Update on nasty neighbors

cebmjb · #1 09/10/11, 08:45 PM

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. I do live in lower Michigan. As to the switch it would be hard since we need a light to come home in the dark. These neighbors live behind us and to the right about 200 ft.We also have neighbors on both sides of us. The light would affect them more but they have no problem. And yes alot of times we have to go out at night.Foaling, colic, new horse etc.The people who like the dark can use a shade or curtains. Almost everyone does have a security light on our street.
Things were fine with the neighbors until the light went up because these people are very controlling. We had to tell them 3-4 times not to mow our grass. A rose bush died that her dad planted and we came home one day and a new one was planted. If we made any changes in the house or yard they would have a fit and say my dad did it this way. They ride trough the neiborhood every day and if the see you do something they do not like they will tell them. Other neighbors have had a lot of problems. We get along with all our neigbors aanad never had problems with any of them.

We contacted a lawyer and he sat up a mediation meeting. It did not solve anything except they were told if it did not stop we were sueing. They had no fear and walked out laughing. The mediator told us to be very careful because these people are controlling and dangerous. We are going to try and get some kind of camera but we are having a hard time with living on just social security We spent all our money to move back home from Texas and purchase this place so my husband and I could spend the rest of our lives enjoying each other and have a quiet relaxing home. Insted it has turned into a nightmare. I know several people had mentioned that it sounds fishy but believe me it isn't. I hope you all will pray for us. We could really use it. Thank you .

coup · #2 09/10/11, 09:18 PM

looks like you have more room,if you are keeping horses........i am sorry for your troubles....most of these things will pass,with time,,,,,,have you got any redneck younger friends that could come and saty a day once in a while that would keep them guessing as to when they were there.......

new a guy once that had 30 biker frinds come over and stay weekend....they had shooting match and friendly fights.....might spread a rumot that your husband is senile and talking about a hit list.........

prayer is probably best though.......peace

MO_cows · #3 09/10/11, 09:50 PM

Sounds like these people been bullying the neighborhood for years and gotten away with it. I absolutely hate to see an older person get pushed around and intimidated for no reason other than the younger/stronger person wants to throw their weight around. Wish you had someone close to you who could teach the bully neighbors to be afraid, be very afraid.

Our outdoor light we have on our garage is motion activated, it stays on just long enough to walk to the house or whatever. It often gets set off by rabbits, too, but that isn't an issue for us as our neighbors are a mile away. Maybe a motion sensor light that goes off when not in use would help your neighbor relations? They aren't expensive.

wvstuck · #4 09/10/11, 10:03 PM

For some of the best prices you'll find on security cameras and software go to:

http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm

When I was director of Security for one of the nations largest mining operations I used the X10 stuff a lot. No need to run wires and it keeps the video stored digitally... It will even shoot live shots to your smart phone or internet when you are away.

I hope things get better for you, I'll say a prayer too... But video evidence is the best witness you'll ever find.

HOTW · #5 09/10/11, 10:03 PM

Soiunds like the whole neighbourhood needs to get together and have a chat about these people. Maybe a group litigation would get them where it counts??

wolffeathers · #6 09/10/11, 10:13 PM

Oh, we've had a similar situation. The property we own was once "in the family" and "the family" still feel they have rights to it, even though it was lost in a divorce and bought outright and lawfully. It doesn't help that "the family" live all around us.

We've had to put up a fence and confont anytime the fence was climbed over or people have walked through the gate without permission. We also brought home a Great Pyr/Komondor.

It takes time and a firm stand. Get tough or get out. The situation is not safe to just overlook.

texican · #7 09/10/11, 10:38 PM

One should never move to a new place, without checking things out beforehand... sometimes a great deal is a great deal, because Satan lives next door.

I'd never be able to move somewhere where there's already neighbors... they'd not get along with me, and I'd despise their presence. Would probably go to jail quickly, 'forgetting" that their are neighbors around, when I needed to 'relieve' myself.

Wish you luck.

In the end, metal trumps paper... all the restraining orders in the world won't stop evil from befalling one. Brass encased lead stops evil 99% of the time. Be safe.

sandc · #8 09/11/11, 03:18 PM

We bought property several years back when we were working in Missouri. It was a foreclosure and the original owners daughter lived just down the street. The old owner was always coming over and trying to tell us how to do things and we had several issues with her daughter and husband trying to use our property.

My 3yr old son played in the 5 acre pasture that was part of the property and right in front of the place. We didn't worry about him because our dog was extremely nasty to anyone he didn't know and was never more than 5 ft away from our son if we weren't right there.

Our son had no more than ran out of the house than I heard snapping and snarling and my son screaming. I ran out and found my son cornered in the pasture with all 65lbs of that dog standing off a stallion that was full of fire. I ran into the pasture to try to run it off and it spun on me and laid its ears back and proceeded to try to take me out.
3 seconds and 5 230 grain bullets later I was the winner of that confrontation.

Come to find out it belonged to the daughter who had put it into our pasture unknown to us because it was a stallion and fighting with everything where she had it. I found out is was hers when her and her hubby armed came up to my house and confronted me about killing their horse about ten minutes later. Considering I was still pumping with adrenalin over how close that came to me having a dead kid, they were very lucky teh police my wife had called pulled up right then. I was very close to laying them out the same way I did their horse. They were armed, but I don't think they realized I had my 45 in my hand behind my leg.

