# My crazy neighbor is ruining my life!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108 "2015-01-28T15:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/41 "2015-01-29T01:47:30Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > +1 -1 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/42 "2015-01-29T01:55:20Z")
Hire some actors to pretend to be prospective buyers and have them record his behavior. Only if you have actual evidence can the law do anything for you. They don’t act on “I KNOW he did it.” ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/43 "2015-01-29T01:57:08Z")
This sounds exactly like the kind if nutter who goes on a shooting spree, and we all get to hear in the news how he was a disturbed asshole for _years,_ that every one of his neighbors knew he was a disturbed asshole, the local cops knew that he was a disturbed asshole, yet everyone just shrugged and said, “Well, he’s an asshole; whaddaya gonna do?” +1 to the others who said you should have been documenting his behavior on camera for years; and you should have attempted to collaborate with your neighbors as well (it’s not too late for that; ask one of them if you can still do this, with the cam pointed at your property to catch this asshole in the act). ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/44 "2015-01-29T02:26:58Z")
When I practiced as an attorney, I tried a similar case in civil court. My clients were harassed by a loony neighbor for years. The loony had a rich husband, so when my clients couldn’t sell their house because of the nutjob, they sued for damages (the reduction in value of their home). You can’t do that, because your nutjob has no money to take. Put in security cameras. Once you have evidence that he is repeatedly trespassing on your property, he can be arrested for trespass, destruction of property, harassment, etc. Keep calling it in whenever he does it, and eventually he may go away for a long enough period of time to jail that you can get the house sold. I would also put up a nice fence. Also, the idea of putting the FOR SALE sign in the window is a good one. If it tempts him to commit a breaking & entering, and you have cameras, he’ll go away for awhile. (I am not your lawyer.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/45 "2015-01-29T03:53:28Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > -1 +π ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/46 "2015-01-29T05:24:43Z")
+e[sup]_iπ_[/sup] (But, +1 for **QuickSilver** ’s posts.) ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/47 "2015-01-29T05:56:28Z")
I don’t want to be one of those people who starts a thread asking for help and then is never heard from again. I just got home from a long shift at work and I’m just browsing the thread momentarily before i go to bed. Thanks for the responses and I will reply in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/48 "2015-01-29T16:44:36Z")
Gang up with the neighbours to combine camera footage (buttonhole cams) into a cleverly edited and funny video clip of all the shit the man pulls. Put it up on YouTube . At least that would be satisfying and maybe it helps, or gets you YouTube ad revenue if the vid goes viral. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/49 "2015-01-29T16:47:37Z")
Oh, and can you booby trap your property? There must be rusty bone braking bear traps for rent on Craigslist. You could even find some tetanus germs to prepare the jaws with. Just kidding… Or am I? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/50 "2015-01-29T17:16:45Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > You say you hate this guy and don’t want him to affect you, but your actions don’t line up with that. I can’t understand why you didn’t install video cameras years ago. You need cameras, you need a fence, and you need to purchase an air conditioner so you don’t have to open your windows in the hot summer months. The end. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/51 "2015-01-29T17:52:46Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Why should the OP have to install video cameras and a fence (if it’s allowed or affordable) and an air conditioner (in Michigan) to prevent this guy from coming into her yard and subjecting her to his racist diatribe? Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/52 "2015-01-29T17:55:30Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Oh, and can you booby trap your property? There must be rusty bone braking bear traps for rent on Craigslist. You could even find some tetanus germs to prepare the jaws with. Just kidding… Or am I? Don’t do this. It’s probably illegal (check your local listings) and at the very least would get you sued for damages. Security cameras. And ask your decent neighbors if you could set up a webcam or two pointing at your house. I’m sure they’d like to help this guy get back to his beloved homeland. Here is the website for reporting disability fraud. FYI. > **[Office of the Inspector General](https://oig.ssa.gov/report/)** > > The Office of the Inspector General is directly responsible for meeting the statutory mission of promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of Social Security Administration programs and operations and to prevent and... ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/53 "2015-01-29T18:25:37Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I never used the term thread shitting. > > LMAO! Hey! Haha! You seem so _pissed_. :eek: And you’ve never even had the guts to move away from your comfort zone and your mommy and daddy and beloved-hometown! :p, yet you feel entitled to comment on someone else’s choice of home. > > That would be funny, if it were actually funny. W-T-F is your problem? Leave me alone. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/54 "2015-01-29T18:54:29Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Oh, and can you booby trap your property? There must be rusty bone braking bear traps for rent on Craigslist. You could even find some tetanus germs to prepare the jaws with. Just kidding… Or am I? Do not do this. It’s usually illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/55 "2015-01-29T18:56:51Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Here is the website for reporting disability fraud. FYI. > [Report Fraud | Office of the Inspector General](http://oig.ssa.gov/report) This is probably a waste of time. His disability was probably awarded for his obvious mental health problems. