Not that penthouse problems will ever be my problems, granted. But let's not be too absurd here.
The main reason a thief wouldn't want to is that is loud and suspicious looking, much more likely to be noticed. People seeing someone they don't know fucking around with smashing a window in town might call the cops, if they seem someone they don't know using a key they assume they were given it by the residents
These buildings also change hands, whether between family members, or just outright sales, more so if a unit in the building is currently for sale, someone could access the building by showing interest, not even with the real estate agent but just telling the doorman you have a viewing. You wouldn’t have to hack the elevator at all and I doubt this perpetrator did. It would take a pretty vigilant doorman to stop this/determine the identity and purpose of all visitors.
Most of the doormen are there to provide additional services to the residents, like having a cab waiting when they are on their way out and other small conveniences, not so much as gate keepers especially since 99.99% of the people entering are no cause for concern.
Most people lost more from the door/door frame damage than they did from the theft.
We used to buy popcorn and snacks from him when the scouts were fundraising. Great opportunity to case places....
Also, other than "high security" locks, it is easier to bump a lock than it is to get a duplicate key. Most people have mid grade entry sets on their house. Anybody can learn to bump those, with some practice, and it only takes about twenty or thirty seconds, particularly on an older, worn, lock.
I taught myself, decades ago, and was surprised how easy it was. My father always said, locks just keep honest people honest.
Not sure that kind of talk is allowed here, HN feels very strongly about how all knowledge can be extrapolated from first principles if you grew up in a nice enough suburb.
Per the article:
> ...found inside a $2 million Lower East Side condo...
It may sound absurd for folks outside of NY (or Bay Area), but $2M barely gets you a 2/2 in Manhattan these days [1].
[1] https://newconstructionmanhattan.com/nyc-apartments-by-price...
$2M USD can buy an older stock 3-bed 2-bath or "classic six"[1] co-op apartment in Manhattan.[2] Anything north of $2M for a 2-bed 2-bath is more likely to be in an expensive neighborhood, an explicitly expensive/luxury building or new (and likely luxury) condo unit building. This last category is pertinent to NYC real-estate because most apartment inventory is co-op compared to condo.[3]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Six
[2] https://streeteasy.com/3-bedroom-apartments-for-sale/manhatt...
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/realestate/getting-starte...