Pool Hoppers . . .What Do You Think

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Ok, so last night, weirdest thing ever . . .about 10:15 I turn on the outside light and go out with the babies for potty time . . .Rhianna immediately goes to the gate and is barking her fool head off . . .then I hear SPLASH, KICK, SPLASH . . .and since I'm so tired it took a few seconds for me to figure out, and then like a lightbulb flashes in my head . . . HEY, that's coming from MY pool! I was like frozen, thinking, what the heck is in my pool? My first thought was maybe an animal was up on the deck and Rhianna scared it and it fell in . . .then I thought, how bout if it was like some random guy in there (weird thought, I know) I never would of thought kids, because, heck, what kid would be ballsy enough to walk up our hill and hurl himself over the side of the pool?? It's an above ground pool, pretty much in our side yard, hidden from the street (or so we thought) the sides are like 56 inches high and to get in the pool, you'd either have to walk up the deck stairs and go through the gates (which are latched) or jump over the side . . .

So, I can't do anything because I need to bring the dogs in the house first, so I open the slider and yell for my husband to come out . . .He runs out with a flashlight and confirmed YUP, there was someone in the pool . . . (duh) and he was able to see that they must of ran down the hill and up the street . . .

Ok, now here is how I feel about it . . .I know they were only kids and pool hopping is probably fun and cool, but I feel kind of vulnerable now . . .how about if the solar cover was on and they jumped in and couldn't get out? How about if they got hurt . . .I mean, would I be responsible? I don't know, I just feel violated . . .are kids that bold to trespass on someone's property and go for a dip? We've lived in our home for 20 years, have had the pool for 12 years and as far as I'm aware, that was the first time anyone has gone swimming without our knowledge.

I know I'm making a bigger issue than need be, but seriously, I'm just really riled up about the whole thing . . .

[rubymoon2072]

well that is understandable i wouldve felt the same. especially if something bad happened. i hope they do not return!

[yorkietalkjilly]

I would call my Police Department non-emergency number & ask to speak with an officer about what your legal responsibilities are as a pool owner in that jurisdiction. Then, consult your attorney about civil liabilities you could incur when someone using your pool gets hurt or drowns. Lastly, would check with my insurance company. You may be forced to do some more protective things & post some notices or something, use locks, etc., but don't know what other things you could face if this happens again and the swimmer gets hurt or worse. But you need to know what swimmers using your pool could cost you should they get hurt, sick or die because of it.

[TxVicki]

Do you have a fence in your yard that they had to go thru to get to the pool? I would most certainly call the police and let them know.

I know in Texas, anyone with a pool much have a fence.

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I would call my Police Department non-emergency number & ask to speak with an officer about what your legal responsibilities are as a pool owner in that jurisdiction. Then, consult your attorney about civil liabilities you could incur when someone using your pool gets hurt or drowns. Lastly, would check with my insurance company. You may be forced to do some more protective things & post some notices or something, use locks, etc., but don't know what other things you could face if this happens again and the swimmer gets hurt or worse. But you need to know what swimmers using your pool could cost you should they get hurt, sick or die because of it.

Exactly, I wanted to call the police department and let them know about what happened, but my husband felt that the kids that did it would do something to the pool in retaliation . . .

They can't get in the pool from the deck it is latched and locked, they jumped in from the side of the pool, no stopping that. It meets height regulations and it also has a locked gate when you walk up from the deck. So as far as liability, I think we are pretty much covered, our insurance company and the town both came out after pool was completed to see if it adhered to the safety guidelines.

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Do you have a fence in your yard that they had to go thru to get to the pool? I would most certainly call the police and let them know.

I know in Texas, anyone with a pool much have a fence.

No we only have a fenced in back yard, the side yard is flat where the pool is and drops down to a hilly area . . .you can't see the pool from the street as my husband has it surrounded with lush landscaping for privacy . . . Our pool would have to be surrounded by fence if an in-ground pool, but since it's above ground, it meets the safety guidelines and we do not have an outside stair to go in . . .

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

Exactly, I wanted to call the police department and let them know about what happened, but my husband felt that the kids that did it would do something to the pool in retaliation . . .

They can't get in the pool from the deck it is latched and locked, they jumped in from the side of the pool, no stopping that. It meets height regulations and it also has a locked gate when you walk up from the deck. So as far as liability, I think we are pretty much covered, our insurance company and the town both came out after pool was completed to see if it adhered to the safety guidelines.

