Neighbour has set up a camera

[Sideways]

I have a creepy old man living downstairs, pedophile (did 6 years) who has a habit of coming out of his apartment when I'm coming and going. Just to watch.

I recently put up a large external blind which now means that he can't see into my apartment. Which completely changed things for me - I instantly felt a lot safer in my home knowing he couldn't see in. Of course, he ranted and raved about how it was "illegal" (it's not) at the time.

He has now set up a dash cam in his car which is recording everyone (me included) when we come and go from the stairwell.

I asked him about it because, well, it seemed creepy. He says it's because one of our neighbours called the cops on him over him allegedly hassleing her when she was exiting the building one day. He says it's just there to protect him if she tries to complain about him again.

Only, she's moved out. The camera is still there. Still recording 24/7.

I'm not sure whether to make an issue of it. I feel sick coming and going from my apartment now that I know he's filming me. But surely it's not like he's actually watching the footage...right? So, should I care? Am i being ridiculous thinking this is a bit of an invasion of privacy, given he's just filming a communal stairwell? There's actually nothing about it to suggest he's filming me specifically, and he denies that it's to film me personally, so I feel like it would be a bit precious to kick up a stink with the landlord. I don't want the landlord to think I'm a "problem tenant", because they find ways to get rid of problem tenants...

Suggestions? Please!!

 

[Deleted member 541]

@Ragdoll Circus Here in the states it's illegal to film someone without their consent. I would google the laws in your country, or call the police and ask. It's more than creepy, it's invading and he's a f*cking freak!!!!

 

[Scarlet13]

Yes, I would complain. Isn't that illegal to just record every one all the time with out consent?

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Hire a thug to tune him up real good. Lol just kidding. But god mfers like that should never be allowed out they don't change. 6 years shoulda been killed in there. It's unfortunate that he's out. You should tell the land lord that you don't feel comfortable having a flippin pedophile creeping around recording stuff around the place. Do you talk with the neighbors if you can get numbers over him I don't see why they wouldn't tell him to move out.

 

[Sideways]

The law here is in his favour I think. It's not illegal to have a camera filming from your own property, even if it catches public space, and dash cams definitely aren't illegal. Legally I think I'd have to establish that it was anti-social behaviour, which has a pretty high threshold if you're trying to evict someone. He skirts right on the boundary of what's acceptable with a lot of his habits, and so far I think he's only had one complaint (threatened to stab the gardener) and it's 3 strikes to get him out.

It's good to hear that it's definitely creepy, because I'm never wuite sure if I'm just being paranoid with this guy. We used to have tenants that would stand up to him, but they've all moved on. And he somehow manages to be incredibly intimidating, even though he can only just walk (emphysema... I usually refer to him as "Not Dead Yet").

 

[Sideways]

In all honesty- he goes by a different name these days, and there is a really insidious part of me that wants to print up a flyer about who he is and what he did and drop it in the neighbours' mailboxes.

That would probably just be a really destructive thing to do. But there's definitely a corner in my mind where I wish people knew who they were living with...

Projection is a bit of a bastard!! Not helpful, Ragdoll!!

 

[Friday]

For a couple years my ex had PIs filming me, so that he wouldn't be in breech of his restraining orders, orders of protection, & no contact order. One of those things there's really nothing to be done.

((I live in a 'consent state' which means that you cannot USE images of people without their consent, not that you can't take them... although people often short speak it the other way around // ie can't film people without their consent. We actually have some of the toughest laws in the country around this, you can film your own rape and attempted murder, but it can't be used in court, unless your rapists consents. Yeah. It's ridiculous.))

So I amused myself. In various ways.

Most surefire way I know of to quit giving a damn is to be able to laugh about it. Now, I had the benefit of people to f*ck with (leading em around by the nose was an endless source of entertainment), but I can think of a few things to do with a stationary camera that could be fun :sneaky:

In all honesty- he goes by a different name these days, and there is a really insidious part of me that wants to print up a flyer about who he is and what he did and drop it in the neighbours' mailboxes

I think posting a "duh" sign in front of the camera / walkway might could qualify as fun. :sneaky: Especially if you could stake it in the ground wih a few mates in hazmat suits. Both avoids him knowing who did it, and has a few nice secondary & tertiary messages attached.

"PEDOPHILES FILMING THEIR NEIGHBORS IS CREEPY."

 

[Sideways]

@Friday - reinforces something which I was already aware of, which is hat you have far (faaaar) bigger gonads than I do!!!

 

[Chitoshi]

I've never had someone try to videotape me. But after multiple events of door-to-door solicitors being too forward (one put their foot in the doorjamb when I went to close the door) I've begun documenting and reporting everything I feel with my gut I need to. I eventually solved the solicitor problem with a big red "No Soliciting" sign on my door, but obviously that wouldn't help this!

I don't think you're being a "problem tenant" by complaining about his videotaping.

 

[EveHarrington]

Do you have a national registry of sex offenders? It would not be wrong to tell your neighbors to look up people in their neighborhood!

 

[Sideways]

Do you have a national registry of sex offenders?

Not one that's publicly available and official that I'm aware of. Court judgments are available online if you know what you're looking for, but because he pleaded guilty (so, yeah, 6 years was the reduced sentence) there was no judgment. If it had gone to trial, it would be much more publicly available.

He made the mistake of asking me to clear his mailbox one day, and he had mail from the health department with his full name, and I got savvy on the internet. But without his correct name, it's impossible for people to find. Until recently the cops still came by every Sunday and did a parole check, but they were always pretty discreet about it and now that's stopped, even neighbours paying attention will have no reason to assume anything.

 

[scout86]

So, maybe he's not on parole any more. Are there any kids in your building? No matter who he's actually filming, it might attract the attention of the powers that be if someone mentioned he might be filming kids.