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.

Anyone else desperate for an update?!

I would get anti vandal paint on that wall as the quickest option.
Can you put the table set away somewhere?
I'd also get a "CCTV in operation" sign up because you know, legal obligations and all that.

Don't bother with any of those expensive plants etc, just slap a really thick layer of superglue to the bench and let them get stuck. Then when you get home and find them there, deny all knowledge - say the Daily Mirror has catalysed a nation-wide vigilante movement and it must be one of them that's been going about sticking glue everywhere.

Invite the DM reporter to sit in the garden and wait to hear their side of the story?

I have a couple of questions about The Mirror's article. Well I had more but see PPs have already raised the question of how one person can flock anywhere What is an 'audience writer' and how come they don't need reasonable skills in written English and the use of apostrophes?

Some of the posts have really entertained me, despite the obvious time issues with growing thorny plants or training a guard dog and the work involved in applying paint and spikes etc. Can I offer my own suggestion of maybe employing a kindly, elderly Korean lady for the time you're out of the house @Weird21 Supply her with a range of snacks and drinks plus access to your bathroom. She'd be the anthisesis of CFs or burly thugs and bring a welcome air of transquility to your garden. That's a win-win

Someone I once knew put carpet gripper on the inside top-edge of their fence, so that anyone climbing over would completely mash their fingers up as they gripped the top of the fence. Maybe that’s going too far…

You may want to double check but I'm pretty sure that if you use anti climb paint you have to display a warning sign by law ..... good luck op.

You need a few hungry rottweilers running about the place OP.

Didn't they used to have a wasp sounding siren near corner shops to deter youths, but only youths could hear it? I reckon that would work with these people.

I'm going to come up with a sensor activated sound system which pumps out Russ Abbot's finest tunes when they use your bench, or perhaps a bit of Des O'Connor mixed with a bit of death metal and Steps at the same time.

**Extra points if you stand outside with an unloaded shotgun & shout, "Pull!" as they bounce off the trampoline.

DO NOT DO THIS IN REAL LIFE**

Well only if you have to.

Why does this stuff always happen to MNers?!

I imagine it happens to non MNers too but you won't read about it on MN.

I for one am glad it does happen to MNers though!

Report it to their housing association, behaviour like this towards neighbours is taken really seriously.
You have video evidence also.

what have you done, OP?

Update please OP!

Yes @starrynight87 what is the update, dying to know!

Put Obvious CCTV, We are watching you, Trespassers will be prosecuted etc, signs up in places they will see. Subtle but save confrontation. Then check the cameras and see if they have the audacity to trespass again. If so, report them to the Police.

@Weird21

They live in the flats but have no garden or courtyard, there is a park literally the other side of me house with large grass areas for them to sit. I’ll definitely look at spikes or something similar, they are climbing the wall as the panels of the gate make it very difficult to climb over

You can paint the top with Anti Climbing Paint but you have to put signs up that you have done so. If they climb onto the top of the wall the paint transfers and will ruin their clothes. It's a burglary deterrent really but it should do the trick. That's if the cheaper CCTV signs don't work first.

Now I’m thinking did the OP just want to get a story in the paper

When was this story in The Mirror

@MariposaLilly I hear you about protecting your property & selves when far from police & help.

Do you think anyone living in the US should be allowed a gun? Do you think it's important for people in cities to be allowed a gun?

Always glad not to live in the US when you read these crazy gun stories.

Hardly even seems civilised.

Lots are asking for an update

I thought it was Friday that the update would be - when OP isnt working and it going to set a heinous trap

Sadly, in England, tresspass is not a crime, and anything you do to hurt them will land you in trouble not them.

How irresponsible of the Mirror. Shame on them!