Expert: Jim Pastore - 7/24/2007

Question
Hi Jim, I have a rather boring question for you so I don't expect a very lengthy response, just a little advice.  My girlfriend rents a house at Ohio University.  A little bit ago, she heard a window break, and found out it was a bathroom window in the back of the house.  There's about a 50 foot yard between the back of her house and another house full of guys.  She heard the guys out in the yard after the window broke and they went inside shortly after.  One of her roommates called one of the guys cell phone and they denied doing anything.  There is nothing in the bathroom that came through the window but the girls can see a baseball in the guys yard.  I'm not sure that the guys would throw a ball at a window, break it, and leave the ball in the yard but you never know.  I told her to call the police and file a vandalism report but she's being a little hesitant since it's 1:30 and she has class early tomorrow.  But, I told her if she doesn't file a vandalism report, she has no proof to show her landlord that it wasn't her or one of her roommates that broke it.  I also told her to call her landlord tomorrow.  If she waits until tomorrow would it still be too late to contact police to investigate the matter?  Or would police not care to investigate such a petty incident?  I know police should go through the motions and do a routine look at the incident but honestly, will they care enough to ask the guys behind the house and look into it?  And how long after the incident can she wait to contact them before it's an invalid report?  Like I said, you don't have to give me a long answer, just a little advice and direction to give her would be great, thanks a lot for your help Jim.

Answer
Anthony,

  Your correct in the statement that if for no other purposes she should file a report due to the damage and her renting. Also I assume this is on campus? I would think the campus Police would gladly make a report out today for her after she returns from class. I'm also sure this is something they would want to know for several reasons. One it will make them aware of a potential problem and they can provide a little extra patrol of the area. And two with all the craziness going on in today's world who know who or what intention the person or persons had when they did this. Plus if nothing is done what will this lead the person to believe? Maybe that her property is fair game. I'm not trying to scare her but she really does need to contact the Police.

Jim