Tenant stealing/sabotaging AC coolant ?

Question

Thought we had seen it all.

I have a single adult tenant in an apartment complex who has been complaining for the last 4 months that the AC can't keep up (it is a simple single row 4 apartments with each unit having their own privacy fences so no one can see the AC from the road). It is a relatively new AC and under warranty. The technicians - we have worked with this company for a decade +, personal friends, and have never had any issues with getting problems solved -have been out there about 6+ times replacing items, charging it while waiting for parts, and unable to find the leak. We went there today after a complaint over the weekend. The last visit, we had replaced the locking caps and put new ones on them with specific marks to know if the caps were moved. One of the caps was moved and there was 'oil' at the base of that cap, suspecting that the coolant was purposely leaked/stolen or whatever

The tenant has a family member in the AC business.

The question is what to do next. Putting up a camera is really not an option without the tenant's knowledge. There is an expectation of privacy there. However, I don't know if the tenant is doing it or if someone in the area is stealing/inhaling/doing whatever with it (there is empty apartment building next door). The tenant has access to the tool that would be required since a family member in the business.

Do we try and put a camera up in the area that has no expectancy of privacy but is required to cross to get to the AC units for the building or do we notify the tenant and ask for permission to put up the camera (and freak out the tenant if not them, otherwise alert them we know there is stealing). Having used video cameras on other properties I know they are not the best solution at night and it is easy to miss someone.

Edward Tristram · Answer

Agreed - we thought at first thought it was various leaks - but we have basically replaced everything and the 'oil slick' was just outside the locking cap that was moved. We are doing a specific vacuum test tomorrow, but now we know the locking caps were moved we really suspect it is tamper. The AC unit is right underneath a bedroom window so we are really leery of putting up cameras here. We don't have wifi on this property yet so we are going with a trail camera with SD card.

Joe Splitrock · Answer

@Edward Tristram there is no expectation of privacy outside. You have good evidence of theft. If they don't know about the camera, you can catch them. You can use that as proof to charge them and evict them. If you disclose the camera, they will likely stop doing it, so it would be more of a precautionary measure. I would install a blink camera and try to catch the thief.

Another option is contacting the police and filing a police report detailing the cost of the theft/damage. You can often file online and include photos showing the tamper marks were violated. Then you can tell the tenant a police report has been filed. You don't have to accuse them, but let them know you plan to push for criminal charges when you catch the person.

Kind of a strange situation. Refrigerant isn't that valuable on newer units.

I have had leaks that were hard to find, so up until you mentioned the tamper marks, I was thinking it was a leaky indoor coil. That is the hardest place to find a leak.

Tenant stealing/sabotaging AC coolant ?

2 Replies