A Queens couple says an intruder got into their Long Island City apartment after a doorman handed over keys, sparking a burglary probe.
A Queens couple says a stranger got into their Long Island City apartment after a doorman handed over the keys, turning a return from vacation into a frightening apartment intrusion that is now under police investigation. Bill and Yelim Kim say the incident unfolded July 24 inside their Purves Street home, where a home-security alert first warned them that someone was inside.
When the Kims checked the live video feed, they say they saw a woman moving through the apartment, making herself a drink and sitting on the couch. Bill Kim told FOX 5 he could hardly process what he was seeing and said he and his wife could not stop wondering what might have happened if the woman had not been caught on camera. The footage reportedly became even more unsettling when the woman noticed the camera, pulled it off the bookshelf, and left the couple without a view of what she might do next.
Bill Kim also questioned how long the woman might have stayed if the security system had not alerted them. He said the break-in happened close to 11 p.m. and raised the possibility that she could have remained in the apartment overnight. The couple then contacted a neighbor, who rushed over, pounded on the door, and waited until the woman came out. According to the account, she apologized, said only βSorry,β and fled.
βA Queens couple says an intruder got into their Long Island City apartment after a doorman handed over keys, sparking a burglary probe.β
The apartment buildingβs management later reportedly told tenants in an email that the woman had pretended to be a dogwalker for the Kims and had been allowed upstairs by a doorman. The report said that doorman was removed from the property and that security procedures are being tightened. The woman returned two days later and tried to get in again, but she was turned away, according to the same account.
The case has become a jarring example of how quickly a routine day can turn into a security failure in a city where many residents rely on staffed entrances and controlled access for peace of mind. Luxury buildings market those features as a layer of protection, but this incident suggests that a weak link at the front desk can undo that promise in an instant. For tenants paying for that protection, the question is not just how a stranger got inside, but how much they can trust the system meant to keep homes secure.
The NYPD is investigating the matter as a burglary, while the woman has not been identified or charged. The Kims say the experience left them shaken and still struggling to settle down after what they saw on the camera feed. For New Yorkers and other apartment dwellers, the case is a reminder that building security is only as strong as the people enforcing it β and that one lapse can leave residents feeling exposed in their own homes.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the Long Island City apartment?
Bill and Yelim Kim say a stranger got into their Purves Street apartment while they were on vacation and was seen on their security camera inside the home.
How did the couple say the woman got in?
They say building management later told tenants the woman posed as a dogwalker and was let up by a doorman.
Did anyone respond immediately?
The Kims contacted a neighbor, who ran over and pounded on the door until the woman came out and left.
Is the case being investigated?
Yes. The Nypd is investigating the incident as a burglary.
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