Not sure how to deal with a neighborhood situation. Advice appreciated.

[charliehustle10]

Looks like I'm a little late

I had a simillar problem in NC, but with dog walkers leaving dog crap all over an open feild adjacent to my house. The lot is empty, and I'm new to the neighborhood, so I guess before I bought it many neighborhood residents treated the lot as their public toliet. After numerous attemps at reasoning with the people, asking them to pick up their dog's feces, telling them this in fact was private property and they were tresspassing, releasing my dog to chase theirs away, were all met to no avail, I went to Lowe's bought about ten stakes, some KEEP OUT SIGNS/PRIVATE PROPERTY/NO TRESSPASING SINGS, and spool of sting. I created a rudimentry fence, and posted my property.

Addtionally, being a deer hunter, I had some trail cameras that I am not using at the moment. I set up two cameras on opposite ends of the small lot, and now have documented footage of a-continued amounts of littering, b-destruction of my rudimentery fence and one of the cameras, c- tresprassing. I presented this evidence to one of the worst of the perpetrators, who now activley walks out into the yard everyday with a pooper scooper. Problem Solved.

 

[johndoe1027]

I just saw that they have the huge concrete blocks for sale right down the road. I might lay a few of those in the yard for a temp barrier. I have signs posted and would put more on any type of fence that I build. I'd rather not have to spend money on these punks though. I don't have any at the moment so it's a big deal right now. 6 months ago I'd have built myself a 4' chain link and made the posts VERY sturdy. Right now I just have my camera and the net for obtaining info.

Cameras are the best. Now all I have to do is get more footage.

 

[rrruuunnn]

just a thought,
i haven't finished reading all your responses. anyway, i would consider not putting dangerous invisible obstacles on your property.

when people were poaching my land i was adviced to make at least a one wire fence. i was silly enought not to put a sign to visibly show the wire since i never thought anyone would drive inside that deep. one of those poachers drove into the wire too hard and the pole unrooted and most landed on his car. the wire must have scratched up his paint. he wouldn't stop vandalizing the signs with bullet holes for 3 more days. dangerous traps can escalate the situation. visible barriers are nice though.

 

[rooter]

I did not read all replies, but I read a few. I would worry about what is going on on my property and less about what is going on in the street. Even though it is part of being a good citizen, truly it does not involve you unless they crashed into your car or something. I am studying CJ now, so I know a little about the laws where I reside. As far as pressing charges for street racing, I do not think you can do that. I think an officer needs to witness a violation. What you could though is post your land and press charges for trespassing. Take a picture to prove your allegation and file a charge at your local courthouse. Any action you take against an ignorant redneck is going to be met with some form of retaliation, though.

Minding your own business and ignoring them will take the "fun" out of their antics, and they'll likely move on to someone else.

 

[johndoe1027]

I agree with both of you. I have a very visible fence in the works. Small boulders. I think I can get some dropped off for free, still working on it. Then they can do whatever they want out in the street. I have signs posted and am considering making use of two poles at the end of the drive for when we aren't home. I'm glad I didn't dig them up a long time ago like I had planned. I'm going to string a piece of chain across it so no one can get up into the driveway. Every other approach to the house is fairly visible so it would at least make me feel a little safer when we are away for the night.

Oh and a video of the racing is good enough to make the charges stick. They aren't dumb enough to do that on this side of the interstate again though so I guess I did achieve something with all of this. That was all that I truly worried about anyway. Well, that and my cats actually. :ducks from stuff being thrown by the dog lovers and cat haters:

The only thing that really stinks is letting them make all kinds of noise out there and not getting to return the favor. I have a loud V8 and buddies that have insane car stereos. The V8 outside their house wouldn't bother them most likely but some ridiculously loud rap sure would. Not that I would do that of course.

If anything else happens to my property I will call the Sheriff and ask for the deputy I spoke with before. I'll file another complaint with him. If I don't see any presence after that, I'll do what I can to secure my property (doing that anyway) and learn to ignore them. I still like the fertilizer idea though.... That would make the grass in between the boulders nice and lush. I'm sure there would be a few days where they tried to do more damage after they are installed anyway.

