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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Caught neighbours using my garden

812 replies

Weird21 · 26/07/2021 23:58

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
pam290358 · 29/07/2021 14:24

@TeeBee. I agree, not illegal but not good idea. I seem to remember something in the news recently about a burglar injuring himself during the burglary and successfully suing the homeowner. Seems mad.

Monestera · 29/07/2021 15:11

There's a thing called anti climb paint, maybe that could help too.

I can't believe that hasn't been mentioned.

thereisonlyoneofme · 29/07/2021 15:39

It has

WetBench · 29/07/2021 16:03

@Overdale

Why don't you make them welcome ? you don't need to use the garden when you are at work and they would be providing you with security
Say What now?
OldGeezer · 29/07/2021 16:13

Probably the only way you could involve the gendarmes would be to ring them accusing the interlopers of threatening behaviour ( ok - which could be said to be in the eye of the observer - i.e. your trespasser’s reaction to a polite request to sling his hook ). Explaining to whoever you speak to that you are a) intimidated & b) concerned to prevent the trespassers causing a breach of the peace.

Oh - and if you speak to a Policeman/person - do ask them to identify themselves - in case things go pear-shaped.

DeflatedGinDrinker · 29/07/2021 16:25

I'd be putting barbed wire on the wall they will only cut themselves once.

saraclara · 29/07/2021 16:27

@DeflatedGinDrinker

I'd be putting barbed wire on the wall they will only cut themselves once.
Again, illegal.
snowdropsandcrocuses · 29/07/2021 16:32

@saraclara actually it isn't illegal which is why so many walls, particularly in the north of the country do have broken glass and such embedded in the walls.

There is an obligation on a land owner to take reasonable steps to protect people on their land...even trespassers... but it can be negated by using clear signage and obvious deterrents. ie: don't hide spikes that cannot be seen but using a great big keep out sign with barbed wire (while possibly a little extreme in this instance) is not illegal. Probably not the best solution. But not illegal

Monestera · 29/07/2021 17:19

It has of course it has. So why did someone write it, yet again, after 650 posts?

HyacynthBucket · 29/07/2021 17:46

As mentioned above, trespass is not a criminal offence but it is a tort, a civil matter. It would probably be worth pointing this out to the housing association, together with the fact that this trespass is causing a nuisance, which is another tort. Courts take the view that householders have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their home, and blatant trespass is likely to come into that category and be regarded as nuisance.
When my elderly DM had nightmare neighbours in the semi next to her house (not to do with trespass but just about everything else), I wrote to their social housing landlord and pointed out the nuisance their tenants were causing, and said it was in fact their responsibility because they had placed the tenants there, and that the landlord was therefore liable for the nuisance to my DM. I don't know if it was the real reason, but shortly afterwards the hellish tenants left.

3scape · 29/07/2021 17:54

On the highly unlikely one off chance this wasn't all a Mirror wind up again.

Go out as normal. Sneak back, remove the stool. Then get the suggested large bloke or dog, though I'm not sure who has this sort of thing on tap?!
Release the dog and bloke at the sake time as setting off sprinklers and video the resulting hilarity. Should get you a video on you've been framed.

ASongOfRiceAndPeas · 29/07/2021 18:52

@itcouldhave

I strongly suspect the OP won't be back.
I feel like this too.
Paquerette · 29/07/2021 20:42

@Blossomtoes

I am really disturbed though by the many posters saying that the police don't come out for burglaries any more - why on earth not? I admit the last time I was burgled in the UK was back in the early 90s, but I had police and SOCO come out to the house and fingerprint everything - has it really gone so far down hill now that they just don't bother their arses any more?

It’s not that they don’t bother their arses, it’s that they haven’t got anyone to send. Where I live if someone drives into your parked car and then drives off you can’t even get a crime number. The reason is simple - ten years of Tory cuts.

No. Must just be the area you live in. One of my neighbours was burgled a couple of weeks ago. The police were there within 30 minutes and spent over 2 hours taking fingerprints, and checking if neighbours saw anything or had cctv evidence.
MrsFezziwig · 30/07/2021 01:53

I am really disturbed though by the many posters saying that the police don't come out for burglaries any more - why on earth not? I admit the last time I was burgled in the UK was back in the early 90s, but I had police and SOCO come out to the house and fingerprint everything - has it really gone so far down hill now that they just don't bother their arses any more?

I often hear people moaning that the police never come out, so was extremely surprised when my house was broken into about a month ago - two police constables arrived a few hours later to take a statement, shortly followed by two SOCOs who examined the scene for fingerprints and footprints.

Blossomtoes · 30/07/2021 10:04

Must just be Cambridgeshire constabulary then. Obviously every other police force in the country is doing its job. 🤷‍♀️

OhRene · 30/07/2021 10:44

We have police car patrols setting off my cctv camera at least once a day. Multiple times a day on a weekend. We're in a village of around 2030 people (according to google) and the police cover at least the next village too with a similar population.
Sadly, no matter how many police there are around, they have their hands tied and even those they do arrest, nothing happens to them more than a slap on the wrists. (Heck, not even that as it would go against their 'yooman rights innit?!')

If I were the OP I would simply erect the 3ft tall trellises you can pick up in places like B&M for a quid or two. It makes it impossible to get over without damaging them (criminal offence so police can actually do something). I would also drag the Holly bush in its pot to place under the spot they use to climb over.

Anti vandal paint is all well and good providing they actually notice. If they don't, you risk them transferring it on to the lovely new furniture and ruining it.

Hopefully they simply give up after finding their access blocked. If not, a flimsy trellis snapping under their weight (and maybe giving the vile scumbags a broken bone as they hit the ground) and a Holly bush in a garden are in no way in the same group as broken glass, barbed wire, dangerous spikes or electric fencing and OP cannot face prosecution if the dickheads hurt themselves. They are not things designed to injure.

PaddleBlue · 30/07/2021 16:58

What happened today?!

EmmaGrundyForPM · 30/07/2021 17:03

@Blossomtoes

Must just be Cambridgeshire constabulary then. Obviously every other police force in the country is doing its job. 🤷‍♀️
I'm in Cambridgeshire. We had two police officers visit our house in March because my son had been seen in a shop without a mask. So there are some police officers left in Cambs!
Blossomtoes · 30/07/2021 17:08

They must all be in March!

ASongOfRiceAndPeas · 30/07/2021 17:35

Any update OP?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 30/07/2021 18:17

@Blossomtoes

They must all be in March!
Sorry, I meant March the month - we are in South Cambs Grin
Blossomtoes · 30/07/2021 18:19

The only county where those wires could get crossed @EmmaGrundyForPM!

Pinky1952 · 30/07/2021 18:27

Do let us know what happened today.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 30/07/2021 18:33

@Blossomtoes I know! I didn't grow up in March so was always puzzled by the riddle "Janet and Edward got married in March but their wedding anniversary is in September. How can this be so?"
Don't get me started on having conversations about St Ives with strangers elsewhere in the country 🤣🤣

mumwon · 30/07/2021 20:32

@EmmaGrundyForPM or Ware in Herts ie she/he went to Ware College - usually answered by confused where? yes they went to Ware ad infinitum

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