Fort Worth Police Increase Patrols After Burglaries at Cooper Apartments

When a six-alarm fire ripped through the Cooper Apartments in Fort Worth last week, more than 800 people were forced out of their homes overnight. That alone is traumatic. But for many residents, the nightmare didn’t stop there.

Now, some are coming back to find their belongings missing — jewelry, electronics, bottles of liquor — gone. And here’s the part that’s really disturbing: people who don’t live there were caught on security cameras entering apartments while the actual tenants were locked out.

You’re already dealing with the stress of losing your home, and then someone walks into your space — without notice, without permission — and takes what’s left? It’s not just theft. It feels like a complete breakdown of basic trust and safety.

Fort Worth police have started investigating, but so far, there’s no word on how many residents were affected or who was behind the entries. What we do know is that a lot of people are angry, confused, and still waiting for answers — and the building management hasn’t responded to anyone publicly.

Let me ask you this: if your apartment was destroyed in a fire, and someone entered without telling you, how would you feel? What would you want done differently?

Let’s break down what’s really happening — and why it matters beyond just one apartment complex.

Who Took Our Stuff? Residents Share Disturbing Security Footage

One of the most frustrating things residents are dealing with isn’t just the loss of their things — it’s the way it all happened.

Tenants shared security camera footage showing unidentified people walking into their locked apartments — even though the residents themselves weren’t allowed back inside after the fire.

According to CBS News Texas, one tenant saw people entering her unit around 7:30 PM and was told by construction workers that they were “insurance assessors.” But when she asked security staff, they said one of them was actually their own supervisor. So which is it?

“I’m really frustrated with the fact that strangers can access our units, but residents ourselves cannot,” she said. “It’s really, really concerning that there’s so much confusion with who’s entering when, considering the reports of theft that have occurred since the fire.”

No one gave clear notice. No list of who would be entering. No timeline. Just confusion — and now, missing property.

Similar safety concerns were raised recently in a Southwest Atlanta apartment complex where a shooting left a teenager injured overnight.

Where’s the Management? Tenants Say They Were Left in the Dark

While residents are demanding answers, the Cooper Apartments’ management has gone silent. Multiple tenants say they never received any notification that people would be entering their units for inspections or repairs.

And now that property has gone missing? Still no official comment from the property managers.

CBS reached out to the management company for clarification, but they didn’t return messages. For many tenants, the silence feels like a second betrayal — first losing their homes, now being ignored when theft is involved.

When something this serious happens, you expect at least basic transparency: Who entered? Why? When? Were they verified? And if tenants can’t even get back into their own units, how were others able to?

It’s raising real questions about responsibility and oversight — and for now, no one from the building side is answering them.

Fort Worth Police Respond — But Details Are Still Scarce

The Fort Worth Police Department has confirmed they are investigating the theft reports. Officers have increased patrols around the Cooper Apartments, which residents say is a relief — but many feel it’s too little, too late.

At the time of writing, police haven’t disclosed:

• How many tenants have officially reported theft
• Whether there are any suspects
• Or if they’ve identified the individuals seen in the security footage

People want to believe something is being done, but right now, it feels like everything is in limbo. Some tenants have filed police reports. Others say they’re still trying to figure out what’s missing. And many are asking the same question:

Where are the items? If it’s just laid out on the table, and you can’t find the items, then it must be missing.

Unpredictable emergencies — like this recent ambulance crash into a home in New Jersey — often expose how unprepared property managers are when it comes to security and response.

A Perfect Storm for Theft — How Chaos Became Opportunity

Emergencies like this fire create the ideal environment for things to go wrong — not just structurally, but in terms of security. With residents locked out, no one guarding individual apartments, and multiple parties moving in and out, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of who’s doing what.

That’s exactly the kind of confusion burglars exploit.

And let’s be real — this wasn’t a random break-in. It’s the result of poor coordination, lack of accountability, and a total failure in communication between management and tenants. Whether it was actual theft or just negligence, people’s personal spaces were violated. That shouldn’t happen — not after the trauma of a fire.

Incidents like the Pueblo County home invasion case show how important it is to take quick legal and safety measures, even when the situation seems unclear.

Fort Worth’s Ongoing Battle With Property Crimes

What happened at Cooper Apartments is part of a larger problem Fort Worth residents are facing — the rising concern over property crime across the city.

Fort Worth sees around 3.9 burglaries per 1,000 residents — higher than the national average.

The broader property crime rate is over 26 per 1,000, according to CrimeGrade.org.

In high-density residential complexes, unauthorized access incidents often spike after major emergencies like fires or floods.

What’s scary is: even during disaster recovery, there are no strong protocols to stop this kind of breach. Tenants don’t know their rights. Management doesn’t enforce any entry policy. And unless someone’s caught on camera, it’s hard to prove what happened.

For readers who live in Fort Worth — or any big city — this raises serious concerns:

If your apartment complex burned down today, would you trust the management to protect your space tomorrow?

What Displaced Residents Can Do Right Now?

If you’re a Cooper Apartments tenant — or someone in Fort Worth worried about post-crisis security — here’s what you can do immediately to protect yourself and push for answers:

• File a police report — even if you’re unsure what was stolen. Create a paper trail now, not later.
• Email or text your apartment management demanding entry logs and names of all who accessed your unit.
• Request a copy of your renters’ insurance policy and ask your provider if post-disaster theft is covered.
• Document everything — take photos of what’s left, what’s missing, and any damage. It could help with claims.
• Join tenant group chats, Facebook groups, or WhatsApp groups to stay updated and share experiences.

You don’t have to face this alone — but you do have to stay active. Otherwise, it’s too easy for these problems to be brushed under the rug.

Final Thoughts

What happened at Cooper Apartments wasn’t just a tragedy—it became a wake-up call.

Fires are unpredictable. But theft, miscommunication, and mismanagement after the fire? That’s preventable. Residents deserved better. They deserved protection, information, and transparency.

Now the question isn’t just “Who stole what?”

It’s: “Who’s going to take responsibility for letting it happen?”

If this story doesn’t push Fort Worth — and housing managers everywhere — to rethink how they handle crisis response, we’ll see this same pattern again.
And next time, it might be your building.

Want more real-time updates on neighborhood safety and housing issues? Visit our website Build Like New — your next read might help you stay one step ahead.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or security advice. Tenants facing theft or housing disputes should consult local law enforcement or a licensed attorney. All quotes and data are based on publicly available news sources and resident accounts at the time of writing.