New Neighbors
 

Well, I had an uncomfortable relationship with the neighbors across the street after the wife cheated on the husband (a friend of mine), booted him to the curb, and moved in her new boy toy in the course of a week.

The former wife and the boy toy moved to Colorado, and a new couple moved in from Colorado. They are in their early 50's and are ideal neighbors. They've been there for a little over a year. I was really enjoying getting along with all of my neighbors...

About six months ago, the guy's son moved in with them. He's 19, about 6'4", with long, dyed, jet black hair. He's the definition of a goth/emo kid. I've never seen him where anything other than complete black. He doesn't go to college, doesn't have a job, and doesn't have a car. About two months ago, a gang-banger looking kid apparently moved in too. I get the impression that they both sleep during the day and party at night--mostly because I am finding empty beer bottles and cigarette packs on my front lawn almost daily. It's not uncommon for me to be woken up by a pounding stereo at 3:00 in the morning on week nights, but they apparently only crank the stereo as they are leaving--by the time I get to the front window I can only see a car turing off the street.

The house has become a hub for goth/emo kids and gangbangers. I often come home from work to find a strange car parked in front of my house with someone sitting in it--sometimes for hours. The same thing tends to happen again around bed time.

Someone broke into my neighbor's pickup truck last week. (This neighbor is a cop.) They stole the change, the CDs, and slashed a seat. I don't know that it is the same kids that hang out across the street, but I'm keeping my eye on them.

At this point, what really annoys me is the beer bottles and empty cigarette packs.

One things for sure, we can't pick our neighbors. If you don't have one already, get a big dog with an annoying bark and an electric fence.

Car parked on the street with someone sitting in it? Call the cops and report that there's a suspicious car in front of your house. They'll never park there again. As an added bonus, the cops might catch them getting high (likely).

Trash in the yard? Throw it back.

Finally, talk to the owners of the house. If they're as nice as you say, perhaps they'll attempt to reign in the little SOB.

The house next door to me is for sale. I'm a bit worried. Former neighbors were absolutely perfect, with 4 nice boys, one of which was nearly the same age as my son. Fun people to have a beer with, very friendly and laid back.

I used to get the beer bottles and the pounding 3AM stereo. Once the A-hole kid got his car stuck in the snowbank on my property, but left his stereo on full blast with the doors open while he walked home to get a shovel.

He'll be gone soon enough. Nothing you can do but wait.

My next door neighbor is a McLean County Sherrif's Deputy. He technically doesn't have jurisdiction in the neighborhood, but we keep him up-to-date on the neighbors across the street. Last night, my wife went over there when a Bloomington Police officer was hanging out. They are now aware of the situation...

I'm not so sure about that. This kid is the definition of apathy. He may well live there until he is 50.

There are signs in my neighborhood stating "$1000 fine for littering". Warn them, catch them, arrest them.

Surveillance cameras.

Had a simular situation here a few years ago, the house was a rental and the occupants were the living deff. of trash. The cops wouldn't do anything, since they were too busy to deal with littering and noise and such. The owner got so tired of me calling him every time there was a problem (about 5 days a week) he sold me the house. I was preveliged enough to show up at the front door, with the sheriff in tow to hand them the eviction papers. Also walked the house with a video camera to get a record of the damage, so I could lock them up for any additional they could leave. The neighborhood threw me a big party when they wonderfull people moved.

you got it easy with the cop next door - let him handle it. You do something directly you'll never get any peace.

Don't start with someone with nothing to lose.

rjp

the neighboring apartment's air conditioner vents out directly onto my balcony. some new people just moved in. every night at ten, like clockwork, a cloud of sticky sweet pot smoke gets pumped into my place.

just enough to make everything i own stink of weed. but not enough to get me high.

Boo!!

Neighbors are a crapshoot. Enjoy having good ones while you can and don't be afraid to speak up against the bad ones. Our good neighbors across the street had their house for sale, but couldn't sell it in time and are staying. Quite a few times I wanted to act like some crazy mofo while people were looking at it so they wouldn't buy it.

They stayed and we're happy!

100 watt spot-lights carefully aimed, and set off by motion detectors.

+1.

this thread kinda reminds me of a movie coming out HMMMMMM cnt seem to remember which one lol

My brother dealt with bad neighbors parking in front and trashing his front yard
with a motion activated sprinkler!

Stopped cars parking there and the trash for the most part, they can still whing a bottle from across the street though.

I like having a green belt on three sides of my house!

Oh man do I feel for ya...

I have a house across the street that was rented out last year to about 4 girls in college all in their early 20's, ugly, noisey, coming and going at all hours of the night. Boyfriends, girlfirends, *****heads in general...car doors slamming at 10:30 PM on, beer bottles in my front yard on more than 1 occasion after the all night bender, parties til' 2AM, the ***** gets old...funny thing was the house sold in '05 for $242k so their rent even split up 4 ways couldn't have been cheap. Some of them moved out and skipped on the rent I'm pretty sure. About a week after they moved the electric company locked out the meter, I happened to be home so I talked to the meter gal to find out the utilities hadn't been payed in +90 days.

Pray for an errant JDAM strike from an F16.

In all seriousness I'd have a stern word of warning with the parents about the kids behavior and your proximity as a neighbor. Let them know the Police will be called relentlessly until it improves (and don't be talked out of that point) and get to know your police chief via e-mail/phone. After the word of warning to the neighbors (make it polite but make it a good one) have nothing to do with them after that.

Well that kinda sucks.

Tell em to smoke more, or less.

That was the problem. ;)