To think there might be something dodgy going on?

[1Pinkfluffyelephant]

A family living opposite us sold their house almost a year ago, the new neighbours have still not moved in.
They mentioned back before Xmas they would be hoping to move after Xmas, then they blamed Covid for not being able to get a removal company (despite other families having moved recently both on our street and surrounding).

They come and go randomly, turn up for half hour then leave again then don’t come back for a day or two. It’s a quiet dead end road so really obvious when cars come and go.

All the curtains and blinds the old neighbours left are still up and have remained shut. The windows also never opened even during the heat wave etc - we were out in the garden most the day with DC’s so it was very obvious they were the only house with everything shut.
Something tells me something odd is going on but maybe I’m over thinking 🤷‍♀️

To be fair, we don’t live in an ideal world. I had a similar sort of experience except it was our downstairs neighbours which, it subsequently turned out were running an underage brothel of sorts. Had it not been for us being aware and paying attention to our surroundings, and reporting it, these criminals would have continued their activities. You can. I am sure imagine the details of what was going on. So, before you worry about being ‘nosey’ maybe look at it from a different perspective. If not for people noticing things that are out of place, many things slip under the radar and people can get hurt. If this is not the case then no harm, no foul but personally, I would err on the side of caution.

I honestly can not remember the last time I looked out of the window on to my road.

The window on to my garden... absolutely

@BikerChick91
🌻 wishing you strength through horrible times

@1Pinkfluffyelephant
Bloody hell. I’ve only read through the first page & I can’t believe how many times you were shot down in flames for asking a question!
I live on a fairly quiet street & it’s easy to notice if something doesn’t seem right.
If you’re concerned, phone 101.
The police might do a bit of digging & if nothing comes of it, then great. But at least your mind will be at rest.

OP, I think I know a few people like you - I live in a small and rather claustrophobic village with (not wanting to generalise but...) more than its fair share of retired, over-nosy people who seem to watch the every move of those who still have lives. It's a real pain in the arse.

While it's normal and responsible to keep an eye out, you appear to be obsessive and overly dramatic about this. It wouldn't cause me to raise an eyebrow - as dozens of posters have said, there could be 101 reasons why this scenario takes place. Yet you assume it's dodgy and that your kids are at risk?! Even if it were a bloody cannabis farm, exactly how and why do you think that would impact on your kids' safety?

Look, if you're so convinced it might be cannabis, then creep over there, open the letterbox, insert your I'm-sure-not big-at-all nose, and take a sniff. You'll be able to tell.

And yes, this is indeed AIBU, so it's the right place to ask for opinions on whether you are, in fact, being unreasonable. Loads of people have said they think that yes, you are being unreasonable, and you're not having any of it. Stop being so defensive!

[quote Tallulah1972]@1Pinkfluffyelephant
Bloody hell. I’ve only read through the first page & I can’t believe how many times you were shot down in flames for asking a question!
I live on a fairly quiet street & it’s easy to notice if something doesn’t seem right.
If you’re concerned, phone 101.
The police might do a bit of digging & if nothing comes of it, then great. But at least your mind will be at rest.[/quote]
What would you actually say to the police in this scenario?

No offence but why don’t you just get on with your own life and if you have enough time to be that bored and spy on neighbours activity involve yourself in some community work to help the needy. I moved into a house now as a single parent to neighbours as bored/pissed off/ nosy as you. Who have no idea that you may want some privacy after having to cope with leaving an abusive marriage and severe health problems. And not opening blinds at the front of a house which overlooks everybody nosing in. As soon as my young child opens her blinds which overlook the neighbours she’s coming downstairs and telling me that the opposite neighbours are hiding beside their curtains watching what she’s doing and now never wants them open. It’s none of your business , you don’t know the whole story with what other families are having to deal with, so get on with your own families problems/ or lack by the sounds of. Yes they could possibly have a mass cannabis factory so go and dob them in to feel better about yourself and if they were growing stuff you’ll soon find out from them. Wtf is wrong with people. I only wish I had that much headspace to be thinking about this rubbish. Get yourself a life/ hobby . Or stop trolling on websites which are trying to help .

If more than one house in the street has noticed, maybe they've realised what a gossipy area it is and decided it's not for them? (I joke! Sort of )
If it was a drug farm I highly doubt they would of bothered to introduce themselves, and as much as i understand you being concerned because you have small children, it's only them coming and going. If it was random people all hours of the night then I'd think you were being reasonable.

