Urban Outdoorsmen:

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 02:12 PM

We have some property that is pretty much located centrally in a nice neighborhood. I'm building stuff on it later this year, so I'm concerned about the very recent explosion of "Urban outdoorsmen" in our area. The neighbors all know to call me if there is a problem. So I get calls if someone dumps a sofa, or a load of trash in the part that is a dirt field. I probably spend about $1,000 each year hauling tires, sofas, and junk that some idiot dumps in the property or in the dumpsters that the city won't haul off.

Recently, I've been getting complaints about homeless guys sleeping on the lawn, in the bushes, or in the parking lot. By recent, I mean since February. We are on the property 24/7 from September through December, and I am sure to shoo them off during that time. I've since hauled 5x that amount of garbage, and around 30 shopping carts back to stores. Talking to them didn't do anything to deter them from using our property as a home.

I went from somone who would give them a few bucks, to trying to offer them a ride somewhere else, to politely asking them to leave. But now, I've gotten fed up. I just dump their stuff, and tell them to get out. They've pretty much all gotten the message. But 1 or 2 refuse to leave. Actually, they leave and I find them the next day sleeping in the bushes with customers having to walk around them and their shopping carts full of stuff.

It's become a real problem. One of them decided to threaten me. So I think I effectively explained to him in ways that he understands that this is not his brightest idea ever.

The source of the problem is Prop 48, which prevents the county jail from keeping certain drug offenders locked up. The neighborhood is not going to put up with it much longer either. I was talking to a cop last night who I called on one of them, and he agreed that I could remove them by force, and if they get violent, I would be within my rights to deal with it as a violent act on their part. I find myself still ambivalent. I'd rather just tell them to be gone, and keep throwing their bottles and cans and stuff in the trash. But customers and neighbors are losing their patience and no one wants to deal with them face to face. I find that I have to be the tip of the spear so to speak.

What would you guys do?

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 02:18 PM

Here's a pic of one of them last night. I used my head lamp flashlight that I posted in another thread, to haul 7 bags of trash out of there. It's all going to the dump when I get a trailer full.

tabs · 07-19-2015, 02:23 PM

Hey that is a nice bicycle there....someone might pay 35 for it?

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 02:26 PM

If he leaves it unattended, and I find it on the property, then it's going straight to the local dump.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Build a fence?

Dantilla · 07-19-2015, 04:10 PM

I would hate to let things get violent, but somehow you need to make the property an uncomfortable place to be.

Bright lights?
Loud noise?
Security company that will sweep through the property every 30 minutes all night long?

Once word gets around, they will find someplace else.

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Build a fence?

Not practical. It'd be over a mile long, and where the homeless guys sleep, you can't build a fence. I need to get in there with the tractor and stuff to disc up the weeds, etc.

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I would hate to let things get violent, but somehow you need to make the property an uncomfortable place to be.

Bright lights?
Loud noise?
Security company that will sweep through the property every 30 minutes all night long?

Once word gets around, they will find someplace else.

They do seem to all talk to each other. As I say, probably a dozen or so stay away. Only this one little guy keeps coming back, and one dude who is always too drunk to stand up.

I raised my intensity to code red, when talking to a lady at PG&E who is also a neighbor, I found out that one homeless guy unzipped his pants and started waving his schlong to a little girl. She is afraid to go inside Walgreens now, where homeless guys hang out.

So when I see them now, I just make them leave right away. I don't really talk to them much, just explain that they must go.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

As far as the flasher, the local LEOs should take care of him.

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

As far as the flasher, the local LEOs should take care of him.

I totally agree. I call the cops now if they refuse to leave. Last night was the first time that a cop just told me that I can revoke permission to be on my property, and if things get violent well then that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Security company that will sweep through the property every 30 minutes all night long?

Once word gets around, they will find someplace else.

+1
That's what I would do.

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 06:58 PM

LOL! Our private security guys don't do squat. They just drive by, do not get out of the car, and that's it. I think they're there mostly to lower our insurance. Granted, that is at the office complex and not here.

HardDrive · 07-19-2015, 07:07 PM

I'm guessing this is CA, yes?

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 07:11 PM

^ Yes, that's a good guess.

Courtesy of our state legislature.

And I mis-typed earlier. It's Prop 47, not 48.
http://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_47,_Reduced_Penalties_for_S ome_Crimes_Initiative_(2014)

We are getting a lot more dangerous, or insane, or drug addicted people out there.

Dantilla · 07-19-2015, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

LOL! Our private security guys don't do squat. They just drive by, do not get out of the car, and that's it.

Time to either fire them, and hire somebody else, or at least ask to modify your contract with them to include a few foot patrols.

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Time to either fire them, and hire somebody else, or at least ask to modify your contract with them to include a few foot patrols.

Our office association deals with that. I sold our buildings, and am doing a lease-back. I'm out of here in 2016 anyway and plan to move into the new place, so I really don't want to make waves with the others.

Gogar · 07-19-2015, 09:15 PM

I think if you just stick with the full-on beast mode for a bit they'll find somewhere else to be.

screw the Profssional security, give a teenager a BB gun!!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Time to sell?

rusnak · 07-19-2015, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

I think if you just stick with the full-on beast mode for a bit they'll find somewhere else to be.

screw the Profssional security, give a teenager a BB gun!!

LOL!! I offered the guy a ride to wherever he wanted to go. Then he just went full on mental. I guess that was a dumb move on my part.

Arizona_928 · 07-19-2015, 11:14 PM

Trespass them. Easy as that. Next time they come on property they'll be arrested... Don't be nice, tell them they have to go now, or you'll call the local PD.
I used to do private security in my younger years, and can tell you it's dangerous with the industrial buildings. Stay in your truck, and be smart.