wallboard service.

The bum refused to leave at once, but soon after I left out the front door here comes Mr. Flyer flying out the door. I yelled after him that if I saw his ass inside the building again I was calling the cops. I haven't seen this loser since.

My building has become somewhat paranoid about intruders ever since some idiot teenagers tried to burn some books in the building lobby in Dec. 2003.