neighbor vandalized my floodlight, my options?

[Dave Sherman]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor


I have a plan in motion for 100% coverage. no one won't be able to get close to the house without me knowing. it appears he was looking for something to break that I would know about quick. I thought about alerting police, but cops will laugh about a vandalized $5 watering pot. I need video to nail the guy doing these things.


While the monetary value of it is insignificant, you are being harassed at any rate, and there are still laws against it. Even if you can't prove that he did it, the police might at least like to know that somebody is destroying your property and giving you a hard time.

 

[greenjp]

Does the assumed perp live in the house facing the photographer's position in the first two pictures? And on the right side of the 3rd picture?

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Dave Sherman
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor


I have a plan in motion for 100% coverage. no one won't be able to get close to the house without me knowing. it appears he was looking for something to break that I would know about quick. I thought about alerting police, but cops will laugh about a vandalized $5 watering pot. I need video to nail the guy doing these things.


While the monetary value of it is insignificant, you are being harassed at any rate, and there are still laws against it. Even if you can't prove that he did it, the police might at least like to know that somebody is destroying your property and giving you a hard time.


I agree. I would at least take a trip down to the local authorities and ask to speak in person to someone about the entire matter.

And yes....harassment is a serious thing. It's not only annoying, but it can lead to bouts of anxiety and outbursts of anger toward the offender.

 

[Vikas]

what happened to the topic started by the "crazy" neighbor?

 

[Nick1994]

Do you park your cars outside or in the garage? If they're outside watch out, he might key them

 

[aquariuscsm]

I just read your post where you and your wife have a baby. Reading about your family being harassed (and stalked) especially now that I know yall have a baby in your household really [censored] me off. There's no way in [censored] your family should have to put up with this bull [censored]. And yes he IS stalking because he's watching every move yall make,to make sure he knows when he's safe to go onto your property without being caught,AND sneaking around your cameras.

What I'd do,I'd shine all floodlights directly in his windows,sit and wait on my property in hiding,armed. The second he steps foot on my property I'd beat the life out of the freak,handcuff the guy to my front porch,the call the fuzz so they can come "pick up the trash".

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
Originally Posted By: expat
Out of interest, what do your other neighbour's say about this nutcase next to you?


I talked to the guy who lives on the other side of me, he said he asked around. no one knows anything about him, he's lived here for 3.5 years. he keeps to himself.


Is he married, have kids ?

Maybe he doesn't have a family and is depressed ?

 

[dishdude]

What's the name of this subdivision? Passive Aggressive Manor?

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
Originally Posted By: expat
Out of interest, what do your other neighbour's say about this nutcase next to you?


I talked to the guy who lives on the other side of me, he said he asked around. no one knows anything about him, he's lived here for 3.5 years. he keeps to himself.


Is he married, have kids ?

Maybe he doesn't have a family and is depressed ?



Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha......good gosh! You would not last FIVE MINUTES in my neighborhood!

You would be quickly DEVOURED .

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Do you park your cars outside or in the garage? If they're outside watch out, he might key them


Probably will....but also another opportunity to catch him on video.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: xfactor9
I have a feeling if that neighbor was the one who posted here describing how he has a crazy neighbor who was annoying him by pointing the floodlights at his house and keeping him up all night, everyone here would be telling him to destroy the floodlights, shoot them with a BB gun, put a bag of burning dog feces on his porch, etc, etc, then shoot him if the guy comes over

After reading this thread, I question the sanity of some people here. Hopefully it's just internet bravado



Brilliant observation.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
You could try an experiment and try turning off the floods to see if he stops.
That's way too sensible.

When I moved into a San Diego neighborhood in '87, not knowing that it was in fact very safe, I installed low-wattage lights on the two sides of the house that stayed on all night. The next day my neighbor tells me it's too bright.

So I installed PIR sensors.

Job done. Happy neighbor for the 17 years I lived there.

 

[BRZED]

Looks like your neighbor can make himself a sandwich at 2 am without having to turn on the lights in his kitchen. Consider his energy savings thanks to your generosity.

 

[BRZED]

I can't post a link, because there is one offensive word in the exchange. Goggle "This Man Trolls His Jerk Neighbor In The Most Passive Aggressive Way Possible" and click the first search result (distractify.com) for much hilarity. This is an excellent example of how neighbors can resolve a house lighting dispute courteously while keeping a cool head and showing a good sense of humor - right?

