Targeted Again

Well, it's 1:30 AM (Pacific) and about 1/2 hour ago, we had ANOTHER visit from our friendly neighborhood BB gun-wielding hate-monger. This time he shot at my partner as he sat in his office in the front of the house. The BBs only made it through the first pane of glass, but we'll still have to replace the windows. Figure $1000 for that.

For those who aren't familiar, yesterday the guy shot the back window out of our jeep. Oh, and we're the only house on the block flying a gay-pride flag.

STILL flying a gay pride flag, btw!

I'd get a cam on the front of the house immediately. Then have him arrested and milk him for everything he's worth in court.

Considering we've already shelled out $370 for the Jeep window and figuring $1k for the house window now, a camera could be cheaper than another window.

*sigh*

Justice would be served, and the money savings/recovery would be the cherry on top.

Very nice, immediately started talking hate-crime. Funny though, the one cop saw the flag and knew it was the 'gay flag' but didn't know the pc term. He asked us what to call it in his report. :) For the record, we call it the pride flag.

people call the confed. flag a pride flag. Sorry to hear about those assholes, record them soon, get 'em busted.

http://www.x10.com/home/offer.cgi?!TSHD2,../techtoystshd2.htm

We have 2 of them they work very well. Good luck.

Minnesota news tonight was talking about the huge increase in road rage incidents of late including assaults and bumpber cars.

Good luck and remember to duck until he's neutralized.

Trying to keep a sense of humor too. :)

I assume you call the authorities....and nothing more than a report filed....Can you organize a neighborhood watch? Can you hire a PI...find out who it is and then.....well you can decide that later, lets just find the hate mongers....

One positive note...one of the cops was HOT (so you know I can't be THAT upset if I'm checking out the hottie cop).

We're going to be talking to the neighbors tomorrow. We've got a good relationship with many on the block.

I'll keep everyone informed. :)

when you buy a camera, be sure to get a shot of that hottie cop - I love a man in uniform, lol!

They've already gone....and I HOPE they're not going to have to come back! :)

Bullets and bbs don't always go where they're intended.

And I really like the cameras idea.

catch the assholes.

And send me a pic of the hottie cop, too :)

Seriously, I'm sorry this is happening to you. You're taking it with great grace, as far as I can see. If it were me, I'd buy a cam AND a gun.

and it just occured to me, if it's that b*tch Shannon Dougherty setting me up for Fear Factor...Oooo...I'll get her! :)

I installed a video camera card and cameras on my computer in april'03. Since then you wouldn't believe all of the criminal incidents the system has recorded.

Since installed, the system has caught and identified one hit and run driver one burgler and a car prowler.The Car Prowler just hamburgered the door on my Expedition but didn't get in and the other two criminals were the neighbors problems.My neighbors and the Police have thanked me a lot.Now I get all kinds of cookies from the neighbor ladies,Bonus!.

Forget the Window,buy the cameras and Bust this Asshole.After you do, sue his ass for harassing you,his freedom stops right at your property line....Good Luck!!!

this system. Models, costs, links. That sort of thing. That's exactly what I'd like! Is your camera inside the house? How far can it 'see'??

This would be perfect! I already mentioned something like this to my partner. We have plenty of spare computers to host it as well.

I have a b/w that sends a signal 300 feet through walls.
I also have some tiny color wireless cameras that send a signal 150 feet. you could hide a camera outside and tape the action inside.
I even bought some of the X-10 cameras (before the annoying pop-ups drove me crazy) and they work very well.
If this is occurring at night, you might want to consider a b/w camera because in low-light conditions and at night, color images are very crappy to say the least and you want a sharp picture hopefully capturing a license plate number or the face of a perpetrator.

PS
You might want to consider getting a time-lapse or realtime recorder with time/date stamp capability. Nothing works as evidence in court like a video tape with the day of the week and the hour/minutes flashing in the corner of the video!

We're looking into cams right now. I'll let everyone know what we end up getting!

