People, STAY OUT OF MY YARD!!

[Camicar]

To be honest, this trespassing business is why we didn't buy a house we really liked a few years ago that had frontage on a small pond. We could just see that our enjoyment of the property would be negated by people traipsing thru our yard to get to the water (and by the higher probabilities of having to use my liability insurance when they get hurt on my property). I'm sorry you've experienced this.

 

[NHdisneylover]

If the vacant lot was used as unofficial access before you built and now you have the pool fenced I wonder if many people do not realize it is really your yard. Maybe they assume the fenced part is all that belongs to you? Not that this makes it any less annoying to you--and clearly the kids you have spoken to should know better now, but I do think having a fence but not fenceing everything might be part of the problem (but of course you must fence the pool--I don't think you have done anything wrong there at all!).
Have you tried making signs that are not just general No Tresspassing sings but state "this is private property, please access the lake via the public walkway over there -->" I would think this would at least deter nice old men taking their grandkids fishing. Or, maybe do a "fence" by just putting up posts every so often with thick rope strung between (give it a water front look!). It would be inexpensive and not interfere with sight lines. It would also be very easy to go over or under, but hopefully most people would get this visual and stay out.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Is your house on what was previously an empty lot (you mentioned your neighbor training her dog to go "in the woods" which meant your lot b4 your house was built, right, or am I getting posters confused)? If that is the case, I think you are going to have to put up a fence and maybe a sign with an arrow indicating the direction of public access to the lake. People probably used your lot as a cut thru to the lake before your house (partially) blocked their access. You will probably be doomed to trespassers for the entire time you live there without a fence. It is not fair, but it unfortunately sounds like the reality of your situation.

 

[MELSMICE]

Is your house on what was previously an empty lot (you mentioned your neighbor training her dog to go "in the woods" which meant your lot b4 your house was built, right, or am I getting posters confused)? If that is the case, I think you are going to have to put up a fence and maybe a sign with an arrow indicating the direction of public access to the lake. People probably used your lot as a cut thru to the lake before your house (partially) blocked their access. You will probably be doomed to trespassers for the entire time you live there without a fence. It is not fair, but it unfortunately sounds like the reality of your situation.

I agree - people don't change their habits easily. If this was an open lot that people used before you built your house on it they probably figure they can still access it this way. It doesn't make it right - just the way it is.

I'd try signs or landscaping before the fence. I also like a previous poster's suggestion about some posts with some ropes or chains which would give your property line a little bit of definition. It could be decorative so it would look nice but not block your view.

 

[kbkids]

Is your house on what was previously an empty lot (you mentioned your neighbor training her dog to go "in the woods" which meant your lot b4 your house was built, right, or am I getting posters confused)? If that is the case, I think you are going to have to put up a fence and maybe a sign with an arrow indicating the direction of public access to the lake. People probably used your lot as a cut thru to the lake before your house (partially) blocked their access. You will probably be doomed to trespassers for the entire time you live there without a fence. It is not fair, but it unfortunately sounds like the reality of your situation.

There was a big trail through the property - funny, you can even see it on Google Earth - and to be honest, it's a lot more convenient access than the real access. Ironically though, during construction and we were there CONSTANTLY for 9 months because we were owner builders, no one came through. The NO TRESPASSING - CONSTRUCTION ZONE signs were up and we had no problems. As soon as we finished, it was like, "Yay! The lake's open again!" When we tried putting signs up again, they just got knocked down. We found one used as firewood for a bonfire. I've given up. I"m not going through another summer like last year. The shrubbery is a good idea, but there's parts of the ground that are too rocky, we'd never be able to get it to grow. And again, the amount of land to border is just too much. We're not going to fence across the back just yet, as I think this will do the trick. It will at least stop people from coming through the front.

Thanks to all for letting me vent!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

My sister lived on a beautiful spring-fed pond
and had this same problem constantly. She was very vocal but still had a hard time keeping people out. It was all neighborhood kids, and their parents were equally uncooperative.

DH and I live on a pretty, PRIVATE creek (property owners abutting the creek own it--my property line ends in the middle of the creek). It connects with another creek system and we had a huge problem with people walking through our yard to access the creek, or walking down the creek bank from another area, bringing their dogs to run around in private owner's yards, etc.

