<p>I agree with waiting it out for a few days, unless it escalates. While you are waiting, documentation is a good thing–when the noise started/stopped, what happened each day. Not long essays to make you more upset, but a short note so that if it continues you can tell the authorities exactly what has been going on. This really helped a friend of ours when her crazy neighbors got more crazy. I tend to think they will get tired of their actions, but just in case!</p>
<p>commasplice, no, I think it was good that you tried to bring a peace offering, and I think continuing to take the high road will serve you in the long run.</p>
<p>It’s a shame you have to document or video everything, but that sounds right. If you can afford it, a good home security system might be in order. With people like this you just never know. And the fence. All of those things might be cheaper than moving.</p>
<p>And you should continue to smile, say hello and just be your nice self to the wife and kids. Sounds like the husband is leading this petty battle. With time, and enough “social pressure” she might come around.</p>
<p>What type of “variance” did they want to get anyway? Expand their driveway right under your bedroom windows? Sheesh, some people.</p>
<p>Simple plan of action:</p>
<p>If the neighbor’s car alarm goes off again at night, call 911 immediately. All 911 calls are recorded by the police department. Tell the dispatcher that you think someone is breaking into your neighbor’s car. Hold your phone out the window so the dispatcher can hear the car alarm going off. With the call recorded with a date and time stamp, there will be no question about your “concern” for your neighbor. With luck, a squad car will arrive while the alarm is still sounding and the police will, in any event, knock on your neighbor’s door telling them that they received a call about a possible break in of their vehicle parked in their drive way. </p>
<p>Benefits: </p>
<p>No need to record anything. The 911 tape will be the evidence.
You are the “concerned” (and not aggrieved) neighbor.
If the neighbor has any sense at all, they won’t try this stunt again. A possible second visit by the police may prompt them to write the neighbor up for a noise violation which will be voided if said neighbor shows proof that his car alarm has been inspected and “fixed” (like having a tail light out). </p>
<p>Since your neighbors will never love you: “War is Hell” so “Unleash the Dogs of War”…</p>
<p>As someone who has been through something similar I do not advocate trying to involve other neighbors. We had a neighbor with noisy dogs. A nuisance but we were rarely home. Another neighbor got fed up, started taping the dogs and calling the owner at 3am playing a tape of her dogs barking over the phone. Dog owner got an unlisted phone and started using various techniques to get dogs not to bark. Other neighbor put notices in everyone’s mailbox asking the to call animal control and the police. Wanted them to take sides. That will only escalate the matter.
Sit tight and see if it cools down (hopefully). If not get the police to go talk to them. That should do the trick without escalating the whole thing into a neighborhood wide war.</p>
<p>^^Agree. Most people will do just enough that they think they can get away with; when police show up (and it is unfortunate if you have to involve the police), they realize that they can’t get away with everything after all. They will know that with police involvement comes documentation that could be used for any further complaints. Good Luck and try to be patient without being threatened and know that the police are available for assistance.</p>
<p>Start writing down the incidents and note whether you called 911 or the community officer. In our town, residents were allowed a much higher, impermeable fence than the one typically allowed because they could prove harassment by racist neighbors.</p>