6 months ago, my tenants told me a peeping tom was looking into their windows. So, I installed five Ring motion sensing lights/cameras/doorbells around the house. Last night the peeping tom returned, looking into windows for 10 minutes. My tenants called 911. The police came, but the peeping tom was gone. The Ring cameras recorded it all.

My tenant said they shared the images of the peeping tom’s face with the police, but the police said there was nothing they could do with the image of a face. My tenant is now asking me to add additional lights around the house and somehow secure the glass windows and doors on the first floor.

Any ideas for solutions? FYI, I posted “Best home security” on this forum Jan 12, 2020, before I got the Ring cameras.

Thanks!

SFH or multi-unit?

Ring has some sort of Neighbors App where you can chat with neighbors. ( my daughter uses that) might be worth it to ask neighbors if they no the Face.

I would postNoTrespassing sign In that window. Also, put a picture of a strong male face looking out that window ( Mr T graces some of my windows)

John SF.

Great idea, AllyM, to use the local media to get an ID on this person.

Busy, my tenant did post on the Ring neighbors app this morning. Got a bunch of comments, but so far, no one recognized this person or said this also happened to them.

Thanks!

Ok, so, since you've now confirmed it is a SFH, my advice would be to do nothing. You've already done more than enough, IMO.

This is a matter between the tenant and the police. It has little to do with anything that you have control over. If they want something added to the home, they can get it approved by you, done by a contractor, and paid for by them. If they are willing to do that, then sure, go for it. But I don't see that it is your responsibility any more at this point to provide any of those things that they have asked for on your own dime.

If even the police won't help them, then it isn't your job to try to solve this.

- John...

Thanks John, for your perspective of “it isn't your job to try to solve this” Sometimes I get too close to the forest to see the trees

MikeA, I wish I could show you the video. The motion sensing lights and the camera are all on this guy, and still he's looking through the windows. At one point, he covers the camera/light with his hat, but I don't think it was because he knew a camera was there. I think it was just to block the light, so he could see inside better.

Can the tenant set up camera motion notification and take action immediately?

Can the tenant set up camera motion notification and take action immediately?

I think I'd print life-size pictures of his face and tape them to the window facing out, so he'd see himself the next time he looked in!

Doesn't Google have an option for you to present an image and Google identifies it for you? Maybe Google could tell you who he is.

As far as securing the windows and doors, as a landlord you DO have the responsibility of making sure they have locks. Beyond that, you might suggest that the tenant get a security system or alarms that shriek when the window/door is opened. Those are pretty inexpensive.

CJ the cameras are set up for notification. I guess one problem may be, there’s 10 or so persons in the house, and there’s no way to filter for friend or foe. The peeping happened at 10pm last night, and they did call 911 as soon as the saw the peeper on camera. The police got there after the peeper left. I think they were close to apprehending him though.

Robin, that is some idea, taping his picture for him to see when he looks in! That sounds like something from a thriller movie, but maybe that would work.

I like the idea of tenants getting window alarms. Thanks.

Yes, I absolutely think a big mean dog would do it. I believe they are the best deterent. I suppose if my tenants asked to have a dog like a labrador, I might ok it. The big rednecks would be harder to find in New Jersey. Thanks.

I suggest all of my tenants sign up for next door neighbor app.

With a 4 unit rented to several cute young girls, peeping Tom's became a major issue. There was a sick guy looking into windows in the neighborhood and everyone knew about it.

So I ran exterior EMT 1/2 Inch conduit around the two sides and the back of the unit. Hooked up above every Bedroom window was a motion sensor light. When it got dark and anyone would stand within two feet of the window, a light would come on for 1 to 3 minutes.

The police were no help, this is Los Angeles. So one evening the motion sensor lights tripped on and a male tenant next door saw the peeping Tom. Since this guy's girlfriend had been spied on before, he know what he had to do. He ran outside and captured the Tom. The police were called and he was arrested.

Then some weeks later, when the Tom was caught again by the neighbor, the Tom was used a s punching bag and put in his pace.

I let my tenants know about the next door app. Thanks Quietly.

Robert, the police being no help sounds like my city. They have bigger fish to fry I guess. Bummer about catch and release.

And re lights: funny thing is, the lights are all over this peeper, and he’s still looking in the windows.