Our yard is almost an acre but we had a small 40 foot by 80 foot area fenced for our 2 dogs, near the house, and a good 20 feet from the back property line, 60 feet from the front property line, and 40 feet from the side property lines. People would be walking through our yards with their kids and /or dogs, our dogs would go crazy barking, and people would say dumb things like, "I just want to introduce my kids to your dogs" confused3 ) or "Your dogs don't bite, do they?" We would answer with responses like, "Well, you're in my yard, and most dogs are protective of their territory." Geesh!

I'd even had people insist they had every right to walk their dog on my property and, while I've never called the cops on anybody, I've told a couple of the more obnoxious adults that if I ever see them on my property again, I will call the cops and get a trespass order. We even had a kid with a machete once, standing right outside the dog's pen, swinging the machete!

A few years ago, high winds from the hurricanes knocked a bunch of trees into the creek upstream from us, and that instantly cut the number of people walking through by 95%! It's been great. Lately there has been an increase in people walking through the creek, though, and I let my big dog out on the porch to bark ferociously at them.

I think fencing the front and sides of your property will work. I agree that it's really a shame you have to do that.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

DH found a golfball in one of our ponds yesterday. It's only a matter of time that the golf ball finds a window. And this is OVER a fence, as our ponds are in our back yard. We don't have the fence extending too far into our side yard (which is where the kids play) since we have a corner lot and wanted to maintain the beauty of the neighborhood (plus I think there are some restrictions on how far you can bring a fence out on a corner lot ).

 

[kbkids]

Reminds me of my uncle's property too. He lives on a huge piece of property up on a hill. There is a beautiful pond in the front with a gazebo out on it. The entire piece of property is fenced in with the only opening being the entrance at the road, which is so obviously a drive way. They've been there for at least 25 years. He keeps the lake stocked for fishing. At least once a week, he has to ask someone to leave because they are fishing on private property. I really just don't understand the nerve of some people!

I'm okay with the fence - just aggravated that we're being forced to do it. I'm sure I'll end up disguising the fence with landscaping where I can.

 

[kbkids]

DH found a golfball in one of our ponds yesterday. It's only a matter of time that the golf ball finds a window. And this is OVER a fence, as our ponds are in our back yard. We don't have the fence extending too far into our side yard (which is where the kids play) since we have a corner lot and wanted to maintain the beauty of the neighborhood (plus I think there are some restrictions on how far you can bring a fence out on a corner lot ).

Would bushes (maybe the prickly ones) help your situation in the area where they are playing??

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Would bushes (maybe the prickly ones) help your situation in the area where they are playing??

We tried planting some items. They were trampled over. Yes, seriously. Maybe we'll try again, just bigger this time.

But the golf ball thing. They are launching them from out on the street. So not much we can do about that except talking to them again.

 

[kbkids]

We tried planting some items. They were trampled over. Yes, seriously. Maybe we'll try again, just bigger this time.

But the golf ball thing. They are launching them from out on the street. So not much we can do about that except talkign to them again.

Stuff like that bugs the stew out of me!!

 

[familydisney]

Make sure you take pictures of the no trespassinf signs and keep a log of who you ask to keep off your property.

There was a recent case in Boulder, Colorado about a family that bought property bordering a large hiking/open space area. After 20 years of owning the property, they decided to build their dream home on the property. They fenced the property and a neighbor sued them, claiing that they were being denied their habitual route to the open space (which they had had been trespassing on). It went to court and the court GAVE 30% OF THEIR PROPERTY TO THEIR NEIGHBOR!!!! The judge ruled that the landowner had failed to protect their property and thus lost their rights to that part of the property,

Outrageous!!!

http://cbs4denver.com/local/boulder.land.kirlin.2.602838.html

 

[kbkids]

My neighbor across the street owns the vacant lot next door to him, and he was having problems with kids playing around in it too. He bought some decorate iron stakes, only about about 2 feet tall and posted them out by the road about 3 feet apart. He also did it because the lot is at a point where the road curves, so people were always cutting it to close and ending up driving up on the grass and killing it. Anyway, he ran an iron chain from each stake creating a visual fence. Yes, they could still step over it, but they don't now. It actually looks very nice, as each stake has kinda a "gem" looking ball on top. If the kids are going to disregard it and play anyway, of course, that's not going to stop them. And it certainly won't stop them from launching golf balls from the street. That would drive me nuts!

