[bluemoon576]

Hello there, today my husband and I left for 20 min to get a few groceries, and once we got back we saw 2 guys outside our fenced bakyard. I approached them through my fence and asked what they were doing there (after our fence we still own 7 feet out, and they were on it). They said in a joking tone it was nothing serious, just fixing the cable thing up on the pole. Then I looked down inside the fence where I was standing, on the ground there was a bunch of metal pieces thrown around, then I asked who they belonged to and why they were scattered in my property! They said they just left it there, then one of them said they jumped our fence to get to the other side where they were. This all happened too quick, like I said before we were gone for 20 min and there they were! Their van was parked in the frontyard and they had entered our property through our front gate that had a lock (it had been opened), and crossed through our backyard and jumped the back fence to get through this pole. There was another way to do that, they could have asked our 2 neighboors beside us, both sides, they were both home and why did they have to come to our property while they saw nobody was home, open our gate and jump the back fence??? They I immediately called 911, because they were wearing no uniforms or had no identification with them, and talked to me very unprofessional. Anyway, they police took 15 min to show up and they hopped into their van and went away. My husband and I got into our car and followed them, we called 911 from our cell phone and were talking to the dispatcher who was trying to locate where we were, as we were following this van. Finally they caught up with us, 3 cop cars with sirenes and lights and all the fancy stuff, they stopped these 2 guys and we waited what was going to happen. The cops said they work as subcontractors to Bright House Network and there is nothing we can do about it. I thought that wasn't fair because how can someone enter your property, unlock your gate and walk across your backyard, your privacy, and jump your other fence and never have the politeness to say the least to wait until someone shows up, or asks another neighbor if they mind they come in? Am I overreacting?? I am completely terrified of these things because my husband works nights and I'm by myself and I never sleep good at night. I am ALWAYS in the lookout. These 2 guys had told me before they got in their van that if they have to do this again they will. Then the cops told us we cannot stop them because they are utility men. But hey! I believe in the old days when people use politeness and ask for permission to step in your property! Especially when nobody is home, that was so wrong and leave me with a lot of suspicion! I did take pictures of them both, I am ALWAYS prepared with the camera on my hand, you never know what you will need for evidence of a crime! Call me a paranoid... but I am afraid. There is a cop who lives on my road, we did stop him as he was leaving to work, he said that these guys did not have the right to do what they did. They had to knock first and if nobody was home they would seek another solution. What is the right thing to do? If someone please can help, I'd appreciate it very much. Thank you!!!
P.S.: just adding to this: I do have a NO trespassing sign on my mailbox in the front of the property, and a Beware of dog in my gate (I have 3 small dogs but at the time they had gone with us). The guys said they didn't see any of these signs when they entered my property.

[compelled to reply]

They were (attempted) burglars.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

First thing I would do is to padlock your gates, put up no trespassing signs and get a shotgun. I'll be damned if I wouldn't have been out there with a shotgun in their face.

Check out the laws, if you feel threatened in the state of Florida and you feel you have to use lethal force to defend yourself then its all good.

I would be upset as well. I would call Bright house and complain and tell them to stay the hell off my property or risk being shot.

Its sad things have gotten that far today but thats how it is. You would have been completely justified in believing these men were casing your house to break in. It would be one thing if you had an appointment with them and they showed up at your house to install but I assume this was not the case.

Considering their van was not marked and they were not wearing a uniform, they would have been staring at my .38 if they had done this at my house, even during the day. In fact with the home invasions that have been going on, this has been happening during the day. They even come up with plausible reasons to be where they are.

I'm glad for your sake it wasn't something worse.

[bluemoon576]

Thank you Lindsey for your honest reply! I told them that if I had a gun I would have probably thought of using it. But here in our house we don't carry guns. But my husband is definitely considering getting a big German Shepherd dog, we are going to train him to attack whoever puts their feet in our property. I am completely terrified, like I said before, because I am BY MYSELF at night, except Sat night when my husband is off work. That's the only night I can sleep feeling safe, because he's by my side. Well anyway, thanks a lot for your support. I really appreciate it (I'm still so nervous I am trying to type things right)!

[thebigr]

And that is the reason I have 2 Rottweilers who stay home 24/7. I will be living in Florida for the winter and my wife is staying in Alabama. One dog goes with me, one stays with her.
And Rottweilers are great gaurd dogs, you can't even walk through my yard at night without them knowing, and they sleep in the house.

[bluemoon576]

thebigr... my husband is seriously considering gettin a German Shepherd dog. I have 3 Mini Dachshunds who would probably wouldn't do much damage to someone. I need something big and scary.

[thebigr]

I have never had a German Shepard but I am sure they are nice dogs. The one thing about Rottweilers are when people just look at them they are scared. They have that look and stare that makes people nervous. And they are very loyal dogs. If you get one as a puppy he would get along well with all of your dogs. Ours don't even bother our cat.
At my home in Fort Myers there are some less than desirable people that walk by my house and when they see my dogs sitting in the driveway they cross the street, My one dog does not bark at them, just stares with that look. I have heard people say "Oh s**t those are Rottweilers"
And like my wife says "they are so cute"

[bluemoon576]

I can imagine thebigr their desperation on seeing the stare of your dogs! I thought about Rottie, but I am afraid of them myself!!! LOL . I don't know how I could ever be mad at me if I had too! Anyway, it is a possibility... a rottie. The good thing is that these dogs don't bark, they watch you. I want a dog like that. My dogs are too barky barky and no bite, and they are small, they don't impose fear on anyone.

[bluemoon576]

mad at him, I meant... sorry

[Mike Peterson]

Most properties have utility easements and they have the right to enter the property to to work on the lines.
Yes, they should have been more professional but they do have the right of access.
Had you shot them it is very possible you would now be in jail.