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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you report this as a possible drunk driver?

124 replies

RudeBarbandCustard · 03/04/2017 01:35

I have recently had a new neighbour move in to the flat below mine. In the 2 months since they've lived there, I've only set eyes on them twice - they're a couple, seemed friendly enough when I said hello last week.

They seem odd in that their curtains are permanently closed on their flat, and at night time there's never any light escaping from their windows. They never sit out on their balcony, even when the weather is lovely. They just seem to sit inside in darkness.

My flat overlooks the parking area, and they emerge every few days, drive away, and return within about 30 mins - so I assume they just pop to the shops every now and then. I've no idea if they work.

Today, our recycling bins went out and theirs is absolutely overflowing with cans of cheapo cider - all the same brand. An entire recycling box full - there must be 50+ cans in there. Surely they've been building up a while, I can't imagine anyone could have drunk them all in a week (since the bins last went out ). Nothing else in the recycling bin, just cans (I didn't rummage - I could see this because the lid won't fit on it because it's literally overflowing)

So putting 2 and 2 together, I'm guessing that the trips out in the car are likely to be to stock up on more cider from the local offie. It's not a difficult stretch to then imagine that they may not be entirely sober when they venture out.

Would I be unreasonable to report their number plate to 101 for the police to potentially breathalyze them the next time they spot them...?

My kids play on their bikes in that parking area, the thought of anyone driving around pissed just makes my blood run cold.

OP posts:
Therealjudgejudy · 03/04/2017 12:37

You need a hobby woman!

Mind your own business maybeHmm

thethoughtfox · 03/04/2017 13:08

You are slightly crazy neighbour Grin

Original poster
RudeBarbandCustard · 03/04/2017 16:16

About the biggest curtain twitcher I have ever heard of. You record their daily movements, the state of their window dressings and lights, their weekly movement right down to times ventured out of the house and the content of the bins.

Erm, where exactly did I say I did any of that? I have no idea of their weekly movements or the times they venture out of the house. All I said was I've never seen them outside on their balcony. That's not to say they have never been there, just that I've never seen them. And I said that no light escapes their house - I've noticed this as I walk past their window - I certainly don't 'record their daily movements' what a bizarre over reaction to what I've clearly stated.

As for asking the police to conduct a stake out, or wasting police time. Nope, never suggested that either. Some HUGE assumptions being jumped to here.

I suggested that I would note their car reg to the police so that the next time they were conducting breathalyzing in the area, they would know to check them over. Hardly wasting anyone's time, and if the neighbours aren't over the limit, there's no harm done.

Some seriously professionally offended people on this thread.

Oh and once again, the recycling is collected weekly. But I already said that too.

OP posts:
Original poster
RudeBarbandCustard · 03/04/2017 16:23

There are anti-stalking laws, you know, OP.

Last time I checked, living next door to someone and noticing that their bin is full is probably not quite what those anti-stalking laws were intended for. But as you were.

I think they should log with 101 for you being a busy body

Yes, because that would be totally reasonable and not at all an over reaction. What would they report to the police? That I live next door to them? That I use my balcony? That I glanced at their recycling bin when I put mine out?

Maybe you'll get done for wasting police time.

Yes, I think phoning 101 might just be a criminal offence and prosecuting me for doing so would be a great use of their precious resources.

And I'M the one over reacting?! Hmm

OP posts:
paxillin · 03/04/2017 16:27

Erm, where exactly did I say I did any of that?

But you do describe all of that! You report that they drive off every few days and are gone for 30 minutes. There is your weekly record. You say what happens during the day and what the bin contains.

Instasista · 03/04/2017 16:35

The police are hardly going to be doing routine breathalysing in your car park 🤔

Original poster
RudeBarbandCustard · 03/04/2017 17:19

You report that they drive off every few days and are gone for 30 minutes - i'd hardly call that a weekly record.

Seriously, wouldn't most people notice that their neighbour's car was there, and that they never see them outside? And then when the car goes, it comes back shortly afterwards? If you were standing in your garden, or in my case on my balcony, how would I not notice that? I'm not saying it's an issue, I'm just commenting that when they do venture out, it's for short journeys.

The police are hardly going to be doing routine breathalysing in your car park Not in the car park, no of course not. But on the main road to town, yes they do.

OP posts:
SparklyMagpie · 03/04/2017 17:34

Haha loved how you used one of my posts.

OP fucking calm down !! There's naff all you can do unless you catch them drink driving. You seem to have too much time on your hands

SparklyMagpie · 03/04/2017 17:49

So what they don't go outside on the balcony?! What's the issue? Maybe they are private people; maybe they had friends round for a drink for a housewarming party. Why does it matter they go on short journeys in their car?

