Neighbor from H***

My depression is bad enough but now my next door neighbor is harassing me. He has set up big spotlights and have them shine into my windows all night long. He also parked his big truck in front of my house so my girlfriend has to park across the street. This guy has told me a few times that us old people should be in nursing homes. (I am older than his dad)
The police say that they can do nothing about harassment. So they will not help. The rest of the neighbors are afraid of this guy, he is the town bully. This is very frustrating. I have tried to talk to him but he and his wife want me to fight. I am disabled and he knows that.

arg that sounds horrible. I wish the police would help - that's the first thing I would think of. I wish I had an answer. It's wrong though.

For the lights shining in the window - I lived in a city for a little while and there was a really bright light from the street shining on the bed all night. You can get these things that go over the window that are meant to block light. They're really amazing - they make that kinda thing liveable.

I got them at walmart (as much as I dislike the store) They call it "blackout" drapery/window shade etc.

My suggestion would be to treat this jerk like he was a toadstool beneath your feet. Don't say or do anything threatening, just laugh at him whenever you see him and show him how insignificant he is to you. Demonstrate to him that you are far above his juvenile antics.

This attitude is something that you may have to fake for awhile, but eventually it will get easier.

It is obvious to me and my girlfriend that he just wants attention. His wife encourages him. He really gets on my nerves tho. While we were cleaning her car tonight, he climbed on his roof so he could take pictures of what we were doing. I guess vacuuming a car was interesting to him? We finished up and put everything away and he started yelling that he wasn't done yet and for us to stay outside.

Hello Randy. I am sorry that you are suffering to this degree witht he neightbor. Have you tried to contact a representative of your state or Federal Government to tell them about your neighbors behaviour? You may have rights under the Disabilities Act that the normal regulated enforcement offiers or the police cant do anything about. I also would try to see an attorney on your behalf, since the pictures he is taking are of you and your girlfriend, and may constitute mental harassment in itself. The lawyer could send them a letter that there are to be no pictures taken of you and your girlfriend, PERIOD without your concent. You may want to keep a log of the behaviour as well in case you need it in Court. Even talking to your therapist may be helpful in securing help for yourself and directing you in how to proceed in this case. I know in Ohio that the situation would be addressed, since the harassment is considered detrimental to your over all well being as being consumed and protected from this behaviour under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and with dealing with Disabled people and State and Federal REpresentatives in Ohio on my volunteer job, the representatives of Ohio will generally react and do something in the circumstance such as yours, if you contact the right people.. I hope the best for you Don't give up if at all possible. Soidhonia

Thanks for the info Soidhonia. I have no idea who to contact. I wrote my senator and congressman but they say it is a civil matter. I can not afford a lawyer. There has to be something that they can do.

I am very scared. I called around today and have an appointment with the city prosecutor tomorrow. He will decide whether they can file charges against this guy. For some reason it terrifies me. I can not put a reason on this but I am scared to death. This guy is very unstable and not predictable at all.

Hi, Randj! Your situation disturbs and frustrates me. For what it's worth, I think you're taking a brave and civic-minded step by going to the prosecutor and at least trying to sound an alarm over this fellow. If he's cruel to you, he's cruel or potentially so to others. Your action may save who knows how many other people a lot of grief. At least you're trying. Respect!

Just spent the last 2 hours at City Hall. Got copies of police report, wrote out witness statements, talked to the prosecutor and a police officer. My arm feels like I just wrote a book. Now to see if they do anything about this clown. The officer seemed to feel they would do something, problably a No Contact Order. Or stalking charges.
My hands are still shaking. Nervous and scared.

Unfortunately bullies continue to do what they do, more so, once they are told to stop.

Here in Australia if the bully is in public housing and complaints come in from the neighbours and the place is a mess, then they get their arses kicked out and are moved on.

Also city councils have some say if a truck can be parked in the neighbourhood or not. And if allowed must follow the regulations and have a permit. No permit No truck etc.

Personally if someone was taking pictures of me, like that, I'd turn my video/camera on him and let him hang himself with the abuse he spews and then send a copy into a Current Affairs program on TV for them to follow up on the story. Has been done here in Australia.

As for the bedroom window I'd just painted it out in black or use contact or even paper whatever was cheap, so you can sleep. That way it would bother him and not you.

Best one I ever did with crappy neighbours who turned up the volume on the car radio in the early hours of the morning (knowing full well that I and the other neighbours are still sleeping at 7am. One had breast cancer and was really ill and it was driving her nuts,....so) was to wait for him to leave the car door open like he usually did, placed my leaking hose right near the fence, and turned it on full force, leaving it to water my garden.

Such a laugh. I was watching from our kids bathroom window, he popped his head over to see why the interior of his car was being drowned. He saw the hole in the hose and could see the sprinkler on the veggie patch. Next thing he turned off the radio, closed the door and went inside to watch from his kitchen window.

I waited about 1/2 hour then went out in my PJs straight to my veggie patch, didn't look back just carried on shifting the hose which moved the leaking part away from the fence and on the way back, just happen to glance his way, so I waved and smiled, then continued on into the house.

We didn't have the early morning problem again.

I just remembered what my girlfriend did to her bully. She signed them up for all the phone calls from sales people eg: at shopping centres.

She fill their name out, address & phone details and ticked the boxes.