Why people tresspass

[texasjohn]

Tig, if like me you carry a phone, it probably has a built in camera. Suggest you take photos of people just as you inform them they are trespassing...then, you have proof. I like your inform and leave the immediate area approach... and if you take several photos it will tell the story if they leave or not. Too bad that asking to take a photo of a driver's license would be risking too much confrontation, but a photo of a car and plate should be some unique identification.

 

[beppington]

That's a good idea, texasjohn! And of course some modern phones have video capability, so you could have the audio recorded, too.

 

[funwithahoe]

The next guy you catch fishing, just walk over to his tackle box and open it up. Tell him you're looking for anything you can use in there because you like "just fishing" too. Tell him since he is using your land it is only fair that you can use his tackle.

Agree - I fsomeone buys a vehicle for a couple hundred thousand you would never dream of asking to use it but property seems to be free reign.

Last people I kicked off was a man/women who looked like they were getting ready to REALLY enjoy each others company. Must have been an affair cause these weren't kids and man they wanted outta here in the worst way. No confrontations just let me outta here.

 

[johnrex62]

It doesn't always take an attraction like a lake or pond to entice trespassers.

My mother lives in a small town on a corner lot, 50x120. People routinely cut the corner across her yard, passing between the shed and the house. The shed is 10 ft off the propert line and 6 feet from the house. They have to step through a flowerbed or cross the patio at her back door. They then travel across the lawn, next to her carport and along the vegetable garden to the street behind her house.

The pass through at all hours of night and day and even when she or the grandkids are in the back yard. There are a few kids that make it a regular path. She has asked them numerous times to stop using her yard and walk on the street, but they ignore her.

Recently she put up a fence between shed and house to make it more difficult. Shortly after the fence was erected, there was a knock on the front door. Two of the kids were there to ask her to remove the fence because it was in their way. :confused2:

 

[Tig]

texasjohn, I have a flip camera. It's the size of a cell phone and takes an hour of HD quality video. I used it quite a bit last weekend. Not just trespassers but for morons along my shore chasing geese with jet skis and other dumb stunts. Some of it I'm thinking about putting up on youtube for a laugh.
This is such a beautiful place 359 days a year. But 6 days a year some people need to give me a bit more space.

 

[beppington]

Time to extend the fence to around the front of the house.

 

[dmccarty]

... Sometimes it leads to curious situations - approaching housewife in ghillie suit makes me bit nervous

We have only owned our land for 10 years now. Snow storms only happen every few years and I wait patiently to get The Photo of our snow covered road....

One year we got a decent snow so I drove out to the land to see if I could find The Photo and to check on the place. I get to our gate across the road and someone on an ATV had ridden around the gate and over some survey stakes from a survey I had just had done. They then drove up the road. Found my tractor in the woods. Road around it a few times, did some donuts in the road and went on home.

To say that I was p....ed off was an understatement.

With the snow on the ground it was not hard to find the house from which the ATV came and went. So I knocked on the door.

There is scurrying behind the door. Whispers. Then the door opens and it is the lady of the house in s bath rope. We had a conversation about the ATV tracks that left her house, went up to my land, ran over my survey stakes, went around my POSTED GATE, and finally drove all over my road and spoiled my pretty picture. Ok, I may have left out the pretty picture part.

This conversation took awhile which was fine by me. I was dressed for the weather. Long Johns. Heavy wool pants, shirts, jacket and hat. I was a bit warm. She, not so much standing in the door way. :laughing: She kept inviting me in the house which I would not venture since I would drag in snow. Which is what I told her. And I was being very polite. Of course I did not want to be in HER house at all. So she had to stand in the door way with the cold.

She did take care of the problem and the son never trespassed again. These people moved out a few years ago.

Fast forward to this year. We get another snow storm. I go for a walk. I get to down the driveway to the road looking for The Photo. And what do I find?

Tracks. Someone had walked in, around the gate and left foot prints all over the place. I was going for a walk to anyway so I followed the prints. They went right back to The House. I saw the nit wits who trespassed but I left them alone. There were a young couple who were visiting their parents. The snow was melting quickly so The Photo was not there in any case so I just left well enough alone.