Why does it bother you so much? And if it does, then by all means go ahead and report them!

Bloody hell you'd be reporting me a lot if I was your neighbour, although I don't drive. But you have no idea of their circumstances. Leave it well alone until you actually catch them doing something illegal

Universitychallenging · 03/04/2017 17:50

You are seriously a stalker. I hope they report you.

twattymctwatterson · 03/04/2017 17:55

This could be one of the most unhinged AIBUs I've seen on here and that's saying something

PoisonousSmurf · 03/04/2017 17:59

Well OP, there can be many different 'classes' of drinkers. My next door neighbor always recycles their drinks bottles (nice expensive wines), and 'shock horror' there are so many they stick out of the box!
Quelle horreur! But they manage to function, go to work at 6am everyday and get back twelve hours later in their Aston Martin.
Should I 'grass up' on them? Or is it only cider drinkers that should have the law breathing down their necks?
Wind ya neck in and shut your curtains if you don't like what's going on around you.

Xmasbaby11 · 03/04/2017 17:59

I wouldn't notice those things tbh.

paxillin · 03/04/2017 18:01

Seriously, wouldn't most people notice that their neighbour's car was there, and that they never see them outside? And then when the car goes, it comes back shortly afterwards? If you were standing in your garden, or in my case on my balcony, how would I not notice that?

No, I would not notice. I'd assume they'd come and gone whilst I was working, doing the school run, watching TV or doing one of the many things more important than watching them. It sounds completely unhinged to take note and fret about it.

x246 · 03/04/2017 18:09

'No harm done' also assumes that everybody finds being pulled over and breathalysed by the police a barrel of laughs. Some people would find it very upsetting even if they hadn't done anything wrong.

Might as well phone the police and say 'there's a flat where somebody drinks cheap cider and somebody in that flat drives a car' because that's all you know. Absolutely no evidence of drink driving. If they don't go out very often, the cheap cider drinker might even be a third person you've never seen.

Universitychallenging · 03/04/2017 18:11

I don't notice what my neighbours do and when they are and aren't there. I really don't. I'm busy with my own life.

Op. Can I suggest crochet or knitting or a box set ?

Trifleorbust · 03/04/2017 18:13

Question asked and answered, OP. You are BU.

hamandmustard · 03/04/2017 18:17

Daily Mail here we come.

Are they EU economic migrants?

SparklyMagpie · 03/04/2017 19:06

Actually a PP made me pick up on something, why did you have to bring up it was a cheap brand cider? Does that really make a difference? What if it was 50 bottles of champagne?

kali110 · 03/04/2017 19:13

*You report that they drive off every few days and are gone for 30 minutes - i'd hardly call that a weekly record.

Seriously, wouldn't most people notice that their neighbour's car was there, and that they never see them outside? And then when the car goes, it comes back shortly afterwards? If you were standing in your garden, or in my case on my balcony, how would I not notice that? I'm not saying it's an issue, I'm just commenting that when they do venture out, it's for short journeys.*

No op,no i wouldn't notice!
Don't try and say you don't know their movements, you've given a pretty good description on here Hmm
I have my curtains closed all the time.
I hate people being nosey and i have disabilities!
I would find police stopping my partner and me very distressing ( even though it would be fine) so no don't assume it will be fine if they're innocent.
You sound like a busybody from this thread.

isadoradancing123 · 03/04/2017 19:17

Oh my God you absolute busybody.. get a bloody life. Reporting someone you know is drunk leaving the pub and driving is good, but this, absolutely mind your own business

Majorgoodwinschickenbeatstrump · 03/04/2017 19:19

I remember we once dragged our recycling years back to the front after a few months. It had about 10 wine bottles and a load of beer bottles (you get the picture). In reality it was pretty much everything we'd drunk over the entire summer. If someone had seen it I hate to think they'd have rung the police on us for drunk driving Grin

Buglife · 03/04/2017 19:25

Of course I wouldn't notice which of my neighbors cars had gone, and when, and then time it and make up stories about where they'd gone, that's insane. Because I have a life and do things in the day, and maybe go out myself or pay attention to my own family rather than sit on a balcony judging people and pawing through their recycling. You sound crazy. You don't seem to be getting that from the vast amount of people telling you, but it isn't normal to do that.

Nomoreworkathome · 03/04/2017 19:29

This thread has made me laugh. OP.... you personify the nosy neighbour from hell.

paxillin · 03/04/2017 19:29

Mind you, I've been home today and I haven't seen my neighbour all day. Her bedroom window is open, I am sure she is up to something. Maybe I'll call the police, anything might happen. I haven't seen her for a week, come to think of it, give me an hour and I'll come up with a bonkers theory. Or perhaps I'll just remember it is none of my business and go do something else.