Sensitive documents found in open storage at DeKalb apartment complex

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A tip led Channel 2 Action News to a pile of sensitive documents sitting out in the open at a DeKalb County apartment complex.

A woman who asked not to be identified told Channel 2's Eric Philips she stumbled upon the documents by accident. She said she has been staying with a friend at the Jackson Square Apartments near DeKalb Industrial.

Last Monday night, she was heading to her friend's unit when a man ran up behind her and robbed her at gunpoint.

"He said give it up. I had a bag in my hand, my laptop bag, and he had a gun pointed to my head," the woman said.

The man took her laptop, wallet and keys. Days later, she went searching around the property for anything of hers the robber may have left behind.

"We just happened to open this door just to see, could my information be there, and when we walked in there, we found boxes of applications and leases," the woman said.

The woman took Philips to the room, where he found personal information for residents, including one person who moved out seven years ago. The documents include Social Security numbers, copies of checks and bank account numbers.

Management at the complex declined to comment, and a regional manager told Philips by phone they would look into it, but asked him to leave the property.

"Very personal information from past residents who lived here," the victim said.

Philips was unable to get in touch with former residents whose personal information he found in the unlocked storage room.

A current resident told Philips he saw management moving the boxes into the leasing office.

Jackson Square Apartments sent Channel 2 Action News a statement on Friday.

"On the evening of May 2 we were made aware of a possible break-in at a locked storage facility where files containing confidential information about former tenants were located. We notified police and are cooperating with the investigation. Management is conducting an assessment to determine if confidentiality has been breached. The files have been moved to a secure location. We have no other information at this time," the statement said.

WSBTV