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/56 "2015-01-29T19:01:29Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > If you were so clueless, after presumably being exposed to the extensive advertising and local promotions, to join up, not to mention this is a very diverse community, what in hell did you expect? A speshul-for-you break because you’re paraplegic, non-Muslim, well-off, white, a wannabee body builder and a professional entitled victim? In a community that is probably 40% black and [I don’t know exactly, but high] percent Arab-American. Many of whom are [actually Christian](http://michiganradio.org/post/what-explains-michigans-large-arab-american-community), not Muslim. Not that is actually matters. > > It just seems to me that you are about the LAST ever person on this board to be poking a stick at the OP. > [@chiroptera](#): > > LMAO! Hey! Haha! You seem so _pissed_. :eek: And you’ve never even had the guts to move away from your comfort zone and your mommy and daddy and beloved-hometown! :p, yet you feel entitled to comment on someone else’s choice of home. Personal insults aren’t allowed outside of the Pit. Don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![CraterLayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CraterLayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CraterLayer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/57 "2015-01-29T19:32:18Z")
I would rent the house to a self-made cripple who has issues with everyone and everything, then put up a “handicapped only” sign covering the whole yard and street frontage, and see what develops. ---
**Author:** ![Jabaski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@Jabaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabaski)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/58 "2015-01-29T20:07:02Z")
[This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespasser) or [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisance#United_States) may help with finding out where the line is drawn for him and for you. Video surveillance seems to be your best option, and the selection is pretty wide. Something like an IP camera that you can operate remotely would be a great option, and it’s pretty easy to string 3 or 4 of them together for surveillance. They benefit from being remote controllable, but a more economic option would be some basic fixed cameras. A simple wireless camera system shouldn’t be too difficult to install by yourself in an afternoon, and having video evidence of his actions is a must. I think you’ve conducted yourself well so far, and its important to resist stooping to his level. If/when this all comes out in court, you don’t want to have to defend yourself for provoking his behavior. It’s unfortunate that you don’t live in Britain since I’d be tempted to have him sectioned (detained for psychological evaluation/treatment at or against their will), if only for long enough to have your house sold. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/59 "2015-01-29T20:32:11Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > My suggestion would be to set up surveillance cameras. Make sure they capture your property. Maybe if you have him on ‘tape’ trespassing, or causing damage an arrest would be possible. I’ve been looking at surveillance cameras online, seeing what features they offer, what will serve me best. > [@elbows](#): > > And put your For Sale sign inside the house, in the front window. But, if it were me, I’d be dropping the price of the house every damn day until it sold, even if I had to take a large loss! And I’d be going over there prior to every showing to clean up whatever he’d done to the yard, etc. Yes, we put the For sale sign inside the house in the front window. The couple signs that went missing, we found one on the roof of the house and another tucked away behind my garage. I’m already pricing the house at a loss due to market value. I’m willing to eat a loss to move onto better things, but I’d hate to have to reduce the price to some crazy low level, but we’ll see. > [@Staggerlee](#): > > Maybe impractical/expensive, but maybe erect a tall fence between your properties, so as to shield buyers from this knobber’s gesticulations. I see a lot of you have suggested this. I mentioned before, he folds like a house of cards if you can get him outside to confront him. Once i told him to stop messing with my kids and stay off my property, he did. Also, the way our property is designed I could only put a fence up 1/3rd of the way between our property line. The city won’t allow you to put a fence up completely along the line for safety reasons. So our houses still would be open to each other as well as the front yard. As soon as potential buyers show up all he has to do is stand in his front yard and look intimidating or crazy or stand between our houses where people can clearly see him through all the bedroom windows. At this point, a fence may help slightly, but he has a way around that obstacle. > [@Becky2844](#): > > Months ago I read about a woman in a similar situation who was finally able to take the guy to court, but I think a HOA was involved and I can’t remember if he was charged with something or it was small claims court…I’m sorry, I wish I could remember the details, but I do know that she prevailed. > > I would get a lawyer to do everything possible to stop this. The other suggestions are good, too—tape what’s going on, go over to clean and stay there while the house is being shown. And I would try to sell to a state-run halfway house or something like that, seriously. > > Oh, and tell your realtor to _Yes_, get that Lebanese guy over there to see what he can do. Becky, I agree on all of this. I will be talking to a lawyer to see what my options are and I’m also going to the city hall to see if they could advice me or send him a warning themselves. It’s not in the cities interest to have a vacant home which brings down house value. I just heard today that some of the other neighbors are filing complaints with the city and the police department about the situation with this guy. He’s has gotten crazier since his wife left him and many of us feel it’s only a matter of time before something bad happens. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Oooooh, you , moved to _Dearborn Heights?