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WWYD (another "get off my grass" moment)
We live in a development where the front side of our development faces New Hampshire Ave, but is on a private drive parallel to the main road. All of the houses that front NH Ave have a driveway that lead to their backyard and our common area with a privacy fence, gate for each owner, etc. My backyard backs up to their backyard, essentially a bunch of houses whose backyards abut each other, with a small strip of common area in between.
We are very close to where the ICC is being built and with the construction, they have moved the bus stop that was on one end of our development down to the end where I live (and farther away from the main road that people used to walk down).
I noticed that people seem to be cutting through the property and have had people walking between my house and my neighbor's house a couple of times over the last week. I was wondering how they got there or where they were coming from (I did not know the bus stop had been moved - and the space between our two houses is less than 18 feet probably - a little creepy to see someone materialize there) until today, just a little while ago, I was sitting on the deck, enjoying an iced coffee, and I watched a guy walk up the private driveway of the house that backs to my house, open her gate and walk through her back yard, walk through my back yard (the unfenced part) and walk down the side of my house.
I'm a little creeped out by random people walking through my back yard. And the entire time KJ was barking like a viscious lunatic and this guy never even flinched.
DH has been away all week so I was kind of nervous to say something (chickensh*t) and I don't want to make a federal case out of it, but I also don't want people traipsing across my lawn at all hours of the day and night, freaking me and my dog out.
Am I being ridiculous? Can I do something? My neighbor (who's yard it also is) is on the HOA board and we talked about planting some shrubs, but if they are opening fence gates, I can't imagine a couple of shrubs will keep them away!
(Just as a funny aside, my powder room looks out to the side "yard" between my house and my neigbor's and since she can see me do my business I don't usually close my blinds - and yup - that's the first time I saw someone walking through there - nice).
Re: WWYD (another "get off my grass" moment)
That is way creepy and I would be concerned. I would talk to your neighbor about posting "private property - no trespassing" signs at the front of her driveway and on the gate to her backyard and do the same for my yard. Maybe the gate should be padlocked.
I would also call your local police station's non-emergency line, report being used as a cut-through, and see if you can have an officer stationed during the busy time to deter trespassers one day. Our neighborhood periodically requests officers to set up for a morning or afternoon to deter speeders and the police have responded to the requests.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I'm officially creeped out by the fact that the person had no problems opening a gate to go through someone's yard. No Trespassing signs are in order.
Maybe even some hair rollers, a long night gown, muddy boots and a shot gun as well. Put on a show and see if that guy comes back!
We live in an end-unit townhouse and have people walk on our sidewalk all the time to cut between our house and the neighbor's. While it's annoying and they are technically on our property, I figure it's part of urban living and don't say anything unless someone is trampling my flowers (and usually it's just kids who do that). However, I would be quite pissed if someone were to open my fence for a shortcut. To me, that crosses a line.
I would definitely let your neighbor know. As for your own property, I agree that you should post a "no trespassing" sign (maybe even a "beware of dog" sign, just to further scare them off?). I am sure people will continue to take shortcuts, but they might think twice about doing so on your property.
Baby248 - ETA 1/10/13
i too was thinking this wasn't such a big deal until i got to the part about the gate opening. that is ballsy. i agree to post signs (i'd go "private property" AND "no trespassing" just to cover all bases) and a padlock.
was it ssw who said that the police said they couldn't do anything unless it was posted as private property? so i'd do signs and then if it keeps happening, call the cops and tell them to come hang out and write some tickets.
Thanks, ladies. I'm wary to make an issue of it as KJ is outside a lot and I just think of all those horror stories about how disgruntled people throw poisoned food over fences and crazy stuff like that.
It bums me out because my backyard and deck are in no way private, but since it is just the 20 houses and private property, at least I always knew the person that I looked up and saw on the other side of my fence. I'm constantly out there napping in nice weather or relaxing and reading, and for the amount of time DH travels, it just bums me out that I feel creeped out rather than totally comfortable in my own back yard.
I'll definitely get locks for our gates, and shoot an email to the girl whose gate the guy came through. She's a lawyer so maybe she'll put the place on legal lockdown and I won't have any more issues!!