[el mechanico]

I have a small problem at my house and want to ask you guys if I'm over the top or not.

I don't like people in my yard or coming to my door un-invited. My adrenaline goes into hyper overdrive when someone bangs on my door. It's got even worse since I have my kid who likes answering the door. I live on a dead end dirt road with six houses on it and have 400 + trees in my yard. My place does not look like a house you can just walk up to and sell girl scout cookies.

I have some bars a few blocks away and sometimes people like to pull down my road to fuck in the car or smoke weed/coke or whatever. I sit at my bar in my kitchen and can see the street and my driveway also my back and front yard from where I type this. I can and have watched cars pull in my driveway and I wait like someone is coming to see me or it could be some girl I fucked stalking or who knows. This is where shit gets ugly. I know you're near. Do I wait for whoever's in the car to do something stupid or??? What I have been doing is going out my back door and sneaking up behind them. Keep in mind I'm in the woods and you can't see me. I've pulled and pumped my shotgun in about five peoples faces including the last one who was a cop going in my yard to get to a disturbance with a possum and a dog in my back yard. After that I let my friend take my rifles except for my pellet guns.

I've threatened to kill/beat people who knock on my door and still do. I had my porch light on one night and some dude claimed he ran out of gas knocked on my door and my kid went to answer. I got to the door first and told him he had two seconds to turn around and forget he made the mistake of coming in my yard. It took every part of my being not to go through the screen and beat him senseless which I have done to others who were here for the wrong reasons in the past.

New neighbors.

These Greek cocksuckers built two houses on my street about 5 years ago. I was going to object but they assured me it would be a 1700 a month deal with stellar renters or they would stay empty. Things have changed. They're renting one to some hospitality girls. Slut bartenders with Wigga-atic activity going ons. They think the end of my yard is a parking lot. I wouldn't care so much if someone parked a broken mud truck or a boat or something but a caddy with 24s and gucci seats? Fuck no. The reason is because I know. It's just a matter of time on this quite lawless street. I can't wait for what I know is going to happen. I'm taking this out personally on the property owners. I call it Hellenic-jihad.

Anyway..I'm not a paranoid person. I know the score and can predict the future so I try to cut quick. Then add that I'm a very protective parent. I can toy around in a bar fight but here I feel like I have to destroy due to my childs safety.

How do you guys deal with this shit? Even if you live in an apartment and someone is banging on your door does it send you into a different state?

[Timoteo]

I feel you. I don't like randoms just showing up. I don't like people I know feeling like they can just "drop by" when THEY feel like it. Maybe I don't feel like entertaining your dumb ass. Maybe I'm busy, and some random is interrupting me. It definitely annoys me to no end. Jehovah's Witnesses ringing my fuckin' bell with their pamphlets. When people feel like they can block your driveway, or simply be ridiculously noisy at late hours is also the kind of shit that drives me nuts. People can be incredibly inconsiderate.

[OGNorCal707]

I don't like it when strangers come onto my property or knock on my door uninvited either, but I think you maybe over-reacting a bit by threatening to kill people and whatnot. Sometimes you get some harmless Jehovas Witness or Mormons knock on the door, or people soliciting for a charity, or political campaigners, etc.

Basically, if it's someone I'm not expecting knock or ring the doorbell I typically won't answer. It might sound paranoid, but if they continue to knock repeatedly, I'll creep to the window shade and peak through. I guess, I'm a lot less confrontational than you. I don't pack guns, and am not trying to make enemies or act like I have anything to hide. I typically, don't trust people and know that if I make threats to a person who maybe psychologically unstable or addicted to hard drugs, it could cause them to go off the deep end.

I think the best thing you can do is get a gate, closing off your private drive way. I would post no trespassing signs on the trees in the front of your property visible on the road. If you can afford it maybe fence off your entire property.

[Cincinnatus]

Personally, I don't think you're over-reacting, especially as you've got a child. The world is an unpredictable place and filled with morons. I know that when someone knocks on my door (and I'm not expecting visitors) it makes for an instant adrenaline rush.

Example - I live near an accountant's office, and just before tax season, the owner paid some teenagers to pass flyers around the neighborhood. They came into my apartment building and began attaching flyers to people's doors with rubberbands. I was sitting here on the PC when I heard my door handle rustle just a little bit. I immediately grabbed my gun and moved into position, waiting for some dumbass to force his way in and unwittingly, instantly meet his maker.

