I think we're being followed...

[DADGAD]

My family was in a major car accident last weekend. We notified the insurance company and hired a lawyer. As my brother in law leaves the house this afternoon, he comes back and says, "Hey There's that guy again!" He explained that this person has been following him around town.

I got out the telephoto digital camera and started taking shots of this guy, who is talking on a walkie-talkie. Got his license plate, too. He starts up his beat up van and takes off following my brother-in-law.

Could it be a private detective for the insurance company? Can I call the cops?

[Dana]

They may be checking to see if your claim is legit. Ever see those shows where someone with a video camera films a guy walking around, doing errands, and playing golf, all while claiming some debilitating injury that keeps them from working?

Unfortunately, due to way to many sleezeballs trying to get a free ride from the insurance companies, you and your family are paying the price.

Sorry to hear about the accident, and the hassle you're going through as a result. Totally unfair.

[Joe-Bob]

Definately call the cops.

[cg73cmc]

It's probably an insurance detective and yes, they do this sometimes.

I would call the cops and let them know about the guy. In the post 9-11 world, you can't be too careful. The cops will check him out and at least the guy will get the message that he isn't being too stealthy. What a crackhead.

If they want to play hardball -- then if I were you I would definitely be dealing with one of those "personal injury" lawyers -- just to bilk those guys out of as much moola as possible. Normally I wouldn't suggest this -- but if that's the way they want to play then ...

[PraiseCaster]

Originally Posted by cg73cmc

It's probably an insurance detective and yes, they do this sometimes.

........................ What a crackhead.

...

Now not all are, but I have met a few, and yes, they are!

You'd think they would contract with someone a little more reputable? They do have to go to court sometimes, and I'm sure a lawyer could probably have a feild day with some of em!

Gee, I wonder if they moonlight as site hackers too?

[Jakedog]

If it were me, I'd sneak out the back door, walk around the block, sneak up on that van from the rear and yank that dude out the door. If he didn't have real good explanation for why he was scoping out my wife and kids, he'd be in for some damage. Not mortal mind you, but enough that he'd think about getting into another line of work, whatever that might be.

Jake

[TG]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

If it were me, I'd sneak out the back door, walk around the block, sneak up on that van from the rear and yank that dude out the door. If he didn't have real good explanation for why he was scoping out my wife and kids, he'd be in for some damage. Not mortal mind you, but enough that he'd think about getting into another line of work, whatever that might be.

Jake

That could be a bad idea if 1) he wasn't an insurance snoop, and 2) he had a gun.


I'd try contacting the police first.

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

If it were me, I'd sneak out the back door, walk around the block, sneak up on that van from the rear and yank that dude out the door. If he didn't have real good explanation for why he was scoping out my wife and kids, he'd be in for some damage. Not mortal mind you, but enough that he'd think about getting into another line of work, whatever that might be.

Jake

And you'd be the one in jail while he would be free to continue stalking your family.

[Reno Sepulveda]

I work for an investigative company. If your claim is legit the video will help you get your settlement quicker. If you let the guy know he's been made, the insurance company will wait and assign more surveillance weeks if not months later. I really doubt the company ordered surveillance in such a short ammount of time. The accident was this last weekend right?

If the investigator is on public property and you are within line of sight, they can legally observe you, take photos whatever they want. They can't legally take pictures through a knot-hole in your back fence or things like that.

If you are concerned somebody is observing you, call the police. Most legitimate investigators notify the police where they will be working. The police will either respond or let the agency know their operative has been made and they will leave.

reno

Originally Posted by DADGAD

My family was in a major car accident last weekend. We notified the insurance company and hired a lawyer. As my brother in law leaves the house this afternoon, he comes back and says, "Hey There's that guy again!" He explained that this person has been following him around town.

I got out the telephoto digital camera and started taking shots of this guy, who is talking on a walkie-talkie. Got his license plate, too. He starts up his beat up van and takes off following my brother-in-law.

Could it be a private detective for the insurance company? Can I call the cops?

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by hippietim

And you'd be the one in jail while he would be free to continue stalking your family.

You guys obviously don't live in a neighborhood like mine. Unless your caught red-handed shooting somebody, the cops have bigger problems to deal with than some creep getting roughed up for being stupid.

That being said, this is just what I would do. I never said it was right or wrong, just my way of handling things. All things considered, I think you definitely should call the cops. (If they can be counted on to respond where you live.)


Jake

[jaybee001]

take him a cup of scalding hot coffee and just when he's holding it, have someone drive off, and shout "hey, gogogo, he's getting away" and watch him try NOT to get the coffee someplace it would REALLY hurt - and if it DOES... it's HIS fault, HE dropped it

OR

go up to him, hand him the dog's leesh and tell him can just as well keep an eye on Blacky as well, since he's there anyway - then walk off as fast as you can. It helps if Blacky is a mean doberman.

[DADGAD]

I don't have a Doberman named Blacky but I have a black German Shepherd name Shadow that doesn't like strangers!

