Funny how the police always manage to be there to write you a ticket if you're running late for work and happen to be going a little over the speed limit and/or roll through a stop sign. But ask them to stop a mentally-disturbed relative from vandalizing your property (or to issue a citation to some noisy/reckless member of the neighborhood) and suddenly its, "We can't do anything." The fact that local law enforcement apparently refuses to get involved is nothing short of outrageous, especially considering that "mom" has already been issued written warnings. (By whom?) Can't the LW take out a restraining order or something? And while it is interesting that the LW's husband isn't taking care of the situation himself, I doubt anything he'd say would have much effect. This M-I-L sounds like she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Crazy people don't realize they are crazy and often can't be reasoned with.

I have a hard time believing the police can't or won't do anything. Not only did she vandalize their property she stole their property too. In order for the police to do anything son and d-i-l have to press charges. It sounds as thought they didn't do so. I also want to know where her husband is on all this craziness. He needs to tell his mom to back off and leave them alone.

Cathy and Matt have good points regarding the MIL issue. Filing a complaint is just; filing a complaint. They need to PRESS CHARGES. She needs to be arrested for property theft and vandalism. I can gurantee you that LW and her spineless hubby have not done that. Do it. Then let the relatives be forced to do something with the crazy woman (and she is crazy and needs help).

I would like to comment on your response to Trying to Understand concerning her depressed 15 year old friend.
Your advice was good about encouraging her to get her friend to talk to a school counselor, favorite teacher,
or other trusted adult friend. Unfortunately, I lost my 14 year old daughter to suicide last year. She covered
her intense feelings of despair from everyone until the last week of her life when she told several people that she
was going to kill herself. None of those kids chose to tell us. As much as this girl dislikes her parents, they
need to know so that they do not end up suffering the same fate that my family did. We would have done
anything to save our daughter.