I am sorry to hear about your troubles. This is a matter for the police.

I am sorry this is happening to you. Sadly, not surprising, considering what we all have learned about the country in the last few years. Criminal grifting, or psychopathology? - I don’t know.

Consider seeking advice here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/psychopathology/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Criminology/

Consider contacting multiple government entities where you live, including any involved in protecting welfare of children. Ask elected government officials for advice on whom to contact, too. Advice is best put in writing (in addition to getting it verbally, in the interest of time).

Before getting involved, do your own survey using Google Earth and the measurements for you property. You may also get the survey of the neighbor's property and measure it on Google maps.

Then if it still looks like there is a problem, I would get a professional certified surveyor to come out and survey the property line. Once you have the certified survey, then get with the lawyer, and get it settled. Once they understand where the property line actually is located the problem may disappear.

Second thought if they are belligerent contact the lawyer first and then he will probably asked you to get your lot surveyed. During the survey you may need to have the police there to escort the surveyors.

There are occasions where a survey is wrong. If there is a problem with the survey now is the time to get it resolved, not when you are trying to sell the property.

In my survey there is corner stake for the lot behind me that is 6" on my side of the line. Since there will never be a building built in that area it will probably never be an issue.

The situation may be clearer to see if you take the photo without the screen. The screen makes it difficult to understand the exact what is going on.

There must be a survey of the property from when you bought the house get it and have the pegs put back in build a fence high as possible with a locking gate . Make sure the fence is inside the property line .IMO going to court is a waste of time and money since honestly this will not end .

I agree that this is a matter for the local police. While you have our sympathy for finding yourself and your family in this stressful and frightening situation, there's not much WE can do to help you. Make sure you communicate any implied or overt threats (bow and arrow, etc.). And make sure that any other communication or exchanges you may have with the neighbors is recorded - use your phone to video everything.

Your neighbors can't take your yard unless you let them. So, take action starting with:

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/out-did-original-survey-house-61490.html

Once you have your proof, go to the police, tell them your tale, and ask for their support in stopping this harassment.

Saying ”I know where my property is” is not good enough. You must have all official survey stakes either FOUND or NEW ONES PLACED. Then you can have fences installed, inside your property line.

This is a civil matter, the police will not be able to assist you.

Get a proper survey done and build a fence. The police cannot deal with property line disputes, but may be able to help you if there are threats of violence.

There is nothing "civil" about being threatened with a bow and arrow. Notify the police!

Exactly. The property dispute is a civil matter but threats of violence are a criminal offence in most places.

I know folks dealing with the same kind of issue but the neighbor totes a shotgun and fires at everyone in the whole community. Apparently they've been run out of several places due to the same behavior. Check into who they are; they could have a record of such behavior that will serve you when the time comes. Court date is scheduled for the community in question..

I. Agree, I really don't think they have been near people before.

I never see them outside unless I'm moving.

Can you put a fence up? That’s what I would do.

Go out with another person, not your spouse and try to locate the pipes that have been driven in the ground to mark your property corners. Call a surveyor and have them come out to confirm these corners and mark the property lines with surveyors tape and stakes. Immediately take pictures of the property lines with the stakes. Do it from multiple angles.

Mark your property line with signs that say no trespass. It may seem unfriendly, but it a legal notice that can be enforced should they trespass.

Call a fencer and have a privacy fence installed two to three feet inside of the marked lines with a locked gate at the back that a lawnmower can pass through. Why? You want to be able to maintain the fence, mow and weed wack without trespassing on the neighbor's property.

Do this now. It takes time for surveyors and fencers to show up. Don't delay. You want this done before your neighbors decide to put up their own fence. They will encroach on your property. You can be guaranteed of it. It's much harder for you to sue to have them remove an encroaching fence than it is to stop before they do something.

If you live in a area with a homeowners association, get permission from the HOA in writing to erect the fence. Have the HOA specify the maximum height and approved materials for fencing in writing and have it signed by the appropriate officers of the HOA.

It's too bad that you have to do this, but good fences make good neighbors. Be certain to use a privacy type fence rather than a see through fence. You don't want them looking into your yard when you children come outside to play. There are some real ugly people out there and it sounds like you have moved next to one.

The police cannot help you unless they threaten you with physical violence or threaten your children. Otherwise, the police can't do anything for you.

Installing security cameras is an excellent idea. Be sure to maintain them. You may be surprised to learn that they are already lurking around your house when you aren't watching.

what TF? are they really shooting arrows in the direction of your house? and you have documentation? and the cops are doing nothing?

sorry but this does not sound real at all.

she states that she has multiple cameras.

ok, I just realized it seems they have not actually gone to the cops yet. if so, why not? this is regarding effing arrows being shot in the direction of their house. that is insane and terrifying.

either they are not acting fast enough, or the bow-and-arrow part is a total exaggeration. sorry to sound so harsh, but this sounds like completely missed priorities.

Yup! ^^^

It's not a good idea to post things like this on a searchable website with your real name.

There are two issues here. One involves the location of the property line, and for that, some sort of survey is essential. Ideally there will be one on record; if not, the OP will have to get one done. That's a civil matter and the police won't deal with it until there's clear evidence e of where the boundaries are, and that trespassing has occurred.

The second issue is the threat to the family's safety presented by the target shooting.  It's not clear to me whether the neighbours have verbally threatened the OP :  if so, that is definitely a police matter. If the threat lies in the OP perception of her neighbour's careless behavior that may be a police matter. Certainly, if some of those arrows are landing on her property, I think it should be. 

The two issues need to be dealt with differently; survey for the Civil issue, police for the endangerment.

You have to have your property survey. If you contact your Town or County they should have one filed when your house was built. If needed, hire a surveyor to do a new one.

When we moved to our house 9 yrs ago, there were no fences and all the houses properties were open to each others. We put up a property fence for a number of reasons including getting a dog. We contacted the Town and got our original survey. It was difficult to figure out because things changed since 1982 when our house was built. So we hired a surveyor and paid to have a new survey and metal posts put in the ground.

We then contacted the adjoining neighbors to let them know we were putting up a privacy fence and that the good side of the fence would face their property. Since some neighbors has shrubs and trees planted near the property line, we actually let them have the extra 2 feet or so to prevent them having to dig up their plants.

One of the neighbors was not happy at all, but I explained we had the property surveyed (she actually accused us of putting the fence on her property - which was not true. I made her a copy of our survey and stuck it in her mailbox.

Its the only way to do it. You need proof on your side and then you can put a fence up or something to keep your children and pets safe and give you some privacy.

Was the best thing we did and worth the money and time.

Jane

Couple hundred dollars for a professional survey, couple thousand for a fence. Or discuss moving with a realtor.

Don't rely on your own copy of survey and your own measuring tape or even finding the stakes yourself. Stakes can be moved (is what your crazy neighbor will say). So survey, and have a fencing contractor lined up to start work soon after.

At this point, my immediate concern would be to make your family feel safe, even more so your children because of their autism. I would avoid being outside for now, as they are not rationale people. The sooner you can have the surey verified/completed and a copy sent to them the better. I’d also have a fence company and specifics in place, ready to go.

As Nickel suggested, have the fencing contractor already lined up. Ask the surveyor to string the stakes and spray paint the boundaries the day before. Stakes can be moved, spray paint can’t.

Call a lawyer, because they're going to know the most direct path to putting a stop to this. Otherwise you could pay for a surveyor and the neighbor will just pull the stakes out and throw them away. If you start a fence they'll come out and threaten the fence guys (been there before). The cops are going to do as little as possible until a restraining order, etc forces them to do something.

In my experience the only way to deal with people like this is to out-crazy them (which you can't really do when you have kids) or have the law on your side.

How friendly are you with other neighbors? Have they had run ins with these people? Maybe you can watch out for eachother. Personally, I would go the fence route. It will be worth every penny.

I would also see if you can find out about any sorts of laws about shooting arrows in a neighborhood. There may be some sort of restriction on your side.

The other thing to think about - is this place really your dream home? A place to stay for many years to come? If not, try to hang in there and start looking for another home.

Good luck - I hope you can get some peace.