Vandals Used Water to Breach Apartment Call Boxes

A wave of sabotage in San Francisco is reportedly being used to facilitate unauthorized building access.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stylized building facade and circular intercom portal, representing urban security vulnerabilities. — San Francisco residents are reporting a surge in apartment burglaries where vandals use water to bypass electronic entry systems. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Vandals in San Francisco recently damaged apartment call boxes on Scott Street by spraying them with water to trigger door releases. Authorities have linked this method of sabotage to a reported burglary at a residence where the entry system was compromised.

Why it matters

This tactic exploits electronic vulnerabilities to bypass building security, allowing perpetrators to gain entry for crimes such as package theft. Residents are now facing potential security risks as this method continues to target residential buildings.

Police are currently investigating the incidents on Scott Street, though no suspects have been arrested. Repair services report that they have been addressing dozens of water-damaged call boxes in the city every month.

The details

By spraying water into the call box, the perpetrators complete an electrical circuit that triggers the remote door release. Surveillance footage captured a man using this technique, which has been observed in the city for approximately two years.

The sabotage tactic has been observed by repair companies for approximately two years.
The most recent incidents of vandalism and the reported burglary took place last weekend.
A property owner formally notified tenants about the call box damage on Monday.

Legal Context

The recent incidents on Scott Street follow a pattern established by this two-year-old trend of using water to bypass electronic entry locks. Property crimes of this nature reflect a continued challenge for local law enforcement in addressing low-tech exploits of common security hardware.

Residents should report any malfunctioning call boxes or suspicious activity near entryways immediately to help prevent unauthorized access. Building managers are advised to inspect electronic hardware for signs of water damage to ensure building security systems remain functional.

The takeaway

Building security systems can be vulnerable to simple physical tampering that mimics legitimate access signals. Residents and property owners should remain vigilant regarding any unusual damage to intercom or call box panels.