[macguy]

Originally Posted by bluemoon576

[however there is an obligation on the part of the utility company (cable TV, phone co, water, sewer, gas, electric co, tree trimmers, cable locating co., etc.) to contact the owner at the time of entry. All employees should be badged and displayed (or displayed upon request) unless the wearing of the badge will cause an safety issue (usually electrical). Everyone who has any of the above services (and others)is required to provide access (egress ingress) 24/7 and your deed and survey will show the actual area(s) for utility easements.

Dear Sir: The problem is that they were servicing another neighbor who lives behind my property. Their power pole is in their property, not on ours!!! Why would they not go through their yard to work on it, since they drove around half a block to our subdivision to go through our yard to unlock our gate and to jump our fence to gain access to these other customers' yard to work on their power pole???? Why couldn't they use these neighbors' gate?? Do you think we have a successful chance in prosecuting this company? If so, it is just to teach them a lesson that they should hire more polite and professional subcontractors and/or employees next time.[/quote]

I have them come through my yard all the time whether working on the poles, (one is in my back yard), to reading my meter. As long as they are supposed to be there and do work for the company, what is the big deal really?

[bluemoon576]

To macguy: sir you didn't read my post right. Maybe I didn't make myself understood. Yes I've had utility men working in poles in front of my property. This one was working in my back neighbor's property. WHY DIDN"T HE GO THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY, THROUGH THEIR BACK GATE INSTEAD OF UNLOCKING MY FRONT GATE AND JUMPING THROUGH MY BACK FENCE? Wearing no uniforms, no badges, no IDs, no marked car...

[macguy]

Originally Posted by bluemoon576

To macguy: sir you didn't read my post right. Maybe I didn't make myself understood. Yes I've had utility men working in poles in front of my property. This one was working in my back neighbor's property. WHY DIDN"T HE GO THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY, THROUGH THEIR BACK GATE INSTEAD OF UNLOCKING MY FRONT GATE AND JUMPING THROUGH MY BACK FENCE? Wearing no uniforms, no badges, no IDs, no marked car...

They are probably sub's. The guy who reads our electric meter dresses like a bum with a baseball cap. The first time I saw him he was running through the neighbors yard and I thought he had done something. I guess he was running late or something but when he got to my yard I met him with a gun. I was out in my studio and I always carry a gun when I am out there. I scared the hell out of him. I could not believe it, he is working for FPL as a sub and doesn't even have a badge, uniform or anything. Your experience is not that unusual. Beyond that though, it's not big deal having someone in your yard. I don't think you are going to sue anybody over it.

[HIF]

I disagree, it is a very big deal to have someone in your locked back yard.

I hope that you reported this to the cable comapany in writing. Even if they were subs, they should not have gone through your property without your knowledge AND I have heard several accounts of subs casing property to rob homes later.

[bluemoon576]

Thank you HIF! I guess you share my thoughts and feelings about non invited people in our property! I have no problem with utility people, but they always make themselves known or like I said before they are dressed professionally and display a polite and professional attitude and language with the customer. These 2 that came up here did not fall into this category. With so much crime around nowadays, aren't you supposed to be cautious? It's not so much for the personal possessions, although the few things we own we work too hard to have them, but more for our personal protection. I stay home alone too many hours of the day, and I like to feel safe. I don't understand why I would let anyone come into my yard, especially with an attitude problem like these 2 guys had.

[bluemoon576]

HIF I will be going to Bright House Network this Monday with my husband to personally voice our complaint to a supervisor there. Then I am thinking about writing a written complaint and also another one to my Home Owner's Association who is doing absolutely nothing to keep unwanted people out of our property. Oh... and the police told me that if they come back here again, these 2 guys, I have all the right to call the cops on them again. It's for my protection, they said.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by CJFlorida

Yes, you would end up in jail in Florida if you shot at two men who made no threatening moves toward you. There are many reasons they could have been there. A man in Palm beach County went to jail for shooting a person on his front porch, banging on his door. The guy was simply lost and thought it was his buddy's house. But he was knocking, not trying to gain entry, so the shooter was found guilty. You shoot at two guys by a back fence and you would be in jail for years and years.

I don't think in today's world it is such a great idea challenging strangers with baseball bats and shot guns. Druggies on meth and crack feel no pain and have adrenalin strength. It takes 4-5 cops sometimes to handle these guys. Some of them even get shot and still keep coming.

Unless there is no way out and you are in a position you have to fight, it would be a lot better to walk away, get license plates or whatever, and call the police.

Be serious, climbing over a fence with no good reason is a threatening advance. Besides, I wouldn't shoot them unless they started advancing on me. Then all bets are off.

[bluemoon576]

Lindsey I agree with you 100%. Yes it was very inconvenient and unprofessional of them to do what they did, but there is zero chance I will ever point a gun or even verbally threaten anyone who does that again. I didn't even think about turning my dogs on them, they were inside. I knew that calling the police was my best bet, because they are trained professionals and they would hear all the facts and my fair complaints about these 2 men. I think in my heart and mind I did the right thing, besides all my anger I controlled myself pretty good and could maintain a reasonable peace of mind.

[bluemoon576]

To make the story short: 2 wrongs wouldn't make it right. Calling the police was the only thing I could lawfully do, and I did.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I guess I worry about my daughter alot, what if they were going to come in the house and so something too her, or do something too me so that she didn't have a Mother anymore, I can't allow that.