Neighbor removes resident's boulders from their property while claiming she has "permission from the town", leading resident to report for trespassing: ‘I have caught them on our side numerous times’

Advertisement
  • 01

    Neighbors keep trespassing. Today they hired laborers to remove large retaining boulders on my property that prevent erosion.

    (Location: Massachusetts) The neighbor behind our home moved in about two years ago. There's a large drainage ditch close to the border of our properties that is on their side.
  • 02
    ERE 13 135G MURPHY Z E-118 DEERE
  • 03
    Our property line begins at the top of the drainage ditch where there are about a dozen or more boulders that have been there for decades.
  • 04
    Their house is part of a development (hoa) who is responsible for the general maintenance of the ditch.
  • 05
    I have caught them on our side numerous times. One occasion she was removing brush that was on our side bc they apparently didn't like the way it looked.
  • 06
    We spoke to her and told her she couldn't do that and she acted as if she didn't know the boundaries so we made it clear where the lines were and let it go.
  • 07
    Since then we have caught her walking on our side of the property multiple times. Not sure why on those occasions tbh as we have privacy trees and could only see that she was on our side not specifically what she was doing.
  • 08
    Today she hired laborers to remove and essentially steal (for what purpose is unknown to me) multiple massive boulders from my side of the property line.
  • 09
    These boulders act as a retaining wall for the ditch and are there to prevent erosion.
  • 10
    She was confronted and said again oh she didn't realize and that she got "permission from the town." Both I strongly believe to be lies.
  • 11
    She said she would put the boulders back. What are my options here? She clearly has no respect for the boundary lines and speaking to her hasn't worked.
  • 12
    Can I have her trespassed even though it was her hired workers who technically were on my property and moved the boulders?
  • 13
    I also don't have proof of prior incidents as I never filed a police report since I was hoping to give her the benefit of the doubt and keep things amicable.
  • 14
    Should I just let her put the boulders back, let it go, and hope she respects the boundaries in the future?
  • 15
    Should I contact her development since they are the ones who maintain the ditch and tell them?
  • 16
    Advice on what would be my best options. Thanks all.
  • 17
    No Trespassing on Private Property Sign
  • 18
    VanessaAlexis File a report and tell her you are going to sue for the cost of the boulders and the cost of replacing your retaining wall. Maybe she'll be able to get them back, maybe not. But she stole your property and depending on how big the boulders are/what they're made of they could be worth thousands.
  • 19
    Garden_Lady2 You definitely need to contact the police and the HOA if that drainage ditch is part of their responsibility. Any erosion is going to impact them. I doubt your neighbor is going to put the stone back. She probably got them hauled away with the understanding that the haulers could sell them in compensation for their work. Large stones are expensive. You need to take videos and save any videos you may have that show the property before their activity. And get some battery operated out
  • 20
    OP Melissaj312 As of right now the boulders are laying in the ditch on her property. I took photos and video. She said she would put them back. I fully believe she knew what she was doing was wrong and made sh up once she got caught. I also suspect she hired them to remove more than she had the chance to. The laborers left once she was caught (although it was also 5pm)
  • 21
    Lactating-almonds File a police report asap. That's theft. If you keep "letting it go", she will keep taking advantage.
  • 22
    Next-Independent-477 Boulders on YOUR property? Those insanely expensive boulders that were cherished boulders your noble ancestors bequeathed you that cost you, emotionally, $500,000 each?
  • 23
    OP Melissaj312 Ok legit lol >
  • 24
    Magician_Hiker In addition to what everyone else has said, be sure to contact your towns Conservation Commission and inform them that unpermitted work has been done near a water way that impacts erosion control.
  • 25
    OP Melissaj312 Theres wetlands like 50 feet away too
  • 26
    mdjak66 these nightmare neighbor stories are horrible. I wish you the best.
  • 27
    OP Melissaj312 Believe it or not they aren't even my worst neighbor.
  • 28
    bobhand17123 "Permission from the town?" So, may I see your permit, please?
  • 29
    Knitsanity MA has some pretty strong laws for this sort of thing. Get your property survey and go down to the Town or City Hall. Consult an attorney and go to the planning dept etc. Cover all your bases.

Tags

Scroll Down For The Next Article