Would you call the cops if...

By coopsmama Dec 3, 2014

Your neighbor's had ignored you about coming into your back yard to do their tree work? Our house has been sold and we told our neighbors that they could not have their big trees cut down into our yard because it might damage the fence. I just looked out and realized that there are 3!! men in our back yard cutting through logs. After meeting with my husband 3x, they completely ignored us and are back there. DH thinks I should call the cops but I sort of think that's an overreaction?

How would you handle this?

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71 comments

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MaryM
pomelo / 5129 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would wonder if the workers even know they shouldn't be there (maybe they assumed they could?)

I would ask them to leave and if they refused, threaten to call the cops (before resorting to calling the cops)
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@MaryM: That's part of my hesitation! These workers weren't in the meetings - I'm certain they are just following instructions. But their boss WAS in the meetings. He's just not one of the ones out there. (I would recognize him from the meetings.)
birdofafeather
pineapple / 12053 posts

Dec 3, 2014

go out and tell them to stop! definitely not call the cops.
Snowdrop
pear / 1846 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would tell them once more and then call.
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Dec 3, 2014

Ask the to get off your property and if they don't, then call the cops.
Synchronicity
grapefruit / 4089 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I'd go out and tell them to stop and get off your property, and then let them know you'll be calling the cops (and follow through, if necessary) if they don't leave.
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would call the police. They are trespassing.
mrs scrapbook
apricot / 375 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would go out, phone in hand and say if you don't leave immediately I am calling the cops. If they don't leave, call.
Anya
nectarine / 2784 posts

Dec 3, 2014

Maybe I am just feeling like a grump right now but I say call.
jedeve
pomegranate / 3643 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would be super nice and say "hey, I'm sure you don't know, maybe (your neighbors) forgot to tell you, but we had talked to them and they agreed not to have these trees come into our yard. We're worried about the fence. I know it's not your fault, but I did want to make sure you knew."
mrbee
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would want to do exactly what @mrs scrapbook: said!

What's the condition of your fence now though? And could they even move the logs without cutting them more?
PurplePumps
pomegranate / 3809 posts

Dec 3, 2014

So they already cut the tree and are in your yard removing it?? If they leave now, they have tree in your yard that would need to be removed?
simplyfelicity
cantaloupe / 6634 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@Anya: Me too, haha.
keiki_mama
nectarine / 2504 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@Synchronicity: Ditto!
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@mrbee: @mrbee: Thankfully the fence is fine but the tree is literally right up against (maybe a foot or two away) from it so it's scary what could happen. It's an expensive fence. They had their ropes tied around it and we're not being very gentle with their chain saw on it.

They left. They cut up the logs and threw the pieces over the fence at least but I'm furious as there are branches and saw dust all over our back yard. In the pic most of the logs are gone - but you can see the mess of branches they left. Inspection is Saturday so we'll need to clean that up before then.

They actually didn't get the whole tree down -- just a huge section of branches off of it. So I'm sure this isn't the last we'll be dealing with them this week as they said they were taking out the trees because they hated their appearance - not because of rot or dangerous branches or anything. We'll be calling our neighbor yet again tonight!!
mrs scrapbook
apricot / 375 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@coopsmama: I glad your fence is okay! This situation sounds totally stressful and rude of your neighbors. Can you put a sign up on your fence (maybe just tape up some paper) that says no trespassing so when they go to walk in to your yard, they are aware not to. It seems like the message isn't getting from your neighbor or the boss to the workers!
Mrs. Lemon-Lime
wonderful pea / 17279 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@coopsmama: beautiful fence! We have a ficus hedge and my husband keeps telling me to make sure our lawn care guys treat it right because your fence is expensive & the one we would have to get it the hedge thinned & died. How did they enter your yard?
Applesandbananas
pomegranate / 3845 posts

Dec 3, 2014

@coopsmama: I'd yell and scream and stomp my feet until the crew cleaned up the mess! You should NOT have to clean up all that debris!
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Dec 3, 2014

