New Bedford Homeowner Catches Trespasser on Ring Camera [VIDEO]

Late on the evening of Sunday, February 16, something strange happened in my backyard.

My Ring camera, which normally detects movement from surrounding neighbors, picked up a suspicious figure. At first, I thought it was just my neighbor taking his dog out, but it turns out my wife spotted something more alarming: an intruder had entered my backyard without permission.

The most frustrating part was that my neighbor had just fixed the fence, and if this individual had hurt themselves, I worry that we could be held liable despite the trespassing.

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The person claimed they were simply looking for a ball, and while that turned out to be true, I had no chance to tell them to use the front gate instead of hopping the fence. Before I could say anything, they were already over it.

This raises a few questions. Is this a common occurrence? Should I be worried, or perhaps just frustrated? The last thing I need is for someone to think it's okay to trespass on my property.

Under Massachusetts legislation, trespassing is clearly defined:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a snitch, but private property means do not enter without permission, plain and simple. All actions have consequences.

For trespassing to occur, an individual must enter or stay on the property without authorization, and even if they claim a harmless reason, such as looking for a lost ball, they may still face legal repercussions.

Moreover, if an individual is found committing such a trespass, law enforcement can detain them for up to 24 hours, excluding Sundays, until a formal complaint is filed.

So what's the takeaway from all this?

Trespassing onto private property in New Bedford or anymore across the Bay State can have serious legal consequences, ranging from fines to imprisonment. As a homeowner, it’s important to stay vigilant, but also to know your rights in the event that someone enters your property without permission.

In a case like mine, an incident can lead to a number of complications, especially when it involves potential liabilities.

Additional Reporting by Matthew Barth