Ok where I live is a little screwed up.  I live near a church.  The church previously owned the house because they wanted to expand their parking lot.  As such my back yard is practically nothing and it backs up to the church parking lot.  What problem can a church be?  Well the church itself isn't a problem but the parking lot cuts all the way through the block and less desirables living in the apartment on the corner are always driving through.  This brings them within feet of my vehicles and 15 feet or less from my back door.  Also since they go through all the time it's very obvious when I'm not home, my truck is gone.  In addition there is just a lot of traffic going through the parking lot.  Several groups use the church various nights of week, I've noticed other vehicles that constantly go through but I can't figure out who they belong to.

The problem is last week my girlfriends car was broken into during the night.  From what was taken it was most likely kids going through seeing what they could find.  That event caused me to look at my security once again so I setup my video camera and computer with motion activated recording software.

This video is of a neighbor that lives in the apartments on the corner but I'm pretty sure the guy the harmless.  He's always out during the day so he must be on some type of disability and he is always out with his collie.  The problem is he cuts through my already small yard and then walks between my house and the neighbors fence which is only about 5 feet wide.  Since he is so close he can easily see right into my house.  There is no reason for him to do this as he has to leave his building, walk behind it, come up a steep drive, go around my house, and then go back down a steep hill, all to basically get back where he started from.  This guy has been doing this for years so it's not something new and he's not casing the place or if he is he's taking his time.

As you can see from the time stamp this was at 12:01pm.  My girlfriend was home alone, the guy walks across my yard, and where he is going is the side of my house.

68.209.169.58/Cam1_12_01_12.mpeg

The time stamp on this video is 12:15, just 14 minutes later.  The girlfriend was not happy to see that the guy had walked by that close to the time she left.

68.209.169.58/Cam1_12_15_11.mpeg

I talked to him the guy the other day and told him about my girlfriends car being broken into and asked if he saw anyone around.  He was able to look straight at me and without hesitation say he didn't see anyone.

I'm already working on putting up a couple more motion detection lights.  The one on the side of the house next to the fence is going to be tucked in a corner and have so much power running through it whoever walks back there at night is going to end up with a sun burn.  During the day it doesn't bother me too much if people cut through as you can't  really see through the curtains but at night when the house is lit up you can see straight in.  If someone is walking through there at night I want to know about it.

So what would you do to secure things in this area that gets heavy traffic?

can you put up a fence?

Shoot em....





Ok, ill go read what you wrote now.

Tanglefoot comes to mind, really though like the other poster said a  FENCE would be a viable option.

Quoted: can you put up a fence?

I could add an 8 foot section that would tie into my neighbors fence and block off access going down that side of the house.  But doing so would also create a screen from the main extreamly heavily traveled road allowing someone to stand behind the fence and stare into my house all day without anyone seeing them at all.

Also the other issue of concern is since the neighbor is around all day long do I really want to do something to upset him or piss him off?  Obviously he knows by know who lives in my house, what are cars look like, when we go to work and when we come home.  He could easily have 9 hours to do whatever he wanted to or inside my house if he were to be provoked.

My final thought is since he is around my house all the time it's possible that his presence has served as a deterent to others who would cause problems.  So by the simple fact of him being there he may be going more good then harm.

These are all things I'm considering before I start taking action against one guy who as far as I know does nothing more than just cut through my yard while walking his dog.

claymores

trip wires and remote sentry guns

Put bars on your windows.

I think the problem is that you don't have a yard.  As a homeowner, I couldn't imagine not having a yard.  Might want to move to a better location as soon as you can afford it.  In the meantime, rig up some kind of B.S. construction project with scrap lumber and leave a few big boards with large nails laying around concealed in the grass.  If the dirtbags drive through the construction project...too bad for them.  They'll learn eventually or won't be able to buy any more tires.  The other guy just sounds like he's walking his dog.  No harm there, but if you want to keep him off your property, that is your perogative also.

Chain link fence might be an option also.

Quoted: Quoted: can you put up a fence? I could add an 8 foot section that would tie into my neighbors fence and block off access going down that side of the house.  But doing so would also create a screen from the main extreamly heavily traveled road allowing someone to stand behind the fence and stare into my house all day without anyone seeing them at all. Also the other issue of concern is since the neighbor is around all day long do I really want to do something to upset him or piss him off?  Obviously he knows by know who lives in my house, what are cars look like, when we go to work and when we come home.  He could easily have 9 hours to do whatever he wanted to or inside my house if he were to be provoked. My final thought is since he is around my house all the time it's possible that his presence has served as a deterent to others who would cause problems.  So by the simple fact of him being there he may be going more good then harm. These are all things I'm considering before I start taking action against one guy who as far as I know does nothing more than just cut through my yard while walking his dog.

