With our extensive experience helping multifamily residential communities secure their properties, amenities, parking facilities, offices, and outdoor assets, we’re quite familiar with the allure of laundry facilities for loiterers and others who are up to no good. From groups using the multifamily community laundry room as a spot to hang out and use illicit substances to thieves breaking into machines to steal coins, even a pair wielding guns in the laundry room– we’ve seen it all.
In this Arrest of the Month video, our sharp-eyed monitoring center team helped get police onsite quickly to respond to an intoxicated loiterer.
Just after 10:00 pm, our remote video surveillance professionals monitoring a multifamily residential community spotted a person who appeared to be severely intoxicated loitering in the laundry room, where the individual appeared to pass out. A closer look revealed the subject had arrived prior to monitoring hours. Local police were contacted and responding officers arrived shortly after, removing the loiterer without incident.
Common Issues with Intoxicated Loiterers at Multifamily Communities
Loiterers- especially those who are intoxicated- can present significant challenges for apartment communities and their management teams. These individuals can disrupt the peaceful environment residents expect and create several noteworthy problems:
Safety and Security Concerns Intoxicated individuals may exhibit unpredictable behavior, creating an atmosphere of unease among residents. Their presence, particularly in common areas like lobbies, parking lots, and recreation facilities, can lead to residents feeling unsafe when entering or exiting their homes. This often results in increased security complaints and calls to local authorities.
Property Damage Accidental or intentional damage to community property frequently occurs with intoxicated loiterers. This includes broken fixtures, graffiti, vandalized landscaping, and damaged amenities. These incidents create additional maintenance expenses and diminish the property’s aesthetic appeal.
Noise Disturbances Excessive noise is a common issue, with loud conversations, arguments, or music disrupting residents’ peace, particularly during evening hours. These disturbances interfere with sleep schedules and overall quality of life for community members.
Improper Waste Disposal Intoxicated individuals often leave behind litter, including bottles, cans, food containers, and cigarette butts. This creates unsanitary conditions requiring additional maintenance resources.
Resident Retention Challenges The persistent presence of intoxicated loiterers can significantly impact resident satisfaction and lease renewals. Current residents may choose to relocate when their leases expire, while prospective residents may be deterred during property tours.
Legal Liability Concerns Property owners face potential liability issues if intoxicated loiterers cause injuries or engage in illegal activities on the premises. This risk increases when management has been notified of recurring problems but fails to take appropriate action.
Management Resource Strain Addressing incidents involving intoxicated loiterers diverts staff resources from other important responsibilities. Property managers must document incidents, respond to resident complaints, coordinate with security personnel, and potentially engage with law enforcement.
Effective management strategies that combine clear policies, consistent enforcement, appropriate security measures, and community engagement are essential for addressing these challenging issues.
Deter Loiterers in Your Multifamily Community Laundry Room and Other Facilities
Loitering can create an unwelcoming environment in multifamily residential communities, and can lead to safety concerns, property damage, and disturbances that affect your residents’ quality of life. Traditional security measures like passive cameras and reactive alarms alone often fail to address the issue effectively. Live video monitoring provides a proactive solution by helping to detect and address loitering in real time- before it escalates.
Our advanced live video monitoring system leverages AI-enabled video analytics and the human expertise of trained security professionals to:
- Identify loitering behavior early to prevent potential disturbances
- Assess the situation in real time to determine the appropriate response
- Issue live onsite audible warnings to deter unwanted activity before law enforcement is needed
- Alert on-site staff or authorities when intervention is necessary
By combining cutting-edge technology with human oversight, live monitoring helps ensure swift intervention, helping to maintain a safe, inviting community while providing unmatched value and ROI for property owners and management.
Take a proactive approach to security. Contact our team today for a free consultation and learn how live video monitoring can help eliminate persistent loitering issues and enhance the safety of your multifamily community.
