I keep finding strange things in my apartment that don't belong to me, should I be worried?

[Anonymous]

I live alone. I haven't had anyone over in quite a while. And no one that would've been over uses the stuff I found, and it couldn't be any of their's.

Yesterday, after I got off work, I opened my cabinet and right there in front of my bowls was some body jewelry. Like what I wear in my cartilage piercings, except it wasn't mine and I'd never seen it before. Also, I don't know anyone else with piercings to accommodate this type of jewelry. Yesterday morning when I had breakfast before going to work, they weren't sitting in front of my bowls. To my knowledge no one has been in my apartment. But SOMEONE had to put them there, and it wasn't me.

I also found a mysterious tube of mascara in my apartment. Not my mascara. Everyone I know says they've never seen it before.

I know I sound like a crazy person... but this kinda gives me the creeps... Should I be freaked out that someone seems to be putting random stuff in my apartment or not worry about it?

Updates

+1 y

There's a master key. The manager and the cleaning lady are the only two people with master keys. I don't think either of them just hand the key to the maintenance crew so they can let themselves in to people's apartment. I always see either the manager or the cleaning lady unlock the door for them when they're going in to other people's apartments. I don't think that anyone but them have access to a key to my apartment. So I don't know if changing my locks would help, since there is a master key.

[TheoryOfAvarice]

Maybe you sleepwalk or something

Or maybe you have someone living in your place with you without you knowing, apparently that's a thing? I saw a show or something once about people trying to live alongside families in their homes without their knowing, to see how long they could do it without getting caught... that sounds a bit extreme though. I'm not really sure what else to tell you though, lol. Stuff appearing out of nowhere and such... there certainly aren't many explanations.

[Southerngal10]

Are you sure its not friends doing it when the come over and forgetting? It sounds creepy and yes you should be worried and change the locks. First though, you need to rule out all possibilities. Like have you had anyone over and y'all were drinking? Did any guy friends bring over a girlfriend who could have left it? Was it a gift that someone randomly gave you and you completely forgot?stuff like that.

[Asker]

I don't really have people in and out of my apartment. There are like four different people who ever come here aside from me. And none of them even have piercings that they could wear that type of jewelry in. I haven't had anyone over in a good long while. Yesterday morning they weren't in my cabinet. Then I come home and they are. So they were put there sometime between yesterday morning and yesterday afternoon. And I wasn't home.

[martyfellow]

One of those three people,(manager, mainteance, cleaning,) or someone they let in for whatever reason, did this.

I'd speak to them.

You're right, changing locks probably wouldn not help. Most likely someone had to come in to check an electrical connection or something like that. Someone who has piercings. Maybe the piercings got in their way when they had to work in some tight space?

[MyNameIsJonas]

Its most likely the cleaning lady rearanging your stuff. She may have found certain items laying around or may have found them at another apartment she cleans and left them at yours.

[6Paul11]

I would be very worried. Talk to the superintendent ASAP and take proper measures. If moving is not an option, invest in security cameras. A big dog, a shotgun, and a baseball bat is cheap insurance.

[kairon156]

yes. be very worried. someone could be living in your attic or something. it's also possible you have split personalities but that's not very common.

[Asker]

I live in a small apartment that doesn't have any good hiding spots for someone to be living. I think someone is just coming in here.

[kairon156]

if you're truly worried try to set up a security camera pointing at your front door or in your kitchen.

[kairon156]

to me master keys sound fake. I never understood how they work, every lock would have to be the same lock or is there a key card they can use to unlock the doors?

[Asker]

...well they're not fake, lol.

[kairon156]

you can talk to the cleaning lady and ask her if she knows why someone's things are in your apartment. if she doesn't know just talk with her and anything that's out of place (jewelry in kitchen cupboard) just put them in a pile on the kitchen table.

That way you'll have a collection of what's not yours and can sell them. If they are wise they won't leave things in your apartment any more. Also you should look around for things that are used that shouldn't be.

[kairon156]

did you ever solve this issue.

[Asker]

I changed my locks, and it stopped happening. : / But I never found out what was happening, or who was doing it, or anything.

[kairon156]

quite scarry. I'm glad you managed to stop it though.

[courtney06]

Either someone has been in your house or you have a split personality. I would suggest you change your locks ASAP

[KingsOfleon88]

Did you ever leave your key with anyone, or does someone in your apartment have access to them?

[KingsOfleon88]

I mean, someone could have made a copy of your key without you even knowing.

[Asker]

No, I only have one set of keys and I don't leave them with people. The maintenance people and the manager have access to my apartment. But there is only one maintenance person who has a key (or is supposed to anyway). Regardless, it makes no sense for someone just come into my apartment and leave stuff. Why would anyone just leave body jewelry in front of my bowls in my cabinet?

[MissLeslie]

That's odd. I'd suggest to either change your locks or set a security camera to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.

[MyNameIsJonas]

Does anyone else live with you?