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AIBU?

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Original poster

Targeted by neighbours again?

118 replies

Ladyofletters · 25/07/2019 19:30

I’m not sure if any MN’ers remember my thread nearly two years ago now, but I’m having a bit of deja vu and really just wanted somewhere to write it all out as I feel like I’m going mad!

I had the last thread deleted on advice of the Police but even though they are sympathetic this time they can’t really do anything for me at the moment.

I’m not really sure how to explain my last thread as it was honestly a bit crazy! Towards the end it didn’t even feel like real life!

So basically my DH and myself were being targeted by the ‘locals’, we’re still not 100% sure why but think it was because we were selling our house but wouldn’t lower the price for a local child moving back to the area (they were offering £50k less than asking price and we’d already accepted an offer over asking anyway)

So we sold up and moved (I don’t want to be too outing but we moved within the area but at least two villages over)
Nobody knew about the issues other than our friend and her DH (who came over a few times) my DM, my DH parents and another friend and her DP. We were unknown in the new village but have obviously made friends etc now but we haven’t told anyone what happened.

So to now, we have been getting strange phone calls. Just general breathing down the line then hanging up. We have also had random things being ordered and delivered to our new house and we think we have been followed occasionally, normally days when we’ve been coming back in the evening.

It’s starting to scare me a little bit again, it’s like it’s all starting again and I’m feeling really shit!

DH says it’s probably just a coincidence but I can tell he’s a bit worried too. He won’t let me take the dog out alone anymore.

I don’t have anyone to talk to about this as DH thinks we shouldn’t say anything to anyone just in case.

Sorry this has been so long! Blush I don’t know what I want from this thread really, I’m thinking just writing it all out might make it play on my mind less. Sad

OP posts:
Hiphopopotamous · 25/07/2019 19:50

I remember your old thread and wondered what had happened... how odd

CarrieBlu · 25/07/2019 19:53

I remember your old thread too. Have you set up CCTV at your new house?

Athe · 25/07/2019 20:08

I remember reading through the old thread and it appeared that someone local to your village at the time was possibly following it?
If you haven’t already, it is worth installing CCTV in case it escalates.

Aquamarine1029 · 25/07/2019 20:10

How awful, op. What kinds of things have been delivered? I would definitely be installing cctv immediately.

spannerintheneck · 25/07/2019 20:11

I remember your original thread and couldn't believe what I was reading, I would definitely go for cctv installed at your new house

Aquamarine1029 · 25/07/2019 20:11

The police can't trace who is ordering these deliveries?

billybagpuss · 25/07/2019 20:15

Also change your number and go ex directory

EileenAlanna · 25/07/2019 20:15

Are the calls to a landline or mobile? If it's a landline did you get a new number? If so then the number of people who should have that number is minute. If it's a mobile did anyone connected with the house sale have access to it? An old piece of advice that used to be given for dealing with "heavy breathers" on the phone was to blow a whistle really loudly when they called. Would that help you with it?
I'd be inclined to log everything with the police even if there's nothing they can do atm. It's clearly a pattern of stalking/harassment that's emerging & they need to be ready to step up.
It's easy to say, but try not to get too rattled. If it is the wankers from before let a good big dollop of righteous indignation start growing inside you - they want to make you victims, don't let them. {flowers}

AllSweetnessAndLight · 25/07/2019 20:16

We have also had random things being ordered and delivered to our new house
That should be easy to track. Presumably someone had to use a cc to pay courier/company. I would contact the police. You are being harassed and possibly stalked.

CalmdownJanet · 25/07/2019 20:18

Oh wow I remember your thread, I remember telling dh about it, it was creepy!! God I hope it is a coincidence

TheFridgeRaider · 25/07/2019 20:18

I agree with pps. Log all incidents, get CCTV and I would add a dashcam.

Sarcelle · 25/07/2019 20:23

You mentioned that the police were sympathetic but couldn't help you at the moment, did they give you any advice at all?

Have you name changed in case the same people are behind it and can read this thread?

cabingirl · 25/07/2019 20:24

I remember your last thread - I'm glad you moved away successfully.

It might be that you are very sensitive to any signs of harassment based on your previous experience - that's what I'm hoping it is for you and that it's all a co-incidence.

But to be on the safe side.

Log all the incidents that happen - especially the phone calls (times dates etc)

Get cameras for your house - doorbell camera etc.

It might be worth getting a new landline number and keeping it private and monitor who you give it out to. Then if the calls continue you might be able to work out who it's come from.

RosaWaiting · 25/07/2019 20:27

Are you in the phone book or online electoral roll? Sadly it seems likely it’s the same people.

If you think you’re being followed I would report to the police.

Original poster
Ladyofletters · 25/07/2019 21:55

The phone calls are to our landline. We are ex directory already.