Use chain link....you can see through it.

I would get to know the neighbor more.  Actually, getting really nosey with him could be a nice deterrant to keep him away from your house.  Talk his damn ear off, ask real personal questions.  Either you'll fend him off or get to know him better--no loss.  This is a good tactic for obnoxious people or family members.

Automatic lights work well too and security signs.  I think a hurricane fence or wrought iron would work too.

bd

The only thing I can think of that will help is, sniper monkeys

I'd strap on a wifebeater (the t-shirt guys, the t-shirt) and go outside in the yard and get busy drinking beer.  Preferably while chopping wood or burning something.  Wait til your neighbor sees you.  Yell all kinds of nasty shit at him while waving an empty bottle around.

Dig a big hole in your front yard and tell them this hole's for him, you just come through my yard again and I'll brain you with this here shovel and that'll be the end of YOU.

Drag your dresser out in the front yard and burn that too, kicking it to pieces and screaming about whatever pops into your head.  I'd imagine throwing empty PBR bottles against the side of the apartment building would help a little.

If 5-0 drops by, just go inside and wait til they hit the road, then come back out and keep the party going.

Fill up a gas can with water, light up a smoke, and start waving the gas can around, spilling it on yourself and the lawn, wave the cigarette around like you don't care if you start yourself on fire.  

The old-school way to really get his buttons bursting is to display one's Equipment at him.  Motioning to one's Junk in front of the monkey cage at the zoo is a surefire way to get a little excitement going... maybe it works with the this guy too.

Crawl around in your yard at all hours of the night with a headlamp firmly affixed.  

Start slaughtering your own meat on your front porch, make sure he can see it.  Buy a goat or something and behead it with a machete or something and throw the head out on your lawn.  Leave it there for a couple of months.  Goat is kind of yummy, anyway.  Could work out well for you.

What else.  You clean your rifles on the front porch?  That might work out OK.

Or maybe you could ask him to not walk on your property, your woman is getting upset with the whole proximity thing.  He might be a reasonable man.

That vid is just creepy.  WTF is on his head anyhow???

Really looks like it's time to move.  I wouldn't be able to put up with that shit at all.

ETA:  Stand in the window ready to drop your clothes and masturbate while looking right at him as he walks by

Get the fence...and a dog (or two)

No Expert

One suggestion for your side yard would be to put chain link gates at both corners of the house on that side. Then pour a few bags of top soil in there and plant a little garden. Then when he comes by you can mention that your wife is planting a garden and wanted the fence to keep critters out. When nothing grows after a while he will just think you're a lousy gardener.

In a word, MOVE.
I'm anti-social so I have to live out of town. (not that I'm really anti-social more anti socialist)Then they had to go and make our little community a town.  It may be  time for me to move before long. I hear there is cheap land in Kansas and lots of room.

Nuke the parking lot from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Your best bet is to move, or get cozy with your neighbor and maybe he'll keep an eye on things.

Chain-link fence & motion activated lights.

Also, I would mention to him that you have had problems and that you are taking counter-measures. Something like; "hey, sorry to cut your walking route short but I am having a problem with kids..." If he is a good guy he will understand. If he is a bad guy you've let him know that you (and your GF) will not be easy victims.

what are you talking about that isn't a yard its a chuck of grass on the edge of a parking lot

Oh yea and your neighbor is a drug dealer that is why he is home during the day and also why people come and go all the time duh!


Oh yea move!

Quoted: Oh yea and your neighbor is a drug dealer that is why he is home during the day and also why people come and go all the time duh! Oh yea move!

