having neighbor issues, need advice

My neighbors have been a pain in the butt. I have been living here almost my whole life and thye moved in about 15 yrs ago. I own the house I grew up in. Since they moved in there yard is gross- overgrown trees, loud parties, and not so nice. A few years ago, they knew I was away and they used my BBQ becuase it went into safety mode. I am almost sure it is them. No one else would do this to me. They had an addition put on there house and it slipped thru the cracks and they got away with it. I know look at a white wall outiside of my kitchen window. There kids used to have screaming contests, etc. I even found there kids playing on my side of my fenced in yard. Now I have put up the highest fence I can not to see them, and they used our fence as a coat hanger when there kids had over freinds. DH very sternly gave it back to them, basically threw it at them. We once caught them playing football in our yard!
Now we had sensor lights put in the back of our house and they are magically not working. Our gate has been open numerous times. DH and I had to reset them with the switch thru our garage. As soon as we did we heard the boy yell- "Daddy!". So we knew it was them. How dare they go on our property and do this? What do we do? They would never admit this either. DH is at his wits end, so am I. What would you do?
We live in a nice upper class neighborhood, and never expected this.
HELP!
PS Know DH wants to put up flood lights so they shine in there rooms at night, we are so mad. The lights are for there own good. There yard is so overgrown and gross. Dh has a lot of patience he works with special ed in one of the wprst sections of the city, and I have a lot of patience too.

Message edited 11/13/2007 1:08:09 PM.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Can you lock the gate?
I feel your pain, I'm not so fond of my neighbors.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

we have locked the gate, it does not work. My friend offered to sleep overnight in a tent and try to catch them. LOL

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

I feel for you....... it's so hard when you don't get along w/neighbors.....if talking to them doesn't work,the only other thing I could suggest is to invest in a security camera system.....if it is a constant problem, the investment might be worth it.....

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

If it were me, I would call my local precinct to see what I can do. Are you allowed to BB gun a tresspasser?

Message edited 8/24/2009 10:47:45 AM.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Get cameras & put up all the signs saying you have cameras. Then you can go over there and say "We were reviewing our surveillance tapes and saw you in our yard on Thursday at 1pm, was there a problem?" I would think they would stop then. If not, you now have proof and can go to the police. If they got hurt on your property I think they can sue you even if they're trespassing, so I would want to make sure they weren't on my property!
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

I'm sorry about your neighbors I use to hate one of the families who lived on out block thank god they didn't live right next door. When I lived in East Meaddow.

you said they put up an extention and it sliped through the cracks does that mean it's illegal because if it is you can report that and if it is they will have to either remove it or have it legalized .

You might want to invest in a camera. It sounds like its worth it.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Message edited 11/13/2007 10:59:56 PM.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Call the town on their extension.

Call the town on the lawn being tall.

If they are loud after 11pm call the police.

Lock the gate. Put the BBQ in shed or garage.

And as far as the kids playing in the yard. Honestly that wouldn't bother me. Id rather them play in my yard and ride bikes on my sidewalks then in the street where they can get hit by a car.

Message edited 11/14/2007 10:44:34 AM.

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

How do they get the gate open if it is locked?

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

Re: having neighbor issues, need advice

That's fine, but insurance doesn't cover EVERYTHING and there are always consequences to being sued. You're also far more likely to be sued by neighbors with which you aren't friendly than by your kids friends who were invited over.

The OP should know that EVERYONE who sets foot on your property (legally or illegally) in NYS is treated the same in terms of negligence. It won't matter if the kids are trespassing, you'd still be liable for injury. It won't matter that you had a locked gate and it especially won't help that you KNOW they were getting in despite the locked gate.

I'd bet people with such a lack of respect for your property and your things would be the first ones to come looking for $$ should they get injured on your property. In the meantime, make sure to keep dangerous things locked away and watch for any dangerous conditions on your property. It sounds stupid that you have to be THIS careful for people who are truly trespassing, but you do.

I'm sorry you're having neighbor problems. That's never fun.