Manager keyed parked car after argument with another resident

Image unrelated to article. [AI-generated image]
Image unrelated to article. [AI-generated image]

A parked vehicle in an apartment complex's underground garage was found with a deep "X" scratched deliberately into its surface — and the culprit turned out to be the building's own property manager.

The incident came to light Tuesday after a person identified only as A posted about it on the online community Bobaedream, recounting events that affected A's mother.

According to A, the mother's Mercedes-Benz S550 was damaged while parked in the apartment's underground garage during the third week of last month.

Photos shared with the post show a large "X" carved clearly into the hood of the black vehicle, apparently made with a sharp object.

A police investigation identified the perpetrator as the building's property manager, referred to as B. B told police that the previous day, an argument with a different resident had left B in a foul mood. While patrolling the underground garage the following day, B spotted A's mother's car parked at an angle and scratched it in a fit of anger.

A and B reportedly had a prior dispute last year over parking lot facilities. After the complex switched to a license-plate recognition system at its exit, a low metal bar was installed in the former exit lane — and A's vehicle was scratched while passing through it.

"I thought the structure was installed in the wrong position and asked the manager to file an insurance claim," A said. "I wasn't demanding unconditional compensation — I just wanted it filed properly so the insurance company could make its own determination, since the policy is paid for with residents' maintenance fees."

B refused, and the two argued.

"After that, time passed with no communication at all, all the way through this year — and then suddenly this happened," A said.

A also said an attempt was made to reach an amicable settlement out of concern for B's livelihood and future, but that B's attitude made any agreement impossible. "When I asked for the CCTV footage, B refused and said it would only be handed over once a settlement was reached — I honestly can't tell whether there's any remorse there," A said.

A went on to say, "This wasn't a case of someone drunkenly scratching a stranger's car on impulse. This is a property manager — someone responsible for protecting residents' property and safety — who damaged a resident's vehicle out of personal grudge." A also asked for advice on whether any liability beyond standard property damage charges could be pursued.

Many online commenters sided with A. "Don't even think about playing the good guy now. Do you really think a manager who faces criminal charges and has to pay for repairs on top of that can keep doing this job with the right mindset?" one wrote. Others said B should simply be dismissed, with one commenter writing, "Someone who isn't in their right mind has no business being a property manager."

Some, however, defended B. "If the car got scratched on a bar installed with residents' consent, that's just poor driving," one commenter wrote. Others added, "You have to wonder what pushed them to that point" and "Let's hear the manager's side of the story too."


jshan@heraldcorp.com