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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To protect my business?

38 replies

SnarledLife · 16/04/2021 09:43

I'm self employed and work exclusively from home. I have a lot Product coming in and out all day, and the product is quite valuable and might be left on the doorstep occasionally or somewhere in the front yard. Our area is a little rough and I've had a surveillance system set up that overlooks our front door, the garden, and looks out towards the street to capture basically any wrongdoers pulling up in the street. It's really visible as its main purpose is to deter.

A few days ago our neighbours across the street came over and accused me of spying on their family. They're unhappy about the security system, and claim that I'm "watching them" all day. My desk overlooks the our front garden and the street, so I guess they can see me during the day but I'm certainly not watching them (though their adult DS are extremely fit and might gawp at them occasionally).

I could probably ignore them but DH has sided with them and demanded that I take the cameras down? He also suggests its creepy. I am honestly shocked by inability to back me on this issue. I am the higher earner and My product pays our sizeable mortgage and supports his honestly pretty extravagant lifestyle, so I do feel I have the moral high ground here.

OP posts:

thebabessavedme · 16/04/2021 10:09

Yanbu, have you explained the situation and the reason for the cameras to your neighbours though?, they may feel more supportive of them if they realise it is simply for security and not for watching them?

Btw, why not get a ring doorbell and make sure you are home when product is delivered?

OolieMacdoolie · 16/04/2021 10:11

Can you reassure your neighbours that the cameras are angled so that their house isn’t in them? Any way you can move your desk to not overlook them? It would be good if you could find a compromise.

Your DH is being odd about it, I would expect him to be on your side.

3Britnee · 16/04/2021 10:12

Ignore them. Just make sure you adhere to the laws around cameras and where they can face etc.

justanotherneighinparadise · 16/04/2021 10:14

How do they know you have a security system that potentially spies on them? Are the camera that obvious?

Marshasthorn · 16/04/2021 10:15

Does your DH know you think your neighbour’s adult kids are attractive? Have you mentioned that to him before?

I can only think that this is the reason your DH has sided with them.

I don’t think yabu to protect your own products.

Maybe the neighbours have noticed you gawping at their kids? And you’re coming across as a creep? Maybe the young adults feel uncomfortable at you gawping at them?

I’m slightly baffled.

Is your DH insecure?

Our CCTV is set up to to look into the front part of our garden but doesn’t view anything beyond parts that are necessary to us. We’ve had police over to check our cctv when robberies have happened at our neighbours’ house and whilst I apologised for not being able to give them solid information through our cctv they acknowledged we were right to only keep it to the part of our garden to only protect us.

VegCheeseandCrackers · 16/04/2021 10:17

YANBU at all. You have a right to protect your property and your business. I would pissed off in your shoes too.
Have you explained what you've said above to your husband?

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 16/04/2021 10:24

I have a solution: due to your neighbours complaints and your husband’s lack of support, it may be necessary to rent some secure office space for your business. This expense will necessitate you not being able to make as much of a financial contribution to your family’s finances as before. Husband will need to step up and make a much greater contribution than he does now.

Let’s see how much he supports the neighbour’s position then!

Original poster

SnarledLife · 16/04/2021 10:37

@Marshasthorn

Does your DH know you think your neighbour’s adult kids are attractive? Have you mentioned that to him before?

I can only think that this is the reason your DH has sided with them.

I don’t think yabu to protect your own products.

Maybe the neighbours have noticed you gawping at their kids? And you’re coming across as a creep? Maybe the young adults feel uncomfortable at you gawping at them?

I’m slightly baffled.

Is your DH insecure?

The cameras are very purposively large and they overlook the street to see any cars that might pull up. A ring won't really cut it.

I don't think DH has seen me looking at them, though he does watch me review the footage occasionally (which does occasionally feature the neighbour's DS quite prominently - they sometimes shirtlessly work on cars....). He hasn't said anything so I don't really think its an issue.

OP posts:

starfishmummy · 16/04/2021 10:37

Dobyou need the security camera thats pointing to the street? Surely one trained on your doorstep would be enough?

As for younalways watching them from your desk, I'd tell them that for them to think that, they must be watching you - dont forget the Mumsnet tilted head and tinkly laugh when you tell them

RaginSpice · 16/04/2021 10:39

If the cameras are angled to the extent that it captures your across the street neighbours then I think yabu and I would like that at all and I’m not sure it’s permitted either.

Can you angle so it just captures your front garden and perhaps just some of the pavement outside your property and reassure them?

RaginSpice · 16/04/2021 10:42

(which does occasionally feature the neighbour's DS quite prominently - they sometimes shirtlessly work on cars....).

Stop recording your neighbours ffs

megaann · 16/04/2021 10:45

@RaginSpice

(which does occasionally feature the neighbour's DS quite prominently - they sometimes shirtlessly work on cars....).