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: BRZED
Looks like your neighbor can make himself a sandwich at 2 am without having to turn on the lights in his kitchen. Consider his energy savings thanks to your generosity.



This is what I suspected and why I asked him to post pictures. I would definitely have a problems with this. And he'd have more than a cracked water jug to worry about, as there are many legal ways to deal with this. The "perp" should just go to homeowners assn.

This is prison yard style lighting.

 

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: BRZED
Looks like your neighbor can make himself a sandwich at 2 am without having to turn on the lights in his kitchen. Consider his energy savings thanks to your generosity.



This is what I suspected and why I asked him to post pictures. I would definitely have a problems with this. And he'd have more than a cracked water jug to worry about, as there are many legal ways to deal with this. The "perp" should just go to homeowners assn.

This is prison yard style lighting.


Why?
All the "perp" needs to do is knock on the OP's door, and ask him to adjust the lights so that they don't disturb him. The OP has made it plainly obvious that he would be willing to do that, if the "perp" ever actually attempted to initiate a discussion about the subject.

Instead, the "perp" has decided to damage the OP's house and property.

If it were me, I would be installing motion activated floodlights hidden in the landscaping leading onto the front walkway, with a hidden camera located next to it, so that when the "perp" trespasses again, you will have clear evidence of him coming and going, plus you will be able to record everything he does while he's on your property.

I've had bad neighbors before.
It really is the worst thing possible, since you can never truly relax while you're at home. I feel for the OP, and I believe he's doing the best thing that he can for himself and his family.

Locking the yard so that the guy can't damage his lights again was a good step 1.
Replacing the damaged light so that the neighbor knows he can't intimidate the OP is an even better step 2.
Installing video cameras was an even better step 3.

Next step should be to install a protective cage over the floodlights so that they can't be hit or adjusted by a thrown brick.

What I might do that's a little bit extra is the next time the OP comes home, and he sees the "perp" outside, he should tell the neighbor that he's been having a lot of trespassers coming onto his property in the middle of the night, and damaging his property for no real reason that he can think of, and let the "perp" know that he's going to install even more floodlights around the house.

Let him know that this used to be such a nice safe neighborhood but cowardly people like this are making him spend money on repairing lights, installing locks, setting up security cameras, and replacing damaged property, to the point that as soon as the cameras capture the responsible party in action, he's going to have the police all over him.

I bet that once the "perp" knows that there's cameras in play, the nonsense will stop.

BC.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: BRZED
Looks like your neighbor can make himself a sandwich at 2 am without having to turn on the lights in his kitchen. Consider his energy savings thanks to your generosity.

Cutehumor, is that his house your lights are pointed at? If so that is pretty ridiculous to have them like that

 

[spackard]

Is this fight truly worth fighting?
Like, what, other than principle/injured pride, are you going to gain?
Just reinstall the floodlight with a shield and cut your losses.
You'll never come out on top of every fight you get into. Get on with having a family and with life.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I would be truly furious if I had that much light aimed at my residence.

However, the actions of both disgruntled parties in this thread represent much of that which is wrong in our society today, and many of the responses in this thread just reinforce that fact.

It will be both amusing and sad to hear what the final resolution of this situation is. I predict this thread will deteriorate as fast as the situation between both these passive aggressive and inconsiderate neighbors.

Just think, in the beginning, 'Hey Neighbor, your lighting pointed at my house all night is really disturbing me and my family, could you re aim those lights and perhaps use a lower wattage Spot instead of Flood bulb, perhaps put them on a motion sensor too?"

Um Ok, sorry, I did not realize I was disturbing you, I'll take care of that, neighbor"

Instead it is " I want what I want and I don't care how it affects others, and I don't care to discuss it either."

This Clusterscrew just escalates with juvenile indignant and unwise actions on both sides.

 

[spasm3]

you need to get a couple of game cameras as suggested previously. Figure out a mounting method that allows you to not have them out during the day but be able to quickly pop them in place after dark.( so he does not know they are there.) Perhaps the cameras strapped to a small section of pipe that can be slipped over an existing rebar stake in the flower beds.
I would get 2 cameras with ir flashes( you can't see them). Perhaps leave something juicy that he can't resist breaking( cheap pottery or porcelain lawn items) and have it in view of the game cameras. Put the cameras out after dark, and remove them before daylight. You want to catch him as many times as possible.