One of the knocks on apartment living is that you never know who it is you are moving in next to. We all hope it will be a kindly old man or a considerate young couple, but sometimes the people next door are downright strange. If you suspect that something illegal might be going on next door, here are a few basic steps you can follow.

First off, don’t ever try to confront them yourself, even if you have other people with you. You likely aren’t a police officer, and if something illegal is going on next door, you don’t want to be caught trying to bust them in person. Simply remain friendly and try not to act too suspicious if you see your neighbors in the common areas of your building.

Second, report any suspicious activity to your building’s management company as son as you suspect something might be up. They might need you to fill out a statement so that they can pursue legal action. If you have a landlord, talk to him or her about it and gauge how interested they are in what you’re saying. If you feel that nothing is going to be done, you can then think about contacting the authorities directly.

Contacting the cops should only be done as a last resort if going through your landlord or management company failed. Make sure you give the people in charge enough time to act before you take control of the situation. Remember, if you’re wrong, you’re going to look pretty silly.