This is INSANE,where do these people come from????Update, Pg 5

[MagsC]

First, I want to say I dont expect any of you to solve this problem, I understand this is just a way for me to vent and get some emotional support. I know this is something I have to continue to monitor and work on with local law enforcement.
Casey, the first thing that would tip me off to an empty house would be immediately when I got up to the door on the porch. If Max and the small dogs werent barking, there is something very wrong. And this whole thing has given me a real heads up to proceed cautiously upon return.
phrogg, I dont know if carrying a gun would make me feel better or not. It is an option though.
Kewlhanded, yes, at this point it looks as though he might be living with someone. Though I dont know the complete situation, I do know there is something wrong with him.(duh, right?) I dont know if I could kill him UNLESS it was in defense of my child.
herefordlovinglady and rustyswoman, they already have a pretty good idea where he lives. If not, I would be doing what you suggested.
LynneP, thank you.

I am optimistic this is all going to be okay in the long run too.
jnetwk, I believe a lot of people have done that sort of thing,lol. Even with all of this going on, its just amazing to me,I dont get it. I was raised differently, to have respect for other peoples property.
Green Ridge Mo and kcsunshine, sorry, I should have been more specific. We HAVE called it in and talked face to face with an officer about our concerns. Our law enforcement is handled by another town of around 3,000 people a few miles away.

 

[thedoors5to1]

its def. good to get some opinions from people all over, it can help to get ideas.
get your daughter and yourself and family members mace (pepper spray) can be purchased pretty cheap at a gun store..
become familiar with your local state laws for assistance as to what you can get him on.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/pubs/
had a problem with a neighbor like this once, he'd go through our garbage like he was looking for something to pin on us, he'd also look in our guests cars with a flashlight and walk the street with a rake that he'd drag along the pavement when he walked with his bunches of cats he was like an old creepy cat man... moved out of there soon, as i was only renting.. but all in all he was an old man who was alone and bored in his house i guess. either way something was mentally wrong with him..
ETA: add a no tresspassing sign to the end of your walkway?

 

[LizFM]

Mags,
Do the police really understand HOW CLOSE this guy is coming to your house? And how many women who are alone are involved and see him as a problem? Or are they taking it as a "guy letting the dog crap in the yard" (ie-by the sidewalk) nuisance?

You might be a bit embarrassed or afraid of them thinking you are over-reacting, but do not be. Insist that they understand that you are feeling threatened by his behavior and his oddness. Work with the neighbors to call them every single time the guy does any of this weird behavior. Get all the neighbors to go together to speak to the police.

In my experience men in general (I'm assuming the cops are guys? If there is a female cop you might try to get them to send her to talk to the guy to get a feel for him) are completely oblivious to certain types of "weird vibe" or "creepiness" other men put off. It just does not show up on their radar.

Several years ago I belonged to an organization that had one guy who'd randomly show up, but was not a regular group member. He set off alarms for ALL the women in the group, but the men didn't see it...in fact when we talked about it casually, they thought we were just being unfair to a kind-of-odd, socially-clueless guy. Finally, the women got together and really compared notes, after which I went to the president of the group (a guy) with a list of behaviors he'd exhibited and a long list of women in the group (including teenaged girls) he'd done it to (mostly in the staring and personal space category, but there were a few more serious incidents). I explained to the president that I realized none of the men could see what a problem this guy was (the guy hid it well when the men were looking), but either he dealt with it or he'd deal with the police coming when the women did. He was horrified at what he'd missed. The guy was permanently dis-invited to all group activities.

I think cops are like that too. People like this don't mess with cops and don't behave like that when the cops are there (unless the problem is really severe). So it's important to stress to them you're not over-reacting.

 

[MagsC]

thdoors5to1, I think mace is legal here, I dont know because I havent checked it out yet? Thats definitely on my "list to get".
LizFM, I have really tried to stress the "its not just because of dog poop" issue and I THINK they get it? The ones that I have been most thankful for and have been the most pro-active have been the postmistress and the city clerk (both women), so I can see what you are saying? That said, I dont want to take away from the guys, because their intention IS to help.
It IS a little embarrassing. I definitely have a problem putting it into words how vulnerable it makes me feel to make the reports. I have most always been a shyer type person who minds her own business as much as possible. Maybe thats it.
I do it because its necessary and I want to protect my daughter first, myself second.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
I too was going to mention that old saying "Children and dogs are the best judges of character". If this guy is the creeper he seems to be, I don't think you have to worry about the dogs getting used to him, and I know enough about Chows that he isn't going to let any stranger get too close. Those are the plusses.

The other thing I thought of was that if you daughter has been approached by him, if she can remember what he looked like, see if the police have pictures of the sexual offenders you said are local. Check them out and see if there is a match. If there is, your nightmare could be over sooner than later.

You don't need to reply, Mags, you have enough going on to worry about courtesies.

 

[mendygnl]

If mace is not an option, I have read that wasp spray is a good defense because it will shoot 20 or so feet and you can aim it at their eyes. Just a thought.

 

[LizFM]

Minnesota Sex Offender Registry website:

http://www.doc.state.mn.us/level3/search.asp

Of course, it only lists level 3 sex offenders...if the guy was found guilty of a lower level offense, or not prosecuted or found guilty (yet), he's not on there...

 

[MagsC]

Max is actually a Chow/Shiba Inu cross but hes a big dog so most people think he is mixed with Akita. One of my nieces said "I wasnt so sure about you having Max, but now I am glad you DO!"

Wasp spray....hey, I think I have some of that or my father does!
I will have to take a look at the sex offender registry again. Like I think I mentioned, the last time I looked (I think it was this one?), there were SIX fairly close.

 

[possumqueen]

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, but there's a possible solution at scatmat.com

They sell a scarecrow contraption that hooks up to your water hose. It has a motion detector on it. If it detects motion within 35 feet or so, it sets off a water spray, just like a lawn watering spray, in a horizontal fan pattern that will hit anything within that 35 foot limit. It sprays for about 4 seconds, then it shuts off and resets itself for the next motion. Totally harmless -- it's just water -- completely unpredictable, and you don't have to be there. I've used it to keep deer out of my yard, to protect my chickens from raccoons, and I know a man who used it to teach his neighbor's dog to stop barking at the fence at him.

it costs about $75.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I haven't read this entire thread - I only got as far as ' your daughter thinks this is the guy who approached her' and couldn't help myself.

Get a tazer and the next time you catch him on your porch tazer the @#$%^ out of him and just tell the cops he caused you to fear for your life. Wasp spray is a great idea, along with oven cleaner or spray paint that doesn't readily come off right across his face and hair. Either mark him so he is identifiable by the police or cause him to go to the hospital where the police can scoop him up.
And you are, of course, in fear of your life should you decide to pursue any course.

I just started reading up from my post - mace in the eyes is a WONDERFUL idea! Can you get bear spray?