05-20-2016, 01:41 AM
My 74 yo neighbor Judi (the one who's brother evicted her) has moved to a new elderly housing location. These are small single story connected apartments run by the local housing authority.
She moved in three weeks ago and within the first week someone stole two of her plants and a wrought iron stand from her back "porch" area. A couple of days later she saw her plant and stand (now painted black - it was green) outside on a neighbors "porch" and confronted them. They told her another neighbor in the complex had just given it to them but to take it if it was hers. Judi then went to the the other neighbor and spoke with the 91 yo mother of the alleged thief. Mom says she didn't know if her daughter took it but later that day returned the other missing plant. So maybe not so "alleged" after all.
Next day the daughter (who is in her early 40's) came over to Judi's house and asked her for a ride to the liquor store. Judi had been warned by other tenants that this woman was always bumming rides and that Judi should not take her anywhere. They also mentioned that they too have had many missing items since this person moved in 4 months ago.
Next day Judi finds a note on her door that said the woman did not take her plants and that Judi should "...watch out for her little dog because something bad might happen to him. Because NOBODY that lives here likes her. Nobody.". So at this point we not only have a thief but a stupid one at that. Who leaves a note denying you did it but also including a fresh threat?
So Management was notified and Judi was told in glorious condescending corporate speak that "they are handling it, just move along.". In retaliation for going to management more plants were stolen and this morning Judi awoke to a small fire of cigarette butts on the door mat at her back door. Nothing that would have caught the building on fire (it's all brick and concrete) just a message.
Enough is enough. I made her call the Police and report the harassment because it seems that this person may have other stability issues that could present a safety issue to Judi, her dog and personal property. I told the officer that I didn't think that his talking to the thief would stop the problem and he agreed with me. So he took all the info and then went across the way to talk to the thief.
As an FYI, this kind of behavior is very uncommon here in Merrimac. Catching speeders and the occasional domestic issue are about as exciting as it gets for our two cruiser Police Dept.
I think it would be a good idea to set up a wireless IP camera to catch this person in the next act. There's many choices on Amazon but I'm new to security cameras. I would need something with a Mac interface (she has a mid 2012 Macbook Air 5,2 running 10.8.5) and preferably under $100. Motion activated would be good, battery option is also a plus. I'm probably not going to put this outside so it won't need to be weather proof.
Thanks and sorry for the long post.
She moved in three weeks ago and within the first week someone stole two of her plants and a wrought iron stand from her back "porch" area. A couple of days later she saw her plant and stand (now painted black - it was green) outside on a neighbors "porch" and confronted them. They told her another neighbor in the complex had just given it to them but to take it if it was hers. Judi then went to the the other neighbor and spoke with the 91 yo mother of the alleged thief. Mom says she didn't know if her daughter took it but later that day returned the other missing plant. So maybe not so "alleged" after all.
Next day the daughter (who is in her early 40's) came over to Judi's house and asked her for a ride to the liquor store. Judi had been warned by other tenants that this woman was always bumming rides and that Judi should not take her anywhere. They also mentioned that they too have had many missing items since this person moved in 4 months ago.
Next day Judi finds a note on her door that said the woman did not take her plants and that Judi should "...watch out for her little dog because something bad might happen to him. Because NOBODY that lives here likes her. Nobody.". So at this point we not only have a thief but a stupid one at that. Who leaves a note denying you did it but also including a fresh threat?
So Management was notified and Judi was told in glorious condescending corporate speak that "they are handling it, just move along.". In retaliation for going to management more plants were stolen and this morning Judi awoke to a small fire of cigarette butts on the door mat at her back door. Nothing that would have caught the building on fire (it's all brick and concrete) just a message.
Enough is enough. I made her call the Police and report the harassment because it seems that this person may have other stability issues that could present a safety issue to Judi, her dog and personal property. I told the officer that I didn't think that his talking to the thief would stop the problem and he agreed with me. So he took all the info and then went across the way to talk to the thief.
As an FYI, this kind of behavior is very uncommon here in Merrimac. Catching speeders and the occasional domestic issue are about as exciting as it gets for our two cruiser Police Dept.
I think it would be a good idea to set up a wireless IP camera to catch this person in the next act. There's many choices on Amazon but I'm new to security cameras. I would need something with a Mac interface (she has a mid 2012 Macbook Air 5,2 running 10.8.5) and preferably under $100. Motion activated would be good, battery option is also a plus. I'm probably not going to put this outside so it won't need to be weather proof.
Thanks and sorry for the long post.
