I have had a life long experience with trespassers, grew up here and still here. Saw my Dad fight it the whole time he was in charge. We put up signs, they tear 'em down. My Dad would call the police in to take them away... But, no signs up, they said they had no idea. Dad wouldn't prosecute, he was to nice. There are some real good stories to tell on this history. Don't hurt to have a reputation that your a bit off kilter
It was fun listening to stories being told by kids in school, not knowing who I was.
My turn to deal with it now. Put up signs, down they come. I called the cops every time they came down. Make a report. They said this needed to go on for a while to have a "track record". Keep receipts to prove its being done. Finally the sheriff said enough, we believe you. Up went a few fences, they cut 'em down. More reports every time. Then I finally caught one, and yes I prosecuted. By this time, I had developed a pretty good relationship with the sheriff, not the patrols. He said I needed to prosecute, (the patrol felt sorry for the trespasser
, afterall he didn't fully grasp how long and how bad the problem was). If I didn't, the dept would start to get tired of doing their job and yet I wouldn't come thru for them to see it to the end. I prosecuted. The word must have spread like wildfire that I was serious, hardly any troubles. Now I make it a point to go around and recheck the signs, and yes they stay up. But if something happens, I know the signs are there to back me up.
My point is to be diligent. Definitely be afraid of retaliation. I would be more so in your case because of absentee owner. We have to decide all that stuff individually. You need to decide whether or not you want to be liked by the area residents. I want to be liked by those who believe in doing the right thing. I'm also proud that I carry on the tradition of being a bit "off", or so it appears,...or am I.
