Police round would you think it was the new neighbours?

[quicklybeingdrivenmad]

Live on a small lane in a small village, where most people know everyone's business and who you are if not your name. Moved here 10 years ago as our family business is in the next village, so made home work life balance easier. Get one with all our neighbours and are one really good terms with them all (a lot are elderly so the 3 younger households - laugh at that we all turned 50 in the last couple of years have been helping out shopping etc putting bins out since lock down started)
We had a new neighbour move in across the road mid October never really spoke to anyone, we would wave, say hi and get no response (not just me everyone)
Well today I have had the police round I have been accused of flouting lock down because there has been so many different cars on my drive (police had a list of registration numbers) I must be having people round!!
We have not been and these vehicles belong to our business (which is shut due to covid) so when going up to check on our premises I keep alternating vehicles, to keep them running and charged (as I cannot just abandon our business) all our original neighbours know what we do and joke about different vehicles on the drive all the time, would you think it was the new neighbours?

[InFiveMins]

Yes it will have been the new neighbour OP - I would completely ignore them - you're doing absolutely nothing wrong. Ignoring them will irritate them - they likely want a response from you. Carry on with your business as usual.

[LizFlowers]

@AllTheCakes

Honestly, no one will know who reported it except the person themselves and the police. It might be someone who walks past your house on their daily exercise and blaming your neighbours with no evidence is a bad idea.

I agree and doubt it was your neighbours unless a kid playing a prank. You've done nothing wrong, the police know that, so don't worry.

[FoxyTheFox]

You don’t get extensive registration numbers via drivebys.

You do if one of you gets out and goes over to have a look. Cars also have this great feature where they can go slower, they are also able to stop for indefinite periods via a nifty feature called 'brakes'.

[Pinklewinkle]

It's not a nice feeling to think you have been reported, but please don't resort to notes or comments. You really won't ever know who reported you, and sometimes it's the most unexpected source, and you don't want to be accused of harassing neighbours. As others have said the police are trained to spot things that may seem slightly out of place. And we keep being told to inform of breaches.

You've had a tough time lately, and on top of lockdown sometimes issues you might not normally be too concerned over can become a focus for how unsettled life is at the moment. Try and forget about it, as far as the police are concerned it's been dealt with, which is reassuring. Take care.

[ragged]

If you knew it was the new people, what would you do with the information? They don't want to know you, regardless.

Is there a problem you can change if you knew who it was?

I feel for you -- you will now distrust all your neighbours. Wey-hey, we're all "in the same boat" wrt knowing not to trust neighbours now.

[quicklybeingdrivenmad]

I have absolutely no problem with new neighbours, we are a close knit group I shop for a few every friday at local shops and I have no reason to dislike them, I like all my neighbours , but being copied in on this facebook post from 10 years ago whereby I was accused of having stolen their dream home ( I did not know that) and made it so they could not move here, my close neighbours have only just told me because of the police incident that happened when she assaulted previous owner of my house for backing out and selling it to me she was arrested ffs all I want is a quite life it was fine until the bungalow opposite came up for sale

[Covidcorvid]

Yes, I would. And I’d put a note through the door explaining all the different cars. You don’t need to mention the visit from he police....if it wasn’t them they’ll just think you’re giving them a heads up. If it was them (and it so was) they’ll know you know.

[BananaPop2020]

Ok......if you have no problem with them, then why create this post with such an inflammatory title?

[StoneofDestiny]

OP - I'd take great pleasure in continuing to rotate my various vehicles - that's the best 'gotcha' to whoever complained. Ignore and move on - let them smoulder in being wrong.

[HeronLanyon]

Really honestly if it were me with a lot of cars coming and going I would expect someone who didn’t know to be worried about visitors given lockdown. Op so sorry about your mum I didn’t see that in your later post.
I know you’ll know this but lots of things are harder to deal with when in shock / bereavement. Support.