Police arested them for being in my yard with guns and then when they went over to their house to retrieve their young children they found a nice meth lab running on the dining table the kids were eating their cereal on.

We bought that property 5 months later after it foreclosed and the trailer had burned for 3k. Of course we sold it all for a great profit.

Moral of this long rant?
Be very careful when you deal with overbearing neighbors. They don't care about your welfare.

Did I mention that our dog had a big deer steak for dinner that night?

texican · #9 09/12/11, 01:16 AM

Shooting someone's animals should be done with care... a person might be 'in the right' in the shooting, but if the 3S's aren't followed (shoot, shovel, and shut up), there's a good a chance you've just started WWIII.

It's been my experience, pretty much all animals respond quickly to the concussion blast of rifle, large bore pistol, or shotgun.

Situational awareness is important... even if you are in the right, shooting someone else's animal might just evoke the exact same response in the owner as you are feeling at the time, and the funeral home gets some more business.

Good luck to all ya'll with close neighbors...

Madame · #10 09/12/11, 07:14 AM

Any chance you can sell and move?

BarbadosSheep · #11 09/12/11, 08:00 AM

I can certainly understand your neighbor's hatred of that light. I love star gazing at night and because of our neighbor's light, I can no longer do that. The other night their light was not on (it had burned out) and for the first time in a long while I got to see a brilliant display of stars. I had forgotten how much I loved that at night. Maybe putting the light on a switch might help sooth the hard feelings. I do agree with the others though....you should get a deer trail camera if nothing else, to record their acts of vandalism. That should not be tolerated.

nodak3 · #12 09/12/11, 03:04 PM

Agree--don't tolerate vandalism, but do put the light on a switch.

Invasive light can be a real bear for some folks--really can mess with the sleep cycle.

They shouldn't have to use curtains or blinds to block your light when trying to sleep--that blocks air circulation also.

Take the high road, change your light so as not to offend the needs of others, get that trail camera, and you set yourself up to win the disagreement.

Chief Cook · #13 09/12/11, 04:11 PM

CEBMJB, so sorry to hear that your troubles are still going on. I will be praying for your family and your safety. Just a quick thought. Meet your local Sheriff's Deputys. Honestly the SD's out here would like nothing better than to bug the livin crapola out of some neighborhood bullies, picking on the elderly and disabled. Ask one to come out and tell you what you can do, and don't forget the iced tea and doughnuts! If all goes well, adopt an officer, they like that.

edmonds · #14 09/12/11, 04:45 PM

I hope things work out OK for you. I kinda like coup's idea of making friends with some local rednecks/bikers. Invite them over periodically for bbq, beer, 4-wheeling, and shotgun shooting (assuming its safe to do on your property).

naturelover · #15 09/12/11, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cebmjb

.... And yes alot of times we have to go out at night. Foaling, colic, new horse etc..... We are going to try and get some kind of camera but we are having a hard time with living on just social security We spent all our money to move back home from Texas....

I'm assuming the horses are yours and not horses that you're boarding for other people. Sorry if I sound a bit cynical but if you're elderly and disabled and having a hard time living on social security but are keeping expensive money-pits like horses, and could afford to get and feed a new horse then that sounds like you have a conflict of financial priorities. In any case, if you're going to keep horses, whether they're yours or other people's horses that you're boarding, then the horses may also be at risk from your neighbours. I'd suggest you get your priorities straight on what you spend your money on and get security cameras even if it's just to help protect the horses.

.

Our Little Farm · #16 09/12/11, 06:09 PM

They don't sounds like great neighbors at all, but I have to ask, can the dawn to daylight light be moved so as not to be so intrusive to them? I know I would hate it if a light was shinning on my house all night long.
You obviously have land, so is there some where else it can be moved? Maybe that is all it will take to calm this situation down.

So sorry this is happening to you.

Silence · #17 09/12/11, 07:44 PM

If these neighbors have caused a lot of problems with your other neighbors, maybe it's time to have a get-together with those of you having a commonality. If there are any of your neighbors that stay home during the day, can you ask them to take photos or video if they see these problem-makers encroaching upon your property?

You mentioned they cut your grass without asking. Do they think they are "helping" you out?

It costs next to nothing to post a "No Trespassing" and "Private property- keep out" sign. That is the first step in most legal situations in our state. It MUST be posted. (That may be different in Michigan; check out your state statutes to make sure.) The next incident that occurs between the neighbors and yourself- call the authorities, whether it's the police or the Sheriff's department. Don't be prideful, don't be shy. CALL THEM. If nothing else, it will alert the cops that there's a problem, and it will set up a paper trail in case things escalate. Fill out a police report. I can't figure out why you haven't done this already- there has been more than enough precendent.

Tabitha · #18 09/13/11, 02:50 PM

We have our outdoor lights on switch., and we do not have any neighbours. I just do not like for a light to be on at all times.
Fence, no trespassing posts, and a turn off switch that you can turn on when you need it, and when you come home, you can find the switch with a flashlight. A little give and take on both sides. To find your way when you come home, you could also set up a line of solar garden lights. I have no idea how I would react if my yard was lit up by a neighbours light all night, I know I would not like it and I know I would approach you to do something about it.