There goes the neighborhood.....

[Nova]

For the first time as a home owner I no longer have a sense of security over my personal belongings. I've owned my house 9 years, and in that time there has been minimal movement in my neighboorhood as far as people moving in/out. It's always been a relatively quiet neighboorhood, my mom owned a house here for about 10 years when I was younger. It's always been the kind of place where forgetting to lock your car/house/etc was never a big deal. At one point my uncle accidentally left my garage overhead door wide open over night and nothing at all was touched.

My neighbors across the alley moved out a few weeks ago. Took over family business out in BC and hit the road ASAP. They were good people, young family, kids were well behaved. I was hoping they would just sell the house but they decided to rent it out instead. I got my boat loaded up for a solo fishing trip yesterday and in the process met the new neighbor. He was losing his mind over the condition the house was left in (which to his credit, is a legit concern because he did show me). But overall, not a great feeling about this one. He is crippled and obviously on some medication, but he has a readily apparent drug history (which he admitted to, claiming he's been clean for 5 years....don't they all). He's 49 and his girlfriend is 20. Broke as can be. Tons of red flags. Didn't want to be totally judgemental, but I was going to stay on my toes.

Today, knock on the door.....he asks if he can get a quick ride to the store as they haven't had a chance to grab groceries and he lost the key to his rental van. I figure it would be a dick move to say no, and it's not like I'm busy so I figure it's a good chance to assess his character a bit more. Being that he's in rough shape I dropped him off at the door. 10 minutes later he's on his way out so I pull back up and get out to give him a hand. Just then the cashier comes running out and starts questioning him. He said something about his "wife" paying for it, and I start thinking the issue is those reusable bags his groceries are packed in. Cashier grabs the cart and walks away. WTF, did I seriously just get used as a get-away driver for shop lifting? He was going on about how he spaced out, blamed the meds, etc. Claims he has money to pay for it (apparently won money on the VLT's, whaddaya know another red flag), but was too embarrased to go back in and pay.

After picking him up smokes and stopping at the A&W drive through, I dropped him off and went straight back to talk with the cashier and manager. I don't want to be implicated in anything, and this is too small of a community to get a bad reputation. I was also curious if this was a reoccuring event and what more they can tell me. They say he was outside begging for change a few days back. Runs with a bad crowd, they keep an eye on all of them when they are there. They thanked me for coming back and assured me there are no issues to come of this. Still a terrible feeling.

So I guess at least now I know. Lock my house, lock my garage, lock my gates, if it can't be locked up in the boat it will go inside the house. Probably a good time to get some cameras too.

[Albertadiver]

Sorry to hear this. I've got a similar situation happening across the street in a rental unit with new tenants.

I'd agree with the camera. And take photos of all your things in case something walks away.

Do you have a means to contact the home owner?

[leeaspell]

Does he look like one of these guys?



They had a similar plan for buying stuff lol

[Hevishot]

My new neighbors across the street are from Ohio they have a very large Obama Biden bumper sticker on their car.

[Fisherpeak]

Wow!I feel for you.Best thing you can do is have as little as possible to do with them or they will be bumming off you all the time.And never let him in your house,he`ll case the joint.If you have a big dog or 2 make sure he knows how much they like to go for the Nads on intruders.Good luck.

[jaylow?]

my wife has a cousin like that . no matter what you do you feel like you just got screwed around the guy. everyone "screws him over" . he always needs something , a place to stay , a ride , money , wants to use this or that borrow your truck. i understand that drug addicts are locked in whatever nightmare they're in but holy crap. as soon as you do anything for them it becomes expected and they will make a scene.

always stealing things , groceries , ipods laptops.

i need a ride , let me borrow your truck....no . flat tire in the morning. if you enable someone like that it will haunt you bud!!

you dont even have the guilt of them being a relative or anything. tell them to beat it.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Albertadiver

Sorry to hear this. I've got a similar situation happening across the street in a rental unit with new tenants.

I'd agree with the camera. And take photos of all your things in case something walks away.

Do you have a means to contact the home owner?

It is something I'm looking into. Unfortunately, it was a first name basis sort of thing. No idea of their last name. Not originally from the area. Guys like this are never on time with their rent so I'm hoping that nature runs it's course and this is over in a few months. Unless of course social assistance is paying the bills, in which case this could be a long term (mis)adventure.

leeaspell: If Randy and Ray had a child.....this would be the guy. Lol.

[stuckincity]

Originally Posted by Nova

Probably a good time to get some cameras too.

And man-eating dogs.

