A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for a Queens couple who say they came home to find a stranger lounging in their apartment—allegedly let in by their building’s doorman.
Bill and Yelim Kim were wrapping up a trip to Yellowstone National Park on July 24 when their home security system alerted them to movement inside their Long Island City place. The live feed showed a woman wandering around, grabbing a drink, and making herself comfortable on their couch.
“It was panic, panic, panic,” Yelim told The Post, describing the moment they saw the intruder on the last night of their getaway.
Bill said he was in disbelief, adding, “We can’t help or wonder, what would she have done if we didn’t catch her on camera?”
The situation got even more unsettling when the woman spotted the camera and yanked it off the shelf, cutting off the feed. The couple spent hours calling police and friends from their yurt, with Yelim having to convince the local precinct it wasn’t a prank.
Two friends rushed to the building and one bravely knocked on the couple’s door. The woman left but returned minutes later, using a set of keys to let herself back in. Police arrived shortly after and took her away in an ambulance.
According to an email from building management cited by The Post, the woman allegedly claimed to be the Kims’ dog walker, and a doorman reportedly let her up. That doorman was removed, and security was tightened.
Just two days later, the same woman showed up at the lobby again, still wearing the same dress and heels, now with a hospital bracelet. She tried to get inside but was turned away.
“I had a full stomach ache when I saw her,” Yelim said. The NYPD is investigating the case as a burglary, though no charges have been filed and nothing was taken.
The Kims say they feel violated and are desperately searching for a new place to live. “It doesn’t feel like a safe space for us anymore,” Bill said.
What would you do if a stranger took over your home while you were away?
