Someone Removed My Fence

My question involves real estate located in the State of: Pennsylvania.

Hello. I bought the house where I live nine years ago. It was fenced on three sides; the fourth has a hedge.
My neighbors on the south side are in the process of selling their house. Their property is not fenced at all. Several weeks ago they had a surveyor to mark the property. He placed markers on both ends of the line dividing our properties about three inches from my fence on their side.

This afternoon when I went out, my fence is gone along the property line - all 187 feet of it.

None of my other neighbors have seen anything, so - at this point - I cannot accuse anyone.

I'd like to know what I should do: have a police report done?

Since I bought the house with the fence, I am not absolutely sure the neighbors don't own part of the fence, but it seems to have been on my property if I rely on the markers.

I'll pay a visit to the attorney who did the closing of the house. Anything I should know/do?

Thank you very much for any help.

I would definitely file a police report.

Thank you. I'll do that tomorrow. How do we find out if a fence is shared or not? Is it on the deed?

Have a dump nearby? Go check there...

Dump? You mean scrap metal yard. People around here fight over a metal post.

When you file the police report, use the word "vandalism" as in "someone vandalized my fence" And let the police figure out who did it. They will be knocking on several doors.

Don't immediately accuse anyone or the police will call it a civil matter. Try to get them to come out and visit the scene. Make sure that you show them where the fence was located, particularly in relation the recently placed surveyor's pins.

was the fence made of a material that would have some salvage value? was the fence remaining of the same material? was the removal orderly or does it look like somebody pulled it out with a truck?

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Quoting jk

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was the fence made of a material that would have some salvage value?

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Metal fencing and posts. Scrap metal, I suppose.

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Quoting jk

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was the fence remaining of the same material?

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The fence was the same (4' high chain link) as the two other sides of my property.

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Quoting jk

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was the removal orderly or does it look like somebody pulled it out with a truck?

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Orderly and quiet! They may have done it during the night. Early morning I heard some drilling going on; Saturday morning, people work in their yard. I never looked. It turned out that the drilling was done by my other neighbors across the street and they saw nothing.

This is small PA country village where everyone knows/is related to everyone. I am the outsider. I wouldn't be surprised if the police guy went to school with my neighbor. Wish me luck!

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Quoting LandSurveyor

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When you file the police report, use the word "vandalism" as in "someone vandalized my fence" And let the police figure out who did it. They will be knocking on several doors.

Don't immediately accuse anyone or the police will call it a civil matter. Try to get them to come out and visit the scene. Make sure that you show them where the fence was located, particularly in relation the recently placed surveyor's pins.

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Sure. The problem is, I'd like to be sure the fence was totally mine before crying thief.
Some years ago, my other neighbor across the street told me that these neighbors, while talking to her, told her that they thought the fence was theirs. My neighbor said, how could it be yours? Your yard is not fenced and the fence was installed on three sides of my house and on my property. They didn't seem convinced.

These are the only neighbors with whom I don't talk. I am a friendly person, and when I moved here I went to introduce myself. Never got a chance. The man shouted for me to get "off his property". And I was on the sidewalk in front of their house. It's a pity. If it was anyone else, I would go over and discuss the matter. I am an easy person to work with and have never involved "authorities" in anything.

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Sure. The problem is, I'd like to be sure the fence was totally mine before crying thief.

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Well then, how do you do that? If the survey is not conclusive, why are we even discussing this? I think that we have concluded from your posts that you did not wish the fence removed. Is that correct?

Chain link fences are prohibited in many places, including where I live. What is your hoped for outcome in this matter?

Actually, you are right. I can get a police report because the fence is at worst partially mine (little chance, but we never know). So, I'll start there. The survey was done by the neighbors before they sell their house. If they did it, they clearly saw that the fence was behind their posts.
4 foot high chain link fences are what most people have around here (95%). Unless they have a vinyl fence (5%).

So, what needs to be done is:
1) Make a report that my fence was removed.
2) Make sure the fence was totally mine. (Check the deed with attorney).
3) Find out who did it.
4) If the neighbors removed it with the intention of placing a new one, make sure they put it on their side. I shouldn't pay for half.
5) If the neighbors removed it with no intention of replacing - I'd hate to get there. Suing? Might be more expensive than to fix it myself. (Don't know, no experience there).
6) If the neighbors didn't do it, see what the police say.
7) If the house gets sold, the new owners might want to put a fence.
8) If not, I'll have to think of what to do.

How does that sound?