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Original poster

Neighbours CCTV

85 replies

Bababing12 · 09/09/2024 13:19

Can anyone help, advise or has been in this situation.

We have new neighbours opposite slightly to the left. They moved in and when they first moved in , we used to see them peering in people front windows when they were out 🤣 . They’re really bizzare and nosey. They have all their curtains shut themselves but we’ve noticed they put a number of CCTV cameras in their house - inside and outside.

One camera is in their front bedroom and is directed fully into our house- it just points into our bedroom and lounge.

I have children who waddle around with no pants on etc as you can’t see into our house… however this camera can!

Does anyone have any advise on what we do . We are reluctant to talk to them as it’s confrontation and also they’ll say it doesn’t point - is their an official person we can report to on this and any experience help welcomed!

Thank you

OP posts:
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ElsieMc · 11/09/2024 14:50

Not entirely sure of legalities here op but a second home owner (absent a lot) in an adjoining courtyard put up cctv cameras high up on their house. It looked straight into our front garden and also the courtyard which they do not own. They put up another one onto their parking space which they own and fair enough. He started sending texts/emails to residents who he felt were not complying with his rules and I received a letter saying my hedge was too high.

I went round with the local PCSO to check how far ranging his filming was. He was told to turn his cameras inwards so he was not filming my garden or the privately owned courtyard. Bet he had a surprise seeing us turn up on camera and have a good look at what he was doing rather than vice versa.

TortillasAndSalsa · 11/09/2024 14:47

@Bababing12 I'm glad you went with your instincts. Your now ex by the sounds of it neighbors sound very creepy

Paganpentacle · 11/09/2024 14:40

CCTV/RING etc is to monitor your own property- its not supposed to go beyond the boundaries of that and certainly not into other peoples properties.

Inform the police.

Original poster
Bababing12 · 11/09/2024 14:35

Spiderwmn · 11/09/2024 09:23

I was going to say at the start that some weirdo could post film of your house/kids online if they wanted - all those rubbishing your fears.
I would agree a sex offender that the pcso already knew about - hence fast response.

I’m wondering this- have they found something dodgy and that led them to removing electronic items.

Always the quiet ones- my dad said there was a chap at his old work who was very polite, quiet etc anyway the police took his company laptop (after taking his personal ones at home) and found he had been watching underage videos. He went to prison.

And there was a really quiet lady, who had moved from Japan, and worked in my husbands firm. She was a management accountant on 30k per year but drove a very expensive car and had expensive designer clothes. Her boyfriend was a part time chef so there wealth didn’t make sense but you assume family maybe. Anyway, one day police raided there office - and turns out they had been trafficking people into the UK for years. It was all over the news and they were sent to prison.

So yes I do think lots happens behind closed doors. I just figure we won’t be updated though now if it’s a criminal case.

OP posts:
tygertygers · 11/09/2024 10:37

This sounds a bit like that film Sliver, with William Baldwin. All turned out quite badly if I recall rightly.

Spiderwmn · 11/09/2024 09:23

I was going to say at the start that some weirdo could post film of your house/kids online if they wanted - all those rubbishing your fears.
I would agree a sex offender that the pcso already knew about - hence fast response.

Original poster
Bababing12 · 11/09/2024 08:48

Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 08:12

Actually yes. There’s a hole in your evidence.
the Ring doorbell can be set to have a boundary for alerting purposes. But it can’t be set to have a boundary for filming. Therefore if you have a Ring doorbell you are essentially filming across the street. And can watch this.

What you’re saying is the person across the street has ring cameras facing you. But that you have a ring camera facing them but yours can’t see as far. But that’s not how it works.

Show quote history

Ok- I don’t really know how to respond to you. What you’re asking is did I sit and watch the events unfold live on my ring door bell camera- no I didn’t. I would have had to watch it live to have seen it going on, and of course as pointed out we don’t film past the boundary so it wouldn’t be recorded any way. I was at my children’s swimming lessons and was not sat watching my ring door bell live 🤣

But well done- what a lovely rabbit hole to go down!

This is another example of a weird response to me over a perfectly reasonable thread asking for advice. I find the response sometimes on mumsnet very small minded - it’s like everyone is assumed to have the same living situation, wealth , location of where they live. There are plenty of people in England who live in villages!

OP posts:
Ohmycarrots · 11/09/2024 08:31

Following this bizarre story.

Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 08:18

But I do apologise for my tone. I think it’s because your post reads like an Enid blyton story

very unrealistic and dramatic twists and turns. Sweet little village scenes

I have lots of ring cameras up. I never look at footage unless something happens. I’m surveying lots of people and properties but hopefully no one cares because I’m not actually looking at anything or anyone.

I do understand people not liking the idea of being under surveillance but I think if you have a camera yourself then you can’t argue about anyone else having

Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 08:12

Bababing12 · 11/09/2024 07:33

I find your response quite strange! Especially the tone.

But just for your benefit I’ll talk you through what I did step by step 🤣.

Our ring doorbell video doesn’t record past our boundary - we couldn’t see what’s going on - so we were indeed informed by a neighbour who came out and chatted to us when we got back from swimming.

Any other questions detective?! 🕵️‍♀️

Show quote history

Actually yes. There’s a hole in your evidence.
the Ring doorbell can be set to have a boundary for alerting purposes. But it can’t be set to have a boundary for filming. Therefore if you have a Ring doorbell you are essentially filming across the street. And can watch this.

