APARTMENT LIFE Part Two
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media
May 11, 2025
GULF SORES, Ala. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons with almost everything. And sometimes we must be willing to give up or do without certain things to receive something that we need more at that time.
High-density apartment life is not for everyone and has many drawbacks but they do provide basic shelter, some conveniences, and amenities that are needed for basic survival, and on certain properties, you can even find luxurious living if you’re willing to pay for it.
Apartment living can include multiple swimming pools and jacuzzies, fully equipped gyms, lavish clubhouses, and even golf courses!
Properties nationwide have also added secured entrances to the property, security technology such as surveillance cameras, security guards, and burglar alarm systems in each unit.
In a nationwide apartment crime survey conducted about three years ago, Baldwin County multi-unit complexes fared much better than many others in the country, scoring a high mark of 74 % when it came to safety and security. And although that’s a high C grade in most school systems, here in the real world, it still shows a lot of room for improvement.
While it is still true that Baldwin County’s crime rate is far below many similar-sized areas, but the fact is that crime, especially violent offenses and those that are drug related, or those that involve property crimes, are rising within the county and elsewhere in the State of Alabama.
Looking at crime statistics for apartments within the county over the past three years, we found that there had been at least eight shootings, including three homicides and four attempted murders.
Of those shootings, five have occurred in Daphne including two at the same complex.
One happened on Easter Sunday 2024 and it included the murder of one person and the attempted murder of a second person.
The second double shooting occurred just thirteen months later on April 29th, 2025, at the same apartment complex, the Audubon Park Apartments at 8160 County Road 64.
This double shooting was the result of a drug transaction and three persons have now been arrested and charged with attempted murder and robbery.
Other crimes such as vehicle break-ins, trespassing, drug activity, and disturbances have also been reported at this apartment complex.
There was also a fatal shooting that involved an FBI agent in Gulf Shores at an apartment complex in December 2024 while serving warrants on a tenant who was armed.
Robberies and burglaries in apartment complexes were low compared to other larger cities but at least three robberies have been reported including one that was reported at the Fly Creek Apartments located at 300 Fly Creek Ave in Fairhope on Thanksgiving Day in 2024. Fairhope police later arrested three people for that crime.
We also found that there had been at least eight suicide threats, or attempted suicides during the same timeframe including one that had occurred while we were researching these statistics this past week.
Where there is people, there will be differences and sometimes those differences can lead to conflicts, disturbances, or even violence.
Calls to police about neighborhood disputes are not uncommon and police often are called in to play referee.
Many of the calls that police respond to at apartment complexes are similar to those responded to at single-family homes and include family disputes, break-ins, or property crimes including thefts and prowling.
In part three of our investigative series, we’ll cover resident rights, property owner’s responsibilities, and how to better protect your family.
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