Neighbors- OT (kinda long)

18 years ago

My husband and I bought our home last fall. It was a foreclosure that sat empty for 2 years. It is on a dead end road with only 9 other houses on the street. This winter I noticed the family living across the street moved out suddenly and without warning. I have since learned that they also lost their home to foreclosure. (the wife was terminally ill and the family couldn't make ends meet while paying for medical bills). You can tell they moved out quickly because they left "things" including a small riding mower. Well, after sitting empty all winter, I recently noticed some neighbors from the end of the street walking away from the empty house with "stuff" in their arms. My husband and I laughed and didn't think much of it. Then, the next day we saw them walking to the empty house with a small wagon in tow. They proceeded to dig out all the plants in the flower beds. That night the mower mysteriously disappeared. I noticed it in the back yard of the looters. I have since then seen them go back over for more flowers and shrubs several times.

As we have now been working in our own yard and getting the flower beds ready for Spring planting, my husband has pointed out several holes where you can clearly tell that shrubs/ small trees were once planted. Obviously someone must have helped themselves when our house was empty.

I am really concerned because someone owns that stuff. Either the family that lived there or their mortgage company. What should we do? Last time I heard, looting was illegal- but I don't want to start a war with these people as we are the "new kids on the block". And I definately do not want them to retaliate by helping themselves to anything from our yard/house. Any suggestions? Please help!

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

Ray Scheel
18 years ago
It sounds like they have *already* taken things from your yard, and that they have gotten comfortable with that type of crime. Even used, theft of a small riding lawnmower probably crosses over into felony territory all by itself. I'd start with going by the apprasial district / tax office and see if they have older pictures of your house, the other forclosure, and that of the looter that might show the shrubs disappearing from one property and showing up at another. The foreclosing bank would certainly be interested in knowing about this as well. Then file a report with the local law enforcement office stating what you saw, providing the pictures showing the shift of property if they are available. Be sure to take some pictures of your place on a regular basis, and if you can take some shots of them planting the stolen plants, even better.

I could understand snagging cuttings of an heriloom rose in an under-groomed old cemetary, or digging up a few of a survivng patch of bulbs at a fully abandoned (no livable structure) old homesite to preserve the genetic stock, but not ripping out entire plantings that are part of an improved property currently on the market withthe planting as part of its "curb appeal".
zanna3
17 years ago
I have quite a bit of experience with foreclosures, abandoned houses, etc. Unless the house is being well cared-for (which sounds unlikely) I think the future buyer of the house will be doing a lot of work on the place, which would trash the lanscaping and require redoing it anyway. As for the mower, etc., i don't think the bank would bother to sell things unless there were a lot of expensive items... Of course, it would be more polite to ASK the bank people :).
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october17
17 years ago
It is hard to say this, but, don't get involved.

People like that will never let it go when they find out you were the snitch.

If you can do it anonymously maybe, but they still may figure it's you.

Better to stay out of it if you want a pleasant life there.
bluejean
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for your input! My husband and I have been keeping quiet. Luckily there haven't been anymore things disappearing!

It is a small neighborhood on a dead end street- and october is correct that they would find out who it was that snitched! I guess my post was more of a vent for my frustrations. I am just afraid to make any serious investments in my front yard for fear they will disappear the moment I go on vacation! I know I am probably being irrational because the other house set empty for several months before they started looting- not just a "vacation".

Thanks again for the help!
bluejean in ohio

Neighbors- OT (kinda long)

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