Someone taking pictures of my house

[chicagodisneyfan]

I would call the non emergency number for the police and have them interview the neighbor for a description. that is so not right. We did have someone from the mortgage company come out and they are not allowed on the property (impossible on our case private road that ends in my driveway) they were taking pictures I told them nexttime they'd better call or I was meeting them with the 357 and it would be loaded. people just don't show up at our house.

I would never bother the police with this. No big deal.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would never bother the police with this. No big deal.

I agree- I am shocked at how quick people call the police on the Dis!!
I have taken pics of peoples homes- if I saw a shrub/flower I liked outside the house I would just pull over and take a picture of it (from the street- never walking on their property) show it to my landscaper and say "I want that shrub/flower planted here".
My friend saw a house that was the paint color she wanted so she whipped out her cell, took a pic and showed the color to her husband when he got home from work!
No biggie- would certainly not bother the cops about it and if I mentioned to my neighbor that someone was taking pics of their house and they sent the cops over to my house that would be there very LAST time I "see" anything going on!

 

[klj27]

I would definately call the police because the person taking the picture lied!

 

[gisgt]

I think it's weird, but totally not a police issue unless he was on your property. Neither taking pictures nor lying is illegal, so not sure exactly what the police could 'catch' him at. Not to mention, unless you're keeping gold bullion in the basement and people know about it, no robber has any use for exterior pics of your house. They just don't do that kind of reconnaissance for your average burglary!

 

[ilovejack02]

I agree- I am shocked at how quick people call the police on the Dis!!
I have taken pics of peoples homes- if I saw a shrub/flower I liked outside the house I would just pull over and take a picture of it (from the street- never walking on their property) show it to my landscaper and say "I want that shrub/flower planted here".
My friend saw a house that was the paint color she wanted so she whipped out her cell, took a pic and showed the color to her husband when he got home from work!
No biggie- would certainly not bother the cops about it and if I mentioned to my neighbor that someone was taking pics of their house and they sent the cops over to my house that would be there very LAST time I "see" anything going on!

I guess it is because the man flat out lied about what he was doing.

I called the cops last month because a shady young man was walking around selling magazine subscriptions middle of the day during the week.

Not the best time to catch people at home, middle of the work week, but a good time to scope out people's houses to see if they are home and what they have to steal I thought.

Turns out they were looking for this young man. People would write a check for subscription and he would change check amount, had done this to several people in our small town.

Happy I called !

If he was just taking pics of paint colors or flowers he would have said what he was doing.

It isn't an issue of you must find this person and arrest them, but just a heads up to the police to keep an eye out if in the area. In this case , op wasn't the only one to call so hopefully now the police can be a bit more vigilant and if see this person find out what he is truly up too.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I would definately call the police because the person taking the picture lied!

They didn't exactly lie... it could have been a misunderstanding, a wrong address, anything!

I actually had this happen to me a few months ago, and I posted a thread about it.

For two days, two different cars with two different people came and parked on the street and took pictures of our house. Well, actually, the second guy did a drive-by, and then sped off!

I never saw anyone again after that. Everyone on here told me they were probably taking pictures of my house because another house sold and we were a comp. Lo and behold, a few houses DID sell around that time, so I totally believe that is what it was.

As the wife of a police officer, I know I wouldn't have called the police unless they harrassed me, came on my property and wouldn't leave, or broke into my house. Because, what are they going to do? Both men were brown haired, taller, driving I couldn't even remember what kind of car... as for license plates? The police could do nothing since I had nothing to give them to work with.

I am still alive to tell you about it, too!

 

[rszdtrvl]

We saw someone driving by taking photos of houses on our street a couple days ago. DH was confused, but thanks to the Dis I told him that they were probably doing comps.

He didn't even get out of his car, just slowed down, took a quick photo, and off he drove. Kind of made me want to pick up the tarp and hose from the front yard though.

 

[freckles and boo]

I would never bother the police with this. No big deal.

Our police department asks that we report suspicious activity. If someone told one of my neighbors he was taking photos because my home was in foreclosure I would consider that suspicious. We have had people take photos from our insurance company. We have had the creepy Cook County Digital Photography Project van roll down our street. Both those made sense. I would be wary of someone who either lied to my neighbor or was taking photos of the wrong house. I wouldn't call 911 but I would probably call the non-emergency number.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I think you did the right thing calling the police. They confirmed there was suspicious activity and a history of break ins in your neighborhood. It's good for them to get a heads up.

When community members work with the police, crime goes down. That's a good thing.

 

[Aisling]

I think you did the right thing calling the police. They confirmed there was suspicious activity and a history of break ins in your neighborhood. It's good for them to get a heads up.

When community members work with the police, crime goes down. That's a good thing.

I agree calling the police was the right decision. It's not like calling 911 for an emergency. The smart thing to do is to keep the neighborhood police notified of anything you think is suspicious or unusual. They appreciate this.

 

[emma'smom]

If you just moved into your house in January, it probably was a comp picture. A recently purchased house is exactly what they would be looking for for a comp to support somone else's refinancing/purchase on a similar property. The lying piece doesn't make sense, though.

