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Original poster

Police round would you think it was the new neighbours?

190 replies

quicklybeingdrivenmad · 24/01/2021 17:03

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?

OP posts:
FoxyTheFox · 24/01/2021 18:54

I can see you've had to deal with a lot, OP, I'm simply pointing out that it could be literally anyone who has reported you including the people who knocked at your door if they incorrectly presumed you are trading. You have taken against the new neighbours when you have no proof it was them and when there are many other people who could have made a report, if there was even a report made in the first place as the police have been told to be proactive about potential breaches so could have been following up on their own observations relating to all the cars.

slashlover · 24/01/2021 18:54

@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
I know you think everyone in the village is super friendly but tagging you in a FB post from 10 years ago is really nasty behaviour. I really doubt the new neighbours have been waiting 10 years for their revenge, although it seems that everyone in the village is gossiping about them.

If someone posted on here that their neighbour had people at their door and different cars then they'd have been told to report it.

FoxyTheFox · 24/01/2021 18:56

I know you think everyone in the village is super friendly but tagging you in a FB post from 10 years ago is really nasty behaviour

It really is and is the worst sort of shit-stirring, this is the behaviour of someone who wants you to get into an argument with the new neighbours and I'd be questioning their motives for this.

AvoidingNextdoorNeighbour · 24/01/2021 18:56

I'd have fun with this. I'd bring as many vehicles as possible to fit on my drive and available road parking spaces. Then I'd whack the music on, stick on the disco lights and watch their curtains twitch from my upstairs window. Wind the nosy shits right up.

They'd be pissed at not seeing you and your "party goers" being dragged out in cuffs.

And I say this as someone who has taken the rules extremely seriously. There's plenty of folk (including a copper) on my street having weekly lockdown parties and a constant stream of visitors all day long.

Do I think they're dickheads that should get slapped with a massive fine? Of course.

Am I going to grass them up? Christ no!

Heyahun · 24/01/2021 18:56

Omg your getting so worked up about this!

Who cares - the police checked / you explained the situation! It’s over with now - why are you still dwelling?

Maybe it was the new Neighbours - and so what if it was!

They obviously don’t want to talk to you or be friends - that’s ok too - why does it matter? You are friends with everyone else on the road.

Seriously can’t see why this is an upsetting ordeal Tbh

20CMB21 · 24/01/2021 19:00

I don't know why so many people feel the need to be horrible.

OP, it sounds as if it was the neighbour. If it were me, I'd continue to rotate my cars freely as before - you have demonstrably done nothing wrong - and smile and wave blandly when you see the neighbours. Some people are just unpleasant, but dwelling on their unpleasantness doesn't make it any more bearable. Engaging with unpleasant people in any way at all often makes them even more unpleasant (as we so often see on MN).

I'm sorry about your mum, too.

HippoOnMyRoofEatingCake · 24/01/2021 19:01

Even if it was the new neighbours, it was presumably because they didn't know about your business and genuinely thought you were flouting the law. So nothing malicious about it or anything. You explained it to the police, end of story.

20CMB21 · 24/01/2021 19:01

If someone posted on here that their neighbour had people at their door and different cars then they'd have been told to report it

Or perhaps they could have acted like adults and had a (socially distanced) chat about it?

MN is batshit about reporting people.

Daisysflowers · 24/01/2021 19:02

Yes it is annoying but the police have been and you have proven the vehicles belong to you.

I would totally ignore the neighbours and continue what you are doing by switching the cars round so that each gets a run. Don’t let them stop you.

Lalliella · 24/01/2021 19:07

OP I don’t see this as a non-issue. I would be really upset if I had the police showing up at my house and I’d want to know who’d been spying on me to the extent that they’d written down registration numbers.

I’d put a note through new neighbours’ door explaining about the cars and saying you were upset by the police visit, but making it look like you were sending it to everyone. During the first lockdown I was going out more than once a day because I was helping vulnerable people, so I sent a message in our neighbours’ WhatsApp group to explain.

Don’t accuse them though, that will most likely backfire on you.

Sorry for the loss of your mum Flowers

HeronLanyon · 24/01/2021 19:09

These cats suddenly sound like dogs, getting their runs out. Then I remembered when we had to ‘run cars in’ when new. Took ages before you could drive any distance. Thank god that’s less of a thing (is it a thing at all anymore?).

