So I've moved to a house about 5 months ago. Everything was going well, and then I got a puppy about a month ago. Since I work during the day, I wanted to keep the dog in the backyard (to relieve herself) with enough food and water until I get back. Then I realized that someone keep on coming into my backyard, and leaving the backyard door open. At first I thought it might be the power company reading my meters, so I went ahead and bought a chain for the puppy so she wouldn't wander out of the yard. But my backyard door kept on getting unlocked on a more frequent basis (once/twice a week, always during the day when I'm not home), and I keep on locking it w/ the latch (where you can still open the door from the outside. Then earlier this week, the lock part of the latch for the backyard door was missing. I don't want to speculate, but I'm guessing whoever the intruder is had something to do w/ it. So I stuck a piece of tree branch where the latch locks to keep the door from swinging open all the time. Today when I went to the backyard, the piece of wood was broken in half, and the latch, which was nailed to the yard gate, is bent and half way hanging off the door, presumably due to some blunt force being used. I'm fine w/ people leaving my yard door open, but this is borderline destroying my property. Nothing is missing from my yard, my dog is still safe, and no note was left for me on why the individual needed access to my backyard so bad that they need to break the metal latch. I don't think this is worth noting the police for. What should I do? I was thinking about getting a surveillance camera installed, but I thought my neighborhood was better than that. Or am I just paranoid/overreacting? In before "cool story bro".
I'd get a surveillance camera just out of curiosity. It's kinda weird that they just keep coming back there and nothings missing. Do your neighbors have kids? Maybe it's them playing a prank or maybe they were playing with a ball and it went over the fence and broke your stuff to get back the ball back.
Hmm. Option 1: Install a really secure lock on the fence, with keys and all. Option 2: Take a few days off from work and park your car in the garage. Keep an eye out and catch the punk in the act. Option 3: You can trade your dog in for a pit bull.
I do live near a school zone, but my place is in the middle of a street with houses in every other direction. It's not a shortcut for anything as far as I'm concerned. For the surveillance cameras, anyone has any first hand experience or recommendations? Haha, the pup I adopted is actually some kind of lab/pitbull mix I believe, but she's shy
Sounds like a kid passing through. I used to do this when I was in middle school, but the guy had no backyard fence. It was just clear through his driveway and backyard to another street. Saved me about a quarter-mile on an otherwise one mile walk. I'd just set up a camera to record if staying home isn't an option. If it's a kid, try and talk to him at some point telling him you don't mind if he cuts through, just to close the gate if he does. If it's someone else... well, I'll leave that to your best judgment.
take a day off from work, and catch the sucker if culprit is male, engage in combat if culprit is female, if pretty, have sex with her, if not, engage in combat
"shaq's got your back. uh-hum!" seriously, that would be irritating. i'd try a padlock to reinforce your point. if that doesn't work then, yeah... police.