But it would catch the perp before its glass got cracked.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I know i'm late but I finally got here!!
We gotta get rid of these criminals in power,I am totally emberassed to be an American right now.I'm just disgusted with this secret government.

if you don't already have one. maybe you don't believe in guns, but to me, it sounds like you may need one. of course, i am paranoid myself. i support your boldness in displaying your flag, and i support what it represents. but there is obviously a madman on the loose in your neighborhood, and he may consider moving beyond a bb gun.

but both times, he's gone by so fast, even though my partner saw both (and was the target of the last) incident he couldn't get the plate number. The angle of the street and the speed of the car (not to mention distance) made getting the plate # too dificult both times. So, I doubt getting a gun would solve much in this case.

I feel that the house is pretty secure. We're in typical SF row house (where neighbors touch on both sides) so there's no way into the house except through the garage (not going to happen w/out a crowbar and high visibility) or the front door which is protected by an iron gate.

Still, we're going to be especially careful. We'd already taken to parking the jeep in the garage. That probably saved us from buying ANOTHER jeep window, but cost us the house window.

but to me, it sounds very frightening. the guy could be arrested for a variety of things, and in my opinion, of a hate crime. my daughter and family live in downtown sf, and i hate to think of an idiot brute like that running around there. i wish you the best of luck

During the first incident I was somewhat annoyed because we couldn't get a cop to come out and take a report, but I guess I understand since it was a pretty random event. This time though, we called and two cops were here within 3 mins. IN FACT, as the second cop pulled up, a white car driving down the street suddenly peeled out and took off. Cop car #2 does a U-turn, but loses him in the twisty streets up here. I think this was the guy coming around for a 2nd try. This was only 5-7 mins after he shot at my parter.

Can you tell if he's using a pistol or a rifle?
Are their 2 people in the car?
Do you think he slows down to shoot and you see him speeding away?
It seems to me that a single perp using a rifle one-handed would be difficult.
A pellet pistol might work with a single perp, but from a moving vehicle accuracy suffers.
Maybe he comes to a full stop for the shot?

Probably one person in the car, though because of the angle it is possible there were two.

He's not slowing down much and he's a pretty good shot. Two shots, from the street as he's driving by and they hit w/in 1 foot of each other.

BOTH times he's been by, my partner has witnessed the incident. It happens so quickly though, we've (as yet) been unable to get those all-important plate numbers...

As the great great granddaughter of a San Francisco policeman, I know all about 'the force'. Got some good cops and some bad ones that are in on things (believe me I know).

I was being harrassed while living in San Francisco and went the route. It got so bad I had to move (sorry to have to tell you this). I was being harrassed by a cult that was in the neighborhood I lived in. I had no idea they even existed, muchless permeated the area.

Re: A gun - in SF? I never had one myself. Had, I, it could have led to absolute chaos. For this reason I'd recommend against it - try looking into mace - very effective and very legal.

Furthermore, my advice is to 'lay low' as they say.

Don't think they can't 'get you'. The place I lived in had 11 other units and about 24 sets of persons living in the building. The people on the 2nd floor went away on vacation for a week and came home and EVERYTHING they owned on their 2nd floor apt. was GONE. No one saw or heard anything and this was off Geary Blvd.!

Be careful and cautious about who you trust.

We're trying to be careful, while also maintaining out sanity. The one thing I won't do, is give in to domestic terror.

addition.

In addition to a security camera.

The puppy will be your baby, but Shepherds as especially protective of their loved ones.

:)

Up till now, we've been discouraging him from woofing at the window. Maybe that'll have to change.

...the normal homophobic vandalism, this guy doesn't like y'all ( sorry for the obilvious ) please get a camera, keep being alert, keep contacting the police for any thing that looks wrong to you, if you or your friend are inclined, please get a firearm, even a BB gun would work. good luck and be careful, and keep us posted. y'all are not alone in wanting this kook off the streets.

this dude is escalating. A stationary car (no one in it) - to where a live person is sitting?

See if you cant find and install a cam today.

I hope you can afford to keep flying the flag. I'll fly one myself for you, and it would be nice if some of the neighbors got the stones to fly them, too.

