GARLAND — It's been nearly two weeks since a tornado ripped through the Landmark Lake Village West apartment complex, but today was the first day residents were allowed back into their homes.
They wanted to recover what they could, but discovered that someone else had been there first.
Building management had fenced off the property and turned residents away, saying it was too dangerous to enter. It took a crowd of angry residents and volunteer attorney Justin Nichols to finally push their way in.
"I've spoken with the City of Garland, none of them have been able to confirm that there's any order or legal reason why these people can't at least view their property," Nichols said. "So I'm not aware of anything that would keep them from trying to go in to get their belongings and get on with their lives."
Residents drove to the complex in a caravan, showed their ID's to security and entered the property, glad for the chance to start recovering some belongings. But when they climbed over debris and entered their front doors, many said they knew they had been robbed.
"Our drawers have been pulled out, this isn't how we left it," said resident Dennis Benson, who moved into the complex just six weeks ago with his family.
Benson believed a gun, an iPad, a PlayStation, a laptop and other valuables had all been taken.
It was the same in other apartments, with mattresses overturned, drawers pulled open and boxes ripped apart. Resident Dennis Eveland said someone stole his electronics, tools and credit cards.
"It's not even the things I'm missing. I'm a Christian, I've already forgiven these people," Eveland said. "But that doesn't stop me from being mad. It's just about feeling violated."
In a statement to News 8, building management said that the safety and security of residents and their personal belongings has been a top priority since the tornado ripped through.
"Our decision to restrict access to the property was made after the City of Garland's Department of Building Safety as well as our insurance adjuster and engineering team surveyed the damage and deemed it unsafe for residents to enter," the statement reads.
"We have communicated our safety recommendation to residents, and have made clear that we will make our best efforts to recover heirlooms and other irreplaceable or valuable items."
It's too late for residents who wish they had been allowed in earlier – and who are now considering legal action.
