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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to report the fuckwit with an anti child alarm next to the school?

85 replies

YetAnotherUser · 22/05/2018 09:20

So, walking my youngest to school over the past few days I've been noticing a high pitched whine. I didn't pay it much attention at first, but it happens every time we walk past a pair of semi detached houses (unclear which one it is).

It appears someone has installed one of those anti-child alarm things, RIGHT NEXT TO A FUCKING SCHOOL. I'm in my mid 30's and can hear it quite clearly, goodness knows what it must be like for the actual children it's supposed to repel as they walk to their place of education

OP posts:
SoFake · 22/05/2018 09:52

They might not realise it’s a problem.

PuttinOnTheRitzCracker · 22/05/2018 09:54

If it is to deter children the owner is an utter piece of shit. Ageism goes both ways, and kids are people too.

Really can't stand people who live near schools moaning about absolutely everything school-related that goes on. Like complaining that they can faintly hear the school orchestra etc practicing for half an hour in lunchtime. If it bothers you that much, don't live next to a schoolHmm

UnicornFairyDust · 22/05/2018 09:54

*I suppose it could be an ant-cat alarm, but it goes off every time someone walks past the front of the house which makes me think it's more anti-child.

That's what anti-cat alarms do. Movement activated.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/05/2018 10:01

We had one to deter rabbits but realised I could hear it and so could kids next door (who should have been out of range). We turned it off . Maybe speak to them and let them know it’s going off when kids go past. They probably don’t realise...

soupforbrains · 22/05/2018 10:06

The anti-cat etc. alarms are all controlled by motion sensors, that's why it's going on when you walk past the house.

By all means raise a complaint with the council but I'm sure it is just a cat/animal one so you'll probably not make much progress.

They are a horrible noise and very annoying though, several houses near us have them and we walk everywhere so set them all off each time we pass those houses. Nothing you can really do though. And they don't sound any more horrible or affecting to children's ears btw.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 22/05/2018 10:08

I reported a similar set up in my neighbourhood (opposite a school) to the council and it was gone within the week.

Original poster
YetAnotherUser · 22/05/2018 10:08

Report to who and for what? He's not actually breaking any laws.

To the council, for the possible antisocial noise, was what I was thinking.

The strange thing is as far as I'm aware none of the houses has changed hands recently. Can't understand why they've decided to fit the alarm, unless they've had problems with a gang of yoofs hanging about. Even if that was the case, it's hardly necessary to have the alarm switched on when kids are going to school.

Anyways, as I don't actually live nearby it's not a problem to me on a constant basis, but I've emailed the council and will leave it up to them to decide if it constitutes an anti-social noise/disturbance/whatever.

OP posts:
siwel123 · 22/05/2018 10:11

It's most likely a cat alarm. It isn't antisocial to try scare cats away.

OhTheTastyNuts · 22/05/2018 10:12

My sons can hear the cat alarms (I can't). We run past those houses on the way to school. It never even occurred to me that they were for deterring children! Confused

soupforbrains · 22/05/2018 10:14

The strange thing is as far as I'm aware none of the houses has changed hands recently. Can't understand why they've decided to fit the alarm, unless they've had problems with a gang of yoofs hanging about. Even if that was the case, it's hardly necessary to have the alarm switched on when kids are going to school.

Maybe it's because it's got nothing to do with "yoofs" at all and they're trying to stop cats/rabbits/foxes crapping on their lawn, and so have installed an ANIMAL DETERRENT alarm. as amny PP have suggested.

