The Kims were alerted by their apartment camera while vacationing and discovered a stranger making herself at home in their Long Island City apartment. The woman initially left but returned using keys reportedly handed out at the front desk to someone claiming to be a dog walker. Management says the employee who released the keys was fired and staff were retrained; no property was reported stolen. The NYPD is investigating the incident as a burglary, and the couple say they now feel unsafe.
NYC Couple Return From Vacation to Find Stranger Relaxing in Their Apartment After Doorman Gave Out Keys
New York Post/Youtube
Bill and Yelim Kim’s vacation to Yellowstone National Park turned into a nightmare when a home security alert on July 24 showed a stranger inside their Long Island City apartment.
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What Happened
The couple were away when their camera sent a live-feed alert. When they checked the footage, an unknown woman was seen pouring a drink and sitting on their couch. The intruder noticed the camera and ripped it from a shelf, increasing the couple’s alarm.
New York Post/Youtube
Friends, Management and Police Response
Two friends raced to the building before police arrived; one confronted the woman. According to reporting, the woman left but returned minutes later using a set of keys to re-enter the apartment. Police eventually arrived and transported the woman by ambulance. Two days later she reportedly attempted to return again wearing the same dress and heels and a hospital bracelet, but building staff refused her entry at the lobby.
New York Post/Youtube
Building Statement and Aftermath
Halo LIC, managed by Goose Property Management, told residents the incident occurred after a front-desk employee mistakenly handed keys to someone claiming to be a dog walker. Management said the staffer who released the key was dismissed and remaining front-desk employees were retrained on verification procedures.
Impact
No items were reported stolen, but the Kims say they no longer feel safe. “I’m freaking traumatized,” Yelim told FOX 5. With their lease ending in September, the couple said they have begun searching for a new place to live. As of August 12, the woman had not been publicly identified or charged; the NYPD is investigating the incident as a burglary.
Key Dates: Incident occurred July 24; media reports published August 11–12.
Why This Matters: The episode highlights risks around front-desk key control and building verification procedures in urban apartment complexes, and underscores the value of in-home security cameras — both for detection and for documenting suspicious activity.
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