This was on my windshield

[bigbigpig]

A couple of weeks ago my truck, like it often is, was parked overnight in my driveway. Not on or even near the street. It was up my driveway by my house. I go out the next day and find this on my windshield. I was immediately creeped out that the police were standing in my driveway at 3:30 AM. As far as I know of the law the police can look around my property and house if 1) I invite them; or 2) they have a warrant. Am I wrong? Anyway, I saw more notes on more vehicles. Probably the worst is that a lady visiting my neighbor left her door unlocked and they left a note inside her car and locked her doors! What is going on here?

[Selectedmarksman]

Have you contacted the Police Department to verify that it was them doing this? It sounds like a good way for criminals to case a neighborhood and see who is or isn't home (if you're not home, you won't take the note off the car). Then, when they hit a place if the neighbors hear anything they'll just assume it's another official Police 'security check'. If it was the police, it might be worth mentioning this. Might be worth asking your neighbors to check up on it too. If they get enough concerned phone calls they may stop violating your rights in the name of your safety.

[bigbigpig]

I feel certain that this probably was the police. I'm going to call them anyway though. Here's another local police story for you... the first weekend when I was moving into this house I walked outside and found the police standing in my garage. He said he was running my plate to see who had moved in. Then he told me that my plate number came up as invalid in his computer and accused me of having an unregistered plate. After a few minutes of arguing we discovered he had mixed up the last 2 letters and ran the wrong number. See if you can identify the abuse of power/resources by the police.

[2manygunz]

Dude. You gotta move. These stories are out of a bad 1984 sequel...

[Hush]

It may all be innocent and then again not.
I lived in an area where the local police went around to local businesses and recorded who to notify in case of a break-in and every once in a while I'd find a business card stuck in the door that they stopped by at such and such a time and checked the building, I guess it got to take to much time because it only lasted a few months with about 3 or 4 cards total.
Its public relations to show you they are doing their job, everyone can go to sleep peacefully knowing their PD is on the job.
I guess this will usually happen close to a local election for Sheriff.

[bigbigpig]

This is a really small town. Although the total gulf coast/florida panhandle area is rather large the town I live in has about 700 residents. Nonetheless I am still concerned about the police roaming around my house at 3:30 AM. I could also see this as a big liability for them. What if someone reports items stolen from a vehicle. If the police are known to snoop around your property and open your unlocked car then they could be found liable.

[Hush]

Or what if they get hurt while on your property, stumble and fall on the tines of a rake, who's responsible?
I'd contact a lawyer to see what you're liability is, putting up no trespassing signs to cover your butt might help.

[coloradok9]

Law Enforcment officials have the inherent right to enter a privatley owned premise if; they believe a crime is being commited; and to question such witnesses of a committed offense.

Shed some light on the subject as to what the note said. Was the intent of being on your property malicious?

[brianb]

Walkways to the door (and driveways that are unimpeded) are generally considered to open to the public. That includes cops. There's no trespass issue here.

It's more likely this is a PR approach by the local police. By placing these notes, they're letting the public know that they're out keeping an eye on things. It's commonplace for police to place notices on businesses like this when they respond to suspicious circumstances after business hours or even doing routine security checks. It sounds like these guys are taking it a step further by placing the notes on property of private citizens.

[doubloon]

In Texas if it is not posted, fenced or no notice is given then it is not criminal trespass ... essentially open to the public.

[Tyris]

Dude. You gotta move. These stories are out of a bad 1984 sequel...

Move to where? everyplace in this country is going to s--t.

-T

[ick]

I wonder if someone took off on foot from a scene... like a mugging, stick-up.... or found an abandoned or stolen car. Perhaps the police were "looking" for the perp in the general vacinity figuring he would jump in an unlocked car or whatever.

At any rate, I would call and get the story from the police.

[doubloon]

Dude. You gotta move. These stories are out of a bad 1984 sequel...

Move to where? everyplace in this country is going to s--t.

-T

Obviously Denver is the place to be

viewtopic.php?f=126&t=61647

[2manygunz]

Dude. You gotta move. These stories are out of a bad 1984 sequel...

Move to where? everyplace in this country is going to s--t.

-T

An "underground command post" obviously!

No seriously, if I came home, or walked out of the house and found cops -- or anyone -- in my garage, I would not be happy. I respect my local LEOs and the ones I've met are solid citizens, but I would not want them in my garage "just making sure everything was OK"!

[doubloon]

...
No seriously, if I came home, or walked out of the house and found cops -- or anyone -- in my garage, I would not be happy. I respect my local LEOs and the ones I've met are solid citizens, but I would not want them in my garage "just making sure everything was OK"!

Dude!

Find a paper bag and breathe deep ... calm yourself ...

driveway ... not garage

[2manygunz]

Driveway was post #1. Garage was from post #3:

the first weekend when I was moving into this house I walked outside and found the police standing in my garage. He said he was running my plate to see who had moved in.

I stand by my original point.

[doubloon]

... missed that one ... skimmed it

in that case I'd have to agree, door open or not it is not an invitation to enter

[2manygunz]

... missed that one ... skimmed it

Figured. No worries.

[Twinsen]

Creepy as hell. Guessing they're doing it just to get reactions from people and see who are friends and enemies of big G.

Either that, or some war on terror privilege they recently got allows them to go a step further in the war on drugs and just walk around searching things.

Judge Dredd ETA 2015.

[ArevaloSOCOM]

This is a "cop bashing" thread.

Please make it disappear.

[Twinsen]

This dude's an ATF mole, ignore his BS.

[ArevaloSOCOM]

LOL.

You know our mail carriers look at our mail and are like...............WTF!

My ass almost sent that book to CT. I was literally packing it as i was unpacking your and noticed the paper inside.

[Twinsen]

Good thing you caught it. I really needed that shotgun news safety sear. I had run out of them around the apartment. Now my rubber band gun is fully autojomatic. *batwang*