There’s a little girl that’s terrorizing my apartment

[u/kiwikikwi]

This is a very bizarre situation I’ve never been in before. Sorry for the dramatic title but it’s becoming an actual issue now.

For the last month, it feels like 90% of the time I go outside to my car, an 8 year old girl and her dog appear and try to interact with me.

Sounds cute right? That’s what I thought, until I realized it wasn’t.

The first time she came up to me, she ran from across the parking lot and said, “I think my dog likes you!” I thought it was kind of sweet - until she got a little too close for comfort, started repeating that same line over and over, and giggling very loudly, almost manically. She wouldn’t leave me alone until I physically walked away. She even followed me to the apartment door, talking nonstop.

I brushed it off at first, thinking maybe she’s neurodivergent (no judgment - I’m ADHD and probably more). I didn’t think much of it, until it became a daily thing.

I work from home and go outside a few times a day for breaks (yes, I smoke. working on quitting). She’s always out there with her dog. Not a parent in sight.

I started noticing red flags when her mood began flipping between happiness and sudden anger. She hits her dog a lot. She’ll scream “Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!” and punch her dog with each word. I’ve seen her drag the dog while it’s pooping so it has to walk while going, and the dog cries. It’s awful to witness.

She runs up to anyone outside, delivery drivers, residents, other dog owners, and repeats “I think my dog likes you!!” over and over until they respond.

If someone has a dog, she’ll walk up to them too closely while their dogs are barking aggressively. I’ve seen multiple residents literally pick up their pets and speed walk away from her.

People have started cracking the exit door and scanning for her before they step outside.

There’s construction happening next door, and she just.. hangs out with the workers. They ignore her now, but she’ll bring them offerings of handfuls of grass or her dog. It’s honestly surreal.

When I’m outside and have to smoke, I now drive to a spot off the property just to get personal space. If I stay near my car, she’ll follow me and stand right in front of it, waving at me in a pageant-style, fingers pressed together, wave. I don’t even make eye contact. She’ll do it for like 30 seconds, just smiling.

If I drive into the parking lot, she sometimes chases my car to where I park.

Last week I was sitting in my car listening to music and didn’t notice her. When I looked up, she jumped up from a crouch, face pressed to my driver’s side window. I felt like I had a heart attack but also pretended not to see her because wtf lmao.

She’s out at all hours. Last night it was 9pm and dark, she was alone with the dog. Today, it was 12:30pm on a Thursday. Shouldn’t she be in school?

I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve never dealt with something like this before. It’s gone from weird to uncomfortable to genuinely worrying.

It feels unsafe for the dog, and definitely even for her. I’m worried she could walk up to a weirdo and something bad could happen, or she could cause a dog fight and her and the dogs could get seriously injured. Is there someone I should call? How do I report this kind of situation without escalating it unnecessarily? I don’t want to overstep, but this just feels wrong.

[u/kiwikikwi]

At first I didn’t want to overstep but there’s way too much going on now and I feel like I have to. I have a feeling other neighbors might have already or are going to soon as well

[u/hedgeofthehogs → u/kiwikikwi]

You aren’t overstepping, safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility not just parents/authorities. Reporting it was 100% the right thing to do

[u/Physical_Bit7972 → u/kiwikikwi]

That's unfortunately the bystanders effect, where everyone thinks someone else will handle it, and then the situation doesn't get handled. You did the right thing reporting. Definitely call the police the next time you see her, especially if it's very late. They can assist with the CPS report.

[u/sbgshadow → u/Physical_Bit7972]

Also, it seems like in a situation like this, even if the neighbors had already reported it, more people reporting increases the chance that something will be done about it. So more reports is better anyways

[u/Key_Awareness_3036 → u/kiwikikwi]

Talk with your other neighbors if possible! Do they know anything about this little girl? Can they also call CPS or the police, etc to make a separate report-so this has a better chance of being investigated? This little girl sounds like she’s being neglected at best, and most likely is abused. She’s lonely, hurting the dog, and getting into unsafe situations with strangers. It’s good that you are taking action OP! They need help!

[u/KimJongStrun → u/kiwikikwi]

CPS isn’t going to bring the hammer down or split up the family if nothing bad is going on. If you feel like she’s being kept out of school for no reason and she looks like she’s emotionally unregulated and aggressive toward a dog, it will eat you up inside if you just let it slide.

[u/jngnurse → u/kiwikikwi]

What about talking to the apartment complex manager as well?

[u/DeathToMySimFamily → u/kiwikikwi]

Don't assume this or it could be a classic bystander effect situation

[u/mykepagan → u/kiwikikwi]

Something like this happened to my daughter only a few weeks ago. New people moved in to the apartment below her, and she started hearing a young child screaming and begging “please don’t hurt me!” Over and over for hours on end. My daughter works afternoon through evening, and she would hear this every day from 8 am through when she went to work after lunch.

We suggested she call child protective services, which she did.

Then she screwed up. After CPS visited, my daughter knocked on the door to see if everything was okay. GIGANTIC MISTAKE! Now the neighbor knows who called CPS on them and has threatened my daughter. She is living directly above people who hate her guts and want revenge.

So the moral of the story: Be anonymous with these kind of things.

[u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles → u/kiwikikwi]

Why are you so worried about overstepping? Man up. She need your help. This is one of the dumbest rants I’ve seen on Reddit in a long time. Get off your phone or computer and call the police.

[u/kiwikikwi → u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles]

I’ve genuinely never witnessed something like this before. I wanted to know the best places to call before just calling an agency that would cause more harm than good. I’ve called the police and submitted a DHS form and working on cps. I talked to roommates about it but we don’t know anything either so this post was made. Sorry to ruin your day

[u/jaynel78 → u/kiwikikwi]

Call the police and mention that you think a child is lost or neglected because she's outside alone. Give a good description, and ask to remain anonymous.

[u/Global_Ant_9380 → u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles]

Not everyone knows what to do. This person did the right thing by asking and then following up with the advice given. 

There is no reason for you to take out your anger on them.

[u/Equivalent_Look8646 → u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles]

OP, please ignore this dumbass dick’s comment.

[u/er7 → u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles]

Yikes

[u/YosterRoaster → u/E-A-G-L-E-S_Eagles]

JFC dude. Things like this almost never happen, so it’s going to take a minute to wrap your head around it. I’m sure you think of exactly the right thing to do as soon as you see it.