I live in an affluent small town near San Francisco. Our block has wondeful helpful friendly people/neighbors living here. Confirmed Real Estate Homes sales rang from $800,000 - 1,600,000. Good per centage of neighbors on block are college graduates I just retired one year ago as a RN Diabetes Care Manager. My husband died 2001. I am Causcasian and my husband was half Chinese and half Mexican. Racial representation on block is well represnted, except for African Americans. Diversity appears well tolerated and have not seen or aware of any prejudice.. My neighbors are a a blind elderly Chinese woman with questionable mental issues and her 48 yo adopted Chinese son with hx of multiple arrest for burglary, theft, etc and court convictions. He also appeared over years to have possible mental condition as a child, and over last few years to present appears mental status has deteriorated. . One year ago June they were evicted from their house by city, etc for hoarding. House was declared health hazzard. Since 1972 we have always been able to keep interactions neighborly, difinitive boundaries practiced and used. but aware of their issues. As an RN I had felt sorry for the woman and was till trying to help her until the eviction occurred , and then removed myself as knew they must then deal with agencies. What they could not do voluntarily, they would now be forced to do. House was declared worse hoarding house my small town had ever dealt with. It took 45+ grange dumpsters to just clean yard and house of garbage. House was totally gutted inside. 48 yo son kept coming around as he had five cars full of garbage here on block. With his mother out of picture he harrassed block and police over this past year. Has had multiple arrests over past year. Most recent one three weeks ago involved an arrest here on block regarding police call complaint for trespassing and garbage/recycling scavenging in private yard, but was arrested on outstanding bench warrant for not showing in court involving charges possession of known stolen property and petty theft. He is back out and I am not aware what has actually happened there. This man claims he is in recycling business He is a dumpster diver as well. I have found he has lied to me. Other neighbors say same. He eats any leftover food or drinks and takes any thrown out outdated food from puublic garbage. . Per code officer he has issues with actually departing with the garbage recycling he collects. So was just accumulating all kinds of garbage in house and outside. House was full of garbage from floor to ceiling with only aisles to navigate around house. Since son had totally filled his bedroom full, he was sleeping in one of the aisles. When walking in front of house I personally witnessed with my other neighbor at least 60 rats scrambling along outside of their fenced patio pool area. Cleaning crew was just starting to clean up patio area. Rats were in house as well per exterminator. I only spoke with him as neeed advice regarding rats in my backyard, confirmed by my dogs to be hiding . How do I know - my hunting dogs would lock on point where they were hiding. I would release them and they rushed in to flush and get. Since they could get secondary poison from these rats had to intervene and put in house. These issues were dealth with. Received advice. Exterminator confirmed - rat farm existed next door. Over 60 rat carcasses gotten at the end of seven days. Exterminator said lots more. Bait stations left up for 8+ weeks. City here handled all legal actions and was approved by judge. My verbal interactions with this neighbor suddenly now deteriorate. Son asked me to take his mother in when they were evicted and said no I could not. I explained this was issue I could not get involved in I was sorry my adult son would not let me. Son and mother of course were irrate I heard. Son tried every neighbor they knew also. No neighbor would take her in. An issue existed where she owed me money for the replacement of storm blown down fence dividing our property. Fence was put up beginnning of June. She had agreed to pay half and had agreed to contractor selected among the bids received. I wrote check to contractor. Took over to her and we looked at fence. Said she would pay me later. In past she had always paid. So I had hopes. Due to eviction, I just waited. Finally in January six months after fence put up I called her at motel she was staying at to discuss to see if arrangements of some type could be made. I was polite whole conversation, she was very verbally abusive. Accused me of writing notes and puting them on her sons car. Told her I had not done this, but had seen them. She said yes I had, as she had witness. Not sure who her source was, as I know I didn't. Also said I accused her of giving my dogs a virus. I said I never said anything about a virus. She yelled at me I was a iiar and to never call her again. I did not react to most claims except to say no this is not true. Told her I could really use that fence money she owed me since I was retired. Hoped we could make some type of arrangment. Then she made excuses why she didn't pay. Told her even small payment would be helpful. Then she yelled at me and asked if I was broke. Yelled at me and accused me of being a liar. Told me to never call her again. I did not call her again because I did not want to be acused of harrassment. Finally after no responses or attempts to contact me or make arrangements, I approached the son when he came by. told him to have his mother call me regarding payment ofr the fence. She never did. Kept doing this approaching and asking politely about every two weeks until last week of April with no response from his mother. Last time I approached her son he seemed to be quite proud as he stated he was a witness that I said she did not have to pay. I had tried to be nice neighbor so far and had not used California Law on cost responsibility of border fences between neighbors property. I had never said they did not have to pay. But realized they were attempting to not pay me. So I explained that him being a witness would have no bearing on California Law regarding this fence and sharing of the costs for replacement. Law is they owe me half of costs. This community has no exemptions. I was disappointed with them as I wanted to be nice, and it just seemed like they did not want to even discuss or pay me. Seemed like they wanted me to take them to court. I didn't want to do this. Told him I wanted to work something out as that was neighborly thing to do. Told him they had three days to respond to me. On second