Wow OP bet you’re pleased you posted

I know the house your talking about, the husband has just been released from prison, he did 15 years for killing his old neighbour who was a nosey c*nt. He is likely coming back every few days to check the camera he has directed at your house, so he can see when your curtains are twitching. I wouldn't worry too much, he is a reformed character, harmless, a bloody good chap.... handy with a hammer and hacksaw from what I am told.

Neighbors are absolutely useless when it comes tonthat. Eye witness reports are notoriously unreliable. Thats why people use security cams and systems

Maybe that’s because not enough people actually pay attention to their neighbours, because they’re all too busy worrying about about their street cred being ruined if people think they’re a ‘nosy neighbour’?

Maybe if more people did pay attention to what happens in their street, there wouldn’t be a need to spend so much money on security cameras.

I’d rather live on a road where my neighbours were vigilant, than one where nobody gave a shit. I’d certainly feel more at ease knowing that if I went on holiday etc my neighbours would keep an eye open for dodgy goings on and potentially call the police, rather than living around neighbours who would prefer to turn a blind eye because they don’t want to be seen as ‘nosy’ 🙄

Could be me. We bought a house in a new town back in Dec, but are still living in our rental as waiting to pull together all the bits to do an extension (planning permission, find builders, etc as were advised not to be living in house during works) I pop in to take measurements, do mail etc, but nothing dodgy. Or it could be a cannabis farm... wait to see if snow sticks to the roof in winter!

No, we got our keys in September
Didn’t move in until end of March
Did a lot of work inside the house until it was nice enough to move in

Modern slavery

There’s vigilant and then there’s knowing when Bob down the street bought new curtains 😂

People on here acting like there’s no middle ground!

My kitchen window faces the road and up until July I had a fence giving me privacy in my "wrap around garden". The Council demanded I reduce it to 1 metre as it faced the road. I was upset at the time but since the height has been reduced I've found that the rental property across the road has been sublet without the landlords permission as an Air bnb rental. I'm not a curtain twitcher but a non dishwasher owner and a keen gardener.

A house used as a cannabis farm was rumbled in my parents village because the local Bobby noticed no snow on one roof.

@GlomOfNit - yes exactly what I said, it’s a place to ask if I was being unreasonable not to be shot down in flames for asking and have daft accusations thrown around about being a busybody and nosey neighbour for daring to look out my windows. It has nothing to do with ‘not having any of it and being defensive’ - simply replying with my point of view in the same way you have. Just because you think I’m a nosey neighbour doesn’t mean I have to agree with you!

Also, many people have agreed with me and said they have experienced similar in their neighbourhood or know people that have too and would actually prefer neighbours who took some kind of notice of what was going on!

@browneyes77 Thankyou! This is exactly what I mean, living in a quiet street makes it impossible not to notice little things like this, even just walking from my house to car or putting the washing out etc not actually sitting at my window with nothing better to do. I’m not sure how people are shocked that I look out my windows and notice things but they are quite happy to have 24 hour cctv attached to their homes recording the going’s on in their street (although I’m sure cctv is only supposed to record your own property but unless you own a lot of land it’s probably quite hard not to get neighbours/road/paths in shot too) but claim not to have any interest in what people are doing or what happens outside their homes??? Then why do they need cctv?

@Marisishidinginmyattic their curtains are very obvious (bright coloured) so it’s not like it requires any effort to notice them!

I bought a house after getting divorced because I had no where to put my 3 cats lol, I lived with my parents (I was pregnant at the time and needed some support and company) and used to pop up everyday to see and feed the cats.... it could be something as random as this

@TroysMammy I think some of these people have the luxury of very spacious properties with lots of land. Also depending on the layout of your house sometimes it would be impossible not to notice these things just doing your everyday jobs like you mentioned. I wouldn’t call you a nosey neighbour, just going about your business in your house and happen to face the window whilst doing your jobs etc.

@Henio that’s really sweet 🐱

Weed farm? Any lights on at weird times?

There's usually a simple explanation. Next time you see them, offer to keep an eye on the house and phone them if there are any issues... they'll most likely explain. But it might not be very exciting, so you might prefer your anonymous curtain twitching!

Look, if you're so convinced it might be cannabis, then creep over there, open the letterbox, insert your I'm-sure-not big-at-all nose, and take a sniff. You'll be able to tell.

😂This made me laugh at the Common sense of it.
Weed has an extremely strong odour, almost like fox pee or stinking hellebore.
If the curtain rash neighbours were to stick said proboscis through the portal, they’ll soon know if it is a cannabis farm and can get all huffily indignant and trill about ThE ChiLdReNnnnn!!

In fact, I’m walking home now and can smell weed coming from somewhere- it is that stinky.
Nice full moon too.

@oakleaffy... you still here 💤