Neighbor property damage

**tina150** · 10-07-2008, 11:28 AM

I'm not sure where to post this, but just looking for some advice...
our neighbors have hit our porch with their car multiple times. Unfortunately we are unable to "catch them in the act". It is obvious that they are hitting our porch due to the damage on the side next to their driveway. They also have not voluntary told us that they have hit it. The lady does burnouts on the ice in the winter; the car is full of dents and marks, so I assume she runs into things all day. They have also repeatedly slammed their car door into the side of our house causing many dents in the siding, this we have caught them on. We are unsure what we can do about this considering we have no actual proof. We were talking of going to their house and asking for auto insurance information, but what if they deny doing this? We need to do somthing though because our porch is now starting to lean and separate from the house... They are the worst neighbors ever, they have foster children (well they are older now) and they fight and argue, have 5 dogs that bark all day.... run into our house...

**Teresa T** · 10-07-2008, 12:43 PM

I wish I knew what to say to you. The problem with these people is they know what they are doing and obviously do not care. My fear is any retaliation against you if you make an issue or try to get them to pay for damages.

Do they own or rent? Even if they own they probably do not have any money. Your houses must be very close together. Are they coming over on your property line? Is their any kind of poles or fencing that could be put up? Or does your porch/house go right to the property line?

**Missy** · 10-07-2008, 12:54 PM

could you put up some steel sheeting to protect the house? ooooh!! or somethign that LOOKED like a video camera?? be kinda clumsy and obvious when you are putting it up so they see you doing it. i don't have any other ideas. call your insurance company. tell them what you have told us and see if they can help.

**Greebo** · 10-07-2008, 01:04 PM

Have you filed a police report?

I have a friend who had this problem growing up. The neighbor hit their house, then denied it. They called the cops. The neighbor cleaned up the side of his car w/ the paint from the house on it. JUST the part of the car that was damaged...

...which the cops called them on.

File a police report, and submit a claim to your ins. company. They should be able to find out who insures the neighbor and go after them for the $$, I'd think.

**tina150** · 10-07-2008, 01:13 PM

Can we file a police report after the fact? Yes our houses are very close together (basically the driveway and a bit of grass (easement?) ) separates our house from theirs, last winter I got her on video doing burn outs in the driveway on the ice. (I guess she just had to back in the driveway in a snowstorm and couldn't make it in so she floors it to the point there was smoke coming off the ice??) She is disabled and can barley walk, and as I've said, if you seen her car you would know she must plow into things all day. We have had many problems with them, just last weekend her and her husband were fighting and she was throwing dishes out of the second story window on to their driveway and our grass, I told them that day to get the glass out of our yard. We both own our homes btw, from online property records I have seen they have lived there since 1987. Worst. Neighbors. Ever.

**Missy** · 10-07-2008, 01:28 PM

report it. report everything. heck having the police there filing the report may be enough to set them straight.

**Greebo** · 10-07-2008, 01:31 PM

Start documenting with the police ever single incident you can. When they throw stuff out the windows, file a domestic dispute. Don't remove anything until its documented.

Time to get PRO active

**MomToTwoBoys** · 10-07-2008, 02:04 PM

Can you get a small, discreet camera and mount it to the side of the house that is getting hit? Make sure that it's a good quality camera and can work well with some nighttime light. I'd also invest in one of those motion-detection lights you can put on the outside of your house. If they're doing it at night and you have a window nearby, the light will go on and you'll be able to catch them better.

**Momto2Boyz** · 10-07-2008, 03:09 PM

I was thinking motion detection light too. I'm thinking if they are doing it at night, then this will catch them, but since your houses are close together, it might also turn on every time someone enters the driveway, so that might not work.

For property damage you can file a police report anytime. You aren't required to actually see it happen. When they come out, show the cops that it is damaged and explain that you think it is the neighbors and see what they say. At least it'll be on record, so if you caught them in the act, it will be a multiple incident report!

Good luck, I hope you come up with a solution!

**Greebo** · 10-07-2008, 03:11 PM

OOPS.

I forgot to insert my obligatory smartass remark.

Originally Posted by tina150

Can we file a police report after the fact?

Well yeah! Its kinda hard to do it before the fact, after all.

**tina150** · 10-07-2008, 03:20 PM

Um, yeah, I think you know what I meant.

**Teresa T** · 10-07-2008, 04:06 PM

Do keep us posted on this. People had much better advice than myself. Can you fence off that little area of grass? I know it's an expense. It would have to be something strong like chain link. They may still hit it but it's better than your house.

If this woman is so bad on the road and she is behind the wheel, I wonder if Adult Protective Services should get a call. I think you can call anonymous too.

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-07-2008, 05:45 PM

I say go out and buy one of those day/night cameras and keep it running all the time until you can prove it or the tape runs out AND a motion detector light would help too!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 10-07-2008, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

If you have a wireless router... get one or two of these:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

Look for one with infrared leds if you want to be able to use it at night.

You can also get something like this: http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a.../-LED/-/1.html

if you just want to scare them.

Personally I'd just gather evidence until I had enough to sue them into bankruptcy and/or force them to move away.

Good Luck.

Jason

Now I see why you consider yourself evil. I like it!

**fuzzybunny** · 10-07-2008, 07:12 PM

If you or your husband is handy and don't mind spending a little bit I recommend getting some concrete and make some concrete poles, good thick ones. Sections of old steel gurters would work too.

Sink them next to the porch and house where she hits it. The poles will protect your house and porch and really dent up her car when she hits them. If common courtesy won't motivate change maybe a smashed up car will.

There is a construction place near my house that did this when big trucks kept backing into and denting up a part of their building. He has a sign now that hangs right where the truck drivers can see it. The stats change pretty regularly, but right now it says "Pole 76, Trucks 0"