Neighbors Trespassing-- Kids & Adults all the time!

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1

We've lived in our house for 11 years and have never had a problem with neighbors until now. Across from our yard, down a hill, across a street, down another hill, and across a field is a low income housing unit. Recently children and adults alike have been crossing over to our properties, whether we're home or not, to ustilize our property as they see fit. Playing on our swingsets, climbing on my car, drawing on my garage with chalk, throwing rocks at my dog, picking my flowers, etc., etc. I am positive the parents can read the private property/no trespassing signs, and as the children are between ages 6-10 they should be able to (I hope). I have spoken on several occasions to the children (ours & theirs) that no one can play in our yard without our permission and especially if we're not home. I don't even know who the parents are as they are always MIA! Our property rules seem to be disregarded by all. My 92 year neighbor found two children and their mother playing on our swing set while we were at work, she kindly told them that they could not play here, to which the mother replied, "we don't have a swingset, so we'll be playing here". Seriously? I don't even know this woman or her children. Did I mention that it would be easier to walk to on of the two neighborhood parks than to our house?

Two days ago, three of them (8 year olds) were yelling nasty names to my just five year old across the lawn, whom they've never even met; then yesterday they come over and want to play on my swings. I don't want to be mean, but I also don't want the liability. I want to set limits, but I want my children to be able to play with them on occasion. I feel like my sanctuary has been invaded and our rules are being totally disrespected.

Fences, signs, words...no options left other than to sell out & move! Suggestions?

2

Do you have a lock on your fence/ Gate entrances?

Does your neighborhood have a security officer?

Have you spoken with the Police that patrol your neighborhood?

These seem to be your only other options.

This is the sign I would post on each end of the fence.. And I really would report the trespassers..

http://www.discountpropertysupplies.com/private-property-sign/PDW570

3

Wow! How rude and just crazy!!
My first thought, girl! You need to get ugly!! Ill be double damned if those people were drawing on my garage or on my swingset! It's not about money, who cares about that? Its rude no matter where you come from. I don't like it when the "neighborhood kids" I don't know help themselves to my sons basketball goal. That irritates me and I make them leave. Bigger signs and a bigger mouth would be my two resources! ! Best of luck love!

4

Can you fence your property? If yes, maybe that would be a solution? If not, I'd probably call the local police and ask for advice. Obviously you're not looking to get anyone arrested, but you'd like people to stay off of your property when they're not invited. Be really careful if you don't do anything - your uninvited guests fall into the "known trespasser" category since you know they're coming over when you're not home. And that leaves you open to liability claims if someone gets hurt on your property. It would really stink to be sued because someone's child falls off of a swing, or whatever.

5

Communication!

Why not have the kids take you to their house and talk to the parents in person?

Seems like that's the only thing not tried yet. You can't expect 6-10 year olds who want to swing & slide to heed your "warnings," but maybe if the parents were on board?

Then ask for their phone numbers, and give them yours so you can arrange a few play dates. So they can play on occasion.

If they want to play and it's not a good time for you, just say "NO, this is not a good time. Sorry, come back another time." I send kids home all the time. No biggie.

6

You said "fences, signs, words..." Does that mean you have a fence? I know someone who put up a fence around their property, including the part of their carpark where they parked their car. The fence was 6 feet high, and in your case, you should lock the gate. The gate can be opened in order to park the car.

I urge you to do this. The reason is that you have quite a liability with these families coming into your yard using your swingset. Your insurance could deny payment if they find out that you have allowed this as a matter of habit. (Not that you mean to let them.)

A fence might cost a lot of money, but losing your house to a lawsuit would cost you more.

Good luck,
Dawn

7

You describe these children as yelling nasty names...yet you want to reserve your children's right to "play with them on occasion." REALLY?

I want to first say that we dealt with this EXACT same issue (and we ARE low income, so it doesn't really come into play.)

