When criminal activity occurs at an apartment community, it can be one of the most challenging and educational experiences you may encounter. Crime has no address, and unfortunately happens on some level at every community.
Although it is critical to aggressively head-off unwanted activity, it is more often the professional manner in which such incidents are handled that truly measures the success of a management team.
Here is an account on how an actual Cambridge Site Manager handled a situation involving criminal activity:
During a spring evening, an altercation between a resident and a visitor took place at a property managed by Cambridge Real Estate Services. This altercation included gunfire. The Site Manager was immediately contacted by the Neighborhood Watch representative and then phoned the Property Supervisor. The Site Manager also contacted all on-site personnel.
When the site personnel and Property Supervisor arrived at the property, they met with representatives of the local police department. They provided the necessary information to law enforcement to assist with the investigation. Due to the on-going police investigation, the site staff was provided with limited information on the situation.
The following morning, the site staff, Property Supervisor and volunteer Neighborhood Watch block captain met to decide the best way to handle the situation without focusing on the specifics of the incident. They discussed the importance of communication among the staff as well as residents. Residents were provided with notices which included honest information about the crime along with a hand-out of Safety Tips.
The staff developed a list of households known to have a pattern of behavior which was inconsistent with the community’s standards. The staff continues to monitor those apartments closely in an effort to prevent a future crisis from occurring. Violation letters were also sent to those particular apartments.
The Site Manager and Assistant Manager actively participate in a monthly Crime Prevention Meeting which is hosted by the local county sheriff’s department. A bi-weekly reporting system with the sheriff’s office Crime Prevention Coordinator has been established. This individual has pledged to the staff to continually update them regarding any undesirable activity that occurs within the property and in the surrounding neighborhood.
Although the incident at this Cambridge community could not have been prevented, the site staff continues to be proactively working towards a crime-free community with a zero tolerance approach.
A good time to discuss any resident issues would be during the weekly staff meeting. Open communication is the key and it is important to act quickly.