The company should clean that mess up. I'd call the manager myself
Synchronicity
grapefruit / 4089 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I totally agree - that mess should NOT be your problem to deal with! Ugh, how frustrating, especially with what you have going on right now!
matador84
papaya / 10560 posts

Dec 3, 2014

I would be mad as hell. Workers prob just do what told. I would just go tell neighbor cops will be called if anyone steps foot on your property,
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 9, 2014

Update: they were back in our yard again this morning! They were out there with their boss. I firmly told them they needed to leave and that they were not welcome in our back yard as we have told them several times already and the boss got upset and said "well how are we supposed to cut these trees down?!?" I told him it wasn't my problem. Unbelievable.
ValentineMommy
pomelo / 5791 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama: That is ridiculous!!!!! I would be furious!
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@ValentineMommy: Even more ridiculous is they are currently cutting down the tree piece by piece without entering our yard as we KNEW they were able to do without trespassing. They just wanted to be able to do it without making a lot of effort.
LaughLines
clementine / 880 posts

Dec 9, 2014

You should call the tree trimming company and talk with their management both about them being in your yard when you've expressly told them they cannot be (that's trespassing) as well as the mess that they've made in your yard and that you will require to be cleaned up by the end of the day Friday at the latest. Tell them you will report them to the BBB if they do not comply
dagret
grapefruit / 4235 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama: you can also look up their licensing and call whatever licensing board your state has.
pui
bananas / 9899 posts

Dec 9, 2014

I don't think the police around here would do anything about that here... I would probably go out there myself and tell them very angrily to get off my lawn immediately. If they didn't move I'd call my husband home from work who would probably be glad to give them a piece of his mind.
sotofamilia
kiwi / 612 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama: yeah, get mad at the landscaping company. That's ridiculous. We own a landscaping company and I would be really angry to hear from a client that our guys were acting like this.
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@LaughLines: @sotofamilia: @dagret: Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be a solid tree trimming operation. The guy advertises that he is cheap and his work would seem to reflecr that. The owner IS the one trespassing we just discovered this morning and he is the one not cleaning up our backyard. Unbelievable. @dagret: has a great point into looking into his licensing (if he has any) and reporting him!
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 9, 2014
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama: Definitely report him. That is horrible!
.twist.
pineapple / 12802 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama:

I don't know what I would do, but I know that would frustrate me too.
rachiecakes
coconut / 8279 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@coopsmama: report him all over the place and post these photos! that's ridiculous and um, illegal.
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 9, 2014

@avivoca: @.twist.: Thanks for understanding. It is absurd what people think is OK! I guess fences don't always make for good neighbors, eh?
coopsmama
cantaloupe / 6059 posts

Dec 15, 2014

Well today this happened. My neighbors called the cops on them and they are here now. My husband came home from work and is discussing it with them. This "tree company" is a bunch of thugs -- they threatened us on Saturday and then this happened. I'm not sure what our next course of action will be and I can't believe this situation is ongoing.
MrsBrewer
coconut / 8854 posts

Dec 15, 2014

@coopsmama: OMG!!! I'm so sorry!!! Thank goodness the police are there now though to help you deal with all of this! Please keep us updated!
Shutterbug
grapefruit / 4703 posts

Dec 15, 2014

oh heck no! Complain about these A-holes to the BBB, if the cops can't do anything. Sorry you're dealing with this crap, too bad you hadn't already closed before this all started
LindsayInNY
bananas / 9229 posts

Dec 15, 2014

@coopsmama: Whaaaat?!?! Hopefully the cops can do something. I would file a claim with their home owners insurance for any damage to your fence. I would be LIVID!!!

ETA: Did the neighbors that hire them call the cops?! WTF??
jetsa
grapefruit / 4663 posts

Dec 15, 2014

@coopsmama: this is insane, I'm so sorry!