It never happened; I heard their footsteps on the stairs, then from my front window saw them exit the building. Dumbass kids had no idea what danger they were in, fiddling with people's door handles.

I consider my home my castle, and protect it as such. It's quite rare for shit to go down on my block, because most of the neighborhood knows who lives here.

[el mechanico]

I don't mind JVs or Mormons. They wear suits and the girls wear dresses. I can spot them a mile away. I don't know. I don't go to someones door unless they expect me. Maybe blip my horn and wait or call them.

[RawGod]

Since I started getting in shape my T levels have risen and I sometimes have aggression fantasies about taking out intruders. Also I want to put the beatdown on random males who come into my space by standing next to me in the elevator or whatever.

[Tuthmosis]

You're definitely overreacting. First of all, you guys gotta calm down with the guns. Don't get me wrong, I'm as territorial and protective of my property (and that includes people) as the next alpha dog, but not everyone is coming to get you. Don't be so paranoid. Remember: we live in America, where we solve our problems with lawsuits. Have a few BIG-ASS signs made professionally that say something like this:

PRIVATE PROPERTY
Premises are monitored with cameras 24/7
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW

On your door, place a sign that says this:

DO NOT DISTURB OCCUPANTS
Violators will be treated as trespassers.

This will scare people enough--especially some dumb wiccans. I understand the fury of someone knocking on your door. As I mentioned in another thread, I've had beef with my Indian-troll neighbor about my not-loud music, and I wanted to tear him to pieces with my bare hands. I'm not saying that violence isn't the answer, because it is, but don't have it be the first thing you resort to.

[Tuthmosis]

An alternative solution is to get one of those bull horns and tell people: "Leave the premises immediately. This is private property. Or, I will have no choice but to defend my property with force." It'll make you seem like a crazy, kooky old-dude, but that might not be that far from the truth. The great part is that you can use it from inside the house, or from your front porch out into the property.

   

[Andreas]

Worst is Hallowin times when you get your door knocked by small children who wait to give them chocolate or money.

During Christmas when they want to sing a stupid song that you hear 100 times everywhere you go.

Best defence is two well trained dobbermans sitting outside waiting to sniff out those people.

[Hades]

We have these issues all the time, out in the boondocks.
The polite way to go about it is to get an ugly-ass junkyard dog and a fence. Then put up many signs warning trespassers of the dog.

[Cr33pin]

Love thy neighbor El Mech

There have been times in life when i have had to knock on a strangers door... i dont want some high strum PUA with a shot gun trying to kill me for it.....

you need a hug

[soup]

I get territorial if someone accidentally rings my buzzer, and I'm in an apartment building. Yes, it's obnoxious, there's no way to rationalize as anything else. But, I think it's better to prevent any conflict if possible, because if you start shit, then you are going to needlessly get on someone's radar as a trouble maker, and that's not good if they know where you live.

It's same kind of thing as starting shit at your regular bar. If you cause problems, the authorities will come down on you. Clearly it's bothering you. I'd put up a gate so that they couldn't get on to my property in the first place.

[Roosh]

First, I would teach your kid not to open doors. Whenever the door knocks and she doesn't answer it, give her a piece of candy.

I would probably look into legal means before busting out the shotgun. Is there a formal complaint you can file?

[tomtud]

El mech, get a dog that is pleasant around kids and is protective. I'm not a dog expert, but personally I would get a German Shepard. Keep him loose on the yard with an electronic collar and fence. He's free to roam. Nobody would dare come by.

As for your Hellenic problem, speak to the city by-law department. See if they have the permits and are they claiming the rental income in their taxes. I'm sure you can get legal advice as well.

You can do many things legally. But somehow, the renters from this hospitality industry are rolling with a dodgy crowd. I am sure the Greeks will be repairing damage to the property when she is gone after being evicted for not paying rent.

Good luck

[alphaspiraton]

Honestly if it got that bad, then I would put up a sign near where your property begins: "Private property. Trespassers will be shot upon sight" and then whenever someone comes on your yard, no matter who it is, just light a firecracker inside or throw it out. That will give a good scare.

