How do I defend against the neighbors?

[Alzrius]

I'm looking for ideas for how to be on the lookout against our neighbors doing something nasty, like slashing the tires on our car, or TP-ing the house.

It's like this. The houses around ours aren't lived in by families. Greedy landlords rent them out to college students, who enjoy having loud parties in the middle of the night and such. We (and other families on our block) have called the police on them several times to cite them for too much noise too late, among other things. One of those other things was parking their cars in front of our driveway.

Earlier tonight, they did it again. Having had enough, I called the police, who wrote them a ticket and then towed the car. One of the neighbors, some girl, came over to say how "we" had a problem, obviously peeved about what'd happened. In no mood to placate a cranky child, I was less than sympathetic to their demands, and while no one was rude, the hostile atmosphere was quite clear.

Now, being paranoid, I'm on the watch for when they try something else...which I think they will. As I'm currently unemployed and don't go out much, I can be here, but it's hard when doing stuff or otherwise not hovering around the windows. Does anyone have any tips or advice for what to do in this situation? Bear in mind that reconciliating isn't an option - placating a bunch of spoiled rich kids for the fact that they got their comeuppance isn't something I'm willing to do.

 

[LightPhoenix]

So you live down the street from me then?

My actual advice would be to just keep on doing whatever you're doing, and don't bother wasting the time or energy watching them. They've only come out on top by disrupting your schedule and life that much more. If something more happens, call the police again.

 

[Treebore]

Yeah, unless you have a video camera to stick in your front window and record everything in your absence, just call the cops.

Cause unless you can dump a few hundred dollars into motion sensor lights and video cameras, which could add up to a thousand or more, there is nothing you can do but to watch the children play or hope they don't go that far.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

One thing you could do is get a digital camera and keep it on hand, near the window closest to the hellions' abode.

Its not foolproof...but you'd have a chance of catching them for sure if you had a picture.

To add to your security, you could invest in some outdoor spotlights with motion detectors.

 

[Templetroll]

Check on the noise regulations in your area. Get the City to check on the noise and have them contact the landlord and threaten him with a fine unless the noise is kept down.

Go to a doctor and complain about the stress from the ignorant behavior and the aggression you recently encountered when all you wanted was to be able to pull out of your driveway.

Contact the university and the landlord yourself, save copies of all correspondance. get it documented that you were trying to be reasonable and just get something done to have them be as good a neighbor as you try to be.

Get it all documented, see if you can get a court order about noise or abusive behavior against them. Get a camera and document your current property; if any damage occurs from any source document that also. Do not just accept that it was not them, take it to the authorities and let the jerks have to deal with the result of their ignorant behavior.

If they do try to damage your property you have a case built up to take them to civil court and have them pay for the damages, the emotional and mental abuse and to pay for you to be able to move to a 'better' neighborhood, one without them.

 

[trancejeremy]

Ah, the joy of having neighbors. Mine like to ride their motorcyles back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. And of course, the type of motorcycle that doesn't have a muffler (or a muffler designed to be as loud as possible).

Motion detectors can be pretty cheap. I have one with 2 floodlights that was only like $40 and works like a charm.

And while it likely depends on where you live, a shotgun blast or two in their direction can be a rather useful deterrent. (Also works on coyotes)

 

[Greylock]

Play Mahler extremely loud at late hours, when your neighbors are in bed. Dress in black. Leave dead critters in your yard [Go for mass: 1 large deer, or many small birds.] Dress your pets in skirts and call them "Miss Prissy". Buy a canary yellow motorcycle, park it in your living room and crank it up whenever you feel the need. Wear eyeshadow.

Freak the neighbors out. It only takes a week or so, and they will leave you be for a long, long time.

hth

 

[Umbran]

If they do try to damage your property you have a case built up to take them to civil court and have them pay for the damages, the emotional and mental abuse and to pay for you to be able to move to a 'better' neighborhood, one without them.

These are college students. They probably don't have money.

Documenting your clashes with them, however, is still a good idea. Keep records - names of officers and the satudents you talk to, dates, accurate descriptions written down of what happened. If they do escalate so that you need to take legal action, make sure you've got yoru story straight.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

These are college students. They probably don't have money.

That doesn't matter if Mommy and Daddy are paying their rent.

Definitely talk to the university. My dad was a dean of students way back when I was little, and they took that crap seriously, since it inevitably exposed the college to lawsuits (justified or not).

If you and the rest of the permanent residents can present a unified front, you can get something done. The police will get sick of getting called out their all the time, and your local elected officials will get tired of hearing you complain at every council meeting. They'll put pressure on the absentee landlords, who hopefully will capitulate.

Also, research the zoning laws in your area, because a lot of places already have laws on the books regarding the number of non-related people that can live in a residence.

 

[Aeolius]

... a lot of places already have laws on the books regarding the number of non-related people that can live in a residence.

In North Carolina, it's technically illegal for a man and woman to "cohabitate" in a dwelling, unless married. Not many people get written up because of it, but it does happen.

I'd find the landlords phone numbers and call them when you are being disturbed, no matter what time of night. Alternately, setting off a string of 500 firecrackers in an enclosed mailbox is a great attention-getter.

Not long ago, we got new neighbors. Before they moved in, they had an in-ground pool installed. Then, at just past 11pm on a school night, they started shooting off fireworks (also illegal in NC) after hosting a pool party. I tried yelling over to them, to no avail. So, I quietly crept over to within 15' of where they were setting up the next volley of rockets and WHAMMO!! Zapped them in the pupils with my 15,000,000 candlepower spotlight. THAT got their attention!