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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Randomers Walking on Walls

35 replies

LadyBeth · 09/09/2023 01:32

I'm fed up of constantly looking out the window to see random kids and men walking along our high side and back wall in order to take a shortcut to the neighbouring estate. I've just been woken by two of them chatting loudly as they walk the wall beside our bedroom. Aibu and more to the point what can we do to prevent this?? Sick of it. Caught one guy recently jumping the wall down into our back garden and casually walking across the grass to get out the side gate.

OP posts:
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Spookymormonhelldream · 09/09/2023 10:37

I'd go with anti climb paint and a pyracantha.

TheWayofBeing · 09/09/2023 09:18

Anti loitering devices. Paint, spikes or wire. That's your choices.

Ohthatsabitshit · 09/09/2023 08:57

Prickly plants where they climb up and down. Sprinklers with motion sensors. Lock the side gate.

bollocksbollocks · 09/09/2023 08:51

Smear dog shit on the walls (may be best to wear heavy duty rubber gloves). Cheap and cheerful.

BusyBees1234 · 09/09/2023 08:38

A sniper

HouseHassle · 09/09/2023 08:26

Razor wire, electric fence or a large dog?

Actually better still, a small dog. Preferably a jack Russell or chihuahua...

MaybeOneAndDone · 09/09/2023 08:24

Motion activated sprinkler system. They're designed to deter cats, but might help with your human intruder issue.

Poshjock · 09/09/2023 08:19

Many many years we had this problem. Lived on a main road and by cutting through our garden, jumping the wall into the garden of the house behind us it saved a long walk around. It was very rare during the day but late evening and overnight, revellers from the nearby pub were a menace. My dad was a mechanic and one day he brought home a tub of used oil and grease and smeared it around the wall. Problem stopped instantly. I imagine that must have messed up a lot of clothes that night.

The back of the garden was being planted and the little plants were being damaged. The respite from this action allowed the shrubbery to grow and with the addition of a lovely pair of holly bushes by this corner put a permanent end to the shortcut.

I would suggest changing the coping stone to pointed or sloped, or adding decorative metal work or trellis. Longer term consider planting such as climbers (pyracantha is known as the burgler deterrant), to disrupt the ease in which the wall is walked/scaled. Lock the gate or otherwise make that route less accessible, etc.

Houseplantmad · 09/09/2023 08:16

Spikes are perfectly fine but you have to put up a warning notice about them. This, I think, shows how dysfunctional we’ve become - having to warn someone who shouldn’t be climbing a wall that the spikes are there. If they’re climbing it when they shouldn’t they deserve everything they get!

dentydown · 09/09/2023 08:16

Sounds a bit naff, but I wonder if some securely cemented down garden ornaments would work. Of something large to partially block the way like a bamboo archway.

Ýsette · 09/09/2023 08:16

Can we have a diagram please?

Tinkerbyebye · 09/09/2023 08:13

Set rows of pidgin spikes in the top. Also put that paint on that goes on clothes etc. think you have to put signs up for that though I think

Pidgeon spiked would work

Phoenix1Arisen · 09/09/2023 08:13

In your shoes and if you have legal protection as part of your home insurance, I'd be asking if any liability could be laid at your door if one of these idiots should fall and be injured.

Ordinarily their stupidity would be nothing to do with your but as you now know about the problem, I suspect the onus could change. I'd be investing in some anti climb/vandal paint.

Interestingly, I note that the Belgian cyclist who deliberately knocked a small child down has won the right to claim compensation from the child's father so logic doesn't always come into situations such as this. Good luck.

Autumntimeagain · 09/09/2023 08:12

You can get anti climb rollers, which can be spiky, put above your fence ?

CheshireDing · 09/09/2023 08:12

Maybe just put signs on their side of the wall which say there is anti climb paint but don’t buy any initially and see if that works

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/09/2023 08:10

If the wall’s 6ft high, is there an easy way for them to get up / down? Can you block that?

LadyBeth · 09/09/2023 08:03

@Waystation similar to two parallel roads with two estates in between, so my estate is accessed from road A, the other from road B, so in order to get from my estate to the neighbouring estate you'd have to go all the way out to the road, along road A, along another connecting road, to road B. If that makes any sense 😁.

OP posts:
beastlyslumber · 09/09/2023 07:38

Waystation · 09/09/2023 07:32

I’m going round in circles trying to work out how walking on a wall can be a shortcut - I know it’s not a parking thread but can we have a diagram?

I don't understand either.

Krickley · 09/09/2023 07:35

The cheeky buggers!

Waystation · 09/09/2023 07:32

I’m going round in circles trying to work out how walking on a wall can be a shortcut - I know it’s not a parking thread but can we have a diagram?

Kanyewestsboat · 09/09/2023 07:10

I read on here the other day of someone putting cooking oil on their walls to stop people gathering outside as it stays sticky. Also agree with anti climbing paint, and signs on the other side to say this has been done? Although you'd have to be very neat with it on the top of I'd look rubbish in you're garden if it dripped down, unless you can get clear?

cruffinsmuffin · 09/09/2023 07:04

Anti vandal paint!

Or definitely a decorative trellis / planter - it'll do the job whilst also looking like you're making home improvements rather than defending the wall.

GreenhouseGarden · 09/09/2023 06:55

Pigeon spikes: easy to fit with a glue gun.

Riapia · 09/09/2023 06:51

If they climb higher than 6ft to walk on your wall nothings going to stop the fuckers.

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