Harassment via laser beam? WWYD?

NicoleSahara

Hey guys, happy Friday! So a few weeks ago I noticed this weird green light in my house (sliding glass door doesn't have blinds or anything, so I figured it was coming from that side of the house). I was home alone, and it freaked me out a little, but I was mostly just confused. The light looked too soft to be a laser beam, and it didn't last very long, so I wasn't really sure.

Fast forward to last night, H starts yelling to me that the green light is back. We quickly figure out it's from a neighbor's house quite a ways away. (Because they kept shining it in our house for about a half hour, it was easy to find the source of the light). It was softer because they were reflecting it off our stainless steel BBQ into the house. And then also pointing it at the various windows (even with blinds the laser would still shine through).

This wasn't scary, and I was relieved to know where the strange green light came from in the first place, but it was really annoying, especially because they just wouldn't stop. We don't know the people's names or we would have called last night. I'm pretty sure they have teenage kids and that was who was doing it. Would you just stop by the house and mention it to them? Or something else?

Wiscisbliss

I would call, but not be accusatory.  Maybe they have some new laser tag game thingy or something else innocent and they aren't really out of line.  Just mention you've noticed a green laser-like light coming in through your window and it seems to be coming from their house... maybe not mention much more.

EDIT - And I would invest in some curtains or blinds. 

Loopyseven

If you're comfortable stopping by I think you'd be fine with that.  We had an issue with our backyard neighbor's dog coming into our yard when we first moved in.  We sent them a letter (H's mom had "issues" with them so we weren't sure if we wanted to "confront" them about it), and a few days later they came by and apologized and were super nice about it and no more issues.  We now think that MIL exaggerated the "issues" or made a pest out of herself about something to cause the issues in the first place cause they seemed fine to us.

mbody

I would stop by and casually mention it to the parents. Just say that you've noticed it a few times and you believe it to be coming from their house. Maybe it is the teenagers and they don't know. Hopefully if it is, it's from a game and not them being hooligans. I don't see how shining a beam into someone's house for an extended period of time would be entertaining to them.

Also, get some good blinds that block light.

Wiscisbliss

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_harassment-via-laser-beam-wwyd?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:18bfde93-57f9-47a2-bff8-3c573ca9fbc1Post:82a41d25-0cba-4a26-8156-ec433d568d89">Re: Harassment via laser beam? WWYD?</a>:
[QUOTE]You guys are much more level headed than I am.  I automatically went to them being up to no good.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

There's a chance of that.  But I think the response might be more positive if she doesn't accuse them of being up to no good.  If it is the kids messing around and the parents aren't crap-heads, they'll make sure it stops. 

NicoleSahara

Duds, I also assumed they were up to no good. The sliding glass door doesn't face their house, so they can't actually see into the house, but I do need to get some blinds on that thing regardless, because it's creepy without them - someone could easily see into the house, from that side. And mbody, I also don't see how it would be entertaining for that long.

aleighk1

They sold these red and green laser pointers at the beach and people were shining them off the balcony onto people walking on the beach at night and our hotel had to put up a sign saying the lasers were banned from our hotel.

It could be one of those and some kids just messing around?

Ciardasully

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_harassment-via-laser-beam-wwyd?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:18bfde93-57f9-47a2-bff8-3c573ca9fbc1Post:1fd1b2c6-18d2-443e-8da1-b102ee9439ad">Re: Harassment via laser beam? WWYD?</a>:
[QUOTE]Duds, I also assumed they were up to no good. The sliding glass door doesn't face their house, so they can't actually see into the house, but I do need to get some blinds on that thing regardless, because it's creepy without them - someone could easily see into the house, from that side. And mbody, I also don't see how it would be entertaining for that long.
Posted by NicoleSahara[/QUOTE]

I can see why it's creepy and I am one of those people that would think they were up to no good.  I am bad with confrontation (which makesmy current situation of city living in townhouses hard for me.)Like PP's have said, I would make sure to get some thick window treatments to block out the laser beams.

elisapralle

I would stop by the house, or possibly do a reverse look up with their address to get a phone number, and say something to the parents.  Teenagers can be odd creatures, it's hard to say what's amusing for them.  I would be worried that if you didn't approach the parents the kids may take it to another level and do more annoying things.
I had an issue like this with a teenager coming in my yard and throwing rocks at our neighbors house, it was uncomfortable but I approached her parents and they remedied the situation... Hope your issue resolves quickly and without any further issues!