Crazy neighbour + AVO + do nothing cops

Ian Robinson · #1 08-11-2008, 10:22 PM

I wish my crazy neighbour would become nothing ....darn it .... he's been let back out of the loonie bin and been home a couple of days , and started flipping almost immediately once he made up for lost time on the booze and pot and what ever else his poison is ....
Back to magristrate on Thursday for AVO extension No.2 for another 12 months (wish the magistrate would give us an extension for 5 years or even 2 years), he was a no show at the court house, and almost as soon as got back home he was yelling abuse directed at me from inside his house .... OK I let that pass .... he maybe thought the AVO would not get extended ago ....he was upset by the call from the courthouse telling him he'll have to go back there

... he threw a big stick at my roof yesterday , has been banging on my windows and doors and running away before I had the chance to catch him in the act and confront him last night (I know these were him because I heard his door slam shut moments after each time !, and has been agressively charging at people (neighbours , kids , and yelling abuse at them) , been ranting and raving (mostly unintelligible), and yelling obsenities and threats at (us and his other neighbour and at unknowable whatevertheyares) , playing V Loud music and the TV V loud (I can't hear my own TV at normal volume (thinks it hides his ranting and raving and flipsouts) and I was woken up at 4am this morning by hoons about 300 m away near the local shops and a couple of minutes after it sounded like someone told them to rack off , I heard a car pull up right out front of his place and him getting a visit from his dealer (loud voices).

I told the cops twice yesterday about the breaches of the AVO and all they were prepared to do was patrol the street .... so nothing.
I called 000 twice today , the trigger was him suddenly running acrross my front yard (another breach) and then yelling abuse at someone when he walked straight back to his place ( only people on the street were some kids playing about 150 away), Cops came about 90 minutes later and onlt spoke to him then left , and he immediately when they were outside of earshot come back out and yelled obsenities and ranted at us (me and the neighbour) so I called 000 again and as far as I can tell , the cops have not come back (been 2 hrs) and I think the idiot has gone out somewhere now , his house was in darkness when I looked about an hour ago.

I wish nothing but bad things happen to this guy .... my wife feels very insecure in her own home - keeps all the exterior doors deadlocked all the time, and I am so worried about he'll do next that I don't feel confortable leaving her in the house alone. I've told the cops this several times .... yet they still haven't charged him with breaching the AVO.

Selling up and leaving is not an option : would never find a buyer even if I was willing to sell and run away from this cretin and his bull , first thing the buyers would ask "what are the neighbours like ?" .... he's a deal killer.

Sorry for off loading here .... but I am so dammed fustrated by all this and my wife and I feel we are at our wits end and the cops don't seem to be prepared to do more than talk to him (he of cause flips some switch in his head and acts like nothing has happened and looks and sounds to all intents like a sane person and he turns on the charm).

Any constructive realistic suggestions ?? (that wont land me prison or increase the danger to my wife if I not home and he gets thoughts as a consequence of them...)

rally · #2 08-11-2008, 10:33 PM

Yes, Get out the guide camera and set it up recording to the hard drive - then you'll have evidence !

Alternatively I can send you a box of matches !!!

matt · #3 08-11-2008, 10:43 PM

Record his behaviour on some form of tape, Ian...preferably video or on hard disc on computer.

If the cops won't do anything, consider making an approach to your local MP and see if he/she is willing to act on your behalf.

Do you have Neighbourhood Watch operating in your area? If not, take the initiative and set it up yourself with police assistance and work out a plan with your neighbours to form a collective voice of complaint to police.

What about your local council representative. Get to know him/her and find out what you can do to help their cause in return for a little help with your problem.

Ian Robinson · #4 08-11-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rally

Yes, Get out the guide camera and set it up recording to the hard drive - then you'll have evidence !

Alternatively I can send you a box of matches !!!

but he's probably over insured and would just build a bigger house on the same spot and come back again , meanwhile the who ever did the match lighting will wind up in gaol for a very long time.

I've considered buying a rifle and some bullets but this will only land me in trouble if I used it (on him).

