I work a high profile job and my neighbors know it. I've been robbed.
June 10, 2013 11:47 AM Subscribe
I have been robbed three times in the past 7 months. My lease ends July 31st, and I do not wish to pay one more month. I have expressed that I feel targeted and unsafe to the apartment complex, but they do not want to make a concession for me.
What rights, if any, do I have? Michigan is my location.
The apartments seemed safe when I chose them, but have turned into something else since.
You should consult an attorney for at least two reasons:
(1) Establishing your rights under the law;
(2) Exploring whether any of your losses are attributable to the landlord's possible failure to provide appropriate security, and whether you might recover against the landlord. This is probably a long shot (I don't know Michigan law), but you won't know unless you ask.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 11:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
(1) Establishing your rights under the law;
(2) Exploring whether any of your losses are attributable to the landlord's possible failure to provide appropriate security, and whether you might recover against the landlord. This is probably a long shot (I don't know Michigan law), but you won't know unless you ask.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 11:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
The landlord has to provide reasonable and appropriate security. Good locks, lights, etc. Look at it from the landlord's point of view, what did he do or not do that caused you to be burglarized? (Not robbed, robbed is when you are confronted by the criminal personally.)
If you can prove that the locks were junk, or that it was known that the theives live in the building and the landlord failed to evict them, you might (just might) have a case.
Here is what I'd do. Just move. Move now. You're not comfortable anymore. Write off the last month's rent. Give your notice and move as soon as you're able.
Life is too short.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:56 AM on June 10, 2013 [6 favorites]
If you can prove that the locks were junk, or that it was known that the theives live in the building and the landlord failed to evict them, you might (just might) have a case.
Here is what I'd do. Just move. Move now. You're not comfortable anymore. Write off the last month's rent. Give your notice and move as soon as you're able.
Life is too short.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:56 AM on June 10, 2013 [6 favorites]
I'm confused what your job has to do with this question?
posted by Justinian at 11:57 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:57 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I would say so, yes.
The maintenance man saw what happened to my vehicle and walked over and mentioned that there have been a string of thefts in the complex - even he was robbed (of a pack of cigarettes). The complex is aware of the issue but never took any measures to help the community feel safe.
posted by squirbel at 11:57 AM on June 10, 2013
The maintenance man saw what happened to my vehicle and walked over and mentioned that there have been a string of thefts in the complex - even he was robbed (of a pack of cigarettes). The complex is aware of the issue but never took any measures to help the community feel safe.
posted by squirbel at 11:57 AM on June 10, 2013
Response by poster: I am moving, in the third week of June. (Next week) I really really do not feel safe.
posted by squirbel at 11:59 AM on June 10, 2013
posted by squirbel at 11:59 AM on June 10, 2013
Response by poster: I am a technician,and at any one time, I have up to 12,000 worth of equipment in my vehicle, as well as my office equipment (laptop, mobile hotspot, printer etc.). That's what my job has to do with it.
posted by squirbel at 12:01 PM on June 10, 2013
posted by squirbel at 12:01 PM on June 10, 2013
Put all your valuables in storage until you can leave.
posted by discopolo at 12:02 PM on June 10, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by discopolo at 12:02 PM on June 10, 2013 [5 favorites]
Are these vehicle or apartment break-ins. If a vehicle break-in, was there an indemnity clause in your lease as to the parking lot? Is it gated? Guarded? Is there a reasonable expectation that strangers might have access to your vehicle? These are questions you'll want to discuss with your lawyer.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:07 PM on June 10, 2013
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:07 PM on June 10, 2013
Response by poster: The community suspects it is a resident that has not been evicted. Measures have not been taken to make the community safe.
The burglaries have been primarily vehicles, to my knowledge.
posted by squirbel at 12:09 PM on June 10, 2013
The burglaries have been primarily vehicles, to my knowledge.
posted by squirbel at 12:09 PM on June 10, 2013
Your neighbors may not be the thieves, they probably have no idea what you do, and they probably get robbed too. But your complex has become a target of some group, probably the same dudes doing it over and over again because people move out and new clueless people move in.
