INDIANAPOLIS — Some residents of a west side apartment complex were caught off guard by letters that showed up on their doors telling them they would be evicted for failing to pay their rent.
However, for some, the reason their rent went unpaid was because their payments were stolen out of a “secure” drop box.
Sara O’Connor and her husband Michael have lived at the Darby Court apartments for three years and said they have always paid their rent on time.
Sara was first told that her November rent went unpaid the day after it was due. She said she knew her husband dropped it off so she went to the leasing office to clear up the situation.
“That’s when he said ‘I didn’t want to tell you that they were fished out,'” O’Connor recalled. “There was sticky contents inside of the box and [we were told] that we would have to pay it.”
According to a police report, eight checks and money orders were taken out of the box which totaled more than $7,000.
“I said that’s your problem. What are you gonna do about it and they said nothing,” O’Connor said. “‘The only thing that we can tell you is to pay the rent again.’”
The O’Connors were able to cancel the money order and said they provided the documentation to the leasing office. They said they told them they would pay the rent once they received the refund which could take up to 30 days.
That’s why they said the eviction notice came as such a shock.
“I am worried because I don’t wanna go into court for something that I didn’t do,” O’Connor said. “I did everything the right way so I don’t even want to go to court.”
On Wednesday, we went to the Darby Court leasing office to try and get some answers. A leasing agent put us on the phone with an executive at Sexton Properties, which owns the complex, who told us the eviction letters were only meant to spark communication with residents they hadn’t heard from.
“Where we are is, we are letting them know that the rent is still due,” Associate Vice President Jane Brooks said. “If they are working through the process of trying to obtain information, if they file a police report and if the process is happening and they are asking for an exception or more time we just wanna know what that is.”
Brooks acknowledged that the letters went to everyone, regardless of who had communicated with the office. She said residents who have communicated their situation with the property management will be given time to pay.
“It wasn’t to cause an uproar,” Brooks said. “It was to cause communication on ‘What do we know?’ and ‘How much time do you need?'”
Brooks confirmed that one resident’s payment was stolen at the nearby Stanford Court Apartments as well. The complex is also owned by Sexton Properties.
Warning signs have now been posted on the drop boxes, warning residents not to put payments in them outside of office hours.
Regardless, the O’Connors said they’re not sure if they’ll feel welcome at the complex again.
“Just kind of makes me feel like I’ll be searching for somewhere else to go soon,” Sara said.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the theft. A report obtained by FOX 59/CBS4 said there was video footage of the incident but the complex said the video didn’t capture the person who stole the payments.
Anyone with information that could help detectives is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 317-266-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and may be entitled to a cash reward.