First, if I found strangers on my lawn, I'd tell them they couldn't be there and ask them to leave. If they didn't, I'd call the police. If they continued to come back, I would call the police. (Have I? YES I HAVE. It's my house, and I have a right to a safe yard.)

Playing on your swings may be innocent, but as you said, a liability. Don't allow it. But climbing on your car and drawing on your buildings? That's flat out vandalism? Again, I'd call the cops. (Have !? YES I HAVE. They are my hard-worked-for things and no one has the right but me to destroy them.)

We were honestly set to move until we just cracked the whip with essentially every child in the neighborhood. We told all the parents we didn't want them in our yard unless we were home and IN the yard because we didn't want anyone to get hurt. For the children who were continually unsupervised and behaving badly...yes, I eventually called the police.

How's the yard now? Wonderful and private. :)

8

Hm, maybe I am understanding this wrong: you have a fully fenced property and these people are climbing the fence to get into your yard and use your property as a public playground? If you don't have a full fence put one up! One that's high enough, too and lock the gate when you leave. Make it very clear to them (no need to try and be polite here) that you do not wish for ANYONE child or adult to enter your property next time you catch them, tell them if it happens again you have to call the cops... and then FOLLOW THROUGH. One clear warning in person... and then 911 or your local non-emergency number. Ask your neighbors to do the same...
Apart from the invasion of privacy, what do think will happen if someone gets injured on your swingset... yep, they will sue YOU.
If you stop trying "not to be mean" and mean what you say by following through and asserting what's yours - people will stop treating you like a doormat - and if they don't want to play with your kids anymore after this...doesn't sound like it would be a great loss for your children given the lack of manners these people are demonstrating.
Good luck!

9

This may seem like overkill, but if someone were on my property without permission, I would call the police, each and every time. That is just outrageous!

10

Get a scary guard dog. Female dog of certain breeds, for instance rottweilers and dobermans, can be loving family pets, but very territorial when someone they don't know is coming around their family's space.

Hell, my labrador is one scary dog when someone he doesn't know comes around (who would have thought with a labrador? Mind you, he's like a labrador on steroids).

I also agree with calling the police.

11

If you decide to call the police, DO NOT call 911. It's not an emergency! Use the non-emergency line.

Some police departments will get involved in neighborhood disputes and I think this qualifies. I suggest you call the precinct and ask to speak to the officer/supervisor assigned to your area. Ask what you can do. They might be able to send an officer out to talk with the people in the low income complex.

Also, go to the complex building and speak with someone in charge of the building. Again, ask what they suggest and what they can do.

Sounds like you have a fence. I"d lock the gate.

Later: Definitely use the non-emergency line unless the police tell you otherwise. In our jurisdiction, if you called 911 for this problem, you would be told to call the non-emergency line. The 911call takers won't take down your information unless there are open 911 lines. It is not true that they have to send the police if you call 911. And calling 911 can prevent a life threatening call from going thru. The dispatch center has a limited number of lines available for 911 calls.

I have been a call center supervisor and know this from that experience.

12

Start calling the police each and every time they come on your property. If you don't want them there then by all means take all the steps to make sure they understand you are enforcing your boundaries.

13

Call the Cops.
Document all of this and that you have told them to get off your property.
And, take photos of them on your property using your property etc.

The next thing you know, they may be blaming YOU for something while on your property. Or stealing or who knows what.

14

I'm sorry you are going through this. Definitely get the cops involved. It sounds like you are surrounded by low life people. It's their culture, they don't know any better, they really don't care. Start saving up money to move out.

15

you don't mention calling the police? these people aren't your friends. they have made it clear they aren't interested in being friendly. what do you have to lose? watch out your window and call the police. go stake-out style for a couple days if you have to. make the point that the police will be called, each and every time. be the B. it's time.

also, i agree with SH - TAKE PICTURES. as many as you can. i'm telling you you are right, they are wrong. nail them to the wall.