 

[kbkids]

Make sure you take pictures of the no trespassinf signs and keep a log of who you ask to keep off your property.

There was a recent case in Boulder, Colorado about a family that bought property bordering a large hiking/open space area. After 20 years of owning the property, they decided to build their dream home on the property. They fenced the property and a neighbor sued them, claiing that they were being denied their habitual route to the open space (which they had had been trespassing on). It went to court and the court GAVE 30% OF THEIR PROPERTY TO THEIR NEIGHBOR!!!! The judge ruled that the landowner had failed to protect their property and thus lost their rights to that part of the property,

Outrageous!!!

http://cbs4denver.com/local/boulder.land.kirlin.2.602838.html

I just read this to my husband, and he's stomping around griping now! That's ridiculous!!

 

[kbkids]

My husband just reminded me that the lake everyone is going to isn't even the lake that our property borders. It's the one behind it. And it isn't owned by the HOA. It's privately owned by a corporation who has no clue that it's going on - or either does know and doesn't care.

 

[manning]

I have the same problem and still do at a lesser degree since the fence went up (kids like to climb fences)

I got some advice from the local district attorneys office and sometimes wonder if I should have taken it.

His advice:

Put up a no trespassing sign and a beware of dog sign. Get a vicious or vicious looking dog. Put the dog on a leash making sure the dog cannot cross your property line. I said your crazy if they got bit I have a legal problem. He claimed if they are warned and the dog is on your property no problem.

Of course things did slow down a lot after we put in the land mines. (or was it the sign warning of said mines)

 

[eh24fan]

We live on a corner lot right next to a hospital. During the week the streets are full of parked cars and there are always folks coming and going, but on weekends it's a ghost town for the most part. It's quiet, even during the week...except for the helicopters landing about 50 yards from our house.

We have a HUGE back yard and one weekend I looked out there to see a guy and 2 kids playing catch with a football. We didn't say anything at first, but the longer they were there I was wondering WHY they were there and why they thought it was ok. Just then, they picked up, walked across the street and got in the car. Turned out they were waiting for someone in the emergency room. It has only happened once but I still found it odd they thought it was ok to just play in our yard.

 

[agnes!]

My husband just reminded me that the lake everyone is going to isn't even the lake that our property borders. It's the one behind it. And it isn't owned by the HOA. It's privately owned by a corporation who has no clue that it's going on - or either does know and doesn't care.

The corporation would care if someone was injured on their property, because of the attractive nuisance they own. I think some 'community activist' should inform the corporation about the situation ...

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

Make sure you take pictures of the no trespassinf signs and keep a log of who you ask to keep off your property.

There was a recent case in Boulder, Colorado about a family that bought property bordering a large hiking/open space area. After 20 years of owning the property, they decided to build their dream home on the property. They fenced the property and a neighbor sued them, claiing that they were being denied their habitual route to the open space (which they had had been trespassing on). It went to court and the court GAVE 30% OF THEIR PROPERTY TO THEIR NEIGHBOR!!!! The judge ruled that the landowner had failed to protect their property and thus lost their rights to that part of the property,

Outrageous!!!

http://cbs4denver.com/local/boulder.land.kirlin.2.602838.html

I would think that if the neighbor supposedly owned the property because of adverse possession, then perhaps someone (the government for that area or the taxpayer/original landowner?) could go after them. Doesn't Mr. Sue A. Neighbor owe somebody some money?

agnes!

 

[MareQ]

I would think that if the neighbor supposedly owned the property because of adverse possession, then perhaps someone (the government for that area or the taxpayer/original landowner?) could go after them. Doesn't Mr. Sue A. Neighbor owe somebody some money?

agnes!

I agree - who paid taxes on that portion of that property for all those years? My Landowner stealer should at least be responsible for those back taxes.....