Maybe I am mellowing in my old age?

Later,
Dan

 

[beppington]

Do not go gentle into that good night, Dan. Rage, rage against the ... trespassers

 

[texasjohn]

Well, MarkV, the only thing I might suggest after watching someone head off to your 4 acre lake to do some fish stealing is to print off a copy of the trespassing law in Georgia, hand it to them, take a photo of them on your property and audio of you asking them to leave.....then, if retaliation occurs, at least you will have established motive and identified persons of interest.

I would comment that in many countries/societies outside of the borders of the USA the attitude of society re trespassing and other things of a criminal nature is VASTLY different from here in the USA. In the greater scheme of things, it is likely we will become more like them than that they will become more like us. I must stop now else political content may creep in and the thread become tainted.

 

[Eagleview]

After a good start to the year I had my usually trying August long weekend.
Here are the reasons people trespass at my place.
Keep in mind that my yard is hedged and somewhat secluded. People have to walk by my truck, house garage. They also usually wait for a vehicle to leave before they try their luck. This year all trespassers came for the same weekend rental campsite in the adjacent trailer park. That park has water on two sides. I am on the third side, also water.

1) "I want to play with my remote control boat." uh, nice boat, this is private property the beach is over there.
2) "We're just fishing." (boat guy and another guy two hours after the first encounter) Private property, please leave.
3) "We're going to have a look at something." Private property.
4) "I just want to look around." This guy showed up after he watched my wife's car leave. I had an extended talk with that guy and he was the last.

From last year. "I thought you were a nice guy." In response to "why did you ignore the no trespassing signs" and sneak over here after you saw me leave.

FWIW, I have never said no to anyone who asked first. But if you don't ask you get the boot.

This is just a rant. I'll be putting up small billboards for the long weekends next summer as well as video taping trespassers.

All you need is a large dog house with the word Satan painted above the doorway with a piece of 3/8" chain attached to it and the biggest leg bone you can get lying beside it at the entrance of your land . It will be a keen person that will walk past this not knowing where the "puppy" is .

 

[ultrarunner]

The next guy you catch fishing, just walk over to his tackle box and open it up. Tell him you're looking for anything you can use in there because you like "just fishing" too. Tell him since he is using your land it is only fair that you can use his tackle.

Only slightly related...

A good friend was diving his 1930 Model A Roadster back from a meet... the car is a past national winner.

As the group was leaving a restaurant... he noticed the hood of his car was up and saw a man crouched down looking inside... he asked the guy what the heck gave him the right to open someone else's car... the guy said it was no big deal and he was only looking.

The guy left and walked to his BMW... as he opened the door, my friend reached in and popped the hood release and quickly opened the hood... the guy was frightened, irate and very unhappy... my friend answered... it was no big deal since he was only looking...

True story... some people don't have a clue.

 

[MarkV]

Well, MarkV, the only thing I might suggest after watching someone head off to your 4 acre lake to do some fish stealing is to print off a copy of the trespassing law in Georgia, hand it to them, take a photo of them on your property and audio of you asking them to leave.....then, if retaliation occurs, at least you will have established motive and identified persons of interest.

I would comment that in many countries/societies outside of the borders of the USA the attitude of society re trespassing and other things of a criminal nature is VASTLY different from here in the USA. In the greater scheme of things, it is likely we will become more like them than that they will become more like us. I must stop now else political content may creep in and the thread become tainted.

Just to clarify, they did not fish that day. I was just so taken back that it was something someone would even try to argue about.:thumbdown:

MarkV

 

[dave1949]

Only slightly related...

A good friend was diving his 1930 Model A Roadster back from a meet... the car is a past national winner.

As the group was leaving a restaurant... he noticed the hood of his car was up and saw a man crouched down looking inside... he asked the guy what the heck gave him the right to open someone else's car... the guy said it was no big deal and he was only looking.

The guy left and walked to his BMW... as he opened the door, my friend reached in and popped the hood release and quickly opened the hood... the guy was frightened, irate and very unhappy... my friend answered... it was no big deal since he was only looking...

True story... some people don't have a clue.

It is related, it's the same attitude some trespassers have. Perfect example of someone who thinks the world is wired to their butt. Huge sense of self-entitlement.
Dave.

