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A couple of nights ago (past midnight) I saw someone quickly climb past my window on the fire escape (after noise from below that sounded like someone fiddling around with the ladder down below). My brother who was visiting looked out and told me he saw the person above continuing to climb. But an hour this young man again was climbing up past my fire escape. I told him I would call the police if he continued as he was making noise and shouldn't be there. He apologized claiming that he had lost his keys. The next morning I reported the incident to the representative of my building's management who told me I should have either called the police right away or the bldg. super (whose cellphone number the rep. gave me as I didn't have it before). What would you have done in such a situation?
I would definitely not have confronted them and said I was going to call the police next time. I would have just called them when I heard someone messing with the ladder or saw someone that I did not recognize as the super, for example, pass by my window.
If the person forgot their keys and climbed up once, why would they be going up again an hour later? Unless they were trying to see if their window was locked and once they discovered that it was, went to get something to pry it open or break it. If the person forgot their keys but the door was locked, obviously someone else lives there too and locked the door. They should be trying to retrieve the keys from that person, not prowling around the fire escape.
I would not call the super because that might put them in harm's way if he confronted a criminal. I would call the cops immediately and then alert the super that the cops were coming because someone is climbing. If it's a legit tenant or whatever, let them deal with it with the police.
I would probably call the police because even though I live in a pretty safe neighborhood, the typical crime around here seems to be break-ins. (And especially because I am at the back/side of the building where people don't really have access.) Actually, one time my friend was climbing up one b/c for whatever reason he couldn't get into his girlfriend's place for whatever reason and someone called the cops and he was arrested.
I'd call the cops immediately without alerting the person. What if they were violent and came after you once confronted? Calling the super or the landlord isn't going to help much either because then you're just putting them in harms way. Just have the cops come out and investigate.
A couple of nights ago (past midnight) I saw someone quickly climb past my window on the fire escape (after noise from below that sounded like someone fiddling around with the ladder down below). My brother who was visiting looked out and told me he saw the person above continuing to climb. But an hour this young man again was climbing up past my fire escape. I told him I would call the police if he continued as he was making noise and shouldn't be there. He apologized claiming that he had lost his keys. The next morning I reported the incident to the representative of my building's management who told me I should have either called the police right away or the bldg. super (whose cellphone number the rep. gave me as I didn't have it before). What would you have done in such a situation?
Dial 911 and report a "suspicious person" climbing your fire escape. The PoPo will be there ASAP and deal with the situation.
Contrary to what many believe the only reason for anyone to be on a fire escape in NYC is just that, to escape a fire. They are not stairways, gardens, extensions of your apartment to sit outside and smoke/drink/eat, etc....
It is not lost upon anyone that the most common method of illegally gaining entry to a NYC apartment is via fire escapes. That is why you call the police and let them sort things out. Trust me if this person lives in your building or whatever once called out/sat down by the NYPD he won't be playing Spiderman again .
Definitely call the police if this happens again. And keep your windows that face the fire escape locked.
My fire escape window is the now window that gives my small apt. could air flow so it is essential that I keep open at night whether isn't warm enough for me to use the air-conditioning. I live in a relatively safe neighborhood so the whole thing was quite of a shocking incident. My brother who was visiting at the time looks out and saw the person still climbing above and didn't think much of it and that is probably why I didn't immediately call the police. But if this ever happens again, I will be dialing 911 immediately.
My fire escape window is the now window that gives my small apt. could air flow so it is essential that I keep open at night whether isn't warm enough for me to use the air-conditioning. I live in a relatively safe neighborhood so the whole thing was quite of a shocking incident. My brother who was visiting at the time looks out and saw the person still climbing above and didn't think much of it and that is probably why I didn't immediately call the police. But if this ever happens again, I will be dialing 911 immediately.
Can you get a box fan/AC unit instead? (Even the portable ones work well) Or perhaps even a security gate? having the fire escape window open is not a great ideas as it's often easy access esp in the Summer where people hang out on rooftops in many places. At least put something on the windowsill that will make some noise if someone enters. A can of marbles, cheap figurines etc.
This stuck a chord with me due to my longtime fear of waking up to someone standing over me that does not belong there. A small part of the reason I had large dogs in the past.
There are clip locks that you can put on your window so it won't open any further than whatever point you decide. We used them for years when we lived on the first floor and needed to keep the window open overnight:
Those window locks will not work with an old wooden frame.
I would never again live with a window onto a fire escape unless it had steel gates.
I did it for 17 years whle neighborhood kids scurried up and down to get to a continuously running roof party.
Cops? Good for nothing.
Last edited by Kefir King; 07-20-2015 at 10:07 AM..
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