# Westfield NJ House Stalker **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421 "2015-06-25T03:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/21 "2015-06-26T15:44:36Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > A neighbor or a real estate speculator wants that house. > > Dirty Tricks Ensue. Doesn’t that usually involve dressing up as a ghost, though? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/22 "2015-06-26T15:59:51Z")
And it would have worked too! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/23 "2015-06-26T16:05:42Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps a series of MS kids over several years. What’s an MS kid? (ETA I just figured out MS is middle school) is there any evidence that the letters were written over many years? I know the watcher claims to be a third generation creep. When is the next season of American Horror Story announced? Sounds like a promo. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/24 "2015-06-26T16:23:57Z")
All those letters over the years and no DNA from the stamps, a fingerprint, no camera footage on the mailing … nothing … over DECADES??? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/25 "2015-06-26T16:38:32Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > All those letters over the years and no DNA from the stamps, a fingerprint, no camera footage on the mailing … nothing … over DECADES??? Perhaps previous owners just trashed the letters. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/26 "2015-06-26T16:43:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Now that I have that off my chest, is there evidence that the same guy harassed the previous owners? > > First three principles of real estate - location, location, harassment from psychos. > > Regards, > Shodan Yes, they can prove that the sellers got at least one letter. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/27 "2015-06-26T16:53:51Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps previous owners just trashed the letters. Or maybe there weren’t any letters, but the first one said that the harassment went back three generations. I find it hard to believe that somebody or somebodies were harassing the inhabitants of a specific house for decades and the owners just threw out the letters and ignored them. I would think that sooner or later someone says “Enough is enough” and at least turned a specimen over to the police for fingerprinting or something. I can see not mentioning it as a selling point for the house, although I have no opinion on whether or not that is an ethical breach, but if it was one set of owners, I wouldn’t have brushed it off with “oh yes, your grandfather used to get those”. And if it were different owners, the law of averages implies that at least one set of owners would react the way the most recent owners did. I don’t know if it is a hoax or not - maybe just some creepozoid got a better reaction than he expected when he sent a hideous letter. So he is keeping it up. If I found my dream home and it cost $1.3 megabucks, I would toss the first letter and take the second to the police. Maybe make sure the shotgun was handy at night, but I wouldn’t move. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/28 "2015-06-26T18:16:16Z")
Yes, if it went back years at some point I’d go to the police. He’s mentioning specifics like watching through a certain set of windows. so you start with the folks living across the street, etc. If it’s really been going on that long, it seems like there would be enough evidence to find the guy by now. It also seems like the owners/sellers probably thought he was a nuisance rather than a threat. Years of letters is annoying but if nothing else happens, screw the guy. Still should have been mentioned. To \*\*Shodan’s \*\*shotgun I might add my rottweilers and an extremely solid alarm system. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/29 "2015-06-26T20:07:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If I found my dream home and it cost $1.3 megabucks, I would toss the first letter and take the second to the police. Maybe make sure the shotgun was handy at night, but I wouldn’t move. > > Regards, > Shodan The letters started coming before they actually moved in, so they didn’t take the chance. I wouldn’t have either. They have been paying for this house, which is vacant, and an undisclosed location that they did move into. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/30 "2015-06-26T20:09:56Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The letters started coming before they actually moved in, so they didn’t take the chance. I wouldn’t have either. > > They have been paying for this house, which is vacant, and an undisclosed location that they did move into. Uh, about your user name… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/31 "2015-06-26T20:15:50Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The letters started coming before they actually moved in, so they didn’t take the chance. I wouldn’t have either. > > They have been paying for this house, which is vacant, and an undisclosed location that they did move into. Thanks. As mentioned it would be interesting to see some authenticated specimens of the letters dating back to when the last owners lived there. I would have moved in, if it were my dream house. I couldn’t afford two houses, especially if one cost a million and change. [quote=ddsun] To Shodan’s shotgun I might add my rottweilers and an extremely solid alarm system. [quote] I have Leet the Wonder Dog, all seventy-five pounds of German Shepherd as well, who would be delighted to introduce himself to any intruders. He makes enough noise at the UPS guy as it is - Mr. Creepy Stalker would probably leave a lot faster than he came in, and probably with a little less of his pants. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/32 "2015-06-26T20:18:05Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Uh, about your user name… Hush. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/33 "2015-06-26T20:48:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or maybe there weren’t any letters, but the first one said that the harassment went back three generations. > > I find it hard to believe that somebody or somebodies were harassing the inhabitants of a specific house for decades and the owners just threw out the letters and ignored them. I would think that sooner or later someone says “Enough is enough” and at least turned a specimen over to the police for fingerprinting or something. He said they were watching it for 3 generations. That doesn’t mean the earlier generations of watchers wrote letters. In any event, it’s certainly unlikely that anyone was actually watching it for three generations. That’s just what the guy is now claiming. What intrigues me about it is that the letter writer seems to be being pretty careful to not make any threats of any sort. Just a lot of vague implications and all-purpose creepiness. It wouldn’t completely surprise me to learn that the new owners are themselves the writers of the letters, and did it as an excuse to back out of the deal.Though if so, it would be backfiring on them, as they’ll make it harder for them to sell it if it falls through. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/34 "2015-06-26T23:18:21Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > It wouldn’t completely surprise me to learn that the new owners are themselves the writers of the letters, and did it as an excuse to back out of the deal.Though if so, it would be backfiring on them, as they’ll make it harder for them to sell it if it falls through. Perhaps they believe they can dump it into the laps of the previous owner and real estate agent. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/35 "2015-06-28T17:12:00Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > He said they were watching it for 3 generations. That doesn’t mean the earlier generations of watchers wrote letters. > > In any event, it’s certainly unlikely that anyone was actually watching it for three generations. That’s just what the guy is now claiming. > > What intrigues me about it is that the letter writer seems to be being pretty careful to not make any threats of any sort. Just a lot of vague implications and all-purpose creepiness. > > It wouldn’t completely surprise me to learn that the new owners are themselves the writers of the letters, and did it as an excuse to back out of the deal.Though if so, it would be backfiring on them, as they’ll make it harder for them to sell it if it falls through. Um… anybody see any problems with the whole 3 generations watching, and his claim to have played IN the house? Unless his family were friends with the owners of about 20ish years ago, not happening, unless they stalked themselves… ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/36 "2015-06-29T19:55:17Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > It wouldn’t completely surprise me to learn that the new owners are themselves the writers of the letters, and did it as an excuse to back out of the deal.Though if so, it would be backfiring on them, as they’ll make it harder for them to sell it if it falls through. They are from Massachusetts, where they had sold their house to move here and had already CLOSED on the Westfield home when the first letter for them showed up. You can’t back out after you have closed in NJ. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/37 "2015-06-30T03:58:46Z")
The buyers have a case since the sellers did not reveal the letters. You have to disclose anything that might otherwise devalue the property. I doubt its a title issue, just sounds like a sicko prankster. Unless I found out there was something creepy about the house, like there was a murder in it, Id move in myself. But Id buy a dog. Hopefully, the police can get to the bottom of this and find out who is writing the letters. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/38 "2015-06-30T04:23:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How can one tell what color eyes an invisible pig has? While the pig can be invisible, the eyes could be luminous and therefore visible. As for how you’d know it was a pig, perhaps it makes pig noises? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/39 "2015-06-30T04:28:41Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The letters started coming before they actually moved in, so they didn’t take the chance. I wouldn’t have either. > > They have been paying for this house, which is vacant, and an undisclosed location that they did move into. I’m so poor not only could I not afford this house, but it would not be possible to not take the chance. We’d just have to make sure to have guns and weapons on us at all times. One thing about poverty, it makes it impossible to be careful heh. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421/40 "2015-06-30T08:46:05Z")
This is an awesome set-up for a suspense/mystery novel. Here’s what I want: I would like a major publishing house to engage about 4 authors (I vote Harlen Coben, Gillian Flynn, Jessica Knoll and Paula Hawkins but any four intelligent and willing novelists are fine) to take this premise and run with it. All four books could then be published as “The Watcher Quartet”. I don’t even want anything for this idea, other than the ability to buy the four books. Wouldn’t you just love to see what someone like Coben could do with this set-up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/westfield-nj-house-stalker/723421.md?page=3)