How bright?
Pointers are in the milliWatt range. Disco l@zers are in the Watt range. All are distracting if shone into your eyes, and disco l@zers could be damaging.
However, even with a launch telescope, it is unlikely that enough light from a disco l@zer would make it into your eye to do any lasting damage. I believe the danger is from distraction.
The eye tends to steer automatically to a bright light, which exacerbates dazzle and helps to wipe out the most sensitive patch of your vision. Knowledge of this effect is some protection, as a conscious effort to look away will help.
A series of shots from a cheap digital camera out of your window might allow the authorities to work out quite accurately where the l@zer's coming from, by comparison with other lights, even if it does sounds a bit like the CBS show `Numbers'. Without pictures, it'd be tough to get a position, unless the perpetrating MOOC decides to continue to light up the police helicopter until friends on the ground arrive (as previous posts report can happen).