day I received a check in the mail for full amount and I went directly to her bank, got cash, and then deposited in my bank. I assume she did check with her attorney regarding this law. Well they are quite angry with me about this. Their appeared mental perception of fence issue was I was horrible, this is not way neighbors act, etc. Seems to go on and on. My past psychiatry education received over three monts to become a registered nurse and psychiatry training to become nationally certified Diabetes Care Manager helped me realize these were their irrational interpretations, defensive mechanisms, etc. I REALIZED I HAD BECOME AN ENEMY. SAD AS I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, THEY WERE ONES WHO REFUSED TO PAY THEIR HALF OF FENCE AS PROMISED AND AGREED TO. BUT I HAD SAID I WOULD NOT LET HER LIVE HERE OVER PAST YEAR. YOU MUST REALIZE THEY LIKE FREEBIES, LIKE TO PUSH NEIGHBORS TO HELP THEM , DRIVE HER AROUND, OR DO THINGS FOR THEM SO THEY DON'T PAY FOR THINGS, AND OF COURSE NEVER OFFER TO PAY FOR ANYTHING . Then the other neighbor directly acoss from me and them is an elderly female. The neighbor acroos street from me who is also an RN at Kaiser Terra Linda called 911 as her face was drooping one side. Symptoms had disappeared by time she arrived at ER. The RN accompanied her to ER per this woman's request. In ER this woman did not recognize this RN when she arrived despite living nest to her for 18 years. Since she worked there she pushed on mental staus aspect. All of us here on block had seen some symptoms of mental deterioration. Physicians and social worker all went into action. She could only be discharged with 24 hour caregiver care. The RN who called 911 called me once she got back from ER snce I was RN also. Informed me of the confirmed mental deterioration status. Told her I would do internet search and try to see if I could locate and contact son who lived in Washington. I did and called him. Since house evicted son was her only visitor and since he splept over many times did forewarn him of his Mom's and evicted son's relationship/friendship. Told him Gar had many arrests, convictions which he could check and verify himself. I did not want to interfere with any friendship, but felt he should be aware since his mother is elderly and mentally can not remeber things. She was discharged and arrived back with caregivers around seven that same evening. The RN who had called 911 and myself went over immediately. Her house too was a mess inside. Kitchen and refrigerator quite dirty. We both worked four hours that evening and her husband got fresh food. I worked 12 hours next day. While there head of care giver agency came by. Took picures,, and said since making progress she and caregivers could stay in house until son arrives from Washington. He left, but came back to get me. Said he had just spoken with a neighbor and wanted to know about this evicted house son who is friends with their client. So I had to be honest and tell him all that was going on. Yes the evicted house son was close riends with his client, was there about every two-three days, and had stayed over at her house many times over the past year. Because of his arrests and convictions, his hoarding illness and possible other co-existing mental illnesses, and his clients mental deterioration staus I saw red flages. Told him all could be verified. I hope all would be investigated to make sure no problems existed. I really hoped there was no problem. I did see a situation existed where she could have been taken advantage of just because she was elderly and had deteriorated memory issues. Son arrived from Washington two days later. He worked with and received advice from APS, social workers at hospital, and caregiver agency. Decision made she must leave her own house and live in an assisted living facility. Decison also made to take her up to Washington so she could be close to her son and his family. Night before they were to leave son told me he has had online banking acess to her accounts for awhile. $10,000 above her normal and customary living expenses were missing from her accounts over a four month period. Said there were ATM cash withdrawls every two -= three days of about $2-300 . They had checked all in house and could not justify for any of this missing money. Heard she never went much of anywhere. Said he had already told evicted house son to stay away from his mother and to stay off property twice. Also said he told evicted son knew he had taken the money. I was assigned to watch house, had keys, was to call police if the evicted house son went on property. Two days after they left the evicted house's son came and went on property, appeared he was trying to open windows. Police called. Police dispatcher wrote wrong information, they did stop him but let go, and no action taken. All appeared quiet for one month and house seemed secure. Her house was immediately sold in three days as total remodel. One other neighbor who had lost his job and was already helping, decided to bid on cleanup and got contract. House being cleared out, etc. Now evicted house recieved final remodel inspection by city so blind woman and her son could return. Last week this son and his blind elderly mother showed back up while I was talking on phone in living room by large window overlooking whole area. The neighbor who was cleaning the house out across the street was going through things. Garage door was open and noticed door to inside house open. Many things were lying on lawn. But could not see Dan anywhere. I go to watch because of all the problems. I saw with this womans son immediately look and get out of car and go over. Look around and then grabs a new comforter still in plastic zipper bag, looks right and left, sees no one, then runs across the street to his house, takes in, and then comes back without the comforter. I just had seen him steal. Before I could do anything I see both of them go over. Still no Dan. Because this is the blind woman's first time back decide not to call police right then. She was a neighbor, I go to see what they want. Seems was wrong decision. Could tell they were upset I showed up. Stated they were looking for furniture they had left with demeted lady and claimed all was marked with their names on them. Told them I didnot know anything about that. They would have to speak with the son now. They could write a letter as all mail was being forwarded. I said they could look over furniture in garage. The son found a wicker bed table and small woven basket and said items were theirs. No identification names