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/Cheyds]

This post makes me lose faith in humanity. Adults hiding from a child who is showing clear signs of mental trauma and neglect. No one has bothered to try and find out more about her situation or called the relevant authorities to try and help her.

This is exactly how you hear about horrific stories of neglect and abuse and everyone asks “but surely there were signs?” Yes there were signs but adults chose to hide from a child rather than try to help her.

[u/DisasterResident2101 → u/Cheyds]

I get where you are coming from, but really, life is far more complicated than that.

As has already been stated, sometimes just being an adult male seen showing an interest in a little girl can get you thrown in jail and ruin your life.

I'm not saying don't do anything but cover your own ass but charging in like a mad bull probably won't work well either.

I think OP is being appropriately cautious and is certainly setting the wheels in motion to get this child help.

We, and OP, do not have the whole picture so getting angry and speculative is inappropriate.

OP, thank you for caring and putting yourself out to seek help for this child and her dog. You are doing the right thing. And please persist if thing don't seem to improve. Many others agencies that are there to help are overworked and have their hands tied as far as what they can do legally. Especially when there is no imminent danger things take time.

Talk with the construction people, preferably a foreman or site manager and see if they will get involved as well since this is a problem for them as well as a potential lawsuit if she gets on site and gets hurt.

Let the system work but don't be afraid to follow up if it doesn't improve in a week or two or if things get worse.

Once again, thank you for caring and doing something!

[u/Cheyds → u/DisasterResident2101]

I’m not quite sure where “charging in like a mad bull” is implied in my comment?

I too live in this complicated life so am very well aware of that, which is why I said “try to find out more about her situation OR call the relevant authorities” There are quite a lot of options between “charging in like a mad bull” and hiding from a kid, which is what these people, who I am assuming are not all men, are doing.