Residents warned of break-ins at apartments

Numerous recent break-ins at a Kent County apartment complex have residents in the area on the lookout.

[CrossingsTenant]

There is not enough being done about this to deter the burglars. If you want to keep your stuff in your possession - move out of The Crossings.

[Whatever]

Right, cause that's so easy to do.

[GR Resident]

I live in Sutton Club apartments and we were notified two days ago. I can't believe Crossing residents haven't been formally notified yet! That's outrageous. I appreciate the Sutton Club management for looking out for residents.

[CrossingsTenant]

Whatever wrote:

Right, cause that's so easy to do.

Yeah, no kidding. It's called dropping some letters in the mail that says "Watch out for suspicious activity and report it to management or the police." Yeah, that's real hard to do.

More importantly, why isn't there a fence between us and that apartment complex behind us. It wouldn't surprise me if that's part of this problem too.

[Kim in gr]

Well the residents will know if they see the news now. They should have been notified already. What's the holdup ?

[Live there too]

I live there as well and it's really horrible that we had to hear this news from wood tv 8 and not the management of our apartment complex. I sure wish they would offer more details like what floors are being hit, how people are getting in, etc. Also, how hard is it to put up some survailence cameras on the street lights or something. I think it's time they invested in the residence safety and well being!!!

[DXZ550]

Since the police tend to show up after the fact, I recommend having some solid take-down power on tap. A Colt 45 revolver (won't jam like a semi-automatic) and a pistol-grip pump action shotgun (in case you're not sure exactly where the perp is behind the door).

[frogger]

I am not surprised. I don't live in either of these apartment complexes. However, I do live in an another complex. We have a problem with people driving around to different dumpsters, going through them and taking things out. I have reported it to the complex and every morning at the same time the same thing happens. These are not homeless people. I have seen these same people looking in the backs of peoples pick up trucks, again alerted the apartment complex and nothing happened. I think this is a sign of the times.

[Random]

DXZ550 wrote:

Since the police tend to show up after the fact, I recommend having some solid take-down power on tap. A Colt 45 revolver (won't jam like a semi-automatic) and a pistol-grip pump action shotgun (in case you're not sure exactly where the perp is behind the door).

Yes, and then you accidentally kill someone who was ACTUALLY MOVING INTO THE APARTMENT. Violence solves everything people!

[DXZ550]

Random wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, and then you accidentally kill someone who was ACTUALLY MOVING INTO THE APARTMENT. Violence solves everything people!

When someone is breaking into my home and attempting to do harm, you're darn right violence solves the problem.

[bang bang]

dead people do not steal

[CrossingsResiden t2]

The Crossings Apartments have had more than enough time to notify their residents. The first three break-ins happened on the night of JUNE 21-22 in the same building. I heard about it from my neighbors who were victims. I called the Crossings Office on June 24th asking when they were going to notify residents of the break-ins and what actions they were taking to prevent future occurrences. The receptionist handed me off to "Rich", an assistant manager. When I asked him the same questions he chuckled and said informing residents "is not their policy" (direct quote) because "they don't want to advertise" (direct quote) the incidents to their residents. He continued to blow me off making erroneous "fluff" statements like "these things happen every day in every neighborhood" (direct quote). When I suggested informing us (the residents) so we could be more aware/look out for each other/start a neighborhood watch, he then essentially said it was the fault of other residents in the building because we should be looking out for each other anyways. I have a lot more sound bytes from the conversation I can provide, but I'm getting tired of typing at present.
I did just see that the management put a notice on our mailboxes about upcoming neighborhood watch meetings... must be getting lots of calls b/c of the bad press.

[CrossingsResiden t2]

CrossingsTenant wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, no kidding. It's called dropping some letters in the mail that says "Watch out for suspicious activity and report it to management or the police." Yeah, that's real hard to do.
More importantly, why isn't there a fence between us and that apartment complex behind us. It wouldn't surprise me if that's part of this problem too.

The letter thing is ironic, I mean Sutton Club was able to get letters about OUR problem out to their residents, but our own management can't do the same.

[Crossing Resident3]

I am amazed by all of this I had no idea there were break ins in the month of June. This is very disturbing that we were not notified. The only reason I found out is because my boyfriends dad is a cop and he informed us. Just today there is a letter on our mailbox about a meeting but thats it! I can't even beleive this. I'm tempted to cut my lease and move. We deserve to be informed.

[Crossing Resident3]

Oh and thanks News 8 you probably informed people who had no idea!

[Anne]

...doesn't really surprise me...Kentwood is going down the tubes and the Kentwood police do very little about it...

[SOG Group]

We have inexpensive ways to protect your property. Check out our website for more information, www.stateofgloom.com .

[Raider]

Be rest assured the Kent County Sheriff's Department will get the bad guys. Sheriff Stelma is the best Sheriff we could ever have. Don't forget to vote on Aug. 5th!!!

[JB Weld]

Call the police every time you see something suspicious. Make sure people who don't belong there see that you see them.

Be proactive. A lot of times bad stuff continues because good people do nothing to help stop it.

[Kevyn]

I think the Crossings should have one specific moving rental truck company. That residents can use if they are moving in or moving out. That way if you see another truck in the complex other than what the apartments require you to use. Then that should send up a red flag. I live in the Crossings and I didn't know about this till I heard it on the radio this morning. This makes me extreamly mad. Some people in this world just amaze me, that they have enough guts to do somthing like this.