I own two commercial lots next to a strip mall. I keep them mowed and weedeated. I wanted people to realize it wasn’t a neglected or abandoned property.
Today the landscaping company called and said a trailer was parked in the middle of it. They couldn’t mow.
What can I do? Is there any obligation to look for the owner of the trailer? Leave a note?
My inclination is to call a tow company and have it hauled off. Maybe to the impound yard? Just like a abandoned car?
Is that legal? Could I get charged with theft?
What would you do? This land is 12 miles from my home. I drive by and check on it a couple times a month.
Here’s the layout.
Strip mall-my two lots 70’-- 2 residential lots-street
I only mow my lots. The 2 residential lots rarely gets mowed. I was told a construction company owns them and will eventually build houses. The city will make them build a privacy fence to separate the commercial & residential properties.
A year back or so I posted when someone parked a car (stolen) in our driveway. We called the cops. When we asked the cop how to have it removed, they said they took care of it, no problem. Car was towed.
I go with call the cops. There is a legal process to deal with abandoned property. If you take steps on your own (like having it towed), there’s a chance you’ll be doing something that is technically illegal.
Given that it’s a lot next to a strip mall, and the mowing company said they couldn’t mow the lot, I’m wondering if it’s a semi-trailer for one of the stores in the strip mall.
If it is, you might have a bit of trouble getting it towed…
And if it is, the driver and store manager might not have realized the well-maintained lots next to the strip mall were actually someone else’s property, and not part of the strip mall lot. In that case, if there’s branding on the trailer, your best bet might be to contact the store and/or the store’s corporate office and complain to them.
Given that it’s a lot next to a strip mall, and the mowing company said they couldn’t mow the lot, I’m wondering if it’s a semi-trailer for one of the stores in the strip mall.
If it is, you might have a bit of trouble getting it towed…
And if it is, the driver and store manager might not have realized the well-maintained lots next to the strip mall were actually someone else’s property, and not part of the strip mall lot. In that case, if there’s branding on the trailer, your best bet might be to contact the store and/or the store’s corporate office and complain to them.
I’m also curious about what kind of trailer it is. There are little ones like for towing a small car or a jack hammer compressor. Then, there are big tanker trucks, 53’ flatbeds or mobile homes.
Also, consider letting them rent some space in case it comes up.
In California, there is a police number you can call specifically for abandoned vehicles. They will then come and pick up the vehicle and notify the registered owner that it has been towed and what they can do to retrieve it.
Not sure if you have such a service in your state.
Here’s a photo from the street. My 2 lots are next to that building. A new building could be attached to the old. Extending the strip mall. Or built detached.
I thought it would be great for a insurance office, optometrist etc.
I got them cheap as a long term investment. Ideally some developer will buy that strip mall and my property. Put a big building there.
Whatever you do, don’t let it sit there for a long time (like 10 years!), or you could lose your land thru adverse possession laws. Cops are certainly the way to go.
Look up your local towing ordinances. Fine out what CYA steps you have to take in order to just have the next vehicle towed without worrying about the police. It’s likely just a posted notice.
I notice that there is nothing in the pic to indicate that the grassy area is yours, or is private property which is not part of the same lot as the asphalt. It looks like part of the same lot, just not paved.
So somebody could quite innocently think that it’s okay to use the grass just like they use the asphalt.
It sounds like a very temporary problem–this is only a small trailer,obviously mobile. (If it were,say, a storage shed, that would be a different story.) But don’t take action, like towing, that might be technically illegal and cause you more trouble than it’s worth. Call the police for advice.
But i would recommend putting up some physical indication that the lot is yours. Maybe a small, knee-high fence around the perimeter. Or even just a row of parking bumpers, set on the grass just inside your property line.