 

[Skyco]

It is related, it's the same attitude some trespassers have. Perfect example of someone who thinks the world is wired to their butt. Huge sense of self-entitlement.
Dave.

Funny about the "all about me" people. This week I have been installing an 8 camera surveillance system at my primary residence. Why?
Well one neighbor who has been problematic for years is really getting wacky, a week ago he screamed every epithet and cuss word known to man at me over the fence.
Problem is he thinks he should be allowed to burn anything he wants even though a county ordinance forbids it as of 2007. Over the years he has caught my property on fire twice and we've had many unpleasant discussions about his frequent burning. I've even offered to haul his yard debris off so I don't have to smell it smoldering for days. Nope- he likes to burn stuff.
Well a week ago I called the county on him for illegal burning and he got a warning- next time it is $1000 fine and a misdemeanor conviction. BTW the I had warned him a month earlier I would call the authorities if he burned again...got called a common name for a lower body orifice for that.
But *I'm* the bad guy for asking for the law to be enforced.
He doesn't know it but I have much of his profanity laced tirade where he said he'd kick my a** on tape. He is a professional in his 50's. I wonder what the board of directors at his employer would think if the tape found its way to them.
I know what would happen to me if I was to behave that way and my employer found out...hope it doesn't get that ugly but the game is ON
So the cameras are up and he better stay home...

Next at my mountain camp a guy has been hunting on the land around me claiming he has permission. I don't necessarily mind hunting but this guy is creepy.
Well.... I finally got a chance to speak with the landowner who lives out of state, and he absolutely forbids hunting on his 1300 acres...will be interesting when the hunter shows up again next deer season.

Life sure be easier if everyone just followed the laws and considered the other guy. BTW re the trash burner- we have free county drop off sites.

 

[beppington]

My parents have a neighbor about three lots away (10-acre lots) that burns almost every single day. My parents never smell it, but his directly adjacent neighbors do, & hate it. I enjoy occassional bon fires myself, when it's cold, but this guy is just weird about it, & during all this heat.

 

[/pine]

To answer the question of the OP...Lack of respect for other peoples property

We have 300' on one side and 200' on the other side of a popular trout stream...we have more problems with "some" of our neighbors (and their guests) than we do with the general public...as this is in a fairly remote area in relation to public access locations...

By law (because we own boths sides of the river) we could put a cattle fence across and block the weekend canoests, kayak'ers and tubers etc but that would be absurd....however, the laws state that we can treat the river bottom the same as any of the rest of our land...it also states that we own the fish... (I have all the GA code reference numbers that back up this info FWIW)

At any rate...there is an extremely good "honey hole" for trout on our property...28" Rainbows and 30" Browns are not uncommon...and we do get some locals that know about the spot and I always let them fish as most are respectful and many release the fish...

"The neighbors" not only tresspass and fish (it is posted) when there is no one here...recently they had the nerve to trim one of our trees back (that hangs over the honey hole) to keep from snagging their lures...that really irked me...

FWIW...we've had this property since the late 60's..."The neighbors" have been here 5-6 years...

Most of "the neighbors" we consider "weekend warriors" as they come up from Atlanta...they think they can do anything they want without any regard for other peoples property...

 

[dave1949]

"The neighbors" not only tresspass and fish (it is posted) when there is no one here...recently they had the nerve to trim one of our trees back (that hangs over the honey hole) to keep from snagging their lures...that really irked me...

FWIW...we've had this property since the late 60's..."The neighbors" have been here 5-6 years...

Most of "the neighbors" we consider "weekend warriors" as they come up from Atlanta...they think they can do anything they want without any regard for other peoples property...

The best (at least most fun) thing to do would be visit their primary home in Atlanta and trim their trees for them

I have had similar thoughts about the weekender's around here. We've been lucky so far, but then, we don't have a honey hole either. Nice trout.
Dave.

 

[jpm]

my very large dog does the trick for me. he normaly does not bark till a few feet a way. He has broken a few windows in my house and cars. scares the
tresspassor right out .plus all the local kids & adults know about him and don't
want to try their luck:thumbsup: