Property Line Dispute Turning Aggressive

Location: TN

We’ve had a peaceful relationship with our neighbor for years. She’s given us permission to use her pool and adventure in her back woods.

We had a small conflict four years ago which was resolved by paying to have the line between our properties marked, again. The surveyor placed wooden witness stakes with pink tape and company name listed. We added two 4’ rebar sitting with the wooden stakes. The original survey rebar (from 16yrs ago and prior to purchasing our home) still exists, and is flush with the ground.

About a month ago, one of their family members had their property corners marked. They decided our markers were no longer applicable and removed them, placing it against their shed. I walked over, picked it up and put it back. A couple hours later they again removed but this time, hid them. I walked over again to ask for our stuff back, and was met with aggression. I explained the line hasn’t changed and they aren’t supposed to remove a surveyors marker. They argued we had posts on the wrong line. I collected our items and left. I went by later to speak with our neighbor again (peaceful relationship) because it seemed like they misunderstood their surveyor. I tried to explain, they argued again we were wrong.

They placed large metal poles, flags, and a rope, on the wrong line. Their surveyor told them they were wrong and they need to put our markers back. They didn’t, so I did. The family members (not residents in neighbors house) removed them a third time and took them home. I called them, and ask they return our items because it’s illegal, or we would need to involve the police. Within seconds, one of them showed up, backed into neighbors yard revving their diesel truck and just sat there for a while. We did not engage with them. Eventually they had seven people in total show up. They ended up calling the police themselves who made them return our items. The police encouraged no trespassing signs and cameras to both parties involved. They gladly added signage and cameras. We added cameras around our house, watching the yard only because of their actions.

They’ve now used the markers we paid for, to run a rope down the line. They’ve added a camera pointed directly at our house, where bedrooms are, and sensors along the line with fake cameras. I struggle with anxiety and to say I am drowning in it, is an understatement. Please be kind!

1. Can they use our markers to run their rope?
2. Can they point a camera directly at our house, where our bedrooms sit?
3. At what point is this harassment?

My husband has experience in surveying, and I have friends who worked surveying. We fully understand where things are. We have never encroached, acted disrespectfully, or aggressively towards any of them. We made multiple attempts to have a conversation with all of them, and encouraged they contact us.

I should emphasize, we don’t care about 17”. We are happy to allow them space to move trucks through the yard, we just want a conversation, respectfully. It’s their actions towards us. I am really upset over this situation.

ETA: I’ve had one consult with a lawyer. I’ve photographed and documented everything. This post is an attempt to calm the debilitating anxiety until I can contact them tomorrow.