Tenant stealing packages from other tenants.. Recourse?

Question

hey there.. its the most wonderful time of the year.. which means lots of online shopping, packages being delivered and packages being STOLEN.. I have 6 buildings and it only happens in the 1 building.

I am pretty sure I know who it is.

A couple months ago a tenant told me he ordered a new laptop and UPS sent an email saying it was delivered. but he didnt have it at his door.

He is in Apt B.. so he knocked on the door of apt A & C to ask if they had seen his package.. he said when the people in Apt C opened the door, they had the computer out and were using it.. had been using it for days.. he asked them to give the computer back and they did..

Last week Apt A ordered 2 packages.. email said package delivered she check 15 minutes later it was gone.. and today an Apple watch to same apt was stolen.. I do not have any trouble in any of my other buildings.. all fingers point to the same apt that was caught with the stolen laptop..

The question is what rights do i have to evict them? and do i confront them ( causing trouble for the other tenants until they are gone) or do i act like I know nothing and give them notice to vacate??

Need answers ASAP with this busy holiday season and all these packages being stolen..

Honestly, I really feel like not accusing them but going over there and putting a huge sign up that says " do not have packages delivered to this building, we have a thief among us".. email me to get address to send packages and I will bring them to you...

HELP!!!!!!!

Account Closed · Answer

@Rochelle Wilkinson Fill up an Amazon Prime box with dog poop and a note that says "we're watching you" inside. Tape it up and leave it out.

Russell Brazil · Answer

I would not get involved as the landlord. It is a criminal issue, and I would report it to the police, and if it was via USPS to a postal inspector.

Russ B. · Answer

Sometimes landlords have to enter units without notice - the classic example would be if we saw water coming from under your door, or smoke coming out.

Sounds like this one made an incredibly boneheaded move by walking through everybody's unit looking for a missing package though..

Still, the right time to address the broken window would have been while you were there. I don't have much confidence that the judge will accept either of your counters now - you could very well just end up with a judgement on your record, which could keep wrecking your credit long after it's paid.

I'm sure the two of you hate each other now, but if at all possible, I'd try to talk it out + reach a settlement.

James Wise · Answer

@Rochelle Wilkinson landlord's do not figure out who stole what from whom. The police do. Have all of your tenants contact the police with any and all criminal allegations.

Account Closed · Answer

This is an old post, however glad I stumbled on it.

I was with a landlord for 7 years. A newer resident moved in, claimed a package was stolen. It was Christmas, packages come late, it did.

Anyway, my landlord entered not just my apartment, but EVERY apartment looking for this package. I came home from work, not ten minutes after she left. My neighbor was standing at their door shocked. They told me what happened. I said, excuse me! They entered MY unit, they said yep! Not just yours, ours and everyone's.

I immediatly contacted the neighborhood magistrate and police. She showed up when I was speaking to the police. She seen me on camera and I believe panicked. Knowing I was calling about her.

The police pretty much said mind ya business.

Fastforward she also left a window broken out by kids. All winter I froze. I left and broke the lease. She is suing me.

I just countered with my own claim for a violation of the lease and my right to privacy and to not have unwanted, uninvited guests.

Pa doesn't have a statue. However if they did, this would be a template why a landlord should NEVER enter a unit. Ever!

I also am filing a harrasment claim /suit for the mere accusation of being a thief.

What's not clear in the law, is often times easily dealt with in court. Unsure if I'll win, however my civil cross complaint means she has some explaining to do.

Owners have rights, and so do tenants. If you're a GOOD tenant, and things seem wrong, chances are, they are.

Take up your cause! Research, know the statutes, and the laws and file file file! They do!

I am prepared! I feel violated. If I don't win at least this judge will know for the next tenant that you have owner who is straddling the laws.

Good luck

James Wise · Answer

What a mess. All the more reason that landlords should never deal with the theft of packages. Always a police matter.

John Colburn · Answer

I had the exact same problem a couple of years ago, and it is almost impossible to prove. I finally purchased a surveillance system, and captured and recorded the tenant on camera stealing a package. I confronted the tenant, and told her she had one month to leave or we would pursue legal action. She left without a problem and it worked out great for everyone in the building.

If your tenant is stealing packages from their neighbors they are probably up to no good and someone you do not want in your building.

Samantha Klein · Answer

Send something to one of your tenants and set up the thieves. Have your tenant watch on the day it's to be delivered and maybe have them record the package when it's dropped off and if your lucky you will have it on video the person who is stealing the packages or if the tenant is M2M, give notice because if they stole a laptop that they obviously knew wasn't theirs, they most likely have taken the others.

Joseph Abbott · Answer

I would ask my local police station about my options. At the same time, you don't want your other tenants to leave due to one person.

If you know who it is for sure, I would wait until their lease is up

Tenant stealing packages from other tenants.. Recourse?

Tenant stealing packages from other tenants.. Recourse?

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