Help me catch my neighbor

[skyking]

I don't know what the other poster meant, but I'd check your water meter when he's not stealing and you're not using water yourself to see if it's spinning, which would be evidence of a leak somewhere in your house.

What I came in to post. Open up the cover, look for a little red triangle spinning, or any meter movement. If nobody is using water in the house and the meter moves at all, you have a leak.

 

[wirednuts]

i had a water meter 'break' on me... it wasnt reading right they said. i ended up with over a $100 credit on my account. my guess is it just stopped transmitting data and they estimated my bill and waited for me to complain.

 

[ViviTheMage]

His rich g/f for starters. We're on good terms and if I have hard evidence, she'll pony up in the least. Especially after she begs me not to press charges and/or fuck him up.

haha, internet tough guys, love em!

you should just date the hot, rich gf ...

 

[SP33Demon]

Ok I'll check that out.

The main thing is, after the first bill that reported 14K, I thought that it was way higher than normal (from the year before), although I don't have a copy of those records. So for the past 3 months I've been trying to conserve water even more and told my roomie to do the same. And now there's a 57% increase!? I really don't think any leak could do that, especially one that wouldn't be immediately visible. But stranger things have happened I suppose. I found it odd timing that just as the super hot weather hits, my water bill is skyrocketing.

 

[Possessed Freak]

just close off your outdoor spigots from inside

 

[runestone]

Check Cabela's or similar outdoor sites for a cheap "trailcam".
They come in still with infra red or full video models.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

make your readings are actual vs estimated. ive seen some get way off.

 

[SP33Demon]

Check Cabela's or similar outdoor sites for a cheap "trailcam".
They come in still with infra red or full video models.

Thanks! I'll check it out. I'm looking for a cam that has a super small, inconspicuous sensor but can shoot through a window (behind shades) in light or dark, especially in dark since I think that's when he's doing it. Sort of like a nannycam but with quick and dirty night vision.

 

[rh71]

i know you want to catch him - tempting - but that's another month of potentially high bills you wouldn't have figured out. Maybe you should turn it off for a month and see what happens to your bill. And that way even if he was stealing before, he will have stopped by the next month. And if not, that's a good reason to then invest more money in a security camera. Free option first.

The other easy option is to install a flood light there with motion sensor - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...atalogId=10053&langId=-1&superSkuId=202572726. That way it turns on whenever anyone goes near it and can act as a deterrent... at the very least he won't be willing to use it for minutes at a time.

Or the always-on CFL option that I also have in place: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...door+light&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202573675

 

[mmntech]

Want to catch him, set up a webcam and hide it. Video evidence, indisputable. There's software you can get that only records when the camera detects motion.

How much is this actually costing you though? I don't know what the cost per gallon is where you live. If it's not that much, I'd just cut my losses. Last thing you want to do is start a war with your neighbours. That can turn into a bigger headache than some lost water. If it comes to a couple extra bucks on your bill, bit the bullet and shut the water off. Once he realizes you've caught on, he likely won't try to do it again.

If it's a lot of money, then by all means demand they pay for it. However, it's difficult to prove that it was him each and every time. Keep a careful record of your own water usage. Your meter should have a readout on it. Catch him in the act a bunch of times, record how much water they used, then present them or the police with the evidence. If it becomes a civil matter, those logs will be your best friend.

Before you do anything, check and triple check for any leaks. Slow drips can add up fast.

 

[Destiny]

He steals your water, you steal his hot/rich gf... she pays YOUR water bills and other bills = profit :thumbsup:

 

[Doppel]

Webcam nail him cold.

 

[Destiny]

Webcam nail him cold.

Awesome idea! Live Stream it and give us ATOT members the link... I'm up late at night so i can check for you once in awhile...:sneaky:

 

[rh71]

Webcam nail him cold.

what do you guys use as USB cable extenders? USB hub still needs an extension, no? I've had this problem for years.

 

[Bill Brasky]

what do you guys use as USB cable extenders? USB hub still needs an extension, no? I've had this problem for years.

USB extension cable with siganl booster. You can daisy chain usb extensions up to 117ft.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0337564

Or if you have some cat5e laying around, this will work too.

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-B202-150-Extender-Female/dp/B003WO40V6/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341353760&sr=1-6&keywords=USB+2.0+Single+port+Cat5+extender

 

[jersiq]

So, following along on this "stealing" theory, how do you think he is doing it? Is he coming over during the day and taking a bucket at a time?

 

[slayer202]

Just stay up one night and go outside...I assume if there was such a huge increase he would have to be using your water almost every day? You need to think this through a bit...

 

[vi edit]

And RE: the plumber thing.

Have you *ever* given second thought to a plumber being parked in somebodies driveway? Toilets can be clogged, sewers backed up, faucets dripping, ect. Endless numbers of things. I've never seen a plumbing van in a driveway and thought "Gee, I wonder if he's trying to figure out if his neighbor is stealing water".

And yes, I second the random overnight spot check. Set an alarm, check out a window, if you see him using it then come outside and call him on it.

 

[Bartman39]

Just setup an injector on that faucet from the inside and let it shoot dye (choice of color...:biggrin on to his lawn...:thumbsup:

Something like this...? Hard to dispute too...

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/hortmatt/2007/20hrt07a3.htm

 

[boomerang]

I'm trying to figure out how A/C would run up a water bill...

 

[Awkward]

She's built like a wildebeast and kicks his ass when she's drunk. Hell she could probably kick my ass too, she's strong as an ox. 5-9 250ish.

That's fucking disgusting

 

[waggy]

The main thing is, after the first bill that reported 14K, I thought that it was way higher than normal (from the year before), although I don't have a copy of those records. So for the past 3 months I've been trying to conserve water even more and told my roomie to do the same. And now there's a 57% increase!? I really don't think any leak could do that, especially one that wouldn't be immediately visible. But stranger things have happened I suppose. I found it odd timing that just as the super hot weather hits, my water bill is skyrocketing.

Just stay up one night and go outside...I assume if there was such a huge increase he would have to be using your water almost every day? You need to think this through a bit...

LOL so instead of thinking you have a leak since you are useing a LOT more water you think the neighbor is stealing it.

If he is stealing it to that amount he would have to be doing it nightly and all night.

no it can't be a broken or leaky pipe! heck no! it can't be that amount of water!

lol

 

[Wreckem]

I'm trying to figure out how A/C would run up a water bill...

Swamp Coolers...

 

[boomerang]

Swamp Coolers...

My folks lived in the Phoenix area for a number of years and had both. A/C and a Swamp Cooler. So I guess that's what the OP was getting at. My impression was that the swamp cooler kicked in on really high heat days, but I didn't live there, I only visited on rare occasions.

 

[skyking]

LOL so instead of thinking you have a leak since you are useing a LOT more water you think the neighbor is stealing it.

If he is stealing it to that amount he would have to be doing it nightly and all night.

no it can't be a broken or leaky pipe! heck no! it can't be that amount of water!

lol

Exactly!