Someone Filming My House?

[Valkman]

This is weird - the wife and I live in a gated community far from the Strip in Vegas. Today we were out running around all day, and when we get home our neighbor comes over. He says earlier in the afternoon his dog started barking so he opens the front door. He sees a small silver car has parked across the street, and as he watches a guy gets out, but leaves one foot in the car, then produces a video camera. He points it at my house and stands there just filming, never panning to any other house. My neighbor starts to say something to him, and the guy jumps in his car and takes off.

The wife is freaked, and now she wants a gun next to her all the time. I think it's something else: I've been on Long Term Disability for over 4 years now, and moving to Vegas I moved 600 miles from the company that pays me. I am still an employee (25 years in July), and I'm wondering if thay hired someone to check and see if I'm still as disabled as I'm supposed to be. I will be watching now to see if anyone in small silver cars has an interest in me.

Anyone have any experience with something like this? I hope it's about disability, because if it's not somebody's looking for something.

 

[kbr80]

You live in a gated place. If you have a gate guard, check with them, if you have not already. See if they remember a P.I. or something.

 

[schadenfreude]

Probably a real estate appraiser like me. I spend all day taking pictures of peoples houses. It might have been a digi cam instead of a camcorder or a camcorder that takes stills.

Usually that happens a lot if your house has sold within the last year. If it's unique or the nicest/worst house in the neighborhood extend that range by another year.

Insurance company maybe. We switched homeowners policy's this year and I came home to the ins peon in my back yard taking photos of my pool. I had to "escort" him from the property and quickly told the ins company to suck it. I don't care if you take photos of my house but don't hop a locked gate that has a posted NT sign.

Lots of things it could be.

 

[Valkman]

Nah, no guard, and easy to get in - just follow someone!

schadenfreude, good points. We bought this house in September and I have seen it listed in flyers in a "sold homes" column. All the houses are pretty much the same, all single story. Very good possibilty! And, it was a digital still or video camera.

Man I'd be pissed if a Ins. guy was in the backyard! Lucky he didn't get shot!

 

[Lennyjoe]

Wierd indeed.

If it was a real estate broker then why would he tuck tail and run when the neighbor confronted him?

Im thinking more on the line of P.I. from the insurance folks checking you out. Thats my best guess.

 

[schadenfreude]

If it was a real estate broker then why would he tuck tail and run when the neighbor confronted him?

When I am confronted I have several options. I do one of usually 3 things.

1. If it is a woman or older person or non threatening male I will stop, give them a business card, and then explain how the whole process works. They usually appreciate it.

2. If it's one of the above but they are being rude or snooty I will act more athoritarian so they assume I'm with the county. I say appraiser but they hear assessor. They usually go about their business.

3. If it is a threatening male or female with a bat, knife, gun, dog, or any weapon, I have found it's easiest to floor it. I have been shot at (on public property) and I have had things thrown at me and the fastest way to keep me safe is to flee and then call 911 to report it.

It is not illegal to take pics of peoples homes if you are on public property.


Won't be much of an issue this year since I am getting signs for my car. With all the kidnappings going on parents are getting really upset if their children are around and a male has a camera out. I completely understand and the signs are for my protection.

 

[Valkman]

It is not illegal to take pics of peoples homes if you are on public property.

Exactly. The wife wanted to know if we could "make a report" with the police, but I said we had no description of him or the car, plus he did nothing illegal. I don't know - there's been a bunch of home invasions lately, and maybe that's why we're so paranoid. One guy answered his door, and a BG took his wallet at gunpoint. Then he demanded the PIN # of his ATM card, and the guy told him what it was. Then the BG shot him in the face, killing him.

Hopefully it's nothing, but the wife is really upset about it. Thinking a dog and a 12 gauge pump would be good about now.

Thanks for your help guys!

Don

 

[Pendragon]

Appraiser sounds too fishy.

Based on what you said, someone is paying your disability and has decided to audit you

If you are as disabled as you claim, then you might be ok - but who knows?

doing be out splitting wood and participating in a rodeo, etc.

Personally, I would just stay home and play on the computer all the time, so who would know? What gets me are the ones that get caught doing said activities - I mean really!? what were they thinking?

Definately act as if you are being watched.

 

[citizen]

Hey Don-
I got a friend here in LV that's a PI; he frequently does that sort of stuff. I don't care for it but it's his job. Sometimes he gets an out-of-town account to check on a local; similar to a re-located payee. Verify a new address, make sure they really moved, etc. At worst it may be real estate connected IMHO. BUT----- nice to see you're "heads-up". IF- you DO have further "contacts" with someone "recording" you let me know; I'll run it by him.