16

I find it appalling that people (adults and kids) are coming to "play" at your house as if they own the place. I would send the kids home as soon as they show up. They are not your kids' friends. If you haven't called the police, please do so. Let the neighbor know that if someone is trespassing while you're at work, that she should also please call the police. I'm sure they will put a stop to it. Good luck. Your kids may not have the option of playing with these children if they (and their parents) can't respect the limitations of personal property. If kids you don't know show up without a parent, I'd send them right home. Your yard is not a public playground and these "neighbors" need to be straightened out.

17

if you guys already have a fence im shocked that these people are so rude.. have u put a lock on the gate to your fence.. does your fence go all the way around your yard so that theres no other way to get in there .. i highly doubt they would be that desperate to climb over the fence.. honestly it would piss me off to.. id call the cops next time and say u cant take it anymore no matter what u say to these people they continute to come in your yard wether your home or not and use your swingset.. id also inform your neighbors in the houses next door that if they see this they can call the cops because obviously these people dont care what anyone says theyre just going to do as they please

18

In addition to all the excellent suggestions given so far, my off-the-cuff, tongue-in-cheek response would be to think about getting a really big, scary-looking dog with a loud deep bark. And then put a sign on the fence/gate with a picture of a Rottweiler or Doberman, that says "I can make it to the fence in 3 seconds - can you?" I am kidding, of course - but still something to think about. Or just get the sign and no dog!

Interestingly, regardless of breed, many people automatically are more afraid of solid black dogs than any other color. But there are also a lot of dogs out there that are "scary-looking" without typically actually being aggressive and they make great family pets. Such as Boxers and Dobermans.

19

I would tell the neighbor that she's welcome to call the cops (non-emergency line) vs confronting them herself. Tell the cops there are people on your property and she knows you are not home and have had trouble with vandalism. You might call them yourself and say, "I don't know what to do but my I come home and my home/yard has obviously been messed with and I have signage posted. Please advise...."

I wouldn't imply they have any right to play there. I would send them home. Any child who is not your child's friend shouldn't be near your swingset anyway. It is a liability. You may need to install a fence if they continue to use your swingset unsupervised. You know the moment a child gets hurt the parents will come knocking.

We have a fence and a gate in the back because the previous owners were friends with the house behind us. We had neighbors cutting through - first it was one family that asked, and then another time it was about 15 people we did not know and then it was a grandma who had walking problems with a toddler.

My DH keeps equipment out there that a child should not mess with and it is uneven ground. After talking to them didn't help, we unceremoniously locked the back gate and haven't had a problem since. If you already have a fence, lock it. Then they are doubly trespassing to be in your locked area.

Stand up for your property. If they are not kids you want on your swings, say no. THEY are being mean to your son! Why let them play with his toys?

I would tell them where the parks are, go there. Be firm.

ETA: If there's a non-emergency number, they will still send someone out if the situation warrants it. I've called ours to day, "Hey, there's some guys I don't know lurking around my neighbor's empty house. The knocked on my door and didn't leave any flyers or notices and I don't see a truck with them to indicate a lawn service or handyman business or something." They sent out 2 cars (they travel in pairs) and checked it out. Non-emergency just means someone's not just been shot or something. Don't use 911 if it's not a true emergency.

Also, if you and your neighbors start reporting these incidents, it's likely that you are 1. not alone and 2. something may be done. There was a house down the street and for a long time we did not know it had become a party house. But the immediate neighbors were WELL aware. As a community, we started keeping an eye on them (they would park down the block and walk up to the house) and calling the cops when there was a party there. No way were all the party goers over 21, for starters, and they started leaving trash and beer cans/bottles all over the neighborhood. Eventually the landlord evicted them and sold the house and now it's nice and peaceful again. I'd work with the other neighbors to get this resolved vs putting your house up for sale. Why should you move?

20

I'd talk to the cops and see what they suggest.

I would NOT allow this to continue.

I like the idea of a dog too.