His other neighbour (also has an AVO and she has managed to get a breach of his (he called 000 and said her teenage daughter (he has been heard to make lude comments about the girl and what he'd like to do with here (like she is 16 and he is in his late 40s !!! and she'd even look at him as a prospect that way) had been raped , when the cops and ambulence showed up , it became obvious this was not so .... max $3000 fine and 5 yrs in prison for that if he is convicted, the ambulence guy was able to indentify his mobile as the phone that made the call + and when the cops confronted him and examined the phone's last few calls he was caughtout and said he was sorry add max $2000 fine and 3 yrs in prison for the breach of AVO if convicted (they are also persuing this) -- I believe) ,
but mental health issues make it very complicated - the magistrated told me this when I asked him after the court extended my AVO - so it's hard to make these stick in court) to the magistrate (6 adjurnments so far !!!!) also suggested burning his house down ,
Didn't consider the autoguider for video servailence .... need a lens for it.

A cheap webcam from HND might be OK , do they also record sound ?

Ric · #5 08-11-2008, 11:15 PM

I agree with Matt, get onto your local MP they usually have some clout to get things rolling.

I had my garage broken into and my firefighting equipment stolen a few years back and the cops weren't even interested in coming out to have a look, one phone call later I had two senior detectives on my doorstep and taking down the list of serial numbers I had for them.

I didn't get my gear back but they take things a bit more seriously now around these parts.

Ian Robinson · #6 08-11-2008, 11:35 PM

I'll give Jill Hall's office in Belmont a call on Monday .

I've been keeping a very detailed blow by blow record of his behaviour since August.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 08-11-2008, 11:53 PM

I feel very sorry for both you and your wife.
You shouldn't have to put up with this.
This person needs to be placed where he won't be a threat to others.

norm · #8 09-11-2008, 12:26 AM

Hi Ian,

I sympathize with what your going thru. Few years ago when we moved into our house, not long after this nutter moved into the house next door. This woman and her teenage daughter would have constant arguments over who smoked the last bit of dope and sex when boyfriends. (Constant swearing,, literally every 3rd word f this, you c#$t,yelling all hours of the day and night, so much so we were embarassed to invite friends over. We had 2 small kids aged 4yr and it wasn't right they should be subjected to this foul rubbish.
I remember getting the fence fix and the tradies copped a tirade of abuse

Its funny now looking back, but at that time in our lives it was pretty miserable.

It appeared she came from an abusive relationship and one thing that dumbfounded us the most was one morning in winter at 2am, she was playing with her 3yr old (which appeared she only had visitation rights only) playing in a makeshift swingset outside - just crazy. I kept a dossier of her rants, phone calls to police (they were useless), threats made to us and her strange behaviors etc. Literally took 16 months to get her evicted !!! She was getting rent on the cheap thru the Anglican church so she wasn't going to give that up without a fight.

The scary and sad thing is that she only moved to the next suburb and I truly pity her new neighbours. People like that don't change, destined to be social outcasts.

Keep your chin up mate! Its a downer of a situation to be in, but try not to let it consume you or your wife's energy. Things will eventually improve and get better.

Cheers Norm

richard omeara · #9 09-11-2008, 01:00 AM

Sorry to hear you have a nut case neighbour.Dont know if it will help but i used to use a police scanner.It used to give me info on what type of people where living in my area.Unfortunatly these days thanks to the layed back policicies on drugs and alcohol there is one in every street.I wish it was the good old days when a kick in the ass would sought them out.Hound the crap out off your local MP.I mean every day every spare minute. Dont give up .They are there for use arn't they?

casstony · #10 09-11-2008, 01:07 AM

Ian, have you considered owning a guard dog to deter the intruder and provide comfort to your wife when you're not home?

Ian Robinson · #11 09-11-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

Ian, have you considered owning a guard dog to deter the intruder and provide comfort to your wife when you're not home?

Funny you should mention a dog ....

I was talking with my wife this afternoon after the cops came , rather loudly (so he could here it) saying to her that we should not have to put up this his crap and he should not be in circulation and how I was going to do everything possible to have him put away permanently or imprisoned , and the subject the of the nice alsation across the road came up ,

Great watch dog , never worries about people it knows , but barks like crazy when strangers go to close --- that is the road infront of it's owner's house ...
I let it out that if we get a dog it'll be an alsation and I'll train it to go for the throat on command .... like alsations HEAPS - dad had one when I was little boy and it was great with us kids and our friends and neighbours , and used to walk to school with my sisters and I , one day a big kid was picking on one (PUSHING ABOUT) of my sisters so the dog attacked the bully and dam near took his arm off. I didn't see it happen, I had gone on to high school by then.

