I think my new neighbors are raiding my garden, what should I do?

Question

I live in a small subdivision where the yards are small. I have a privacy fence all around my yard except on one side where it is only about 3 feet wide of garden, the fence and then the neighbors driveway. My cucumber plants grow up the fence so some of the leaves and cucumbers are on the other side of the fence. My old neighbors were just happy that I would bring them fresh vegatables, as we do with a few of our neighbors. But now I think the new neighbors are helping themselves to not only our cucumbers but also to our tomatoes and green peppers by hopping the fence when I am at work. I can't see it being anybody else but since I am at work I can't say for fact. I do know for a fact that they are picking the cucumbers. What should I do? Are they entitled to help themselves since the plant is growing on the fence?

Answer 1

i would bring up the missing veggies to the new neighbors by saying ,have you guys seen any animals around my garden? cause i have veggies missing.or,did you see any one helping themselves to my garden,because all they have to do is ask and i would have given them some.

Answer 2

Yes, anything growing over the property line is considered removable by your neighbors; trees, plants, and in your case, even the cucumbers! But how rude of them to hop the fence and help themselves to your harvest! The lest expensive way to deter them is: Go to a store that sells a thin plastic netting used to cover plants to protect them from the birds (mostly used on strawberry patches and such) You can then use wood stakes, at least 5 foot high, and wrap your garden up, all four sides and the top. This way it will make it a little more work and take more time for them to help themselves. Next year, consider a 6ft cyclone fence on that side. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors--so the old saying goes. Good Luck.

Answer 3

If your cucumbers go over to there side of the fence then they should be able to pick them. The best thing to do is to get a dog and allow it to run freely on your lawn. That would keep your neighbors out. Put a little fence around your vegetables so the dog can't get to it. If that doesn't work, then set up a camera. If the camera catches them trespassing, then you have the right to report them to the authorities. I notice that you said your neighbors would pick your vegetables whenver your at work. Well, another way to catch them is to pretend your going to work. Maybe bring a friend over, and have them take your car away. Then you can hide in the house, and when your neighbors come over, you will catch them. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I found this a very good question. It seems most people want you to attack, poison or kill some one. When in actuality I would come home from work one day, go to my garden and pick some stuff and walk over to who you think is taking without asking. I would say I thought I would be kind enough to share what I have with you. I do work hard at my job and my garden it is only the friendly thing to do with NEW neighbors. I would try the old guilt trip on them. It may work. If not I do like the sprinkler thing for sure. Harmless and getting wet when not expecting it is not fun. Hope it all works out for you.

Answer 5

I think anything on their side of the fence is fair game for them to pick. Just like I am legally allowed to trim a brand on a neighbors tree than hangs over my yard. But, if they are jumping the fence to pick other things, they have crossed the line (pun intended). I guess they needed tomatoes to go with the cucumber salad.

Answer 6

There are several things you could do. One pick some of the things you are growing in excess and send them over as a gift. If they are stealing this may shame them at least. But a better solution is prune your things so they do not trail into other peoples yard. Then if they continue to steal let it go, consider it a form of charity. However discuss calmly with them what your feelings are on trespassing. I would not want anyone on my property when I was not around. They are not really entitled to the fruit, but let them have it. But Prune the plant .

Answer 7

They are not entitled to what you planted. You can pull the vines back to your side of the fence. It won't hurt them if you don't yank them too hard & break the vines. Even if you do some will still grow and you will have them instead of the neighbors.
Try to harvest your crop of veggies the night before or before you go to work so that there will be none left for the neighbors.

Answer 8

No, they're not entitled and they're definitely not entitled to hop the fence to help themselves to the rest either.

One thing I have done in the past is set up a trip wire connected to a horn like the ones they use for alarm systems. It will set you back about 20-25$, but you'll give whoever crosses that fence uninvited the scare of their lives!

Toodles

Answer 9

Call the police and have them clarify to you and the neighbors what is legal. If they weren't kind enough to care I would not worry about pissing off the neighbors, unfortunealty this won't be your first problem with them. sorry to say, so stand your ground from the get go. I am assuming you have talked to them first, but after that, they need to know what stealing is.

Stealing burglury, theft, trespassing, etc. NEighbors need to act like neighbors, respectful of others property number one.

A friend of mine built a 1600 gal koi pond by hand, she had a neighbor whose kids thought they could come in her yard and watch the fish in the pond. one day they tore off a deck railing,(nails and all) and killed them and the pond liner. She regrets not having called the police the first time they showed up the first time. but she didnt. When I heard what they did when she got back from out of town to complete destruction. I got the humane society involved, she did call the cops : they didn't care, did';t even go down to talk with the parents with another neighbor who witnessed the distruction (why they didn't call when it happend is beyond me)..


No one want to believe they have morons living next to them. but it seems neighbors if not respectful are dangerous if they don't know you'll stand up for yourself.

Answer 10

any fruits that grow on their side of the fence are theirs but if they are coming into your yard to get them then they are trespassing and stealing and can be prosecuted if you can catch them most likely will stop if warned by police but you'll need proof and some-one of this nature will likely be vindictive about such an affront might try confronting them if your sure they may be less likely to get mad if you just assert the fact that you know your property rights and are not afraid to stand your ground in the face of such an insult to your character maybe if you could set up a video camera and catch them on tape you could make a copy and give it to them should end your problems

Answer 11

Me and my famiily had a similar problem, only we had a bigger fense and they still got in!

What my dad chose to do was to put his old model video camera proped on top of a ledge (cant reach) kinda obvious to others who walked in the garden. No one took anything after that.

Otherwise, i suggest you confront your suspected neighbors in a non-accusing manner. You could just ask if they know why you're missing vegis, and when they obviously say 'no' tell them you installed cameras (whether you did or not) and you'll know who is doing it soon enough. If you got the right folks, i dont think it'll happen again.

I guess you'll have to just give that extra produce to trusting neighbors, friends and family.