 

[sidro]

Hangouts for Teens

John
Had a similiar situation - some kids (16-17) come over when my wife was home looking to jump my son. He was pretty big so none wanted any by theirself, thus the "gang." They kicked the car and left when they found he was not home. He was nearby. My wife went to get him and as I got home from work, I see my wife driving with a jeep load of kids on her bumper. When they saw me they left. I went to the local hangout for teenagers and got all the tag numbers. When I got back home, the PD were there. Friendly with them, they ran the tags and gave me the info. I called a few of their fathers and let them know what their golden boys had been up to and since they were not legal age, any damage to my home or assaults on my son would be met with lawsuits to them directly (You can let your's know directly if they are of age). Never heard or saw them again.
Kids love to get together and brag about what they had done, find out where they hang out and you will find your perps.
Sorry for the long winded response and if I repeated anything someone else had said as this was a hot topic with many responses.
Neighberhood trouble is the worst kind. Good Luck

 

[johndoe1027]

Thanks sidro. Don't mention the length of your response. You've seen mine. I'm hoping to get some more info on the mean one. I still think he's the driver of the blazer that ran through the yard. Trouble is, I never see him in the next town over (where the stores and red lights are). That's how I got dumb one's tag number, at taco bell. I'm seeing a pattern of when the blazer comes home each day but today he was 45 min early. I missed him. If I have time, tomorrow, I'll be out there with the binoculars in hopes of getting some sort of info on him. I'll have to talk with LE to get a address but from there I can get a phone number. I wouldn't hesitate to call his father since I have video of the kid basically threatening me with the fact that his dad is LE. If his dad is LE, he won't appreciate it. If he's not, I'll have some more info for my back pocket.

 

[jonjon1885]

updates????? plz, iv'e been following since the start im hooked. did the dumb one do any more dumb stuff, did the alpha dog kill him self yet plz i need my fix.

 

[KD5NRH]

I'll definitely be getting a lawyer if any more damage is done and I get it on tape.

If there's anything you can claim on your homeowner's insurance, do it, give them copies of the photos and video, and let them deal with it. If you can show them it's a recurring problem and they'll get more claims if something isn't done, they can use their lawyers to solve the problem.

 

[KD5NRH]

when people were poaching my land i was adviced to make at least a one wire fence. i was silly enought not to put a sign to visibly show the wire since i never thought anyone would drive inside that deep. one of those poachers drove into the wire too hard and the pole unrooted and most landed on his car. the wire must have scratched up his paint. he wouldn't stop vandalizing the signs with bullet holes for 3 more days.

In TX, it's a good idea to get a cow or two to go with that fence:

28.03. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. (a) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner:
(1) he intentionally or knowingly damages or destroys the tangible property of the owner;
(2) he intentionally or knowingly tampers with the tangible property of the owner and causes pecuniary loss or substantial inconvenience to the owner or a third person; or
(3) he intentionally or knowingly makes markings, including inscriptions, slogans, drawings, or paintings, on the tangible property of the owner.
(b) Except as provided by Subsections (f) and (h), an offense under this section is:
<SNIP>
(4) a state jail felony if the amount of pecuniary loss is:
<SNIP>
(C) less than $1,500, if the property was a fence used for the production or containment of:
(i) cattle, bison, horses, sheep, swine, goats, exotic livestock, or exotic poultry; or
(ii) game animals as that term is defined by Section 63.001, Parks and Wildlife Code;

One of the families near us had a guy picked up on the felony charge after he ran through their fence, (unintentionally, probably DUI, but they couldn't pin that on him) losing his license plate in the process, then drove to a more level spot and cut the fence there to drive out. They showed the deputy the tracks, he found the plate and verified there were cattle in the pasture, and had a warrant issued PDQ. Another family had a guy stealing metal from their barn who got stuck trying to drive back across their field and out the hole he'd cut in the fence; the items found in his truck were only worth enough to make a class B misdemeanor theft charge but cutting the fence got him felony CM.