Or you could always tie up a pitbull outside with a very long chain, and a "Beware: Dog has AIDS" sign. That way people will think twice before stepping on your yard. I got this method by my neighbour back in Montreal and he would swear that the day after he put his sign up, teenage thugs wouldn't step near his property even for the typical smoke.

[Neo]

I have this territorial aggression thing as well. I'm not sure if it's in my family or what, since my grandfather was very hotheaded and would bust out the shotgun when he heard anything outside. Anyone messes with my family, fuckin forget it I just flip out. I remember two teenagers parked outside my house for more time than I was comfortable with, and me going outside and telling them to leave or I was going to fuck them up, for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

With that said I've learned to chill a lot more over the years and these type of situations don't bother me as much. I would try to do everything legally these days cause you can get into a lot of trouble otherwise. I would say you are probably overreacting.

[AlphaTravel]

Based on this thread I would have to come to the conclusion that Americans are very paranoid and OTT. Someone knocks on your door and you grab your shotgun, beat them up or set your dogs on them? Think about how crazy that is. What's the big deal with someone knocking on your door if it's for a legit reason. Fair enough not wanting strangers hanging around in your 'yard' or fucking and taking drugs near your house when you've got your kid over but even still pulling a gun out or beating them up is a big over reaction. You're making yourself sound like some crazy redneck.

[Nonpareil]

No I agree; I despise the drop by. Never mind that if you're a friend you can call first and see if I'm busy or not (like I do - Golden rule: I don't like the drop by, so I do not do the drop by). If I'm doing some work, about to go out or laying it to some girl, leave a message and I will call you back at the soonest convenience.

I mean it's one thing on Halloween, when you got kids with their parents and shit, but when I was living in the country (not quite like you do; on my street there were about 17 houses over two miles, big enough properties) and someone knocks on my door in the evening, it was at a blind spot, so if it was a forceful knock I would always grab the bat. I say that I wouldn't be showing guns in people's faces, but I don't have a kid, so I can't say that in confidence.

Tomtud has a point; if you have the time to invest (I know you run several businesses), get a dog, train it well (training a dog is pretty much the same as training a woman), one that's cute as a puppy but will within a year be pushing up on 80-120, I'm talking your German Shepherd, Chesapeake Bay Retriever type breeds. Trust me, not many people want to be chased by or barked at by a big dog. I remember once at like 1:30 at night, I was the only one home at my house (in the middle of the forest, I'm talking 20 minutes from the nearest large town, stars at night type of deal), some dude and his chick banged on the door and said that their car ran out of gas up the road and asked to use my phone...this being in a time when cell phones were already ubiquitous, but somehow they both couldn't use them, 'no service' (bullshit). I said something like 'Yeah it's pretty late and I don't know who you are, so, no...', they begged, so I whistled and my dog came barking to the door, didn't take them too long to fuck off...and think about it this way; I think I've heard you say your daughter was 4(?), if she hasn't already, she is going to eventually pester you to get a dog. Get two birds stoned at once.

[kosko]

AMERICANS!

I think your way over the top. I am a angry and raging fella too but in this situation I would not flip until people clearly start disrespecting my property.

You kinda made your bed man. Nobody forced you to live in a home a block away from a bar and if the inconsistency of your neighbors bothers you then maybe you should live in a more rural setting where you really have no neighbors.

All it it takes is two feet and one squeeze to fuck things up. If yo go out chasing kats with your barrel and step to the edge of your drive way and squeeze. Your no longer protecting your property. Your now fucking kats up on City land and that opens a whole can of worms you don't want.

Don't Americans have fists? Why wouldn't you just go crack some skulls if shit got a little bit escalated. In Canada people will bust knuckles. In more rural settings maybe a warning shot would get fired into the air if shit is a complete shitshow on somebody's land. No thought process on to escalate to these extremes in this type of situation tho.

Really. People smoking and fucking in cars is quite harmless. I am sure you and others have done the same.

If you must tho get a dog or a sign. OR tow cars away if they park on your pad. Since you work with cars strip them for parts if they can't find the money to claim them. It could easily be a lucrative venture for you too.

[el mechanico]

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

[soup]

(06-03-2012 09:22 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

What about getting some kind of video surveillance and intercom system?