Dwrcegin · 24/01/2021 19:09

Please don't do anything, in regard to notes to the neighbour. You've obviously had a really tough few weeks, just focus on yourself.

If someone is attempting to goad you (tagging you/reporting you), the best course of action is not to react.

BrassyLocks · 24/01/2021 19:09

@BlackeyedSusan

My dad used to come home with a new car regularly, sometimes he had three different cars in one day.
Why?
HeronLanyon · 24/01/2021 19:09

Cats should have read cars !

addicted2spaniels · 24/01/2021 19:09

Have you got a village FB page? I'd pop a comment on there saying that you're really upset that someone reported you, the cars belong to your business, and next time someone thinks you are breaking the rules, perhaps knock on the door first instead of wasting valuable Police resources.............

emilyfrost · 24/01/2021 19:10

just really upset me as me and all other neighbours have tried to be nice, my 87 year old next door neighbour caught their eye and asked as she has lived her for 40 years, did they want any advice on shops butchers etc she was told no we tried to move here before so we no the area

Not everyone wants to be so close with their neighbours, and it isn’t a problem if they want to stay distant.

I’ll smile and nod at my neighbours but I’ve no interest in becoming friends, listening to their “advice”, helping them out, making small talk etc.

Living in a small village where everyone knows each other doesn’t mean newcomers have to ingratiate themselves into the community and do the same as everyone else. It wasn’t rude of them to say no to your elderly neighbour.

GetTheDebtGoneIn2021 · 24/01/2021 19:17

Some people would say that going out to change the cars over would count as an ‘unnecessary journey’ and report you for that, regardless of if they know it’s part of your business.

I agree that the person dredging up crap from 10 years ago is shit stirring to the highest order - rise above it OP, and stay pleasant to the new neighbours.

Daisysflowers · 24/01/2021 19:17

The village don’t begin with D does it? Grin

Gingerwhinger0 · 24/01/2021 19:18

Yeah it’s a total non event. I regularly have the police round after anonymous tip offs and it doesn’t bother me at all. Confused

FreshFreesias · 24/01/2021 19:20

They sound horrible, op. I’d just blank them.

Twofurrycatsagain · 24/01/2021 19:21

I wouldn't find this a non issue but I'd try not to dwell on it. And I wouldn't accuse them either.
I have a neighbour who does similar. Reports us to the council for imagined infringements and causes no end of hassle. I try to find it amusing that they have such a sad life that observing me and ringing the council is an exciting hobby for them. Saves my blood pressure.

SmileyClare · 24/01/2021 19:21

@Dwrcegin

Please don't do anything, in regard to notes to the neighbour. You've obviously had a really tough few weeks, just focus on yourself.

If someone is attempting to goad you (tagging you/reporting you), the best course of action is not to react.

This. I'm not sure why posters are goading you into posting notes or "winding the nosy shits up" as revenge. Confused

Be glad you've cleared your name officially with the police. That's far better than having villagers whispering about you isn't it? And believe me, villagers gossip about everyone in small rural areas.

Our "Next Door" app regularly has people frothing about being reported for having several cars on their drives and trying to find the culprit, stating Well! They could have just knocked on my door and asked me! ignoring the fact we're not supposed to be visiting each others houses and it would probably turn into an argument

It's rather petty and it sounds as though you have more important things to worry about op. What's the point in wasting energy on this. What will it achieve?

I say take the higher ground.

greenflamingo · 24/01/2021 19:22

It’s really horrible feeling watched and accused - particularly when you are already vulnerable. And the FB thing just sounds completely vile. These people are morons, you know you have done nothing wrong.

cansu · 24/01/2021 19:26

They are nosy pains in the ass. If I was considering reporting my neighbours for anything, I would make damn sure of my facts before doing so. I would also consider that I may not know the reasons behind it and keep my beak out.

toocold54 · 24/01/2021 19:34

Not everyone wants to be so close with their neighbours, and it isn’t a problem if they want to stay distant.

I agree.

They also moved in in October in the middle of a pandemic. They may not want people keep coming close talking to them if they are trying to distance from people.