Apex resident feels violated after string of car break-ins at apartment complex

A resident of an Apex apartment complex says he feels violated after a string of car break-ins over the weekend.

Early Sunday morning, someone broke into five vehicles at the Peak of Nichols Plaza Apartments at 900 Doverside Drive.

Apex police had yet to make an arrest as of Monday afternoon.

Residents said it’s not the first time car break-ins have happened at the complex.

On Monday, WRAL News saw shattered glass on the ground and windows covered in plastic at the complex.

“I don’t feel like there’s enough being done, honestly,” resident Luke Denton said.

Denton said he felt violated. He said he pays $160 extra to park in the complex’s enclosed lot to keep his car safe. This time, his car was unscathed.

However, Denton said his car was broken into twice since October 2023. Also, Denton’s wife’s car was stolen.

“You take that hit and hope it doesn’t happen again, and it keeps happening," Denton said.

Denton is still waiting for justice.

Denton says he wants to see more done from the complex owners, including brighter lights and more security cameras. Until then, he says residents are having to take matters into their own hands.

“It’s gotten to the point now, where if you sign your lease, you better get you a camera,” Denton said.

WRAL News reached out to the management at the Peak of Nichols and are awaiting a response.

Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe sent the following recommendations on how to stay safe..

• Always lock your doors, though that won’t help against smash-and-grab tactics.
• Never leave valuables in your car.

Data from Apex police wasn’t immediately available Monday, but numbers from nearby Raleigh and Wake County show break-ins are either steady, or slightly up year-to-date. In Raleigh, there have been nearly 1,000 break-ins reported in Raleigh since the start of this year.

Some area car thieves have even targeted law enforcement.

In a release Monday, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office said one of their deputy’s vehicles was broken into over the weekend as well, at a different apartment complex in Durham.

According to the release, an arrest has been made in that case, with stolen items recovered.

There’s no indication these thefts are connected.