Predator Defense

BryanK · 04-05-2009, 12:46

I need some advice please, on a predator(not the animal variety) defense issue that arose in my neck of the woods last night. My girlfriends Aunt lives next door to us, and last night we get a call from her after a police cruiser left her home. She tells us that her 12 year old daughter has received gifts from her male teacher such as large Godiva chocolate arrangements and flowers. The first time this happened she went to the school's principal, then the teacher to ask that he never gives her anything else like that again. Problem solved right? No. There was no reprimand from the school. At the end of last week before spring break he gave all his students candy for Easter, but my girlfriends niece received a large and expensive Godiva chocolate arrangement. Way more than the rest of the students. She cannot go to the school for the next week because school is out, so she calls the police. They arrive and tell her there is nothing they can do in a nutshell. I tell her that if her dogs(Labs) start to bark, give us a call and I will be right over. This neighborhood is not well lit at all either, so I told her to turn on all of the lights, and let the dogs roam the house also. She is so frightened she didn't sleep all last night. My line of thinking is if this guy is a predator, he has staked out the area, found vantage points to view the house from, and knows relatively when people are where at whatever time of the day. I did a bit of recon of the neighborhood last night to check for strange vehicles and such, but found nothing. There is several dark places for someone to approach from, and a good bit of woods. The police response times aren't too bad here, but when seconds count, the police are just minutes away (no offense to any Officers). She has three children in the home. 2 daughters 14 and 12, and one son 8. My question is, how would any of you deal with something like this should you get a call from your neighbor asking you to help because someone is in, or attempting to get in your home? I opt for a flashlight and a shotgun, but I realize this may not be the best avenue of approach being I am a MD resident.

Paslode · 04-05-2009, 13:25

I believe if you were to obtain a restraining order the Police would have grounds to do something. The reason I say that is because my mother had verbally requested a cousin not to come around her house. Shortly after my mothers request I saw him at her home one day and went up the street to the Police Station.

The first question they asked me was 'Does she have a Restraining Order against him'. She did not, and the Police stated all they could 'legally' do under such circumstances is stop by and see what he is doing.

But as with all things of this nature, it is best to consult legal counsel.

CoLawman · 04-05-2009, 15:06

It is understandable why your neighbor is unable to sleep at night!

You took a questionable threat and turned it into this horrendous monster lurking in the dark waiting for the perfect opportunity to snatch her poor child.

I have not seen that type of imagination since Alfred Hitchcock turned birds into serious threats to anyone stepping outside their front door.

BryanK · 04-05-2009, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoLawman

It is understandable why your neighbor is unable to sleep at night!

You took a questionable threat and turned it into this horrendous monster lurking in the dark waiting for the perfect opportunity to snatch her poor child.

I have not seen that type of imagination since Alfred Hitchcock turned birds into serious threats to anyone stepping outside their front door.

Negative. May want to re-read the post. The other observations I kept to myself. She was already near hysterical and she
was the one who asked what is the best way to make sure her family was as safe as they could be. I let her know it was probably nothing. All I told her was to turn on the lights, don't lock up the dogs, and give us a call if the dogs went nuts.

koz · 04-05-2009, 16:55

-Tell her to install motion lights -

-Suggest she buy a shotgun - or at least some sort of non-lethal device.. This may be a great time to educate someone on the reasons to embrace their 2nd Amendment right...

-Tell her to contact an attorney - have him/her file appropriate paperwork. The police may feel this is a "civil" matter, but if they have a court document to back their actions, they may be more likely to act.

**Pete** · 04-05-2009, 17:04

You can get the guy's full name and where he works.

Is it worth it to hire a PI to run a check and tail him for a couple of nights?

Might be interesting to see what he does during the off hours.