In recent years Lake Co. property holders of all types have experienced increased theft, trespass, hostile use, vandalism, and threats of violence. In the last 10 years I have endured repeated theft of water and timber, dirt-bikers tearing up fields, rampant poaching, and trespassers firing guns in my direction. My water-well has been vandalized twice. My fences are cut frequently allowing livestock to roam the highway. Large piles of tires, rubbish and hazardous waste have been dumped. One of my neighbor moved a property line fence 25 feet into my lot and when I questioned him, he pulled a pistol on me. I”ve been called the N word. My wall was tagged with “KKK.”
I”ve been frustrated in my attempts to obtain help from Lake County Law enforcement. The officer told me that many of these “real estate property crimes” are considered a civil matter requiring the land owner to obtain redress by costly lawyers and survey services (Cha-ching!). I was told I had to hire a survey to prove that the transgressor is on my property. Law enforcement told me that they do not take incident reports of “civil” matters, (required by most insurance cos.). In our last confrontation with timber poachers, law enforcement refused to get the poachers” info and said that my wife had to directly get the contact information from the poachers. Not the retirement life-style we were looking for.
In short, how can “The Lake County Tax Paying Property Owners” live a quiet life without being in constant fear of losing all they have worked for from criminal activity. The lack of our ability to efficiently adjudicate these types of violations has resulted in escalating property crimes of all types. We have to both enable law enforcement to act effectively and also hold their feet to the fire so that they do. Please share your own stories and ideas on how to address this difficult problem.
Scott Miller, Kelseyville