Has your apartment been burglarized, or your car? Or have you been robbed personally?
If it's your apartment you might have a case against your landlord but otherwise, you are probably just another in a string of victims.
You could possibly make a difference by telling your story to local media...if the cops aren't patrolling/catching these guys, who probably are your average dumbass thieves, then it will maybe encourage them to step up and do something.
posted by emjaybee at 12:10 PM on June 10, 2013
Has your apartment been burglarized, or your car? Or have you been robbed personally?
If it's your apartment you might have a case against your landlord but otherwise, you are probably just another in a string of victims.
You could possibly make a difference by telling your story to local media...if the cops aren't patrolling/catching these guys, who probably are your average dumbass thieves, then it will maybe encourage them to step up and do something.
posted by emjaybee at 12:10 PM on June 10, 2013
Best answer: Tell them that if they don't let you out of your lease you will search public records to see just how much crime is being reported at their complex, then, depending on what you find, you'll consult a lawyer, then you'll go to the news media.
posted by jamjam at 12:13 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 12:13 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
It's a vehicle burglary? I don't know of anywhere that you'd be safe from that. It's just too easy to break into vehicles. Kids do it.
Where I lived in Florida, you weren't allowed to park a company vehicle on a residential premisis, mostly to keep kids from loitering around the parking lot.
One thing you can do to deter theives is to cover your vehicle every night when you get in. You don't want to do it because it's a pain in the ass, but that same pain in the ass is what keeps a theif from wanting to deal with it.
You can also unload all of that gear every night.
Or you can rent a locked garage.
The next place you rent, consider these things, because the safest, sweetest community isn't safe from maurauding Freshmen who just want to cause trouble.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:14 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Where I lived in Florida, you weren't allowed to park a company vehicle on a residential premisis, mostly to keep kids from loitering around the parking lot.
One thing you can do to deter theives is to cover your vehicle every night when you get in. You don't want to do it because it's a pain in the ass, but that same pain in the ass is what keeps a theif from wanting to deal with it.
You can also unload all of that gear every night.
Or you can rent a locked garage.
The next place you rent, consider these things, because the safest, sweetest community isn't safe from maurauding Freshmen who just want to cause trouble.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:14 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
If the community suspects a resident is the thief, but cannot prove, what can a landlord do? Suspicion is not cause to evict, as far as I know (I am not a lawyer, I don't know diddly about Michigan law).
posted by zippy at 12:15 PM on June 10, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by zippy at 12:15 PM on June 10, 2013 [3 favorites]
"The community suspects it is a resident"..... so no one has been arrested (let alone convicted), and you want this person evicted on nothing more than *suspicion*? I'm sorry, but unless there is proof that this person (or any other specific person) is to blame, the landlord's hands are tied, and evicting them would just open the landlord to a lawsuit from that person.
But your landlord is also responsible for basic safety precautions: lights in areaways and parking lots, secure locks on doors and windows, etc. Until and unless someone is arrested, this is the only thing the landlord can be held responsible for: he can't simply evict another person on your suspicions.
posted by easily confused at 12:19 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
But your landlord is also responsible for basic safety precautions: lights in areaways and parking lots, secure locks on doors and windows, etc. Until and unless someone is arrested, this is the only thing the landlord can be held responsible for: he can't simply evict another person on your suspicions.
posted by easily confused at 12:19 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
It is still unclear if stuff was stolen 3 times in the last 7 months out of your car or out of your apartment.