So the answer to a neighbor walking through the yard is to move?  What type of pussy would do that?  While my back yard is less than ideal I love the house.  It's a Queen Ann Victorian cottage built in 1902, 90% of the original hardwood floors, trim, and molding is still there.  It has 10 foot ceilings, 6 inch trim decorative trim around the doors and windows, 8 inch molding around the floors.  The house is built of solid brick not the cheap veneers you see today.  They do not build houses with this much quality and attention to detail anymore.  Now if I could have the house moved out to the country I would be very happy.

look man if you are going to do something do it. Hanging out inside and watching people walk all over your shit isn't going to stop them. Nor will it stop someone from breaking into your ladies car. put the car indoors or get an alarm.  put out a sign like no trespassing or stay off the grass.also hang out on your steps and anytime someone walks by on your "yard " say something like hey get out of my yard! I am just talking shit because your "yard" doesn't look like a yard as much as a patch of grass on the edge of a parking lot. its hard to tell from the video what I'm looking at but hey its yours and if you don't want people on it let them know. it doesn't look practical to build a large fence but you may want to look at some kind of fence or shrubby just don't use a herring to try and cut down the trees.

man get a grip I'm sure the molding is great but your like on the edge of a high traffic area expect to have people in your zone. I lived in an apartment complex across from a high school.  my yard was like a freakin highway. I got use to it. now I live in a house in the burbs and no one walks though my yard.

yea I can't spell so I edit

Quoted: I'd strap on a wifebeater (the t-shirt guys, the t-shirt) and go outside in the yard and get busy drinking beer.  Preferably while chopping wood or burning something.  Wait til your neighbor sees you.  Yell all kinds of nasty shit at him while waving an empty bottle around. Dig a big hole in your front yard and tell them this hole's for him, you just come through my yard again and I'll brain you with this here shovel and that'll be the end of YOU. Drag your dresser out in the front yard and burn that too, kicking it to pieces and screaming about whatever pops into your head.  I'd imagine throwing empty PBR bottles against the side of the apartment building would help a little. If 5-0 drops by, just go inside and wait til they hit the road, then come back out and keep the party going. Fill up a gas can with water, light up a smoke, and start waving the gas can around, spilling it on yourself and the lawn, wave the cigarette around like you don't care if you start yourself on fire.   The old-school way to really get his buttons bursting is to display one's Equipment at him.  Motioning to one's Junk in front of the monkey cage at the zoo is a surefire way to get a little excitement going... maybe it works with the this guy too. Crawl around in your yard at all hours of the night with a headlamp firmly affixed.   Start slaughtering your own meat on your front porch, make sure he can see it.  Buy a goat or something and behead it with a machete or something and throw the head out on your lawn.  Leave it there for a couple of months.  Goat is kind of yummy, anyway.  Could work out well for you. What else.  You clean your rifles on the front porch?  That might work out OK. Or maybe you could ask him to not walk on your property, your woman is getting upset with the whole proximity thing.  He might be a reasonable man.

Considering your location, you probably got the house for a steal. Try the fence. Put a couple of years in the house and then sell it. Try to make egnough money to put down on something with more privacy.

Can the church do anything about the drive thru thing? Maybe they could close one entrance when they aren't using it. I'm thinking a steel gate with a padlock. I wouldn't think they want constant traffic thru there either.

First off just because someone can look you in the eye does NOT mean they arnt lying to you.  I know from personal experience that more then likely the person who is around your property at all times of the day or night is more then likely the one doing it.  So your neighbor is definately a suspect.  Walking the dog is the perfect excuse.  Had a neighbor once who was walking his toddler and would point  his baby boy at peoples cars and then have to go after him and that would be his excuse if anybody said something while he was casing out peoples cars to break into later, mine included.  Keep the video going that is your biggest weapon and plus 1 on the security lights.

Quoted: Considering your location, you probably got the house for a steal. Try the fence. Put a couple of years in the house and then sell it. Try to make egnough money to put down on something with more privacy.

You are right I got the house for a steal especially since it needed a lot of cosmetic work.  I've been in the house a little over 3 years and have already doubled the value of it with mainly a lot of elbow grease.  Not counting my time I have put maybe $8,000 into the house and increased the value by $50,000.  I have a more projects I plan on completing as time and money permit which I estimate will increase the value of the house another $30k to $50k.  My timeline on that is about 2 years.  My goal is to actually keep the house and rent it out commercially.  The front of the house is located on one of the main streets in town, most the houses across the road are businesses, the house next to me with a fence is a law office, and if I work with the church there would be plenty of parking.  So until I get the house ready and get that whole deal worked out I'm staying where I'm at and I'm not going to let a couple bad characters ruin it.  

Your problem now is you have an open walkway and it's really hard to start yelling at people to stay off the wide open space. So you need to establish some boundries around your property.  It doesn't have to be anything big, just a 4-foot white picket fence.  That way you aren't blocking the view for bad guys to hide in or even changing the look of your yard all that much.  But anyone who gets in there had to hop a fence to do it and then you're perfectly justified in treating them like an intruder.

ETA - What video capture software did you use?