Found neighbour snooping in my side area...

[MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll]

I was just sitting in my back garden and heard unmistakable footsteps in the alley leading from the cul de sac...the alley is driveway really and accesable from the street....I was sittting very quietly so knew what I heard...I waited for about 3 seconds to see if they'd try the gate and nothing...so I got up and opened the gate...nobody there...but i KNEW I had heard somene...so went up the drive to look down the street and before I got to the end...one of my neighbours popped his head out from round my next door neigbours house..right by their front door...and he waved a carrier bag and said "Just checking what bins are meant to be out!" and left...

He had not NEEDED to come down my drive to do that...my bins are out in the road as are my next door nighbours.

Now not long ago I posted about this guy staing at my child when she plays out and I got totally bollocked on here for suspecting a man of "looking"

But now feel my instincts were right somehow....WHY was he snooping around my back gate in the dark at gone 11? He was definately right by my tall back gate as I heard his steps approaching...or leaving....I had beeen there for around ten minutes...sitting silently on my table under my patio umbrella.....( something I do often as I can think clearly...its like meditation) but because I only heard ONE set of footsteps it s conceivable that he was AREADY THERE when I went out and that after some time, he tried to sneak off...

There is no way the sound played a trick on me....he was RIGHT by my gate....and then seconds later he was apparently hiding round the sde of my neighbours home. What do I do??? DH almost went and knocked on the mans door but I dissueded him.

How long have you lived there?
For the record, I don't think it sounds sinister, I think he's just a bit odd, some people are
But I think you have done the right thing by reporting it

I think a local beat officer or a PCSO if you have thos ein your area could be of assistance.

They could call at all houses in the vicinity especially including that of the man you mentioned and say they have received reports of an individual accessing the rear of people's properties and asking if any of the residents have seen anything too as this person may be up to no good of some sort and they need to document sightings. This sends out the message that he has been seen and reported, should make him think twice about doing it again.

Our local PCSO has been very effective with tackling anti social behaviour with this technique as it keeps you (the person who reported it) personally out of it and makes it less pointed if they visit several properties in the vicinity using the same "report being followed up" tactic.

Thats a great idea!

But you need to get his name and tell the police. Easy to get. Just say to neighbours - its a bit embarassing but I don't actually know the names of our neighbours. Do you know his and his wifes name?

It is a good idea but I can't tell the beat officer how to go about his job and what to say can I?

We have been here for 4 years witchy

I didn't, still don't, but he is very distinctive in appearance and habits, the policeman knew straight away who I was talking about, as has everyone else I've mentioned it to over the last few months (small town!)

Omgomgomg makes a very good point. Our local police do this if there has been a burglary, or they sometimes send a letter to everyone in the street, even if they don't speak to the actual culprit it raises everyone else's awareness to be on the lookout which can only be a good thing.

He just sounds bored and nosey. Lots of elderly people are like that.

No they're not LaLa and early 50s is hardly elderly.

You've done the right thing in logging it with the police.

3 years ago my parents moved on to a lovley quiet street with lots of kids next door to a man who seemed alittle 'odd' he'd been living there for 5 years and everyone thought he was an innocent old man. One of the neighbours became concerned about his behaviour and called the police just to get advice. The next thing there are poloce cars everywhere and hes being carted off. The neighbour felt so guilty as he was just alittle odd, but harmless. They then had police taking statements from all the neighbours. It turned out he was a convicted pedofile (sp?) The police had lost track of him and he wasnt allowed within so many metres of kids. He'd been in and out of my parents garden fixing the fence and playing with 3 (at the time) yo db, he'd been in other neighbours houses with their kids etc. He tried to deny all knowledge of it and said he'd kept himself to himself and didn't know any of the neighbours, didn't realise there was a childrens play park at the end of the street (which he spent hours in every day). He's back in jail, but is alowed home at Christmas :(

You don't like to believe there is a pedo of every corner, but if you feel uneasy the best thing to do is log it with the police.

you have every right to be concerned about someone near your back gate at 11 at night.

.DH said he feels the guy obviously has mental isues as he is never the same....one day he will say hello to DH and the next he wont...he chased a lad who was deivering leaflets and as I said earlier, he also challenges cars who don''t belong here...you know...if someone gets lost off the main road and comes down here...he's out in a flash and he says "What do you want? Nothng here for you!"

He just sounds a bit unusual and possibly has issues. You say he stares at your DD but he also has stared at your mum so I wouldn't worry about him specifically being a danger to children or your DD, he just sounds like a starer.

Allowed out at Christmas addictediam?!! no way! it doesn't work like that. If they've breached their release conditions, they are back in prison for the remainder of their sentence. End of.

Db is almost 5. So this was 18 months ago, he gets released in Dec. Hes served his time. He owns the house so there is nothing they can do to stop him returning (he was released once already for good behavior, and then put back in jail for breaching conditions - that time he wasn't allowed home as he hadnt served his full term, but now he has he will be allowed home :(

You can get basic CCTv quite cheaply from places like Argos, and if you are not allowed to put one up (check with council) you could get a dummy one. If you have obvious CCTV he will be put off snooping.

Sorry, I think you are saying that your Db is being released at Christmas having served his full sentence? I read your previous post as convicted prisoners are released for Christmas.

Weird/unpleasant neighbours can make being in your own home a stressful and unhappy time.
Even if your neighbour is just a harmless, nosy man, his behaviour is making you uncomfortable. I think you're right to report it to the Police, but would also be having a talk with your daughter about not going into people houses or cars etc without your express permission. Better forewarned.

Your Mums neighbour, not your brother