Have you obtained comprehensive insurance coverage for your car? That might take a bit of your anxiety away. Sure, it would still suck if someone stole all the stuff out of your car but you would at least get some money from the insurance.
posted by travelwithcats at 12:45 PM on June 10, 2013
Have you obtained comprehensive insurance coverage for your car? That might take a bit of your anxiety away. Sure, it would still suck if someone stole all the stuff out of your car but you would at least get some money from the insurance.
posted by travelwithcats at 12:45 PM on June 10, 2013
What steps have you taken to make sure that things aren't stolen? Yes, management should be on it, but so should you. Once you know there are thefts, you are on notice to make your possessions more secure. If you've done that, great. If you haven't, laying all of the blame on management is unrealistic.
telling your story to local media/then you'll go to the news media
The media will not cover a story where valuable equipment being left in a car is being stolen. Because things that happen every single day as a consequence of living in an imperfect world where there are people who take valuables that are, in their minds, reasonably available to them is not news.
posted by sageleaf at 12:56 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
telling your story to local media/then you'll go to the news media
The media will not cover a story where valuable equipment being left in a car is being stolen. Because things that happen every single day as a consequence of living in an imperfect world where there are people who take valuables that are, in their minds, reasonably available to them is not news.
posted by sageleaf at 12:56 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
Were these out of your car or apartment? Same location?
I hate to say this, but the #1 rule with cars is not to leave stuff in them.
posted by radioamy at 1:15 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I hate to say this, but the #1 rule with cars is not to leave stuff in them.
posted by radioamy at 1:15 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
IAAL in MI but IANYL. Call a lawyer in your area immediately -- there have been some recent changes to the termination of leases in the event of domestic violence. For all I know there could be similar provisions for your situation. If you're in mid-Michigan, start here: http://www.law.msu.edu/clinics/rhc/
posted by mibo at 1:29 PM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mibo at 1:29 PM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
What kind of concession do you want them to make for you and is it reasonable? Be honest with yourself...if it is reasonable then I would take it to a lawyer and have him/her draft up something you might be able to use to break your lease, or would at least be able to advise you of what you could do in this situation. (I just say be honest with yourself because if it isn't reasonable, for reasons others have brought up in the thread, you would probably be wasting money seeing a lawyer)
posted by fromageball at 1:30 PM on June 10, 2013
posted by fromageball at 1:30 PM on June 10, 2013
Check your lease and your state laws. There are always provisions for breaking a lease if you can prove that you are living in unsafe conditions. Generally, however, this means "the roof is falling down" or "the apartment is on fire" and not "my car is getting broken into."
That said, breaking a lease doesn't result in instant action. There'll be letters and phone calls. Just move first and deal with it later.
Make sure your landlord has correct contact information (e.g. a post box) when you leave.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:31 PM on June 10, 2013
That said, breaking a lease doesn't result in instant action. There'll be letters and phone calls. Just move first and deal with it later.
Make sure your landlord has correct contact information (e.g. a post box) when you leave.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:31 PM on June 10, 2013
I manage apartments and I order a police records report for all my properties every year. so, threatening me with getting a copy of these reports wouldn't actually prompt me to to let you out of your lease early.
Our house rules are pretty clear on us not being responsible for theft from you unit, storage unit, patio, vehicle, or parking space. Check your lease or rules/regulations.
posted by vespabelle at 2:30 PM on June 10, 2013
Our house rules are pretty clear on us not being responsible for theft from you unit, storage unit, patio, vehicle, or parking space. Check your lease or rules/regulations.
posted by vespabelle at 2:30 PM on June 10, 2013
How to search for crime in the area: Is there a local paper with a crime section? Even the Washington Post has a crime section for the surrounding suburbs in their weekly local pullout. It would take me about an hour to find that data. You might have to look through individual weeks to see what's there, though.
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:48 AM on June 11, 2013
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:48 AM on June 11, 2013
If things have been repeatedly stolen out of your car, the first thing you should probably do is not leave $12,000 worth of property in your car.
posted by inertia at 12:36 PM on June 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by inertia at 12:36 PM on June 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by erst at 11:49 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]