_ Live and learn…:eek: The only thing wrong with the city of Dearborn Heights is the crazy guy i used to live next door to. Otherwise it’s a typical suburban middle class city. If you consider Dearborn Heights so bad, where do you live? > [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Did someone here accuse you of being racist? I didn’t see that. Otherwise, who gives a shit what religion/nationality he is. > > > [@lieu](#): > > > > I have a Lebanese neighbor / friend who’s one of the best guys I know. It’s not cultural, your guy’s just a crazy idiot. > > He “crept up” on you in the backyard? Ever hear of a fence and a gate with a lock? “Borrowed” things from your garage? Doesn’t your garage have a lock? I just wanted to agree with lieu that yes it has nothing to do with him or my neighbors being Arabic or Muslim, I’ve also met many who are great people. Him creeping up on me in my backyard happened when he first moved in, before I realized the depth of his craziness. He would show up as i was working outside, while my garage was open following me around as I worked and he talked non-stop. He’s done it to all the neighbors when they come outside. Then I’d notice something missing from my garage, go to his door and ask him if he took anything since he was just in the garage with me and he’d say, “Oh, I’m just borrowing it.” Of the nozzle on my front yard garden hose would be suddenly missing and I’d see it on his hose. When confronted, He’d say, I’m just using your until I buy a new one. These were some of the things i observed from him little by little that initially told me my neighbor isn’t quite normal. I told him not to come into my yard uninvited or “borrow” any of my stuff and it immediately stopped. Obviously, your next door neighbor isn’t loud and obnoxious and likes his privacy too. Lucky you! > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Perhaps I was just exposed to the seedier side of town. There _are_ disreputable areas of Dearborn Heights. Dearborn Heights is pretty spread out. I can’t think of a part of it that i would consider “seedy”. Have you actually ever been here? There might be a block or two that butt up against Inkster that are not as kept up, but of DH is considered seedy to you, you must come from a sheltered upper class background. > [@Rachellelogram](#): > > You say you hate this guy and don’t want him to affect you, but your actions don’t line up with that. I can’t understand why you didn’t install video cameras years ago. You need cameras, you need a fence, and you need to purchase an air conditioner so you don’t have to open your windows in the hot summer months. The end. Years ago, he wasn’t as bad as he is now. He’s gotten increasingly worse in the last couple years since his wife left him. I had no reason to install video cameras while i lived there. As soon as I told him to stay off my property many years ago, he did. As soon as I told him to ignore my kid and everyone else on my property, he did. All my other neighbors either have threatened him or are scared of him and stick their head in the sand. I have a kid who loves to play outside and heck if I’m gonna run an air conditioner when I can have a fresh breeze instead. I work odd shifts on my job and sleep when I can. My neighbor stays up late and makes noise and talking/ arguing loud while I’m sleeping or my son is. Then I will close the windows. But I’m not going to shut myself in on a beautiful breezy Spring day when it’s 80 degrees. My family and I learned to deal with it the best we can. Now we live far away. My only issue now is selling the house > [@PunditLisa](#): > > Hire some actors to pretend to be prospective buyers and have them record his behavior. Only if you have actual evidence can the law do anything for you. They don’t act on “I KNOW he did it.” This is a good idea and I have it ready to go as PlanD if all other plans fail. Thank you! > [@ExTank](#): > > This sounds exactly like the kind if nutter who goes on a shooting spree, and we all get to hear in the news how he was a disturbed asshole for _years,_ that every one of his neighbors knew he was a disturbed asshole, the local cops knew that he was a disturbed asshole, yet everyone just shrugged and said, “Well, he’s an asshole; whaddaya gonna do?” I agree 100% with you. I’m amazed how many people, including the police just say to ignore it. It’s obvious the guy is unstable. He has shown violence towards his then wife. She had called the cops on him many times. > [@Q.N.Jones](#): > > When I practiced as an attorney, I tried a similar case in civil court. My clients were harassed by a loony neighbor for years. The loony had a rich husband, so when my clients couldn’t sell their house because of the nutjob, they sued for damages (the reduction in value of their home). That’s one of the reason I will be contacting a lawyer. His home is listed under someone else’s name on the cities website and since crazy guy is living there in what I presume is as a tenant, I wonder if I could file a complaint against the actual home owner? There are at least 7 other families that are fearful of the guy, no longer use their front yards because of this guy, have caught him snooping on their property or are tired of his antics and looking for a reason to get even with him. Maybe file a group complaint against the homeowner, city or police. I’m working on it. Thank you for all the helpful advice. I will update for those interested. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108/60 "2015-01-29T20:43:53Z")
I don’t mean to doubt your word or your motivations and, lord knows, I have my own issee with my overly concerned neighbor;but, some of your story doesn’t make sense, in terms of the not wanting to be involved, ignore the neighbor, etc… You seem to have some very specific detailed info that isn’t just through the walls, can’t be helped, only heard snippets of conversations kind of stuff. I mean how do you know his co-workers stole his key, waited outside his home and pulled a Luca Brasi in his heating ducts when trying to completely ignore the nutjob next door. Internal feelings and motivations of his mother aren’t heard through accidental exposure to background noise. I’m not doubting the veracity of the facts, I’m just not sure your claim of “Leave me alone; I’ll ignore you” is completely valid. This sounds alot more like, “Hey I live next door to the circus and moved. It was great for coffee talk at the time; but, now, it’s afecting my pocket book.” That being said, I would agree with the inside For Sale sign, the cameras, fence, AC idea and, potentially, taking a hit on the price in order to move on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-crazy-neighbor-is-ruining-my-life/711108.md?page=4)