I need an advice-- neighborhood kids trashing my condo complex

[sushilover]

What is the name of your state? California
Hi, I don't know where to post this, please let me know if I need to post this under another category.

I live in a small condo complex (6 units) each unit being owned individually. My neighbor has three children, aged between 7-15. The kids hang out with neighborhood kids and they all hang out in and out of the complex. I don't have any problems with them playing outside, but recently they have been behaving badly, vandalizing the complex by doing grafittis, jamming the front and the back gates (so that their friends can walk in without keys), throwing trash, banging the garage door with their bikes, and so on. The front gate was damaged twice already this month I had to contact the welder to fix it. HOA covered the cost, but this is clearly a violation of CCNR, the HOA rules.

Also, the kids (there are approx. 10 of them I would say, the ones I see regularly) have been damaging the trees on the street, right outside of our complex. I have called the local police a couple of times and they came by and "had a talk" with these kids but right after the police officers left they started climbing and damaging the trees again.

Is there anything that can be done to fix this legally? I would like to talk to the kids' parents but my neighbor's never at home and he kids are home alone most of the time. Also, is it legal to take pictures of these kids vandalizing the place, i.e. trashing or breaking the front gate, for an "evidence"? Or taking such pictures considered "invasion of privacy"?

I can use any help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ohiogal]

YOu can take pictures. They are in public and hence they have no right of privacy.

 

[fairisfair]

have you contacted the HOA and made a complaint???

 

[CdwJava]

Damaging trees is hard for the police to prosecute, but it would seem you have an HOA complaint if they are violating the CC&Rs.

If they deface property, call the police. The kids don't have the right to graffiti or deface other people's property.

And to reinforce the prior comment, yes, you can take pictures of them in public. if you can see them, you can generally photograph them.

- Carl

 

[sushilover]

Yes, I have

have you contacted the HOA and made a complaint???

Yes, I have talked to the HOA people several times. They were wondering why I had to call welders to fix the gate twice in one month. I've also suggested them to install a surveillance camera on the property near the front and back gates. I'm assuming since taking pictures is ok, putting a camera is ok as well??? If the HOA doesn't have enough money to put the surveillance camera, at least we can get a "dummy" camera just to send those kids a message that we won't tolerate vandalism.

Just a couple more questions.. If I were able to take pictures of those kids damaging the property, what actions should I take? Should I contact the police, or send them to HOA and let them take care of the case? Also, does anyone have the power to kick out my neighbor (the one whose kids are friends with these neighborhood kids) or at least send her a warning letter? HOA suggested owner's meeting, and I am thinking about bringing it up since myself and other owners are getting sick of this situation. I just need something "firm" in case my neighbor says she's not responsible.

Thanks all for your help. Much appreciated.

 

[CdwJava]

If you have evidence of vandalism you can call the police. You can also go to the HOA if you want.

You can generally place a camera on any property you lawfully own or control and it can video anyplace that you can lawfully see from that place (mount the camera in a place that you could stand or look out of ... mounting it atop a pole higher than an upstairs windon might be a problem).

- Carl

 

[SPR]

Good luck with this. We are dealing with the same exact problem. My neighbors have had to replace a small tree in their flower bed twice now and the current one is now almost dead too from kids ripping the branches off. They are terrorizing the place, destroying yards, flower beds etc. The worst thing is that my 'hood has no street lights, so it's pitch black at night and the kids run out in from of cars constantly. I am not talking about 5 year olds, but teenagers. When you hit the brakes to avoid hitting them, they act as if they intentionally did it.

We also live in a condo complex. The problem here is too many kids to know who is doing what. I am willing to bet that whoever vandilized all of the cars is living in the 'hood here too.