 

[mrodgers]

Everyone knows that someone taking pictures is either a terrorist, child molester, or a burgler scoping out targets.....

May be suspicious activity or may be not. Ok, so there is confirmed activity around, but it still doesn't mean anything on this particular person.

It could be much easier when you are taking a picture to say the house is being foreclosed on and walk away without harassment when someone asks than to try to explain how you like a particular house, architectural detail, or whatever reason you are taking a picture for to have some raving lunatic ranting on you that what you are doing is wrong (which it isn't.)

Just thoughts in a different direction from someone who is interested in photography, not terrorism, pedophile, or burglary.

Taking pictures in public or from public access is not against the law, but the rights of the person taking the pictures.

 

[freckles and boo]

Everyone knows that someone taking pictures is either a terrorist, child molester, or a burgler scoping out targets.....

May be suspicious activity or may be not. Ok, so there is confirmed activity around, but it still doesn't mean anything on this particular person.

It could be much easier when you are taking a picture to say the house is being foreclosed on and walk away without harassment when someone asks than to try to explain how you like a particular house, architectural detail, or whatever reason you are taking a picture for to have some raving lunatic ranting on you that what you are doing is wrong (which it isn't.)

Just thoughts in a different direction from someone who is interested in photography, not terrorism, pedophile, or burglary.

Taking pictures in public or from public access is not against the law, but the rights of the person taking the pictures.

I have an unusual canopy on my side yard that covers my patio. People have driven by slowly. Two people have stopped to ask where we got it. One woman stopped and asked if she could have a carpenter stop by to take a look at it (and he did stop by). I don't mind any of that. Lying about your purpose makes you look like you are up to no good. It makes people uncomfortable. If there is nothing to it, the police will do nothing.

 

[Aisling]

Taking pictures in public or from public access is not against the law, but the rights of the person taking the pictures.

This is true. But when the "photographer" says he's doing it because your home is in foreclosure and it's not, the local police should be made aware.

 

[mrodgers]

This is true. But when the "photographer" says he's doing it because your home is in foreclosure and it's not, the local police should be made aware.

Photographer did not say "your home is in foreclosure." He said, "that home is in foreclosure." Which can be taken simply as an attempt to disengage or prevent a confrontation with someone who may be butting into photographer's business.

Ok, so now the police are aware. What does that do? No one did anything against any laws. There is nothing police can do about anything currently.

I'm only trying to show it in a different perspective. As a photographer, when I'm taking a photo of something (can be anything), I don't want the hassle of someone coming up to me and giving me a hard time because they are suspicious. If I say I'm photographing this house for whatever reason, there is a possibility of a confrontation that I don't want. If I tell them the house is being foreclosed, it is done with and I am left alone by some stranger that I don't know who came up to me not from the subject that I am looking at.

Again, just another perspective I'm putting out there.

 

[LuvLDM]

I guess I'm in the minority because I would not be the least bit alarmed. I'm stunned that people actually call the police over things like this

 

[happygirl]

I guess I'm in the minority because I would not be the least bit alarmed. I'm stunned that people actually call the police over things like this

I agree.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Maybe, but why say the house was under foreclosure?

Because if the neighbors see furniture or appliances being taken from the house or moving vans in the driveway, they'll think it's the owners moving rather than someone stealing.

I'm glad the OP got in touch with the police. They now have a heads up about it and can keep a closer eye on the neighborhood.

 

[maraki527]

Did the old owners have the house foreclosed on??

 

[merryweather20]

I would call the police too. And much like the OP they appreciated the call, and told us they were glad for the call on such a small issue, so they could nip it in the bud quickly and easily before it grew into an expensive problem.

There's a reason people are uncomfortable with strangers taking pictures of their home. Its rude. A vehicle taking pictures for assessment should be properly marked ditto those from the insurance company. Anyone else should knock on the door and ask.

Photographer did not say "your home is in foreclosure." He said, "that home is in foreclosure." Which can be taken simply as an attempt to disengage or prevent a confrontation with someone who may be butting into photographer's business.

Ok, so now the police are aware. What does that do? No one did anything against any laws. There is nothing police can do about anything currently.

I'm only trying to show it in a different perspective. As a photographer, when I'm taking a photo of something (can be anything), I don't want the hassle of someone coming up to me and giving me a hard time because they are suspicious. If I say I'm photographing this house for whatever reason, there is a possibility of a confrontation that I don't want. If I tell them the house is being foreclosed, it is done with and I am left alone by some stranger that I don't know who came up to me not from the subject that I am looking at.

Again, just another perspective I'm putting out there.

The only difference in the bolded is who they are addressing. In one its the neighbour, in the other its the owner.

This isn't another perspective you are offering... Its a lie.

If the home owner did business with the neighbour, or had any other situation where they could suffer a financial loss from the lie, he told, he could be made responsible for the damages.

If the truth was "I like those bay windows" it ends there. It incites nothing, and no one suffers a financial loss.