What you’re saying is the person across the street has ring cameras facing you. But that you have a ring camera facing them but yours can’t see as far. But that’s not how it works.

Original poster
Bababing12 · 11/09/2024 07:33

Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 04:09

You were informed by a neighbour? So you’re saying you didn’t check your cctv footage of this drama from your Ring doorbell?

Show quote history

I find your response quite strange! Especially the tone.

But just for your benefit I’ll talk you through what I did step by step 🤣.

Our ring doorbell video doesn’t record past our boundary - we couldn’t see what’s going on - so we were indeed informed by a neighbour who came out and chatted to us when we got back from swimming.

Any other questions detective?! 🕵️‍♀️

OP posts:
Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 04:10

Fraaahnces · 10/09/2024 12:45

I’d be checking my bank statements. Wonder if they’ve been watching you do your electronic banking online.

😂

Chaoseverywhere · 11/09/2024 04:09

Bababing12 · 10/09/2024 07:44

Thank you. No real update today other than the man never came home and his wife left with a suitcase with her family. Police carried on taking electronic things out their house for about an hour in evidence bags. I was out at my kids swimming lessons but was informed all this by a neighbour. Me and my husband are wondering if it’s now nothing about the cctv pointing at our houses but something more fishy is going on in general. I don’t know if we’ll ever find out though- we have a reference number to call - but I can imagine if something criminal has been going on we won’t be informed now.

Show quote history

You were informed by a neighbour? So you’re saying you didn’t check your cctv footage of this drama from your Ring doorbell?

RosannaSpider · 11/09/2024 03:51

Have the same issue but the one with the CCTV is a pervert stalker.
Police and ixo do nothing

Itsmahoneybaloney · 10/09/2024 21:36

Bababing12 · 10/09/2024 07:44

Thank you. No real update today other than the man never came home and his wife left with a suitcase with her family. Police carried on taking electronic things out their house for about an hour in evidence bags. I was out at my kids swimming lessons but was informed all this by a neighbour. Me and my husband are wondering if it’s now nothing about the cctv pointing at our houses but something more fishy is going on in general. I don’t know if we’ll ever find out though- we have a reference number to call - but I can imagine if something criminal has been going on we won’t be informed now.

Show quote history

Sex offender probably!

Fraaahnces · 10/09/2024 12:45

I’d be checking my bank statements. Wonder if they’ve been watching you do your electronic banking online.

HelpWhatIf · 10/09/2024 12:44

Oh my god OP! So glad you ignored the naysayers and trusted your gut. This whole thing feels so icky!

HelpAGirlOut1234 · 10/09/2024 12:38

Shamelessly place marking... this is incredibly creepy

bergamotorange · 10/09/2024 09:33

Pantaloons99 · 09/09/2024 13:36

@SharpWriter unfortunately I know many people who secretly want power and control by monitoring people's activities. There truly are enough messed up boundary oversteppers out there. If OP feels something is off here, I believe it.

I agree with this.

Many use cameras appropriately, but of course some do not. Most people are decent/reasonable, but not all, and this then applies in every aspect of life.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 10/09/2024 08:37

🤯

JohnofWessex · 10/09/2024 08:07

Interesting!

Original poster
Bababing12 · 10/09/2024 07:44

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 09/09/2024 22:44

@Bababing12 the whole thing is so creepy and weird, well done trusting your gut instincts here 👍

Thank you. No real update today other than the man never came home and his wife left with a suitcase with her family. Police carried on taking electronic things out their house for about an hour in evidence bags. I was out at my kids swimming lessons but was informed all this by a neighbour. Me and my husband are wondering if it’s now nothing about the cctv pointing at our houses but something more fishy is going on in general. I don’t know if we’ll ever find out though- we have a reference number to call - but I can imagine if something criminal has been going on we won’t be informed now.

OP posts:
BoreOffAboutYerChickensEmma · 09/09/2024 23:39

We have PCSOs like that in our village, they are very helpful.

It reminded me about a woman who lives in a terraced house on the school run. Her house is directly on the pavement, so the door opens onto the street, no front garden. She installed a cctv camera above her door which could see everyone walking past, including all the children to and from the school (same street). It bothered a family and they complained. She now has the camera at a very sharp angle to just about see her front door and probably half a person, but many people want her to take it down.

Uptheflagpole · 09/09/2024 23:20

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

JohnofWessex · 09/09/2024 23:17

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/law-and-courts/legal-system-s/police-s/police-powers-to-stop-and-search-enter-private-property-and-seize-goods-s/

In particular

When can the police enter and search premises
In general, the police don’t have the power to search premises without a warrant unless they have obtained the permission of the person concerned, or a delay in obtaining a warrant would be likely to defeat the ends of justice, for example, that evidence will be destroyed or removed.

So if the Police were not allowed in, and they suspect that an offence has been committed, in this case possibly

Under Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act, an instance of voyeurism includes: Observing someone in a private act (e.g. watching somebody through a window.) Recording someone in a private act. (e.g. filming people having sex.)20 Feb 2024

They can enter the property without a warrant to secure the CCTV and recording equipment. Thats my take on it anyway.

Like a lot of these things it can be done if they want to and can identify the relevant powers

Police powers to stop and search, enter private property and seize goods

Information on when the police can stop and search you, how searches should be conducted, when they can enter your home and their powers to seize money and goods.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/law-and-courts/legal-system-s/police-s/police-powers-to-stop-and-search-enter-private-property-and-seize-goods-s

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