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In cities across the U.S., it’s hard to miss the volume of headlines about car break-ins. Thirty or even 40 residents in a single apartment complex may wake to find their windows smashed, their vehicles pilfered. With these crimes on the rise, tenants often wonder who is responsible when their car is vandalized or even stolen from their apartment’s parking lot? Is it the property owner, the security provider, or simply an unfortunate risk of urban living?
Understanding the legal landscape surrounding apartment security can help both tenants and property managers take the right steps to enhance protection and minimize liability.
Apartment complexes typically have designated parking areas, whether gated or open. However, most lease agreements contain clauses that waive the landlord’s liability for stolen or damaged property, including vehicles. This means that, in most cases, property owners are not legally responsible for car break-ins unless negligent security can be proven, and that is difficult to prove unless:
If residents can prove that the landlord failed to take reasonable precautions despite clear risks, a claim for negligence may hold up in court. But an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.
Since property owners are rarely held responsible for car break-ins, tenants must take steps to secure their vehicles. Here are a few effective ways to reduce the risk:
The best news is there is technology out there that can deter car break-ins. Property managers are increasingly turning to AI security cameras and remote guarding services to enhance protection. AI-driven surveillance can detect unusual activity in the garage in real time: say, someone in the garage around 2 a.m., wandering from car to car. Such activity will trigger an immediate alert. Remote guarding security responds to the alert, switches to live view, and “Voices Down” a would-be perpetrator.
Properties with Cloudastructure’s AI Surveillance and Remote Guarding experienced a 98% deterrence rate on crime in their garages and all communal areas in 2024.
While property owners are not usually liable for car break-ins, they have a duty to provide reasonable apartment security. If your apartment complex is experiencing multiple break-ins, ask your property manager if they’ve explored AI security cameras and remote guarding and let them know it not only deters criminals but also enhances resident satisfaction.
In fact, according to a recent NAA tenant survey, a majority of renters prefer apartments with monitored security systems and AI-powered surveillance. By adopting remote guarding security, property managers can minimize liability risks while offering a safer living environment for their residents.
Watch our webinar: Ask an Attorney: Car Break-Ins, Theft, and Landlord Liability with our panel of legal experts from Offit & Kurman.
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