Second, this is my property that I have a mortgage on. It’s not community or city property.
This past winter, I had a pool installed at my house. After the pool installation, I had my old fence removed and installed new fences that met with the city code for a residential pool. My new fence is higher than my old one and the gates have approved locks.
About a month ago I had to travel for work and was gone for about 2 weeks. I came back to find my backyard trashed and it seems someone had a pool party while I was gone. The locks on my gates were broken but luckily no one broke into my house. I checked my security cameras and saw at least 20 teens having an all day party that lasted late into the night.
I did not give permission for anyone to be at my house so I was mad. My cameras are HD so their faces were clearly visible and i recognized some from the neighborhood. I went to the police and submitted a copy of the recordings and tried to file a report.
The cops did their best to try to talk my out of it but I pressed them on it until they relented and took a report. Weeks passed by and I heard nothing so I called them to find out nothing has been done. I got angry and threaten to sue unless they got off their behinds and enforce the laws.
I should point out I live in a town of about 2000 people and nothing ever happens here. The cops are not understaffed or too busy on other cases. I also know I probably can’t sue the cops into doing their jobs but I loose nothing by threatening a lawsuit and I was mad at the time.
Finally they got some of the teens seen on my security video but again they tried to talk me out of pressing charges. I was adamant and insist they file charges.
When my girlfriend found out about the situation, she said I should have let it go and we got into an argument about it. My own mother thinks I’m being a bully by forcing the cops to file charges against some teens who just wanted to throw a party. Virtually everyone I know is making me out to be some grumpy guy with a score to settle and I kid you not, everyone in my life is trying to talk me out of it.
They’re worried about me destroying these teens’ future over a pool party.
I don’t know when it became okay to break into someone’s property. Right now it feels like it’s me against the entire world.
Update
I’m so glad I posted my situation here. Many of you pointed out that the cops might know the kids so that’s why they’re dragging the case. I never thought of that because I’ve only lived here for 2 years. You all opened my eyes!
I called my buddy who grew up and still live here so I invited him to dinner tonight. I asked him about my situation and showed him my security vid. He immediately said about half of the HS senior class was in the vid (his kids are in the same HS) and he recognized the daughter and niece of the mayor.
He also told me he thinks a couple of the kids belong to the local prominent families one of which own one of the local grocery stores.
We talked about it and I decided to take your advice and drop my complaint in exchange for the parents paying the damages. I’ll call the cops tomorrow about it.
There is a post below about someone’s uncle living in Oklahoma who made a complaint and subsequently got pulled over repeatedly for phantom traffic violations. That really opened my eyes and I definitely do not want that to happen to me.
Conclusion
The homeowner, facing immense pressure from their community, chose a different path, opting for restitution over legal battles. While many urged them to let it go, the decision to protect their property rights led to a surprising resolution. Did this homeowner find peace, or has this incident revealed a deeper, more complex issue within their small town?
Here’s how people reacted:
I’m not saying these kids need jail time, but they need to learn that actions have consequences. A fine or community service is a good way to make sure they understand it’s not okay to help themselves to other’s property just because they want it.
I’d ABSOLUTELY do the same thing, and I’m not even a grumpy old man.
What if one of those teens was SA or died on YOUR property? They BROKE your locks, INVADED your property and did NOT ask for your permission first. 100% you’re NTA
ETA – Curious to know the eventual outcome
Makes me wonder if these cops also harass minorities to meet their arrest quotas.
Teens “who want to throw a party” should find a venue that doesn’t involve committing felonies. The fact that they BROKE YOUR LOCKS shows an entitlement that is stunning.
I am aghast that anyone is defending these felonious kids and their designer helicopter parents.
They committed a criminal offence. They broke the law. They should face the consequences.
Someone could have drown
People need to learn locked gates mean do not enter
If they were even a tiny bit decent they wouldve swam and left everything in good order. The fact that they didnt do that to me means they are begging for attention. So you gave it to them.
I cannot fathom the police not acting in it unless some of their friends.or relatives were involved
NTA
>I came back to find my backyard trashed and it seems someone had a pool party while I was gone. The locks on my gates were broken
I don’t understand how this can be open to interpretation.
Because you know what, had one of those kids drowned you 100% would have had some kind of legal shit coming your way.
The people in your life saying you shouldn’t have are WAY out of line here.