 

[johndoe1027]

updates????? plz, iv'e been following since the start im hooked. did the dumb one do any more dumb stuff, did the alpha dog kill him self yet plz i need my fix.

haha! I didn't realize this had become such a soap opera (for someone else at least). Lately, it's just been the excessive acceleration when they drive by so maybe they are losing interest. I might not put the boulders down there now. That might give them an excuse to try harder to tear up something. Then I'd have to weedeat around them too. I hate weedeating. Also, no 4 wheeler all last week (that I noticed). He might have told dad about what was happening (which much distorting of the story I'm sure) and dad took the keys or something. Either that or he might have been out of town for spring break. We'll see what next week brings. My buddy has a color out door camera (real camera) that he's willing to let me borrow. I didn't want to fool with running the wires and swapping out VHS tapes (since I can't afford a DVR) but I'm going to do it. Video doesn't lie.

KD5NRH, great idea about the insurance, thanks.

One of the families near us had a guy picked up on the felony charge after he ran through their fence, (unintentionally, probably DUI, but they couldn't pin that on him) losing his license plate in the process, then drove to a more level spot and cut the fence there to drive out. They showed the deputy the tracks, he found the plate and verified there were cattle in the pasture, and had a warrant issued PDQ. Another family had a guy stealing metal from their barn who got stuck trying to drive back across their field and out the hole he'd cut in the fence; the items found in his truck were only worth enough to make a class B misdemeanor theft charge but cutting the fence got him felony CM.

Oh wow, I read the law wrong at first. I'm glad you explained it for me.

If I called the right (or wrong) landscaper the trench could cost near a grand maybe. Especially if I whined until it looked like nothing ever happened. I could demand custom sod be grown to match my ugly grass exactly.

 

[Robert Hairless]

If there's anything you can claim on your homeowner's insurance, do it, give them copies of the photos and video, and let them deal with it. If you can show them it's a recurring problem and they'll get more claims if something isn't done, they can use their lawyers to solve the problem.

My understanding is that many (maybe even most or all) insurance companies will cancel a homeowners policy after three claims. Your advice might cost him his coverage and require him to get more expensive coverage from another company. Insurance companies don't like paying claims and they tend not to want to insure people who were terminated by another insurer for making excessive claims.

I doubt that any insurance company will use its lawyers to fight an insured's ongoing battles for him. That's not a profitable business. Faced with an insured who has relatively small but recurring nuisance claims the company would more likely write off those claims and terminate the policy.

 

[KD5NRH]

My understanding is that many (maybe even most or all) insurance companies will cancel a homeowners policy after three claims.

That depends mostly on the company, the coverage, and whether he has other coverage with them. A reputable company that also carries his life/car/whatever policy is not likely to drop a longtime customer in good standing over a few minor claims, stemming from a solvable problem, that add up to less than the last couple years' premiums, but they will have the incentive to help deal with the problem.

Living in tornado and flash flood country, I know people that have had total losses and almost constant damage claims, but still have no trouble maintaining insurance.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Glad to be corrected, KD5NRH. So you think that the original poster is in that class of highly valued insureds and that his insurance company's lawers will pursue the 19-year-old ATM drivers on his behalf and hold them accountable?

 

[johndoe1027]

I guess I'm a "highly valued insured" since I have 3 cars on my other policy with them and my car insurance policy is 12 years old. I'm not sure they'd be thrilled about me wanting them to fix the trench in the yard and I doubt they'd "lawyer up" over it. If things get serious (vandalism etc) I'll definitely call them though. If nothing else, just for advice. I actually will be calling them here in a minute to change car insurance from one to another. My agent there is always very helpful.

 

[Markbo]

Even if you did, you would still have to come out of pocket for the deductible. Get that camera up there and set it for motion detection within your yard confines if possible. Be aware though, that if they see it... they will steal it!

 

[roger505]

Kid

It looks as you have a drainage problem. How about a 20" wide by 20" deep ditch? Work wounders for that standing water. If someone were to try to drive over it , it would trap there tires and tow trucks are very expensive.

My father once had a like problum with a mail box, 6" well casing inside a wood cover worked well.

 

[rs25.com]

I know I am nuts ... but did it ever occur to anyone that maybe you could go make friends with these neighbors and their wild kids? All this talk of lawsuits and warfare (basically) seems to be kind of crazy. They sound like pretty typical kids with nothing to do. And some people here sound like they've got some pent-up anger and are looking for someone to take it out on. I mean ... really, come on, is this the best we can do?