The stuff being delivered is from random places like pizza, I phoned up and said we didn’t order it and they apologised and said it was delivered to us by mistake, which it absolutely could’ve been but 3 times in one month Hmm it adds up over time! The same week as one of the pizza episodes we had an amazon delivery in my name of cable ties. It was my card and account used apparently but it never actually showed on my card/account and I didn’t order them. We had a new magazine subscription which was in DH name, they wouldn’t tell us the account over the phone but said it was set up via the phone and someone using DH name and details had set it up (I think they thought we were doing some sort of scam as they really believed DH had called)

We are not on the electoral roll due to the trouble before and not wanting to be found!

We do have CCTV and there has been nothing untoward so far.

I’m thinking of getting a go pro or similar for the car.

I think DH is getting more and more paranoid about it all. He says it’s fine and just us being ultra sensitive but on the other hand he won’t tell our friends about the new stuff as he wonders if maybe they let something slip to someone or God forbid they had a part in it last time?! Although I find that really hard to believe and I’m sure it is just paranoia, this situation just makes you question yourself and everyone you know it’s like I’m going slowly crazy! 🙄

If I'm honest I’m more concerned about being followed in the car. So far it has only been when DH and I are together but 1, how do they I know we are out of the house? 2, how do they know we are together? 3, how did they bloody well find us? And 4, how do they know where we are going/have been?

I feel pretty safe in the house, we are locked up securely and have a contact number and marker for the police.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ladyofletters · 25/07/2019 21:57

Sorry missed about the police.

We can log anything that happens but at the moment it’s just annoying episodes that quite honestly the police could think we are making up or being ultra sensitive to.
They don’t have infinite resources and quite honestly can’t do anything until it escalates.

OP posts:
PawPawNoodle · 25/07/2019 22:04

Change your passwords to Amazon and your emails, just in case. Might be worth also changing your cards on the off chance they've managed to get those details somehow. Make sure you keep a log of any weird activities as detailed as you can (if followed, description of person/make model reg of car etc). Have you been receiving all of your mail correctly?

It could be coincidence but given the trouble you had last time, I wouldn't leave anything to chance!

Maddiemademe · 25/07/2019 22:04

I remember your old thread clearly. I am so sorry you are experiencing this awful and scary behaviour. The bastards are absolute cowards and they are harassing and stalking you.

I had an issue with an old neighbour which resulted in me having to sell up and move, but I managed to move far away enough that nothing else untoward is going on now.

I really do feel for you as I have also experienced being stalked by someone. Nowhere and no one felt safe in the end. What have the police suggested? I found them to be quite unhelpful at times which can be frustrating.

Nat6999 · 25/07/2019 22:15

Contact your phone provider & get your number changed, register with the Telephone Preference Service to stop your number being sold on bulk lists to cold call companies, get a caller display set up & don't answer numbers you don't recognise. Only share your number with anyone you know. Get CCTV so you have a record of who comes to your door, arrange all deliveries to a locker or to pick up from your supermarket, contact the police if it continues, it is harassment, try & set cctv so you get to see the number plates of cars. Arrange passwords with anyone you deal with, cancel amazon accounts for a bit, you can reset them up once you have things sorted, use PayPal to pay for things instead of giving your card details.

salsmum · 25/07/2019 22:17

Maybe if it's the same
Pizza place ring them and ask what number they have on the system for your address because your changing your mobile number and you don't know if it's your mobile number or your husbands, or a family member has dementia and keeps ordering and you want to confirm the number they are ringing on so that you can cancel that number off their system offer another number.

TheFridgeRaider · 25/07/2019 22:31

Maybe if it's the same
Pizza place ring them and ask what number they have on the system for your address because your changing your mobile number and you don't know if it's your mobile number or your husbands, or a family member has dementia and keeps ordering and you want to confirm the number they are ringing on so that you can cancel that number off their system offer another number.

That's a good idea

Wobblywibblywoo · 25/07/2019 22:36

I remember your old thread, some good advice on here tho

WoollyMollyMonkey · 25/07/2019 22:42

Would the buyers of your old house know where you went? Or the estate agent you used, what about them? Could you ask them if anyone has contacted them and been given your new address?

theWarOnPeace · 25/07/2019 22:42

My husband has an app on his phone that records and you can get screenshots etc from it. He’s not here but will ask him when he’s back the name off the app, then you don’t have to it out for new equipment you just get the sucker thing that sticks your phone to the windscreen.

justasking111 · 25/07/2019 22:55

If you have sky you can get calls blocked. The only way they get through is if they announce who they are.

It could be the old neighbours, it could be a new nut, could be kids. I would change my credit card numbers just to be on the safe side.