AUSTIN, Texas — Camden Shadow Brook Apartments in South Austin has become the target for crime, according to some tenants who live there.
Kalin Ybarra said she and her husband have lived in their apartment for roughly two-and-a-half years and have seen criminal activity steadily climb.
"[Management for Camden Shadow Brook Apartments] refuse to put up cameras. They refuse to increase security. Half the time, the gates are wide open," Ybarra said.
The week of Oct. 23, Ybarra said "30-plus" cars were broken into. She said a few weeks before that incident, several mailboxes, including hers, were damaged.
"My mail has been stolen, and my mailbox is still broken; my mail is still being stolen," Ybarra said.
One resident who spoke to KVUE off-camera said he was one of the victims of the vehicle break-ins and said the front side of his passenger window was smashed in. Fortunately, he said there was nothing of value inside.
The resident said he filed a police report and a claim with his insurance company, but when he addressed his concerns with the management team, he received "several passive aggressive emails."
KVUE reached out to the apartment complex about the vehicle break-ins and damaged mailboxes. In an email, the vice president of marketing with Camden – the company that oversees the complex – confirmed several vehicles were broken into and said the complex was working with the Austin Police Department (APD) to add more patrols to the area.
KVUE reached out to APD and is awaiting a response.
As far as the damaged mailboxes, Camden officials said USPS told the apartment complex that a master key had been stolen and it was aware of the damaged mailboxes. The apartment complex said it has not received an update from USPS about when repairs will be made, adding, "We have shared this with residents but are at USPS's mercy."
'It's really scary'
Other residents, like Robert Jones, say the rise in crime didn't happen overnight.
Jones has been a resident since January 2023 and said since he moved in, he's seen a string of maintenance issues, a lack of response from the management team and noticed the surge in crime in the summer.
"There were cars that were being stolen from the property. Then, there were more increases of breaking windows, doing damage to the vehicles," Jones said.
Jones said he and other members of the complex started posting in a community forum about the issues they have been dealing with and have considered taking legal action.
"We are all paying a lot of money to live here and this is what we're going through," Jones said.
Jones also described a time when someone had gained entry to his apartment without his permission.
In an email to KVUE, Camden said an unnamed resident had made this claim and that, "This individual claims to have video footage, and we would be happy to investigate and have asked them to share the video with us. They have yet to share it with us after repeated requests."
Next steps
Ybarra said she and other residents want to break their leases, but the fees for termination are holding many back from doing so.
"Me, personally, if I could leave, it'd be today," Ybarra said.
Camden officials said they are hosting a community safety meeting with residents but did not specify when.
KVUE also asked Camden about the alleged lack of response from management and residents' claims about the lack of security cameras. We are still waiting for a response.