The dog was not ordered put down as it was defending her.

That's the kind of dog we need.

Aside, my other neighbour (a nice widow who has a severely disabled daughter has sold up and moved out, (her daughter is very scared of the nutter) , she was lucky that people who bought her home came to inspect when the nutter was in hospital. What are they going to think when they move in and her and see his bulldust and bizar behaviour ? I'll be putting them in the know , but only when they ask me. I hope they don't think it's my wife and I when they hear it first.

Tandum (Robin) · #12 09-11-2008, 03:13 AM

Ian, set up some cameras. Even cheap low quality jobs will do. Record what's going on for evidence.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #13 09-11-2008, 04:30 AM

Hi Ian,
I also sympathize. An awful situation to be in. I must admit that I don't like the trend towards owning dogs for self-defence, but I guess I can understand it. Watch out that your neighbour doesn't just try to bait the dog.
Documenting abuses that occur on your own property (perhaps you don't want to feed his paranoia by training the cameras on his house), especially with film, sounds like a good idea. Harrassing the pollies and the police is a necessary evil, too, I guess.
I don't think you mention if your neighbour is an owner occupier or if he is renting. Sounds like he couldn't hold down a job, so maybe he is renting, in which case he would be answerable to a landlord or an agent. If that was the case you could also maybe harrass them, get them involved, get them at least to not renew the lease.
Good luck.
Brian.

Alchemy (Clive) · #14 09-11-2008, 07:27 AM

the camera idea is the one you must use. record him being a problem several times... then if you can handle him physically, when he comes over go out to (have a chat) and when he gets physical .... its time to take out the trash .... put him in hospital, broken nose, jaw etc . that should get the attention of the police etc and put him away for a while. if you cant handle him find a mate who can. dont use any weapons as it would then look bad for you, as it needs to be self defence, not a premeditated situation.

Lee · #15 09-11-2008, 08:58 AM

I bet the police would hassle the hell out of some harmless teenagers playing loud music after 10, but don't seem willing to do anything about these oxygen thieves. Makes you wonder what the point of an AVO is doesn't it?
I would suggest against any plans of violence on your part, unless you are attacked first, and would be documenting absolutely EVERYTHING for use as potential evidence.
I would also think of moving - I know it seems like you have given in, but is all this worth the stress?

Kal (Andrew) · #16 09-11-2008, 10:34 AM

I'd strongly suggest against any form of violence. By the sounds of things a moral person like yourself may be willing to break a nose, but a loonly like that would probably stick a knife in your heart. He is a nutter and obviously one without proper values and it would be a dangerous path. Camera is the best option, install a security system that will record on motion detect. If you get a dog make sure you get it properly trained. Last thing you want is the nutbag tossing meat with rat poison over the fence. A proper trained dog won't eat anything unless it comes from your hand. Definatly seek out the advice given about the council route. Maybe they have some anti-social clause or something? You never know.

Ian Robinson · #17 09-11-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miaplacidus

Hi Ian,
I also sympathize. An awful situation to be in. I must admit that I don't like the trend towards owning dogs for self-defence, but I guess I can understand it. Watch out that your neighbour doesn't just try to bait the dog.
Documenting abuses that occur on your own property (perhaps you don't want to feed his paranoia by training the cameras on his house), especially with film, sounds like a good idea. Harrassing the pollies and the police is a necessary evil, too, I guess.
I don't think you mention if your neighbour is an owner occupier or if he is renting. Sounds like he couldn't hold down a job, so maybe he is renting, in which case he would be answerable to a landlord or an agent. If that was the case you could also maybe harrass them, get them involved, get them at least to not renew the lease.
Good luck.
Brian.

