The Trespass thing...

[ann366]

I have some questions about trespassing in Georgia. I am having a real problem with trespassers and I am stuck and don't know what to do. I have some people who have been told to stay off of this property and seem to wish to continue. They have been told by law enforcement to stay away, but the problem is...these trespassers are neighbors. It is hard to tell if they are trespassing or not since the land is far away(prob 500 ft from our home) so I cannot always watch what is going on. Seems this happens a lot in this area and to some people it is 'no big deal', but it is starting to bother us because we will put up fence and signs just to have it torn down and then feel that we are being harassed by gunshots and things like that happening afterward. I know it is legal to shoot a gun around here, but the problem is...we feel harassed. Seems these people are telling others to trespass as well. Law enforcement cannot get down on the property fast enough to catch these people, its just too far to walk (they wont be able to drive) since its mostly woods. Is there any way that law enforcement could set up something to catch these people or do we have to do something? We have spoke with a law enforcement officer that told us to call them every time someone is trespassing and I told them that the trespassers will be gone before we could call. The trespassers know not to hang around long, but come back often. I told the LEO that I know that they are not able to patrol here for any length of time because they have other things to do. I am lost on what I can do, any suggestions?

[Samuel]

kinda hard to offer suggestions without knowing more about what is going on. your local LEOs have the best perspective on what your options are...

[ann366]

there is not a whole lot going on other than these people don't seem to want to stay on their own property. we have caught them on our property, called police and they were told to stay off. now we suspect they may be going back down on the property and telling others to go down on our property to aggravate us. then they are making noise close to our house with very loud guns when we go down and put up more no trespassing signs that have been torn down. i feel that they are harassing us, even though it is legal to shoot guns within the distance of our home. i just don't know what else to do.

[Samuel]

talk to your local authorities again. if there are firearms involved, be extremely cautious - protect yourself as needed...

[ann366]

thank you for advice. i just do not want this to get out of hand. other property owners around have given up since its a dead end situation. i will have to talk to LEO again and see what happens. most likely they will tell us to call them every time someone trespasses which is hard to know for sure if someone is trespassing and hard to get down through the woods to find out.

[ann366]

probably the best thing for me to do is give up as well as i cannot do much on my own. that way i wont be bothered by it. i don't own the property, just live on it. but thanks for advice.

[scott715us]

You can have a civil restraining order or injunction placed against them as well. If they have to start paying out of pocket, then things may start to change. What all are they doing that you consider "harassment?" Are they crossing over to do something specifically? I'm just curious why they would go to all the trouble to trespass if there's nothing to gain out of it.

[ChesCopPodz]

Deer camera placed on your property. Put up a no tresspassing sign, and point the camera at it. They're motion activated, so they'll catch them coming onto your property.

[ann366]

They annoy us by doing all of this. Yes, only to annoying us. And yes, this is why I believe they are doing this...all goes back to harassment. Don't seem to care how much money they spend to do it either. All started right after they were told not to be on the property.

[ann366]

The deer cam would be stolen, we have tried that one.

[scott715us]

Conduct some random checks when you believe they're on the property and go out and take photo/video of them each and every time. Start a paper trail. If it gets nasty and you have to pursue criminal or civil action, then it will help tremendously.

[ann366]

Thanks for all of the advice. I may work on it soon. Hope I don't give up/give in.

[Joeyd6]

1) Post your signs......all along the property line....like every few tress so even a blind person could see them!

2) Buy a few trail cams from an outdoors store. Also get a video camera.

3) Get your pics/evidence and file charges.

[ann366]

yeah thanks Joeyd6, i have got some ideas with cameras. this way i wont have to keep running back and forth trying to see if anyone is on the property. i was honestly hoping someone else would just come take care of it. (kind of like the police would barge in and haul every trespasser off, but i have to face reality here) it's hard to do this alone, but if i go early in the morning, maybe i wont run into anyone. that is what i DON'T want to do.