Neighbours requests after a burglary

[Roughnose]

We acquired a house from a relative of DH last year, it needed a lot of work and money spent on it to make it habitable.
A new family moved in next door during the early part of the referb, and it’s come to light that they have had 4 attempted burglaries for their cars and motorbikes, and the 5th attempt was successful with one of the motorbikes.
We haven’t started on the garden yet but we have plans in place for how we want it to look.
The neighbours have asked us to keep the (broken and rotten) bamboo screening between our gardens as it would prevent burglars from jumping over our fence to their garden. They have asked us to keep a broken fence panel in place as it would make it harder for a burglar to jump on their garage roof. To not cut down a tree at the back as someone could look over the fence into their garden. They have asked us to remove a brick flower bed as a burglar could stand on it and jump over. They have asked us to put new fence panels between our front gardens for their privacy (current ones are fine but only 4ft tall) And they have asked us to not put trellis on any fences as they want to put barbed wire on top of them.
Now I understand the burglaries are horrible for them and I’m sure they’re stressed and upset, but to expect us to make changes to our home and garden feels too far for me. Of course I would want to help prevent another attempt, and I certainly don’t want anyone coming onto our property, but I also don’t want to live as if we’re the victims of it and make changes to our own plans for them.
It’s put us off living in the house as planned, although we will be here for minimum 2 years to finish refurbs before selling on/renting out so we will have to make do. At least we have cctv and alarms. It’s made me feel like I won’t be able to enjoy the garden due to the risk they’ll constant harass us about changes we make that wont benefit them.
Do we say no and leave it at that or be neighbourly and agree?

they’re completely conkers

Like you I understand their feelings but they're being unreasonable.

You can suggest they plant spiky plants along their boundaries instead. And actually, I think the advice is not to screen the house too much with planting as it provides cover for burglars - they'd be better off with the modern-day-equivalent of net curtains

You don't have to do anything. It's unfortunate what's happened but it's not your problem. None of those things they've requested would necessarily prevent another burglary. I don't know anyone who's had even 1 attempted break-in, let alone 4/5!

Nonono. My garden. My decisions.

They can do what they like with their garden and put up their own fences/boundaries to their own wishes in their property. You can absolutely do whatever you like in yours.

Gravel is also a good deterrent because crims can't approach silently.

Barbed wire on their fence is probably illegal.
A climbing rose is not.

Really?

Have they not asked for a spotlight and machine gun turret on the roof ?

And laser tripwires in the garden ?

Trellis is actually recommended as a burglar deterrent, because it breaks when they try to leap over it. All the better if it has roses or pyracantha growing up it.

One can't help wondering why their house is such a magnet for criminals...

Barbed wire isn’t illegal but I wouldn’t be happy with it near my property or on adjoining fences.

“Police forces advise against the use of barbed wire to protect residential buildings as the householder is likely to be liable for any injuries or damage caused if a trespasser or burglar attempted to break in.”

orher than that - no to all their requests. No you won’t fortify your garden or keep crappy fences for their sake. They are free to build and additional fence on their side.

They are nuts… they need to secure their boundary.

it doesn’t even make sense to keep broken panelling.

to keep it neighbourly I would be sympathetic but explain that what they are proposing isn’t the best option. Additionally, given the amount of burglaries in the area you are also nervous so want a secure boundary too (&that doesn’t involve broken fence panels)

That's way too big a shopping list of things to do to suit them not you.

Let them know you will be prioritising your own plans as you tackle the garden and whilst you intend to be mindful of not making things easy for burglars they need to take responsibility for their own home security so if they need fencing or screening in particular places they can install it themselves on their own side of the boundary line. You will not be leaving broken or rotten items in place and will make your own decisions regarding trees. If they want barbed wire they certainly cannot put it on any fence that is on your side of the boundary and if they place a dangerous material like that immediately to their side of the boundary they will be held liable for any injury to you, your pets or your children resulting from putting a dangerous material so close to the boundary of their property (they would also incidentally be held responsible if any potential burglar injured themselves of barbed wire - even criminals have enough human rights that it's not ok to deliberately try to injure them if you aren't acting in immediate self-defence and installing barbed wire does not count as self-defence)

If a burglar injured themselves on barbed wire, the homeowner would be responsible for that.

trellis is a lot better - it’ll snap and make a noise

i think that burglar prevention is a good thing to think about, and you should, but the people next door don’t seem to understand the right way to go about it. So I would try to be kind to them as burglary is traumatic, but at the same time, better solutions than those they suggest are needed.

Controlling much?! I appreciate they are worried after the break ins but they can’t dictate what you do in your house. It’s a lot of requests

The bit about keeping the rotten fence panel and bamboo doesn't make any sense - they were presumably there through the previous 5 burglaries, so clearly don't make any difference!

Thanks everyone I’m glad it’s not me being a cow by not wanting to do it.
They have brand new cars and motorbikes and the teen/young adult sons have them out the front every day so I’m guessing it’s caught someone’s interest. I’ve never known of burglaries around here and we’ve lived in the area for 13 years.

Have they not asked for a spotlight and machine gun turret on the roof ?

And laser tripwires in the garden ?

that’s made me howl with laughter, maybe I should get my 5 year old to become a sniper for pocket money

They got in via their side gate and over their garage roof then broke their back fences to get out, I think they are worried they will come back and try via my garden next time, but I do have cctv so I’d know if someone was trespassing.

Just tell them the truth. You're spending time and money on the property in order to sell on in the future.
Future buyers would not be attracted to middle England's version of Alcatraz.

Ignore it all and do what you want.

When you speak to them, perhaps over-egg how dreadful the situation is, that you hugely understand the importance and will consider all of their demands requests.

Then proceed with what you want, and if they say anything afterwards, sweet,y smile and say you did what was possible within the plans you had.

They can then secure their own property.

They have my sympathy, it must be awful. But their demands are ridiculous and not the answer.

“Thanks for letting us know about the burglary, we’re sorry you have had that experience. We will be considering security when we decide what we’re doing in the garden bearing in mind some general police advice on home security and balancing that with making it a nice space to use. Are you thinking about getting an alarm or ring doorbell?”

Hell no, not your responsibility to refurbish your garden for their benefit and i'm sure barbed wire on top of domestic fencing is illegal

This should be a CF thread 😉 they probably need to work a bit harder on securing their own fencing rather than expecting you to do it and, I assume, bear the cost

Er no. They can do what they want on their side of the boundary.

YANBU
They need to sort out their side gate with barbed wire/locks etc and put something on their garage roof to prevent someone climbing on it. If they want bigger fence panels then they can sort them out! Obviously it’s awful that they have been burgled but it’s not your responsibility to burglar-proof your neighbours house.
Sometimes things are stolen to order and if they have what these criminals want then they’ll find a way. Bloody awful sign of the times though! We deliberately bought a new car that wasn’t fancied by criminals (I fancied a new Land Rover) but I knew it would attract criminal attention. So we got a Ford instead 😓

I suppose they want you to buy top of the range gear for your house and for you not to have curtains so your house is targeted.

Tell them to shove it.