NYC couple were enjoying their vacation until they got a chilling Ring camera notification. A stranger was on their couch — in their locked home
But the most suspicious part? There were no signs of a break-in
No one expects an intruder to break into their house while they're on vacation, especially with the security lock. However, Bill and Yelim Kim, a couple from Queens, New York, experienced just that nightmare-kind-of situation on July 24, 2026. Well, it all started when their home security system sent an alert that someone had entered their Purves Street Long Island City flat. Curious, the couple immediately checked the camera footage, and what they saw left them cold in their tracks. There was an unfamiliar woman inside their Halo LIC apartment, chilling on their couch, but the most suspicious part? There were no signs of a break-in, as reported by FOX 5 New York on August 11, 2026.
A security breach
As shocking as it sounds, Bill and Yelim Kim discovered that the woman got the key to their apartment from the doorman. She walked inside the building and pretended to be a dog walker. Surprisingly, the doorman let her in without even verifying her identity. While speaking to the outlet, Bill said, "I was in disbelief. I just could not believe what I was seeing. We can't help but wonder, what would she have done if we didn't catch her on camera? This was almost 11 p.m. at night. Would she have slept in our bed?"
The Kims watched the intruder walk around the room and laze on the couch as if she owned the place. But when the woman realized she was being watched, she ripped the camera and even damaged the bookshelf in the process. Meanwhile, FOX 5 also asked the couple if they've had dog walkers come up to their apartment before, to which Yelim replied, "Not while we weren't here." Yelim also shared a clip on social media of their friends confronting the woman. They went to their apartment while she was still inside, and one of them knocked on the door and demanded she leave their friends' house.
The fear lingers
Goose Property Management, who looked after the building, contacted the Kims via email and informed them that the employee responsible for the intrusion had been permanently removed. They also retrained their staff to improve the building's security. Despite their assurances, the Kims are still scared for their safety. In fact, Yelim said, "I'm freaking traumatized. I don't know how else to, you know, describe it."
At the moment, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) is treating it as a burglary. Surprisingly, the woman, who had entered the Kims' apartment, returned after two days. But this time, she was not allowed beyond the lobby. As of August 13, the woman's identity remains undisclosed since no charges or arrests have been made.
Ring cameras to the rescue
As proved in this case, security cameras often play a significant role in protecting homeowners. In fact, a 2022 survey done by U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews and Kristen Mollica, the assistant manager editor, backed up the claim, saying, "With 90% of respondents believing that security cameras deter crime, and 96% feeling safer when neighbors have security cameras, these camera systems provide tremendous peace of mind." Despite this advantage, a 2024 survey conducted by The Zebra found that 54% of Americans still don't have a home security system. Luckily, the Kims had installed a Ring camera in their living room and caught the intruder red-handed.
'File a lawsuit'
What ticked netizens off was that an employee working at the apartment told the Kims that FOX 5 had to leave and was not permitted in the building. For instance, @joancrawford5781 commented, "The real estate company should give the couple their deposit back and allow them to break their lease and pay them moving fees." Similarly, @allthingsnu4673 shared, "It sounds like grounds for a lawsuit to me. Management shouldn't be giving anyone access to their tenants' apartments without clearing it with the tenants first."
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