The ring camera is only useful for so many feet before the person becomes unrecognizable. More lights won't help. But if you want lights, you could do Infrared lights. They won't be seen but the camera picks them up. But cameras aren't foolproof. Baddy wears a hood, looks down, or other ways to hide will foil every camera.

BillW,

As with any pest remove the food source. In this case block the view so there is nothing to see.

When we have a vacant building or a flip project we paint some luan black and screw it to the inside of the ground level windows. From the street the house looks normal. If a peeping Tom were to get up close all they would see is blackness. She would feel much safer.

As long as there is anything to see, even just mundane things like doing dishes or reading the newspaper, he will be back

Your res needs to carefully understand she might unknowingly be tempting in some way such as leaving blinds open after dark, And be willing to adjust her habits.

Or he could be casing the house to rob it.

This could be very random - he might be peeping into every house.

I suggest she post this video on YouTube with the name of her street but not her personal address and look for a communitywide Facebook page to post this. I wonder if the police department would post this on their Facebook page? Maybe the newspaper would post it on their page.

I agree to help because if she leaves over this your building might be branded.

Too quick...

Branded as unsafe.

RentDue, it’s always a tough balance how far to go to help. My tenants are 19-20 year old students who are pretty disturbed about this peeping tom. I do what seems fair.

LOTF, you had mentioned the Ring resolution, back on your Jan 13 post. Your point was well taken. Actually, the peeping tom got close the cameras so you can see his face pretty well. Even so, the police can't do too much with a photo.

BRAD, on the 13th you recommended holly bushes and solid blinds. I put sticker bushes at the back of the house, and today I was out shopping for solid blinds to “block the view so there is nothing to see”. I’m told by my tenants, their mini-blinds, even when fully closed at night you can see right through the gaps. I think in the future, I will put solid blinds on all first-floor windows.

Update: We talked to the city detective today, and they have a suspect. They are reviewing the video/ still shots my tenant sent them, and are talking with the prosecutor about the charges for arrest. I’ll let you know how that pans out.

As I said, I don't think you have to (or should?) do much more of anything at this point. But, that being said, if I had a good photo of the guy myself, I think I'd put it up on Facebook and ask if anyone recognizes him. Just to see if I got lucky with an ID. Then I'd take that to the police and push a bit if they still refused to do anything once the person was ID'ed.

- John...

19-20 year old females...

This is a great life lesson for them. I suggest a female police officer chat with them. Innocently, they might not have a clue.

Mothers, TEACH YOUR DAUGHTERS!

Thanks John, I was told yesterday, they have a suspect.

MikeA, the tom is looking through the sidelights of the entry door, so I'm afraid there would be too many innocent bystanders sprayed with skunk spray and pink glow-in-the-dark paint from the claymore.

BRAD, I agree, there are so many things kids don't learn in school. Like peeping toms, thermostat operation and changing a flat. Your chat would be helpful!

While I agree that some action can be taken by the residents, it still isn't right to blame the victims like Brad is doing. The Peeping Tom is still the bad guy. Let's not blame them -- especially when it is clear that they had blinds (just mini-blinds that someone up close was able to peek through).

- John...

Still Learning, I was in the living room and did try rotating the mini blinds in both directions. I thought in one direction they blocked light well, and I asked my tenant if he thought something needed to be done. He said in day it looks fine, but at night there’s enough openings in the mini blinds to see through. Part of the problem is they are corded blinds, so each blind piece has three slots cut in them to allow the string to pass through. Good point though.

And good stuff on RAD training. I see they have training nearby. I texted my daughter. I’ll let the tenants know. Thanks.

BillW,

If it's door sidelights consider frosted Contact paper or a stained glass stick on.

In ANY "victim" situation the first thing to learn how to not look like a potential victim and attract the baddies. Sid and LTD talk about this frequently.

We cannot change the baddies but we CAN change what WE do.

The teen girls in our Church Youth Group don't have a clue about the signals they give unintentionally. It's something girls must learn. 19 could be a freshman straight from a small town.

BRAD

Yes, Uncle Knuckles. Sounds like dirty deeds done dirt cheap:-)

BRAD, I have used privacy films and sprays before on shower stalls and garage windows. They worked well and think your suggestion would have too. I think I was a little lazy and ended up having roller blinds cut to 12" wide for the sidelights.