Our 'crazy neighbor' is rumored to have set "lethal boobytraps" in his yard/property to deter burglars. How?

Question

How would be the most appropriate way for the neighborhood to handle such a matter? Who do we contact? Do we have any legal rights to have the weapons removed?

If this man has rigged weapons with projectiles that, if set off, would exceed his property lines...it could be dangerous for us while standing on our own property.

This man has a history of assault, and often lives outside of reality.

What is the legal responsibility of those who know of this and do not act on it?

Additional details: this neighbor is 60's-70's in age. Falsely believes that others are conspiring against him, of government conspiricies specific to him, of a specific "spy plane" circling listening in on "his phone calls", etc. Lives behind a locked gate with his dogs, claims to be taking prescription pain meds (internet research has shown this drug can cause a person to be outside of reality, etc.)
This man has assaulted one or more neighbors, unprovoked and without warning. His reasoning does not follow common logic....etc.....etc............"crazy neighbor".

Additional details: this neighbor is 60's-70's in age. Falsely believes that others are conspiring against him, of government conspiricies specific to him, of a specific "spy plane" circling listening in on "his phone calls", etc. Lives behind a locked gate with his dogs, claims to be taking prescription pain meds (internet research has shown this drug can cause a person to be outside of reality, etc.)
This man has assaulted one or more neighbors, unprovoked and without warning. His reasoning does not follow common logic....etc.....etc.."crazy neighbor".

Voo Doo images have recently been painted on this man's buildings, indicating specific neighbors -- can be seen from over his fence.

Answer 1

You would be best served to contact your local law enforcement agency. The keyword being "rumored" may slow the process of investigating. It is illegal to protect your property in this manner. Been a few years since a man set up a shotgun in a shed that had been broken into many times. The burgler had his legs blown off and was awarded damages from the owner.

Answer 2

It's probably just a rumor that he himself started, but get the cops to check it out anyway. Take pictures of his contraptions, if any are visible. If some paranoiac wants to barricade himself from society, that's his business. But setting boobytraps for intruders is considered illegal because you are not allowed to deliberately injure people solely for the sake of protecting property. Children are notorious for not respecting property lines and climbing over people's fences, and emergency workers could also get hurt in case they need access to his home. Not to mention, such crazy homeowners in the past have been known to accidentally get caught and killed in their own boobytraps when they weren't paying attention. Somebody needs to inform the guy that it's more practical to get a couple of good dogs if he wants to ward off burglars legally (unlike mechanical booby traps, dogs give plenty of warning first and thus have an even better deterrent effect anyway).

Answer 3

RUMORS, you say? You NEED proof. If this person is indeed "crazy", then perhaps they made the whole thing up to keep people like you away from them & their yards. STAY OUT& STAY ALIVE would be a good rule to follow with this neighbor. Legally, you could be seen as harrassing him. Sounds like he just wants to be left ALONE so that he doesn't have to assault someone else. You can't control your neighbors & a RUMOR isn't enough to have him or his yard searched. A "lethal boobytrap" could be peanut butter on top of his fence if a person was allergic to peanuts, if you get my drift. If you are worried, then throw a cat in his yard & see if it sets anything off that you should worry about. It's a simple & effective test that soldiers used to use in the war to set off land mines. My Dad told me stories about it.

Answer 4

I would call the cops. Devices like set shotguns and bear traps are illegal. Your neighbor's probably bluffing because one normally keeps their mouth shut about such things.

Years back the father of a friend of mine was sick and tired of having one of his out building broken into. He placed a good old fashion bear trap under the window where the perpetrators entered.

The trap ended up smashing the foot of a local youth. He ended up loosing part of it to gangrene. My friend's father while narrowly avoiding prison time ended up being sued for nearly 200 thousand dollars.

What goes down as cool in the movies don't fly too good in real life.

Answer 5

Key word is "Rumor". Their are also rumors that Elvis is still alive. Unless you can provide the law with proof or at least enough reasonable cause to compel the police to apply for a warrant, it is not against the law to be unpleasant, anti social or odd.

Answer 6

Contact the police, they are responsible for the safety of citizens. I'm sure some of the stuff he has rigged up is illegal. Call the police about this matter or the town manager.

Answer 7

It would mostly depend on the laws of your state. However, bobby traps are pretty much illegal in any state (as far as I know). I would contact the local police and inform them of the booby traps. They may be able to arrest him for a the crime and they may even be able to take those traps into evidence for the court trial (if charges are pressed).

That would be the only way i would suggest you handle it.

Answer 8

Why do people always think they can force their own beliefs upon others? When we get fed up with police inactivity, increased activity by prowlers, and thieves we are allowed to protect our own. I can tell you there's no way that you can expect to control others just because you don't agree.BTW, Reality is for people who can't handle drugs!!!!!

Answer 9

First, stay off his property. You could try calling the police. I don't know if they will do much about rumors though.

Answer 10

First Stay away from his property. LOL

Leave the guy alone, I am sure you do things that some people do not agree with.