I think your best plan of action would be to
a) look carefully at the front lawn/garden of the house with the alarm and see if you can spot it. if it's 'planted' in the lawn or flowerbed then it's a motion sensor alarm and is an animal deterrent. if it's wall mounted then it's an illegal youth deterrent alarm.

b) if it is an animal alarm go and knock on the door and speak to the owner, let them know that the sensor is a bit too close to the path and it picking up movement from passing people and that the alarm is 'upsetting' to you and the children etc. who are passing. They may decide to relocate it back a bit further from the road.

c) if it is an anti-youth alarm then make a complaint to the council.

nursy1 · 22/05/2018 10:17

I can hear these things. For ages when I was younger, I couldn’t go to museums and art gallery’s because I could hear this weird noise from the sensor alarms. Doesn’t seem to bother me now so maybe the hearings going or they have changed how they work.
They make you feel uncomfortable as , I suppose, they are designed to do. At least you only have to pass his house.

Andro · 22/05/2018 10:19

These alarms hurt my ears, they should absolutely come under antisocial noise laws (but I'm not sure they do!).

FuckPants · 22/05/2018 10:20

The 'fuckwit' isn't doing anything wrong so what would you be reporting them for? It's not antisocial to not want cats shitting in your garden.

IIIustriousIyIllogical · 22/05/2018 10:21

but it goes off every time someone walks past the front of the house which makes me think it's more anti-child.

How else do you suggest I stop the cats shitting in my front garden?

I'm sure you can stomach it for the 30 seconds it takes you to walk past.....

LighthouseSouth · 22/05/2018 10:24

Could be anti animal device
We've had a long battle to get a neighbour to switch it off, made more complicated by the fact that some of us can hear it and some can't, even when standing right by it.

Purplejennie70 · 22/05/2018 10:24

Have you knocked and told them? My neighbour has a bird scarer. He brought it in to check it was working as he couldn't hear it. My daughter and I both hit the deck and cried when he turned it on. He didn't believe it could have been working like that and quickly changed it. He didn't want to hurt us, just was too old/male to hear it. It really hurt me and she was left in agony for hours as it was at such close range. Maybe if you have a conversation it can be placed at the end of the garden, changed frequency, etc. If you can't hear it, you don't realise the impact.

LighthouseSouth · 22/05/2018 10:25

I would ban all of these noise devices too

Littlechocola · 22/05/2018 10:26

I’ve never heard of them. Is it a pitch that only children are supposed to hear?
The world has gone mad. Grin

ftw · 22/05/2018 10:26

They probably don’t know you can hear it. So you could try telling them before you overreact calling council/police/navy seals.

IIIustriousIyIllogical · 22/05/2018 10:28

I would ban all of these noise devices too

But then I'd have to go back to Gin Traps & saucers of anti-freeze.

I prefer the alarms myself....

LighthouseSouth · 22/05/2018 10:28

"I'm sure you can stomach it for the 30 seconds it takes you to walk past"

But....neighbours? We heard it every twenty mins or so, it was horrendous.

LittleMysPonytail · 22/05/2018 10:29

I would do something about it. My parents neighbours have a cat alarm and when it’s on both myself and my sister will have a migraine within an hour of hearing it. My GP confirmed he’s had experience of this with others.

AlonsoTigerHeart · 22/05/2018 10:31

But then I'd have to go back to Gin Traps & saucers of anti-freeze.

You used to mutilate and poison cats?

Original poster
YetAnotherUser · 22/05/2018 10:33

Maybe it's because it's got nothing to do with "yoofs" at all and they're trying to stop cats/rabbits/foxes crapping on their lawn, and so have installed an ANIMAL DETERRENT alarm. as amny PP have suggested.

It activates every time someone walks in front of the house, and they don't have a front garden/lawn, they have a driveway and a garage. If it was legitimately anti-animal, I'd expect it to be to the rear of their property where I assume they have a garden.

OP posts:
gryffen · 22/05/2018 10:37

The deterrent used by shops etc are (some are) called Mosquitos and by law must have signage up as they can cause problems for customers with sensitive ears etx

I would mention it to the school who can contact neighbours and alert them there has been a complaint regarding noise from a local house and council has been informed. It a then upto the council to enquire and possibly investigate what it is.

Don't think they are licenced for domestic use though and if it is one then council will take action.