On page 498 of 'The Black Book of Dirty Tricks', it says tires can be super-glued to asphalt. If I can sneak up behind him...

[Skully]

You guys obviously don't live in a neighborhood like mine. Unless your caught red-handed shooting somebody, the cops have bigger problems to deal with than some creep getting roughed up for being stupid.

That being said, this is just what I would do. I never said it was right or wrong, just my way of handling things.

Okay, then I'll clue you in -- your way of handling things is wrong.

[ravindave_3600]

tell them there's a creepy guy in an old van taking pictures of your daughter playing in the yard.

By the time they figure he's NOT (or maybe IS) a pervert, you'll have had plenty of peace and quiet.

[boogaloo]

What Reno said. And unfortunately private investigators run the gamut from excellent to "shouldn't be allowed near a surveillance"

Brian

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by Skully

Okay, then I'll clue you in -- your way of handling things is wrong.

Again, it's all relative. If some guy is sitting outside my house, obviously casing my family, I have a major problem with that. If I had no idea who it was, or why they were there, I would find out. Like another poster pointed out, the guy could be armed, and could be a phsycho. In a neighborhood where it takes the police an average of 28 minutes to respond to fired shots, I'm not gonna wait around to find out what the guy is up to. By the way, the station house is four blocks away. That is the kind of place I live in. If I lived in a nice shiny suburb, I would look at things differently. But I don't, so I can't.

That's life in the big city pal. And by the way, it's kind of silly to tell someone that they're flat out wrong, just because they would do things differently than you would.


Jake

[0le FUZZY]

About six years ago I had a car parked out in front.

Knott jes once but many times and for a long time.

My wife waz worried and I waz at werk.

I handled it in my way.

I strapped on my gun and went out and leaned up again one of my big ole trees and made sure they could see me and the gun.

When they did ole Shotgun had the driver look over at me and then they leff inna hurry.

Three daze later they showed up again but this time they drove in the yard and splained that they wassa watchin a feller at the biddness accross the street and North of us. It wassa insurance fraud investigation.[*]I told them tew take it sumplace else and they did.

Cops are useless out inna country.

Fi waz yew I'd follow them a followin my kin.


0le FUZZY

[photoweborama]

Well... if you could spot him THAT easy, they obviously need to hire a better detective.... :D

[snoglobe]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

Again, it's all relative. If some guy is sitting outside my house, obviously casing my family, I have a major problem with that. If I had no idea who it was, or why they were there, I would find out. Like another poster pointed out, the guy could be armed, and could be a phsycho. In a neighborhood where it takes the police an average of 28 minutes to respond to fired shots, I'm not gonna wait around to find out what the guy is up to. By the way, the station house is four blocks away. That is the kind of place I live in. If I lived in a nice shiny suburb, I would look at things differently. But I don't, so I can't.

That's life in the big city pal. And by the way, it's kind of silly to tell someone that they're flat out wrong, just because they would do things differently than you would.


Jake

Hey, if you can justify pulling the dude out of the van, even though he has broken no laws and has every right to be there, and then laying down your brand of vigilante justice, then more power to you man. I would think in the end, the guy would lawyer up and be on you like a fat kid on a smartie. Plus, what's a guy who just got in an accident (and is probably wearing a neck collar) doing something like that? You'd probably muck up your insurance claim as well.


p.s. No smarties were actually harmed in the writing of this email.

[Skully]

Again, it's all relative. If some guy is sitting outside my house, obviously casing my family, I have a major problem with that. If I had no idea who it was, or why they were there, I would find out.

That's fine. Dragging them out of their car and beating them up is another matter.

Like another poster pointed out, the guy could be armed, and could be a phsycho.

Which would make it doubly stupid for you to approach his car and triply stupid to take him on physically.

In a neighborhood where it takes the police an average of 28 minutes to respond to fired shots, I'm not gonna wait around to find out what the guy is up to. By the way, the station house is four blocks away. That is the kind of place I live in. If I lived in a nice shiny suburb, I would look at things differently. But I don't, so I can't.

None of these factors makes it okay for you to make up your own law and attack someone else.

That's life in the big city pal.

Your attitude to life in the big city could put you in the Big House.

And by the way, it's kind of silly to tell someone that they're flat out wrong, just because they would do things differently than you would.

It's only silly because that person is unlikely to listen. I'd have told Manson he was flat-out wrong to take out Sharon Tate & Co., too.

[Dana]

Why don't you sneak up behind his car, and stick a couple of bannanas into his tail pipe. Then sneak back, get in your car, and drive by him and wave. It worked for Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop.

[Joe-Bob]

Originally Posted by Dana

Why don't you sneak up behind his car, and stick a couple of bannanas into his tail pipe. Then sneak back, get in your car, and drive by him and wave. It worked for Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop.

Yeah, but that won't work in real life. You would have to hammer a wooden plug in there, or something along those lines. I prefer to just remove the tire valve cores. It doesn't damage anything, but you will sure as hell be really stuck.

[Tim Armstrong]

If it was me, I'd just walk up to him and ask him what's going on.

He'll either tell you, or leave!

Tim