Caught neighbours using my garden

[Weird21]

I have a block of flats next to my house and I thought for a while things have been moved in my garden and it seemed a bit weird. I’ve got a lock on the gate and it’s always locked. So over the weekend I’ve installed a small out door camera under my guttering which records the whole back garden.

So I’ve come home tonight after work (I work the late shift) and found two cigarette butts on the path by my seating area. So I checked the camera and the neighbors have climbed my wall and been sitting in my garden from 2pm until 8pm using my seating and table. To say I’m annoyed is an understatement but how to I confront them as they aren’t the friendliest of people at the best of times. So I guess they’ve been doing this since the nice weather began.

Unfortunately it’s not difficult to see i’m out as I have to drive to work and so once my cars not there they obviously know I’m out.

I just don’t know how to approach this as I’m a single woman and just concerned it’ll escalate but I can’t allow this what would you all do? I thought maybe a note through their door asking them to not use it anymore. They haven’t seen the camera but now I wonder how long it’s been going on.

@MrsOrMiss I said your experience sounds awful. I’m sorry for what you and your family have been through but your anger at me is misdirected.

Paint the wall with anti vandal paint and add bird spikes to the top, that’ll put ‘em off!

I think it’s shocking how these people know how to play the system and get away with so much. And how doing anything to stop them in any way is illegal.

Sorry for everyone who has to deal with people like this.

@YelloYelloYello
Not angry with you at all.

Angry at a system that is constantly played by CFs of the ilk that @Weird21 has to deal with.

Obviously don’t know the garden and neighbouring gardens layout but amazed no one has heard them or seen them. Assume fences too high.

anti vandal paint! and spikes

also call the police and say intruders. the cheeky fuckers!!

I haven't RFT, but if the CFs are in the garden 2-8pm, where are they peeing?

You need anti-vandal paint on top of the fence. Worked a treat when we had kids climbing onto our roof at work. Funny thing was one of the parents came round and gave us a mouthful for it......... never mind their kids were standing on a tin roof

www.amazon.co.uk/Blackfriar-Climb-Vandal-Paint-Black/dp/B0091T7NGU/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=burglar+paint&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1627377918&sr=8-1

Agree with flimsy trellis that will break with them on camera doing so. Yes to calling the police and saying you are single and feeling vulnerable. You can also let the HA know

@WomanStanleyWoman

Cover the top of the wall with broken glass.

I think you'd be responsible if they injured themselves on broken glass you'd installed? Speaking to community police officer does seem the best thing and they can advise what you can do legally to deter them.

Yeah you can't cover the top of the wall with broken glass like they do in South Africa
Even as trespassers, you have a duty of care to them (I know, it's daft but that's the law)

Anti-climb paint, sticky stuff, manure under the wall where they jump over - all legal.

[quote Benjispruce5]@Dillidilly I agree. In my experience they won’t come flying round to yours as they don’t have enough officers. I would send them an email though and attach stills of the footage.[/quote]
I think it depends on how busy they happen to be at the time.

I called 101 a few months back about someone loitering on our road, wandering in to people's gardens (he looked high as a kite). Didn't really expect them to do much so was very surprised when a police car with it's blue lights flashing appeared before I'd even finished giving my details to the call handler!

@echt

I haven't RFT, but if the CFs are in the garden 2-8pm, where are they peeing?

This crossed my mind

I agree about calling the police.

I'd also consider quietly inviting some rather large, intimidating male friends to be sat in your house when you leave for work one day this week. They can scare the shit out of the neighbours when they 'surprise' them with their presence and make it clear the police will be visiting them if it happens again. They can also point out the new camera and say footage is being provided to the police.

If you are too scared of them to knock on the door and ask them to stop because you fear conflict, what do you think will happen if the police go round?

I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, obviously ideally you'd say stop and they would, or the police would say stop and they would. (Obviously ideally they wouldn't bloody do it in the first place!)

But if it's repercussions you fear then there's zero difference between you going round and the police going round. In fact, probably more risk if the police are involved if they're really that rough. In which case cat spikes, prickly bushes and anti vandal paint are your best bet because they are things that will stop them but that won't be a direct confrontation.

People who've never lived near the type you describe have no bloody clue what it's like. All the shoulds and ought tos in the world make fuck all difference when a wrong word or look gets you your windows put through.

@neverknowinglyunreasonable

Is there space for a moat? If not can you monitor the camera remotely and call the police when neighbours arrive?

Moat?!? What on earth?

OP would you consider going to their door and nicely saying to them (I know it’ll be hard) that you have CCTV and you know they’ve been in your garden and asking them to stop?

I’d speak to them about it first and warn them firmly but nicely that if they continue to do it you will not hesitate to involve the police.

That said, they should be ashamed of themselves. I could never go onto somebody else’s property without their permission.

This is horrible. Using your property and making you feel unsafe. That's really nasty.

On Friday at around 5pm, I would get in the car and drive about five mins away out of sight. I would then check if they're in the garden and call the police to tell them they're are intruders in your garden.

Tell the police that you've seen them on your camera before. Give them all the facts.

Moat?!? What on earth?

Yep. Another cracking bit of Mumsnet advice.

@CrazyDogWoman

OP would you consider going to their door and nicely saying to them (I know it’ll be hard) that you have CCTV and you know they’ve been in your garden and asking them to stop?

I’d speak to them about it first and warn them firmly but nicely that if they continue to do it you will not hesitate to involve the police.

That said, they should be ashamed of themselves. I could never go onto somebody else’s property without their permission.

NO!!! Please don't do this OP.

I would call the police and said you've had trespassers on your property.

Unbelievable cheek of them, keep us updated OP!

Moats are pretty common around here. Mini moats.

As others have said, add some anti vandal paint or some barbed wire across the top of the fence. That should put an end to it.

Report to 101 as 'aggrevated trespass' and harassment - both are criminal (not civil) matters. Good luck.

@BadLad

Moat?!? What on earth?

Yep. Another cracking bit of Mumsnet advice.

You don't think it was maybe, just maybe, a joke...? 🤦🏻‍♀️