Personally, I think people rise to the occasion to be the people you treat them to be. If you treat them like a problem, they'll be a problem. Why not have a neighborhood barbecue or something and invite them over? They might actually be good people. You know, once you get to know them...

Besides, if you're telling me that you never did anything wild and crazy when you were a kid ...

 

[johndoe1027]

They aren't interested in being friendly neighbors. They want to be tough guys. They think I just moved here from FL or NJ (which a lot of people are doing these days) and they want to run me out of town. You can tell by the way I talk that I am from around here but they just really want someone to terrorize.

I guess the good news is that ATV rider must have told everyone that I'm playing with cameras. That's why the dumb one burnt out on the other side of the neighbors house, out of view. That's why there's been no more yard damage even though there's been a few really rainy days since then.

Just the other day, the blazer saw me getting on the interstate as he was headed home. He didn't mess up the yard then, knowing I wasn't home. I think they might be done with the vandalism, now I'm just waiting for the transmissions to fall out of their trucks from trying to rev them up while driving by. The blazer will be first. It never knows what gear to go into. It will be hilarious to hear it come lose. That will be my only chance to make friends but I bet that even when I come down there with my truck, tow ropes and tools that they will still be threatening and unfriendly to me. I'll try anyway.

And I'm not one to invite strangers over to the house. Especially when they've threatened me before. And sure, I did plenty of crazy stuff when I was a kid. Major annoyance with the car stereos. Never damaged anyone else's property though.

 

[RoadkingLarry]

I know I am nuts ... but did it ever occur to anyone that maybe you could go make friends with these neighbors and their wild kids?

I don't care to make friends with people that attempt to terrorize me or in other ways attempt to use threats of violence to intimidate me. Nor do I make friends with poachers, people that play with unregistered NFA items, drug dealers or rabid gun banners. Some times we all can't just get along.

 

[rs25.com]

Well, sorry to hear that. It kind of makes you wonder what's wrong with people and why they have to bother you. Ugh. I always thought that living out in the middle of nowhere (more or less) would mean you wouldn't have these kinds of problems. Best of luck!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Sounds like you got it figured out. 2 and 3 aren't good. So, try #4, and if that doesn't work, go back to #1 (but #4 worth a try). If you go the tougher route (#1), make police reports. Insist that a written report is taken, and get a copy of it.

 

[Markbo]

...I think people rise to the occasion to be the people you treat them to be. If you treat them like a problem, they'll be a problem...

Personally I think people will act like the people that they are and it matters not one whit how I treat them. I work with about 20 other salesmen. Some are honest, friendly and helpful. Others are liars, cheats and hoods. I talk to all of them the same... treat them all with respect and am friendly to them because that is who I am.

One of the hoods (a young one) stole a hat off my desk and gave it away to a customer who asked for it, then lied to me about it later. I confronted him about it and it made some up some BS like "Well man, I was gonna get it back for you man, but since you are disrespecting me like that I can't do it, man." BS. A punk is a punk is a punk and I don't feel responsible for their shortcoming. I can only control what comes out of my mouth.

BTW I called that customer of his to nicely say that maybe he got my hat by mistake. He said "no... someone gave it to me and I'm keeping it" with a bit of an attitude. I called him 5 or 6 times a day for 2 weeks until he finally got tired of it and brought it back to me - with an attitude to boot. I didn't try to make friends, but neither did I talk to him like he was an all around great guy or a punk thief. I didn't talk to him except in a respectful and friendly manner.

I never once threatened him. That would have been the next step. Over a hat? You better believe it. I work in a concrete lot that is 125°+ for 6 months of the year. That and I just can't abide a thief. The next step would have been showing up at his house to take it back with 2 or 3 buddies from work in tow. In my own personal opinion, JD has been extremely nice and civil throughout the entire mess and I applaud him for it.

 

[Labyrinth]

Just read the entire post....Any Updates???

 

[rainbowbob]

The next step would have been showing up at his house to take it back with 2 or 3 buddies from work in tow.

Wow! This thread is still going? And now it's about getting back a hat under threat of force? Hmmmmm....

Did the OP ever talk to the kid's parents? Or the cops? Sigh...