Korean-American residents of a senior apartment complex in LA Koreatown have been suffering from a spate of burglaries. Residents have demanded security measures from the management company, but the residents say the management has been irresponsible.
Korean residents of Swansea Park Senior Apartments, located at Romaine St & N Kingsley Dr, said four cars parked in the apartment parking lot were smashed on the morning of December 28, 2023. The windows were smashed and items inside were stolen.
“When I went out after another resident informed me, the windows of my car were smashed and there were pieces of glass scattered inside,” said Danny Kim, 68. “They took my $300 sunglasses, Disabled Person Parking Placards, and even the apartment gate remote control. I’m worried about a possible repeat of this crime.”
Two cars were also stolen in 2022. “In August of that year, my Hyundai Sonata disappeared when I came out in the morning,” said resident Aera Yoo. “About a month later, I received a call from the police saying that they had found the car, and when I went to look at it, it was in a terrible condition, with the wheels missing.”
This latest theft marks the second time Yoo’s car has been stolen, just over a year after she bought it. “When my car was stolen, I begged the management company to install CCTV, but they didn’t respond, and a year later I was again victimized,” Yoo said. “The management company keeps saying that they are not responsible, but I am really angry.”
According to the residents, there is no CCTV or security guards in the building, and the manager, who commutes to an office in the building, is not always available, leaving residents with nowhere to turn for help in the event of a serious crime or dangerous situation.
Currently, the apartment complex has a total of 82 units, and most of the residents are reportedly Korean seniors. Residents of the apartment said that security has become increasingly insecure since the pandemic.
“I’ve never felt as unsafe as I do now,” said Jae-hwa Nam (84), a 20-year resident. “A few months ago, there was a fire across the street from my apartment, where homeless people live, and it almost burned down my apartment.”
In addition, there have been recent incidents of non-seniors living in the building illegally, which has threatened residents. There were also cases of delivered packages being stolen, according to residents.
However, since the apartment was recently purchased by a new landlord, residents complained of poor security management and so-called “an arrogant and authoritarian attitude” such as the removal or blocking of common areas and outdoor pedestrian walkways where residents used to meet and chat.
Meanwhile, the manager of the apartment explained that it was difficult to install CCTV and deploy security guards due to the lack of budget, but said, “It is difficult to provide any more details due to the company’s policy.”
BY SUAH JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