 

[JimJD]

Is'nt a gated community private property?
I just moved into one Myself. You've got Me wondering now.

 

[DeadCalm]

The insurance PI sounds about right. Some years ago my neighber was skewered by a fork lift that took out parts of his internal organs. He successfuly sued. Later, a strange car appeared on the block, with a guy just sitting there, but staring down toward my friend's house. I asked him if he needed any help, he being a stranger to the neighborhood. He said "Wow, you guys really watch out for each other." A few minutews later he drove off and never returned.
Ross

 

[Mike Irwin]

That's pretty "in your face" for a disability insurance investigator, though.

Normally they don't want to be seen, or want to blend.

On a related note, a friend of mine is a Federal Police Officer. One of his friends, "Fred," was badly injured in the line of duty, and was out for a LONG time. Even though all of the medical information backed up his claims, the government didn't buy it in the least, so they investigated Fred.

The investigator took a lot of film of Fred reroofing his house.

When called into the meeting where the investigator & the insurance & governement people were going to bury him with the video tape.

Fred did them one better.

He brought in his identical twin brother, "Ted," who, by trade and profession, is a roofer, and who had spent several days reroofing Fred's house.

 

[geekWithA.45]

If you're on disability, I have no doubt it's an insurance investigator, albeit an inept one. My college roomie used to do that sort of thing, and I "rode along" with him on a couple of occassions.

 

[El Tejon]

Mike Irwin, I DREAM about cases like Fred/Ted!

 

[Valkman]

Personally, I would just stay home and play on the computer all the time, so who would know? What gets me are the ones that get caught doing said activities - I mean really!? what were they thinking?

That's pretty much what I have done for 4 years! I know what you mean about people getting caught, and that's probably why when you apply for disability you're treated as a liar and a fake from day 1. I'm going to call the head disability guy at my company and ask him if they hired someone. I've gotten along with him pretty well before, so maybe he'll tell me.

Is'nt a gated community private property?

Not sure. I know that the city of Las Vegas doesn't take care of anything inside the gates except for garbage removal.

That's pretty "in your face" for a disability insurance investigator, though.

I live at the end of a court, but off to the left a little, so to get a pic of my house he would have had to come all the way in like he did. Maybe he didn't want to come in that far, I don't know. My neighbor is a minister who's home alot and pays attention - and I'm glad!

 

[RustyHammer]

I've been on Long Term Disability for over 4 years now

With a moving camera? I'd bet it's a P.I. investigating your disability. I see attorneys around my office watching that sort of thing all the time. (Insurance defense firm).

Caught a realtor take still shots of my new house. He said it was part of the "comps" he was running for a client. He showed me his card, I had seen similar things from the buyer's side before ... believed him. NO biggie.

Never the less, keep your shot gun handy, and, don't go chasing the ole lady around the yard!

/Rusty

 

[Citadel99]

He brought in his identical twin brother, "Ted," who, by trade and profession, is a roofer, and who had spent several days reroofing Fred's house.

That's great!!!

Mark

 

[Smurfslayer]

overlooked?

From the original post:

" ...produces a video camera. He points it at my house and stands there just filming, never panning to any other house. My neighbor starts to say something to him, and the guy jumps in his car and takes off."

[SS] IMO this sentence lends some creedance to the 'person who wouldn't want to get caught' theory. Whether this is a PI, or, a burglar, tax assessor, real estate appraiser, tourist whatever, their actions when caught are not what a normal person would expect of a person who has a "legal right to be there" (on public property) doing nothing illegal or immoral.

I think given the circumstance, I get the plate number, vehicle and person description if possible, report to police as a person I don't normally see in the 'hood, doing something I don't usually see. If they're doing nothing wrong, no harm-no foul. What's the worst case? The county misses out on few speeding tickets following up my report...

Just my 2 pieces of eight...

 

[HankB]

If he shows up again, and you see him, call the cops and report that a peeping tom is trying to look through your windows.

A neighbor of mine who was involved in a personal-injury lawsuit was staked out by a PI, so they did this. Cops came, had a little "talk" with the guy. No more surveillance.

 

[Balog]

At least your wife wants to protect herself. I think her wanting to have a gun on her at all times is admirable and prudent. Does she have a CCW?

 

[Valkman]

Good stuff guys, and thanks.

Balog, she has just started shooting, and bought her first gun - a Ruger Mk II pistol. Last time at the range she actually tried my .45 with light reloads and liked it. After yesterday I want her to shoot the .380 Makarov and she can keep that close. No CCW yet, but we'll work on it.