attached. Since items had not sold at two garage sales I just let them have. No real value. But then this son just walked into the house through open door without asking me. Told him he must come back out. I am sorry he already knew David who had power of attorney had said he had been told twice he was not to be on property or in house, or to have contact with his mother. Those were my instructions. He came out immediately. The blind neighbor did not say anything, but I looked at her and could tell she was very angry at me. I escorted them off property. In center of street she started with her somewhat loud irrational accusations at me. All was same but more things now, and that she had stated in January. Said she was quite happy to hear I had to sit in jail for one week. Said I had made 20+ false police claims against them, was arrested and kept in jail for one week. I said no I wasn't keeping my voice even and low. Then she immediately got into virus issue. I said no virus existed, I was concerned because my dogs could have gotten secondary poisoning from rat poison and died. That is all. Told her yes I was upset because I was worried about the safety of my two hunting dogs. Before she could say anyhing else turned around. I quietly told her son he must go into his house and get comforter he took off the lawn. He did not have permission to take comforter he took off lawn. If he got permission then he could keep. But not now. He brought back out. Blind woman started yelliing at her son. I immediately excused myself saying I had something on stove and could be burning. I am sorry. And I left. I called Dan who was cleaning house out and told him quickly what had happened While I was on phone then saw this son go steal more things off lawn. Dan called 911. No officer came just paper trail created as items were going to be donated anyway. But this son did not know this. Next day this son comes again I saw as just happened to be in living room again. I waited until he left. Then immediately went to check house because of incident the day before. As I was coming out of house after making sure was secure, and approaching the driveway I run into this son. He must have paked on side street and sneaked back. He was attempting to take a new futon mattress off grange box. Told him sorry, no he could not have, after what he had done day before. I said nothing else to him. And immediately left. As I was walking away I could hear him calling me a :big liar, big fat liar," but I did not look or respond. Just went into my house. I called the police as he was back on property since grange box parked in driveway. Was petty, futon to be thrown out, and just more paper trail created. City police have assigned detective to demented woman's house and they have actual case file. QUESTIONS, FACTS, AND ADVICE PLEASE - (1)Since 1972 this blind lady has never yelled at me or my husband. Now after last week two incidents have now occurred where I have been on receiving end of irrational anger and verbal accusation abuse. She now feels it is perfectly acceptable for her to yell at me. Remember I quit helping her when eviction occurred one year ago. In past I could always deal with her pushiness and only consented on my own time table despite them wanting when they could do. Sometimes I said I just could not do. She never ever yelled at me. But I was driving her aorund, etc. Note son was never alllowed in my house. Didn't trust him (2)Last week when I heard her say I had been in jail for a week lots of "red lights" went off in me. Source of her untrue and irrational accusation could very well be her 48 yo son. I saw contractor who did the work on her house as he picked up his last tools, etc. He confirmed to me he had problems with what the son told her. Can not confirm this though. With purported claim I made 20+ false police claims, was arrested and spent week jail - she could not read anything herself s she is blind. And no record exists as I have never ever been arrested. This appeared to be "way off chart accusation" and quite irrational too. Most consider me nice, good, helpful, well repected neighbor. (3)MY DECISION - I decided I just must not speak with them at all unless I had someone with me. This past Sunday the son appraoched me as I was unloading a futon from my SUV. I had gotten from my daughters family. Asked if I wanted help. I just said "thanks, but no thanks. " Did not even look at him. I was polite. I could see out of my peripheral vision he got message I wanted no help and was not talking to him, They returned back to live in their house one day ago. Yesterday I was out watering demented woman's lawn and blind woman and her son came out. I said nothing. He came over to me, I was leaning over looking at hose, and tried to tell me boxes he was to have stolen were actually on other side along street. Now I really knew he understood what had happened. I did not look up nor did I respond or speak. Just kept doing what I was doing. He caught on right away. And he left. I was worried as I was alone. I immediately went back into the house. Saw him off talking to his mother out front from my window. (4)Is this approach good just to remove my self from any verbal interaction at all??? Just remain calm and go in house as soon s I can. I am not worried the blind woman can overpower me. But I do worry about the son who is almost six feet. So far he has not been violent.. But I have been communicating with the son's sister who lives in Texas. She is quite nice and has turned into a real nice lady with great husband. She tells me this blind woman/her mother was domineeering, verbally and physically abusive to all three of the children. Her and her sister would talk back and defend themselves and got slapped around alot. This son just avoided any confrontations and said nothing - the quiet avoider . But he was still physically abused but not as much as the two girls per the sister. This son has not been able to keep a job despite being a college graduate. His interpersonal relations with other people are not good. Many times his manner makes him appear to people like he is dumb. His personal hygeine appears bad. clothes are usually dirty, and most times has dirty greasy hair. I would sincerely appreciate any advice. This "Somerset Saga" as I call the situation is quite long, quite complicated, and intertwined with the demented elderly lady acroos street involving possible unproven grand theft of $10,000. Since they have crossed the line after living next to them for thirty years, and they verbally attacked me now really need advice help.