His mum (who from what I have heard was also loopy but a rich widow or devorcee) actually bought the house for him (about 12 -14 yrs ago) , he's never worked since he moved in and has been getting progressively worse and more abusive to everyone in the neighbourhood, his mum recently died and he inherited half her estate sharing the liquidated estate with his sister (who is also .... you guessed it .... also as mad as a $2 watch ) .... got nearly $200k and spent a lot of it reroofing (new tiles) , recladding (plastic pretend boards) , recarpeting (all his carpet was stuffed) , fixing all the doors (some of the doors from inside actually had been wrecked ) , replacing the old timber window with aluminium windows , fixing wholes in his interior walls (he kicks and punches and runs into these , and hits then with chairs and anything else he can lay his hands on when he really flipping), retiled the bathroom , repainted inside and out, and splashed out on all new electric stuff and furnature ... can't be much of that money left but enough for him go from buying booze and pot and what ever his uses only on pension pay day to when ever he wants ... hence he has been a lot worse since he came into money ....

so unfortunately he owns the place so he has to be committed permanently under a involuntary order by the court, or a psychologist (cant understand why this has not happened) or his family (who wont - his sister is loopy as he is) , or be sent to goal , or die , or decide to move of his own accord for us to be rid of him .... NOT GOOD.

At this stage the hope we have is that his hoax 000 call (he claimed the girl of his other next door neighbours had been raped) and the breach of the AVO they have will land him in goal .... but he'll probably just get a smack on the wrist because he has a "mental health issue" and can afford a good solicitor rather than "Legal lack-of- Aid".

Ian Robinson · #18 09-11-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemy

the camera idea is the one you must use. record him being a problem several times... then if you can handle him physically, when he comes over go out to (have a chat) and when he gets physical .... its time to take out the trash .... put him in hospital, broken nose, jaw etc . that should get the attention of the police etc and put him away for a while. if you cant handle him find a mate who can. dont use any weapons as it would then look bad for you, as it needs to be self defence, not a premeditated situation.

It took 2 big beefy cops to subdue him on another occasion earlier this year when he had been continuously flipping and ranting and yelling and I decided enough of this bull early one morning when he was having a horrendous flip out (I called 000 at 3am on that occasion and they arrived at 4am , and it took over two hours to get into his house and take him away that time).
I think I would need an "equaliser" to be able to deal physically with him - he's also bigger than me - bigger they are the harder they fall - my problem is he can run a lot faster than I can - moves bloody quick when he wants too I've seen him ....
But he's also a coward - I confronted him once (the usual confrontations have been vocal , this was physical !!!) and I was ready to come to blows (I wanted to deck him over very loud music day and night all the time despite the cops telling him to turn it down several times over a period of many days ) , he refused to come out and face me - I was telling to come outside and face me like a man and indicated I wanted to fight him - boy was I angry -- I was seeing RED!!!! .... I'm a peaceloving and non-violent man by temperment as anyone who knows me well will attest and have rarely been angry enough to resort to violence or even to threaten the use of violence - even when I was a kid - preferring to reason with people or just walk away or ignore them .... but - you can't reason with him , he want honour any agreement reached if you do talk with him (which is a waste of breath) , and it is impossible to ignore his behaviour.

anthony.tony · #19 09-11-2008, 01:28 PM

Have you tried playing Loud mind bending Classical Music .Plus don't Talk to Him Just Stare at him.,Walk around your back yard and do mad things too.Roll around on the ground and scream and yell.Pretend your building something and keep coming in and out of the house .Come out of your house and crawl around the yard on your hands ans Knees.When its coming to Full Moon and Full Moon Stand out the back where he can see you and Do a Dance and Make signs at the Moon. Rguard's Tony

Ian Robinson · #20 09-11-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

I bet the police would hassle the hell out of some harmless teenagers playing loud music after 10, but don't seem willing to do anything about these oxygen thieves. Makes you wonder what the point of an AVO is doesn't it?
I would suggest against any plans of violence on your part, unless you are attacked first, and would be documenting absolutely EVERYTHING for use as potential evidence.
I would also think of moving - I know it seems like you have given in, but is all this worth the stress?

I refuse to be driven out of the home I have worked hard to pay for and have invested a lot of time and effort in improving by the likes of this prick. I bought my home 27 years ago and my wife and I have a very strong attachment to the home having raised a family in it and we are strongly invested in it and the local community and neighbourhood . Our moving means he has won and is the coward's way out .... I personally refuse to let him win , nor am I a coward. Even if we could find a buyer willing to vouluntarily live next to him .... would you buy a house with a neighbour like him ? I wouldn't (you'd never see me again after the house inspection and being told about him or here or seeing his behavior).

I want him gone (one way or another !!!).

His other neighbour feels the say way and are also hardworking people who have invested a lot time and money and effort in improving their home (which they bought of their mum - who had the house before they bought it off her and who lives with them).