Peeping Tom in Oakland Hills upsetting neighbors

OAKLAND, Calif. - A nocturnal peeper has an Oakland woman at her wit's end and about to stage a citizen's arrest. 

The prowler has been caught on her surveillance system three times in two weeks, and he may have been peering in windows in her neighborhood for years. 

"I know he's watching at night," said Hannah Kirk, "and I don't like it, but he's definitely watching when I come and go." 

Kirk has lived in the Maxwell Park area for six years.

It is well-maintained, with neighborhood watch signs visible and an active community association. 

"Can you believe this guy?, said Kirk, showing KTVU her security footage, "and then he just strolls out like no problem."

Kirk has installed motion-detection lights and cameras in strategic locations, but nothing seems to deter the man. 

He makes a beeline for a large window at the rear of her house, and even with the shades down, will spend a half hour or more peering inside.

Kirk believes he's been prowling her property for years, but she has video proof he was there two weekends in a row, and this past weekend, two consecutive nights.  

After spotting him Saturday, Kirk posted the surveillance images on the social network "Next Door" and dozens of outraged neighbors responded.

Some people came over to string wire and a "video surveillance" warning sign, but the next night, the peeper climbed right over them.

"They put up all chicken wire all over and he still he went through like it was nothing," said Kirk. 
The man sometimes enters and exits through a side gate, and makes his way down Kirk's driveway to the street.

In recent weeks, two other women in the same neighborhood have also captured images of a man, who appears to be the same individual, invading their backyards. 

In one video, he scaled a six foot fence and only fled after lights came on and the woman inside the house saw him and started screaming.

Kirk has mapped out the occurrences and shown Oakland Police her video, but was told their response is limited. 

Trespassing isn't a violent crime, she was informed, and investigators need his identity in order to pursue a case.     

"Catch him is the only thing I can do," said Kirk. "I need to catch him so I can get his name so I can file a restraining order against him." 

Now a group of neighbors are planning to stake out the hallway at the rear of Kirk's home, and the next appearance he makes, intervene and detain the man in a citizen's arrest. 

"What worries me about this guy is how he's cruising around in the middle of the night, obviously with a lot of free time," said neighbor Brian DiGiorgio, "and so what is the point and where is it going to lead?" 
DiGiorgio has been in the neighborhood less than two years, and hadn't heard the recurring peeper stories until now.

He is dismayed at the lukewarm police response. 

"When I think about Walnut Creek or Lafayette or other places I have experience with, it wouldn't be a "do it yourself" initiative to find somebody like this," said DiGiorgio.

The man on the surveillance systems appears to be white, middle-aged, stocky and balding.  

"I don't know if anything will stop this guy, chicken wire, razor wire," said Hannah Kirk ruefully.

She feels she must try, especially with two small children at home.  

"He seems to be watching when we come home, looking in my window, multiple occasions, and several nights in a row," said Kirk, " so I don't  want this escalating any further, it's extremely unsettling."