I would still ask the police, put them on alert as unsupervised swimming can be dangerous to the swimmer, especially if impaired with alcohol, drugs, etc. To not notify them might cause you problems. Next time the kid may bring a young child with him. And ask if I had any further jurisdictional preventative obligations should one of the kids slip & fall & become a quadriplegic, etc., & be certain your insurance policy doesn't have a clause that says you are covered only when swimming is properly supervised, or some language like that. I would keep time, date, phone numbers, places called & name, title notes of my conversations, and file that away.

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I would still ask the police, put them on alert as unsupervised swimming can be dangerous to the swimmer, especially if impaired with alcohol, drugs, etc. To not notify them might cause you problems. Next time the kid may bring a young child with him. And ask if I had any further jurisdictional preventative obligations should one of the kids slip & fall & become a quadriplegic, etc., & be certain your insurance policy doesn't have a clause that says you are covered only when swimming is properly supervised, or some language like that. I would keep time, date, phone numbers, places called & name, title notes of my conversations, and file that away.

True, good advice, thanks . . .

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

True, good advice, thanks . . .

To not report a person on your property & using your things without permission is never encouraged by police and if something should happen & you hadn't alerted them, those kids' parents could possibly make your life very hard. The "If only I had known....."-lament in court. Just sayin'!

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

To not report a person on your property & using your things without permission is never encouraged by police and if something should happen & you hadn't alerted them, those kids' parents could possibly make your life very hard. The "If only I had known....."-lament in court. Just sayin'!

True . . it was funny because when my son was driving home he told me there were 4 kids walking around in their bathing suits . . .I didn't think anything of it since our neighborhood has some teens and it's summer so being out that late walking around . . .no big deal . . .they were probably hopping in everyone's pool . . .

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

True . . it was funny because when my son was driving home he told me there were 4 kids walking around in their bathing suits . . .I didn't think anything of it since our neighborhood has some teens and it's summer so being out that late walking around . . .no big deal . . .they were probably hopping in everyone's pool . . .

Oh, I'll bet you are right. So dangerous. Do all you can to protect those kids against themselves. But should anything happen to even one of them, you know the parents would come after your homeowner's benefits so protect yourself in every way you can with due notice of unauthorized, unsupervised use of your pool & property by unknown persons. A written notice follow-up to police would be even better, sent Certified Mail, RRR.

And who is to say a young person using a pool won't get brave & try a break-in, property theft or something if no seems to notice they are on the property. Hopefully it was just a one-time thing & nothing else happens!

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

And who is to say a young person using a pool won't get brave & try a break-in, property theft or something if no seems to notice they are on the property. Hopefully it was just a one-time thing & nothing else happens!

That's EXACTLY what I told my husband . . .I said "and the type of kids that would be brazen enough to go into someone's yard and jump in their pool, are the ones who'll grow up and be breaking into homes . ." He always thinks I exaggerate . . .

[jp4m2]

I don't blame you for being concerned....I looked into those pool alarms that go off if the water is disturbed but I couldn't find one that got good reliable ratings.

Another alternative, is there a place to conceal a baby monitor out by the pool? Years ago we had garage that was off a alley so we put an intercom in our garage with the base in the kitchen. When we would go to bed we would turn the volume up full blast so it would wake us up....Worked like a charm.

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I don't blame you for being concerned....I looked into those pool alarms that go off if the water is disturbed but I couldn't find one that got good reliable ratings.

Another alternative, is there a place to conceal a baby monitor out by the pool? Years ago we had garage that was off a alley so we put an intercom in our garage with the base in the kitchen. When we would go to bed we would turn the volume up full blast so it would wake us up....Worked like a charm.

Wow, I never thought of that . . .good idea! The only other alternative I could come up with is leaving the side light on that shines in the pool area . . but my husband would complain about the electricity being wasted . . . I also suggested that we should just pull on the solar cover every night, but he made that seem like a HUGE chore . . so that's out . . .

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

Exactly, I wanted to call the police department and let them know about what happened, but my husband felt that the kids that did it would do something to the pool in retaliation . . .

They can't get in the pool from the deck it is latched and locked, they jumped in from the side of the pool, no stopping that. It meets height regulations and it also has a locked gate when you walk up from the deck. So as far as liability, I think we are pretty much covered, our insurance company and the town both came out after pool was completed to see if it adhered to the safety guidelines.

I would still call the police. They are not going to catch the kids who did it, since you don't know exactly who it was. And even if you did, I doubt the cops would really do anything. But just to call to let them know about what happened. Doubt the kids will ever be caught, so why would they retaliate?