We had a bunch of farewell bums renting a house in our neighborhood for a few months, and they were always trying to bum something from everyone, including rides.

My dogs always bark at strangers till I welcome the person(s).

One time one of the "men" came to try and bum light bulbs. The dogs kept barking because I wouldn't silence them.

I told him that my dogs are good at "reading" people, so if they don't like him, neither do I. Never seen him since.

The other neighbors, who all have dogs, made it clear they don't like them (the bums) either.
They eventually moved out, probably for "easier pickings" elsewhere.

That's the only way to deal with them, short of doing something illegal.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Fisherpeak

If you have a big dog or 2 make sure he knows how much they like to go for the Nads on intruders.Good luck.

Well I do have a pitbull. She is my fishing partner so he already met her yesterday and knows she's an absolute sweetheart. She's no guard dog, thats for sure.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by Hevishot

My new neighbors across the street are from Ohio they have a very large Obama Biden bumper sticker on their car.

There goes your neighborhood.

[leeaspell]

I've met lots of dogs that seemed like sweethearts in public. But I wouldn't want to test them by climbing in a window at 3 am lol

[just_dave]

Sorry you have to deal with this.

I've had to deal with so many greasy skids, I can see them a mile away.

One thing for sure, the more people you can warn about these skids, the better.

[tibetanpet]

Gotta be hardline with guys like that... sorry man, I know it sucks.

Had a guy from work move in 3 houses down from us. Figured we were gonna be buds. I discouraged him every chance I got.

Christmas Day, he's all hopped up on something and comes to the door asking to borrow my computer keyboard as his is broken...

He finally got the hint that day...

[Albertadiver]

Best thing you can do as other posters mentioned, is no more rides, no communication, nothing. They'll tell you any sob story they can come up with.

These druggies are a wieght on society, and not matter what excuses or health conditions they come up with, you're not obligated to help. They'll just suck the life out of you.

[Okotokian]

Rentals are almost always bad news in a neighbourhood. We have a couple of them. No horrible issues but they just don't care for the places like an owner would.

Find a way to let the owners know about their tennants (what the store told you, etc.) Then they can evict them as soon as the first shoe drops.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Nova

It is something I'm looking into. Unfortunately, it was a first name basis sort of thing. No idea of their last name.

Publicly available tax rolls should have name at least.

[Fisherpeak]

Originally Posted by leeaspell

I've met lots of dogs that seemed like sweethearts in public. But I wouldn't want to test them by climbing in a window at 3 am lol

My Walker hound and Black Lab hound cross just tried to eat the Loomis guy an hour ago when he foolishly opened the gate to my deck.They like to sleep on the hotub cover.Once I told them it`s OK they went back to sleep.
That 3 A.M. stuff will definatly get you tore up.

[stuckincity]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Rentals are almost always bad news in a neighbourhood. We have a couple of them. No horrible issues but they just don't care for the places like an owner would.

We live near a condo complex all the neighbors call "The Hatchery". Too much to explain, but "welfare" has a lot to do with it.
When you drive by, you can sure tell the difference between the owner-occupied units and the rental units. Its about half-and-half.

[stuckincity]

Originally Posted by leeaspell

Does he look like one of these guys?



They had a similar plan for buying stuff lol

We don't live in a trailer park, and have no "Mr. Lahey", but we have a friend a few houses down who my wife calls "Rickey".

YOU figure it out!

[Stinky Buffalo]

Sorry to hear about that. My old neighbourhood started getting like that as well.

As folks moved out (most of them were older, and some passed away) more and more of the houses got rented out. The last year we were there, there was a dramatic downslide in the local atmosphere. What was once a nice neighbourhood became not-so-nice anymore.

I sure can't stand those passive-agressive types who try to project guilt on you while you are just trying to be neighbourly. Some of those weasels have quite the talent for that.

[Nester]

I think you should introduce him to "Jesus" .....you do have a bible right?

[Kokanee9]

Trying to get in touch with the owner is probably the best thing to do.

I think you can also get the name through land titles office, or ask the people on either side of that house if they know the name.

[JimPS]

Make sure you get in touch with the owners right now and tell them about the situation.

By the time he realizes his new tenants are deadbeats, they will have already stiffed him for 2 or 3 months rent.

It could then take a couple of years to do an eviction and he will be out thousands of dollars.

Some of these people are professional con men of the highest order and know every trick in the book and they know how to use the courts.

Even you got suckered right off the bat.

He sounds like a "pro".