I think it was in Boulder a couple of years ago when some neo-nazis threatened to run some Jews out of town-- smashing windows with menorahs in them was the modus operandi, I believe. So, the local paper had a menorah on the front page, and half the town put that front page in their windows with a "Smash This, MF" message.

Solidarity!

And get the camera.

Since it's my hometown I just had to chime in ;)

Unfortunately, if it was a gay-bashing incident I don't know if it would get the same level of support from the entire community. You would have mine though.

I am very sad that you are being harrassed in this manner. I certainly hope the guy gets caught and prosecuted. Stay safe and fly that beautiful flag!

n/t

Document this incident. Take photos of the damage and give it to the police.

Did you get a description of the driver?

that just sucks. I'm so sorry and do be careful. I think the camera idea is a good one.

Will they (the police) believe it or recognize it even? I had this problem myself as tenants living in the building I lived in in SF were tapping into my phone and listening to my conversations and the FCC was notified and they totally blew me off *dingo here*. The cops could have CARED LESS.

It was very much for real and that SOB that was doing it I believe is now living in Death Valley somewhere - a place he belonged in a long time ago.

As for the police - they were gettin' it on with his old lady while he watched! They were around a couple of times a week for God's sakes and everyone knew what the story was around there!

This was back in the early 1980s. Hopefully they are all gone by now, but damn those cops were sick sick sick sick!!! And this is a true story!

:kick:

And if they don't do their job, we have a gay judge a few houses down who will set them 'straight' as it were. :)

A group of neighborhood JD's kept attacking my neighbors and they finally had to move. They're a lesbian couple thats raising the nicest kid in the world imo, but getting bricks tossed at them while walking gave them no choice. The cops did the best they could for them yet it wasn't enough.

It became so volatile and so bizarre that the only option was to pack up and move. That is what happened.

After the move (we claimed we moved to Marin ... lie lie lie, but who knows in SF?) there were no problems at the new place 2 miles away.

I have never been as scared as I was when that cult was after us. It almost turned into a fist fight more than once and the police, ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaa *yeah right* - they could have cared less and they "don't like to respond to domestic problems" I remember being told.

Best guy on the force is the Captain, Earl Sanders. Give him a ring! He is GOOD and was very kind to me long before his "Captain" status.

:kick:

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I'm an independent but lean left socially

And let the punishment fit the crime, though I won't cite any examples as I tend to be something of an extremist... :D

I do hope that vermin gets caught though.

Please be aware that this guy is escalating and that's very dangerous.

Many of these cowards are content to destroy your property when they can't been seen and caught, but shooting at someone in a window is a clear escalation. This is why the police showed up so fast - they realize your perp is escalating the violence and it's difficult to tell how far he will go.

You should pay attention to the camera suggestions, but let me add to that idea. You can purchase "fake" cameras with a light on them which appear to be very real. Put SEVERAL of these up outside in a very visible area so that your perp doesn't know which is the "real" one. Make the cheap, fake ones VERY visible while hiding the more expensive one.

His next target will be the cameras. Give him some cheapies to "attack" and save money.

keep a camera handy, just in case.

hidden camera would work best, in multiple locations.

A good video camera recording ALL vehicles license plates passing in
front of your house would be best, thenyou could narrow down
to just which vehicle.

but that takes $$$$

see if the city will install one, even if temporary.
Some cities and large property owners nearby might
pay for it. maybe.


......some nuts just 'like' to shoot out vehicle
windows with b-b guns. In the city where i live, every
year or so, some nut goes around at night shooting dozens
of parked vehicles windows.

LeftCoast, I hope you and your partner stay safe. Also, please keep us up to date of what happens. Those hate-mongers are scary, scary people, and they've already proven they will resort to violence.

and say thanks for all the kind words of advice! I was up till 4:30 am and just now got up (1pm, Sat). No new problems to report, thankfully. It's also a really nice day out, though I'm kinda groggy and lethargic feeling given the strange sleep patterns.

Jim, my partner is probably heading down to Fry's Electronics to check out security cams.