[Pacesetter20]

(06-03-2012 09:33 AM)soup Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:22 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

What about getting some kind of video surveillance and intercom system?

I'm all for property/privacy rights and defending yourself, but I think you are taking a bit too far. Have you tried talking to the owners? Tenants? Management of the bar?

Unless you have people routinely vandalizing/stealing/tresspassing, you need to calm down.

Also, unless you are being imenently threatend physically, there is no reason you can't call the Cops, the people trained to handle this stuff. You don't want to put yourself in a Zimmerman/Treyvon Martin situation.

Intercom system could be a good idea, though. No need to threaten people just be respectful and ask them to leave if you don't know them. Asking for gas? "Sorry I don't have any." No need to the top of escalation of force. Now if they are trying to break down a door that is another story.

My visions of El:

or

[el mechanico]

(06-03-2012 09:33 AM)soup Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:22 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

What about getting some kind of video surveillance and intercom system?

For what? I can see out my windows and talk through the window I sit next to. Where I live is considered no-mans land. The city cops can't come here and it's just an un-incorporated part of the county that borders the next county. For instance my friend was riding his bicycle down the road and a cop pulled him over and told him everyone around here is fucked up. Get off the road. Also all the metal recycling place are near. That is the business of choice of crackheads and pill monsters. People wander around looking for metal. If I left a metal car part in my yard it would be gone in a day. The Sheriffs are afraid of this little stretch of land. They were at my other property once because someone called them. I was in the driveway and they asked me "What goes on in that back yard?" I said come with me I'll show you. "No thanks" Were outta here. The prison work release is here too. The dudes they try to re-introduce into society get to work during the day and are riding bikes around to their jobs during the day. I live across from the river. One side is Greek and the other is southern redneck where all the fisherman live. I'm on the redneck side.

[Pacesetter20]

(06-03-2012 10:00 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:33 AM)soup Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:22 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

What about getting some kind of video surveillance and intercom system?

For what? I can see out my windows and talk through the window I sit next to. Where I live is considered no-mans land. The city cops can't come here and it's just an un-incorporated part of the county that borders the next county. For instance my friend was riding his bicycle down the road and a cop pulled him over and told him everyone around here is fucked up. Get off the road. Also all the metal recycling place are near. That is the business of choice of crackheads and pill monsters. People wander around looking for metal. If I left a metal car part in my yard it would be gone in a day. The Sheriffs are afraid of this little stretch of land. They were at my other property once because someone called them. I was in the driveway and they asked me "What goes on in that back yard?" I said come with me I'll show you. "No thanks" Were outta here. The prison work release is here too. The dudes they try to re-introduce into society get to work during the day and are riding bikes around to their jobs during the day. I live across from the river. One side is Greek and the other is southern redneck where all the fisherman live. I'm on the redneck side.

This place sounds wack.

Move. Problem solved.

[kosko]

(06-03-2012 10:00 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:33 AM)soup Wrote:  

(06-03-2012 09:22 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

I have a dog. A 80lb Labrador and my back yard is fenced in as well as the lots on both side of my house. 5 grand worth of fence. My titanium mountain bike got stolen off my front porch and my fishing poles did once too. Bike 2k and the poles @ 400 each. Like I said you can't even see my house from the street unless you look down my driveway. I can't understand why anyone would be in my yard. I'm going to post some pics.

What about getting some kind of video surveillance and intercom system?

For what? I can see out my windows and talk through the window I sit next to. Where I live is considered no-mans land. The city cops can't come here and it's just an un-incorporated part of the county that borders the next county. For instance my friend was riding his bicycle down the road and a cop pulled him over and told him everyone around here is fucked up. Get off the road. Also all the metal recycling place are near. That is the business of choice of crackheads and pill monsters. People wander around looking for metal. If I left a metal car part in my yard it would be gone in a day. The Sheriffs are afraid of this little stretch of land. They were at my other property once because someone called them. I was in the driveway and they asked me "What goes on in that back yard?" I said come with me I'll show you. "No thanks" Were outta here. The prison work release is here too. The dudes they try to re-introduce into society get to work during the day and are riding bikes around to their jobs during the day. I live across from the river. One side is Greek and the other is southern redneck where all the fisherman live. I'm on the redneck side.

Yea sounds like a gutter spot. That type of barren nomads land will attract more shady characters.