[Sooner]

[QUOTE=Okotokian;2111619]Rentals are almost always bad news in a neighbourhood. We have a couple of them. No horrible issues but they just don't care for the places like an owner would.



This is now going on in my parents old established neighborhood, literally 4 homes are now rentals and the rif raft that came in have been drug dealers, strippers and escorts and just plain punks who when they were in, theft went up. I grew up with one of the owners, it was his parents house and mom rents it after they moved. He is desperate for her to sell but mom has sentimental feelings and keeps it. The horror stories he tells of trying to evict some of these people is scary, plus the mess they leave behind. I hope your problem moves on sooner than later.

[stuckincity]

Originally Posted by Sooner

The horror stories he tells of trying to evict some of these people is scary, plus the mess they leave behind. I hope your problem moves on sooner than later.

....but...but....they're "victims" and shouldn't be mistreated by all those greedy, bloodsucking landlords and heartless neighbors!

They only leave a mess because they don't get enough respect, and get frustrated!

Its OUR problem because all of us in "society" just don't understand the poor souls and are too cold and uncaring to accept them with open arms and give them big welcoming hugs!

We mustn't expect them to be responsible for their own actions, because that proves we have no compassion!

Just ask any liberal that doesn't allow them in their gated communities.

[Nova]

Well, I felt like I was going to hit a dead end figuring out how to get ahold of the owners and then the idea hit me.....kijiji. Searched house rental ads in town, narrowed them down by size and date. Googled the phone number which was listed as a business contact number on his company website. I elected to send him a well worded e-mail.

As it stands right now, my fear isn't as much of my new neighbor as I am of whatever riff-raff he might attract. And his alleged 20 year old girlfriend (if she exists), because no mentally balanced law abiding 20 year old gets with an overweight, disabled middle aged man with no cash flow. Just does not compute.

I've started looking at surveillance options, talk about a head spinning. I am sort of leaning towards cameras right now. My dog has yard access all day via doggy door and I'm worried a trail camera might be taking pictures of her all day long. And also would require being mounted in locations too obvious.

[Nester]

I was over on this other forum and this handicapped middle aged man started a thread about his neighbor who .......


Well you get the idea.......

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted by Nova

Well, I felt like I was going to hit a dead end figuring out how to get ahold of the owners and then the idea hit me.....kijiji. Searched house rental ads in town, narrowed them down by size and date. Googled the phone number which was listed as a business contact number on his company website. I elected to send him a well worded e-mail.

As it stands right now, my fear isn't as much of my new neighbor as I am of whatever riff-raff he might attract. And his alleged 20 year old girlfriend (if she exists), because no mentally balanced law abiding 20 year old gets with an overweight, disabled middle aged man with no cash flow. Just does not compute.

I've started looking at surveillance options, talk about a head spinning. I am sort of leaning towards cameras right now. My dog has yard access all day via doggy door and I'm worried a trail camera might be taking pictures of her all day long. And also would require being mounted in locations too obvious.

So that's what I'm doin all wrong. And here I thought women wanted a non overweight, able bodied young guy with a good job. No wonder it's so hard to find someone hahaha

[Winch101]

Might cost a few bucks , but 6 ft wire fence at the back and sides
And cameras ,bought that set at Costco ,worked great ,
10,000 watt motion lights. . I even hooked up an out side
Speaker on a tape deck ....You are now entering private property
The police have been called....please remain where you are ...

I would have told the new guy what a bad neighbour hood ,this was ...
With the grow ops ,meth house , b&e ,s really dress it up
My d-Bags stayed 2.5 mo.s ....and midnite move ....went on the market
Was Reno,d and bought by Phillipinos freshly arrived , 7 cars , I have no idea
How many people lived in that house , but great neighbours ....I love roast pig
Always polite...Now this was in a neighbour hood in Calgary where homes were
750 K to 2.5 mil.

Likely they will be gone shortly ....but you should get the compound together
Cause " Where there's rentals....there ,s Crap "

This is what's going on out there , oil guy buys an 800k house as an investment,
Rents it out to a so called executive couple , young guy ...classy broad
Hardly ever saw them , the main participants were their Inlaws , 50 yr.
Old ex hippie ,senior doper ,,no idea how many kids , any way they wrote the place off in 2mos ,owner had 1 mo. Rent damage deposit , that didn't get the
Dog **** out of the carpets. Nice... There's trash everywhere ,,,

[doetracks]

Originally Posted by Hevishot

My new neighbors across the street are from Ohio they have a very large Obama Biden bumper sticker on their car.

Originally Posted by Ryry4

There goes your neighborhood.

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