Of course...if we get interesting pics and I'm legally able to post them, I will.

your gay pride flag. You seem to be asking for trouble. It's like waving a red cape in front of an angry bull. A rational person would not do what you are doing in my opinion. I'm not sure I'm buying your story. If you are in fact telling the truth, I apologize for doubting you. If you're making this up to get some attention and false encouragement, shame on you.

I'd post a pic.

The flag's staying. We'll move before we take down the flag (now).

If you're anywhere near SF, PM me and I'll meet you and show you the police reports.

Believe me, I don't want this type of attention, but having now been targeted I also feel it's my duty to let people know this situation is occuring. Not only that, but it is occuring in supposedly "queer SF".

I will not be shamed.

Shame on you for trying to push me back in the closet.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Isn't being gay great? We don't get angry...we get 'dramatic'. /sarcasm

I suppose I should also stop holding my parnter's hand too? Oh, I know...to be really sure nobody knows I'm queer I'll go marry some poor woman. Then I'll be sure and fool'em.

The flag stays.

How dare you tell anybody what sort of emblems they should display on their house??? And if you think that "NOBODY" cares about whether or not someone is gay, you are incredibly naive. Just tune in to religious right TV for a few minutes.

And, if you are wondering, that "DRAMA" comment is biased and uncalled for.

Screw taking down the flag. If he takes down the flag, the assholes win.

Fuck anybody who would tell this man to take down his flag.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Photoshop elements is cheap and works well.

If you have a Mac, Colorit! is cheap and powerful.
http://www.microfrontier.com/
$49.95 It only runs in OS-9, but runs well in classic mode.

wield it it the air threateningly? I have no bullets...but the gun looks pretty frightening.

Besides, my partner would probably freak out. He's (still) much more anti-gun than I am.

Dead people make no speeches. There are a lot of crazies out there. Dying for a cause sounds good in principle, but wouldn't the cause be stronger if you were alive?

I doubt this guy has the balls to do anything more than drive-by BBing anyway.

It seems like the whackos have had their panties in a wad ever since the Supreme Court ruling. They seem to get more angry as time goes on and it does sound, as salin said, as if he's escalating.

Please be careful.

My partner just came back from the store w/ the new security cam.

:evilgrin:

We're going to nail that bastard if he comes back again.

you personal info says San Francisco...

im really suprised this is going on in San Francisco.

The Castro is always a target for gay-bashers who come looking for trouble, but it's a little odd for an out-of-the-way neighborhood like mine.

Hi LC.I just got back...couple of "things" here you should know. this is where I bought my gear: http://www.123cctv.com/cctv/remote.html

I had to install a power source for each camera even though they are "Wireless" the transmitter transformers need 110 volts.The lens angle of my cameras is 94 degrees which is why I mounted them High.I bought good quality Sony cameras with 80 sec.motion event proximity switches for low light app's.They see clearly for 250 feet in any/almost no light.

I mounted my cameras as high in the air as I could,to reduce glare.Two of them are at 20 feet in elevation and two are at 16 feet in elevation.When I captured the shot of the car that did the hit and run we couldn't see the lic.# but the cops took the VCD I gave them downtown and had it photoshopped.The lab brought the plate # right up.

The other thing you should know is that you don't need the cops to press charges, if you have evidence you can go to the Prosecutors office and have them do it for you.That is why you need to record your camera activity to a harddrive,so you preserve the actual event. Instead of verbally relaying it to the authorities you can show it to them and keep the original recording on the harddrive for yourself.

Oh!!, and Keep the flag!!! The people you are dealing with here are some odious individuals and they need to be taught by a Judge what the term "Civil Rights" means.The only reason they have gotten away with their bullying harrasment so far is that no one has ever stood up to them and taken them to task for their lousy behavior.They need to be caught,prosecuted and jailed for their crimes.Then you and your neighbors will feel much better and be much safer.

Be proud of who you are and be proud enough to exercise your rights,never live in fear of anyone! Deal with their lousy behavior as far as the law will allow.Just my $.02

My partner is currently attempting to install a cam system we bought. If we can make it work, it should do what we need. If it doesn't, we might follow your blue-print!