Stop recording your neighbours ffs

I needed this laugh this morning

Pinkyavocado · 16/04/2021 10:47

Of course you’re not being unreasonable. Every other house has a camera of some sort.

Divebar2021 · 16/04/2021 10:48

You’ve managed to make yourself sound like a drug dealer.

Marshasthorn · 16/04/2021 10:49

I’ve re read your original post.

I think if it’s looking into your garden, and then the street but not into anyone else’s garden then it’s not a problem.

The thing about cctv is having it pointed at your own garden is great but sometimes not enough. Because thieves can easily hide their faces. Angling it at the street makes it a tad bit more difficult because you’re now recording any information on get away vehicles.

The robbery i mentioned happened to our neighbours; our cctv was able to pick up the make of the car which was useful. But not enough to pick up the registration.

Can you reassure your neighbours that you’re not able to see their personal space?

Gubanc · 16/04/2021 10:49

@RaginSpice

If the cameras are angled to the extent that it captures your across the street neighbours then I think yabu and I would like that at all and I’m not sure it’s permitted either.

Can you angle so it just captures your front garden and perhaps just some of the pavement outside your property and reassure them?

Agreed. OP, you're only allowed to record your own land, not the pavement etc. you need to move and perhaps cover some parts of your camera.

Palavah · 16/04/2021 10:52

Alright, Stringer Bell.

YANBU to protect your product.
YABU to have intrusive CCTV at a much wider range than is necessary to protect your product.

There are lots of videos of shirtless men washing cars available on the internet.

HTH.

EscapeDragon · 16/04/2021 10:54

make sure you are home when product is delivered

It's not as easy as that unfortunately. Couriers are a law unto themselves and turn up whenever they feel like it, don't always bother knocking or ringing the bell to see whether you are in, (and if they do and it takes more than 3 seconds to answer the door they are off), dump stuff any old where behind a random bush, hand it to a random neighbour, you name it. If there are high value items then the OP does need security cameras.

Not sure about them pointing the way they are though.

Chloemol · 16/04/2021 10:57

I would move the cameras to just focus on your front years and the bit of road outside your property, making sure you can’t see into their property.

I would explain to them why, just that you have a lot of stuff delivered not the value bit, and even let them see the camera recording to show it doesn’t show their property

Then I would be having a very strong word with your husband about how he should in fact be supporting you as, if the goods get stolen you don’t get income, he can’t do what he likes

Original poster

SnarledLife · 16/04/2021 11:03

@Chloemol

I would move the cameras to just focus on your front years and the bit of road outside your property, making sure you can’t see into their property.

I would explain to them why, just that you have a lot of stuff delivered not the value bit, and even let them see the camera recording to show it doesn’t show their property

Then I would be having a very strong word with your husband about how he should in fact be supporting you as, if the goods get stolen you don’t get income, he can’t do what he likes

I guess I can say that I've done this but still actually keep the view that I need? They wouldn't know the difference.But the key issue is that the camera is so visible, but it's important to me that a) the camera is visible to potential scoundrels and b) that it can see cars that pull up broadly on the street not just who enters the property. What's a stringer bell?

OP posts:

HollowTalk · 16/04/2021 11:05

Huge mortgage in a rough neighbourhood and a flashy husband and a shirtless young neighbour.

Hmm

SaltyColin · 16/04/2021 11:10

dont forget the Mumsnet tilted head and tinkly laugh when you tell them

Why do people still write this crap on MN? It's incredibly insulting and sexist. She's a professional businesswoman and the higher earner, FGS. She doesn't need to pretend to be "ditzy" when talking to the neighbours.

helpfulperson · 16/04/2021 11:10

Do you know and understand the law on CCTV for commercial premises because that is what this is. If so and it complies then leave it, if not make sure it does and tell your neiighbour and husband this.

user1471457751 · 16/04/2021 11:37

I'm hoping this is made up because you sound like a creepy pervert and I feel sorry for your neighbours. They should report you to the police as you are breaking the law

TaraR2020 · 16/04/2021 11:38

I guess I can say that I've done this but still actually keep the view that I need?

Op this is a big concerning!
As others have pointed out, which you don't seem to have acknowledged, there are laws around what allowed to film on your cctv - and remember this is a residential area not a commercial one.

Your neighbours have a point, while ynbu to film your purchases for security it is the law that you ensure that this doesn't infringe on your neighbours privacy.

So you need to adjust your cameras so that they film your property only.

If this poses a risk for your business then you need to start looking at changes to your business as part of its growth and management- either ensure stolen parcels will be covered by insurance or, as a pp said, look at getting official business premises.

You are not entitled to break the law or invade others privacy for the sake of your business.

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