After Chelsea Freeman and Dan Anderson had their car broken into, they installed a Ring video doorbell to make their home safer.
They didn’t realize they were in violation of the bylaws of their homeowners association.
“Both of us were a little bit taken aback,” said Freeman. “We didn’t really necessarily realize that the Ring doorbell was against any rules.”
Must be board-approved
They received an email on September 23, stating that all exterior modifications to a home must be board-approved and the doorbell needed to be removed within two weeks.
“The email stated that even though they understood that, the aesthetic of the community was being affected negatively, and that was a higher priority to them than the safety of the community,” said Freeman.
Public Response
Freeman wrote about the problem in a Facebook group and they received many responses in support of video doorbells.
“Other homeowners associations and presidents have reached out to us to express concern because they see the value of Ring in their community,” said Anderson.
Police Stance
The Naperville Police Department didn’t comment on this specific issue, but a spokesman said the department always recommends residents using technology to better secure their homes.
The NPD also joined the Ring portal in March, which they said would allow them to better track crime trends and identify suspects in the areas of burglaries.
What is a Video Doorbell?
Freeman and Anderson are hosting an open house in their community to discuss the benefits of video doorbells, which allow users to see when someone approaches the door, or when packages are delivered, even while not at home.
At the time of this posting the homeowners association had not responded to a request for comment.
The homeowners association will discuss the Ring video doorbell issue at a future meeting, though Freeman and Anderson will not be able to attend, as they rent their home.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