Our neighbor, who is a judge also recommended a video system, so you and he are on the same page!

One good thing about this is that it has shown us that though there are a few bad folks out there, there are a lot more really good folks.

I'll be glad when my life is nice and quiet again, though. :)

Be careful.

We're being careful! I'd feel better if we could get the new security cam to work though...

You are dealing with an asshole! Catch him and crucify the bastard.

A BB gun pellet through the temple or through the eye can kill just as well as a bullet.

You should have the police OBVIOUSLY increase patrols by your house WITH MARKED VEHICLES. This is not just vandalism, it is DEADLY SERIOUS.

Glad you got your cam, but the POLICE should be of more help.

So far, they've been great. This is being actively worked on by them. On Monday our case will be moved to the hate crimes division for more work. It is very serious, and if this guy is caught he'll probably be looking at prison time.

the Gay in them. It works like this a bunch of guys are out at the bar, and one guy sees a Gay guy and says look at that Fag. I'm going to kick that Fags ass and proceeds to get involved in a crime.

Why? To suppress his own gayness and to prove to his friends that he is not gay. And all along in this caveman process he passes up about three good looking woman to prove what? That he rather get sweaty with a gay guy by fighting him, then talk to those three woman he just walked by? I would think not caring what two men or two or three sexy hot lesbians,are doing and trying to pick up a woman would be a better way of proving you are strait.

I always get a kick out of guys who say "I don't get it how can you choose a guy over a woman"? My reply is always the same you are not suppose to get it, we like woman that's why we are not gay. You ever see a deer in headlights?

Every time I come across someone who hates gay people, I always say why do you care if you like woman? Aren't you too busy being with woman to care about sword fighting (HEE HEE). They usually get the point and rush to talk about chicks.

I don't like the scene of two guys kissing (I live in the bay area) but I turn my head and don't think twice about it, two hot lesbians and I'm searching for a way to join. Hang in their man and don't back down from those closet gays trying to take their self hate out on you!

Makes you wonder what else he's done or will do!

teacher who was on the brink of being FIRED for being GAY and his /her or their students admitted that "they're gay too," wouldn't it be cool if you had that sort of fellowship and solidarity behind you too.

On edit Had seen that on the "I had sex with Clinton too" web page about 5 years ago.

I'd love to see more gay pride flags out in the neighborhood. One thing it has done is shown our G&L neighbors how few flags are actually up. Considering the fact that I personally know of at least 5 gay households on my small section of street, it's a little suprising there aren't a lot more flags in this area. Maybe now a few more will put up flags. On the other hand with the mini-domestic terrorist roaming the area maybe they'd be wise to wait. :shrug:

I read your first post a couple of days ago - unbelievable, this guy apparently lacks much common sense. I'm betting he'll be caught, especially now that you're installing a camera.

I think it's a must for you to visit and discuss this with your neighbors. I know, as a mother, any woman with children on your block is going to be as angry as hell about something like this going on in the neighborhood. I think it would be absolutely fabulous if every person in your neighborhood had pride flags out within hours - would it not be priceless to catch this guy's expression on your camera on his next drive-through? :evilgrin:

so far! Thankfully though, he's not been back. :)

and can watch who is in the yard all day and at night...had to...have had too many people come into the yard, trash or steal things in the middle of the night..
Its well worth it.
Sorry that happened to you, Ive been a victim of road rage for my Peace is Patriotic Bumper stickers and others..
But yesterday, a Vietnam Vet pulled up beside me and said "I AGREE WITH YOUR STICKERS...IM A VIETNAM VET...BRING THE TROOPS HOME...IMPEACH BUSH!"
and this is a small Midwestern town..
so that made my day..we smiled and thumbs upped each other.

We're not sure this camera system is going to do the trick, esp. at night.

Sorry to hear about your road-rage incidents. Since I ride a 50cc scooter, I think I'm going to be slogan free on the road. Meeting some moran on the road is the last thing I need these days. :)