[FoxyTheFox]

Considering that last week someone posted your address on a Facebook site in relation to buying used cars and that several people came to your door to enquire about making a purchase, perhaps one of those people has presumed you are still operating despite being non-essential and has reported you for not selling to them?

[Staffy1]

Dont assume it's them, it may well be but equally may not be. Not fair to blame them as it might be one of your supposedly friendly neighbours who would probably know the new ones would get the blame.

[LesCuriousCat]

I would think not your neighbours because surely if there were keeping check then they'd also have noticed different people getting in and out of all of your vehicles.

[RB68]

If the police were doing a proper job they wld have looked up the cars seen the company ownership checked the co directors and bingo no need for anything to have happened

[Tal45]

Kill em with kindness I say, take a cake round with a big welcome card and leave it on their doorstep 'from number 32' or whatever.

[SmileyClare]

You don't know it's your new neighbours. This is how finger pointing and ostracising newcomers in small villages start.

I live in a small village and the friendly-to-everyone locals and older couples here are the first to gossip about each other and back stab. You only have to walk in the village shop to hear gossip about others in the village.

When we first moved here, there was a robbery in the local pub. I found out later the villagers all thought it was my husband because he's from London.

I think it's small minded and putting a note through their door is an awful idea.

[saraclara]

Your new neighbours would be excellent cover for neighbours you actually know, who though friendly, are a bit pissed off with your drive being full of cars.
They'd know you'd assume it was the new neighbours who reported you, so would feel more confident they wouldn't get the fall out.

So don't assume anything. It's simply not fair on the new people.

[Staffy1]

Actually, sorry, re-reading, if it's only because of different vehicles being seen in your drive and all the others know about your business, it probably is the new ones.

[toocold54]

I think it’s just as likely to be the old neighbours as it is the new neighbours.
COVID has really divided some people and I am shocked about people’s views that I have known for a long time whether they are anti-COVID and flout the rules or the opposite where they’ve locked themselves away and wait days before unpacking their shopping.

The most important thing is that you’ve not done anything wrong and it’s good to know you are in an area that will not tolerate people breaking the rules. I would try and not let it affect you too much.

[toocold54]

Your new neighbours would be excellent cover for neighbours you actually know, who though friendly, are a bit pissed off with your drive being full of cars.
They'd know you'd assume it was the new neighbours who reported you, so would feel more confident they wouldn't get the fall out.

So don't assume anything. It's simply not fair on the new people.

100% this.

[HeronLanyon]

staffy1 clever evil genius thinking there.

[Embroideredstars]

I'd be upset too op and I wouldn't dismiss it as a non issue even without the added complication of a bereavement.

It'd be the thought of people talking about us and our comings and goings and making a judgement on our behaviour when no wrong doing had taken place.

Try not to think of it though op, you won't know who it was really. Concentrate on your self now

[Spodge]

I would put a note through everyone's door, making it clear that the note is being given to everyone.

Along the lines of "If you are the person who reported us, you might like to know that the reason for the cars on our drive is...

If you are not the person who reported us, you might like to know that people are keeping a neighbourly eye out for Covid breaches."

God, I hate snitchers.

[quicklybeingdrivenmad]

foxythefox
yes I have had to deal with a lot and as I said live in a small village people knocking on my door now this really!! We are closed I am not flouting the rules, we have been closed for most of the last year and yes I objected to that because we are closed, which means I do not appreciate my private home address being put on facebook WOULD YOU. cos am guessing you go home from work everyday do people knock on your door? and ask you to work with random strangers,
Thank you to everyone who has been kind on here some people make my blood boil so clueless

[Staffy1]

@HeronLanyon

staffy1 clever evil genius thinking there.

Only because we have been in the situation where a family of swamp creatures blamed us for calling the police (who started going to their house regularly after the first time) as we had confronted them about their brats before. It wasn't us, but whoever it was got away with us being targeted by them relentlessly with arsey behaviour.