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.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

We had this when I was a child. They used to come over the back fence and steal our fruit and veg. My Dad dug a deep trench where they came over the fence and covered it with grass cuttings, so that it looked like we were starting a compost patch. He drove the car out, then settled down to watch where he couldn’t be seen. The first one over went straight into the trench and broke his ankle. His mate didn’t want to come over in case the same thing happened to him. My Dad “arrived home” and called an ambulance and the police. It didn’t happen again.

[FredaNerkk]

Before you try to use the CCTV footage as evidence - make sure you have complied with the GDPR data protection law (so that they can't throw that back in your face).

ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/

[ShaunaTheSheep]

All good suggestions about sharing evidence with the HA and police.

For today, you could pile some stuff on the sears and cable tie the covers on top so that the chairs are impossible to use.

[Billybagpuss]

@Jenasaurus

Can you hire a dog to garden sit for a few hours

Unfortunately the current laws say that if the dog injures or ‘scares’ them they could apply to get the dog destroyed as a dangerous dog. Not a risk I’d take with mine, she’d never hurt them but if you don’t understand dogs, you wouldn’t know that from her barking.

[onelittlefrog]

Hate to say it but do be careful about calling the police or doing anything directly confrontational with a family like that as a single woman living alone. It could escalate.

I would go for the spikes and put a camera in a very obvious location, maybe wall-mounted on the side of the house, so they know they are being filmed. See if that helps first of all, if not then you can think about further steps.

You don't want a family like that with a vendetta against you.

[OurChristmasMiracle]

As much as I know calling the police is the right thing to do I would be much more tempted to leave a sign that said “congratulations on being a reality tv star! You are being live streamed on Facebook and YouTube!!!”

[Divebar2021]

I agree about not going “nuclear” with your initial response. The fact that you have CCTV footage of them in the garden means you know they’re not attempting to break in to your house so you can’t call police saying they’re intruders. It they damaged some of your property and they were caught on camera then that would be a bit easier to deal with than just the trespass ( it’s not a criminal offence). My first response would be to position a CCTV sign on the fence near to the point where they climb over. Make it less comfortable with the chair covers etc. Hopefully that will put them off. If they still come in I would print off stills and push them through his door or leave them on your garden table with a note saying “ stop coming into my garden “. You don’t need an “ or else”. If it continues then contact the HA and any neighbourhood policing that you may have about anti social behaviour. At this point you might want to start with the anti climb paint etc You want them to be able to stop without having to go the full John Wick because you’re in the more vulnerable position and neighbour disputes are miserable.

[IamtheDevilsAvocado]

CFs like this 'know' the law /scams /what they need to say...

Given you're on your own... I'd really not confront them at all - and go straight to asking cops for advice (intruders in my garden), and immediately follow this up with a call to the HA - accompanied by a email with attached photographs.

[Terhou]

@MrsSchadenfreude

We had this when I was a child. They used to come over the back fence and steal our fruit and veg. My Dad dug a deep trench where they came over the fence and covered it with grass cuttings, so that it looked like we were starting a compost patch. He drove the car out, then settled down to watch where he couldn’t be seen. The first one over went straight into the trench and broke his ankle. His mate didn’t want to come over in case the same thing happened to him. My Dad “arrived home” and called an ambulance and the police. It didn’t happen again.

Not a good idea - you'd be bang to rights under the Occupiers' Liability Act.

[YellowBellyCat]

I’d be furious. I’d hide in the house and wait for them and then come charging out the door screaming my head off! Shouting “burglar” and that ive called the police. Possibly while brandishing a big stick…..making out I hadn’t recognised them.

[brokenbiscuitsx]

@AddsVsGeorgs

Can you view the camera without being in the house?
If so, drive the car away, ‘to work’ sit around the corner and wait and then ring the police and say there are intruders in your garden and explain to the police how to get to the garden without them seeing!

Bet they wont try it again

Yes this! Or just be an anonymous person calling as you’ve seen intruders in your neighbour’s garden.

[OldTurtleNewShell]

With regards the suggestions that OP moves the cushions or put up a note or similar, these people are scaling a wall to get into a garden after waiting for the OP to leave. It's not as if it's all a misunderstanding or they're just being a bit cheeky. They know very well what they're doing and clearly aren't bothering to hide it if they're leaving their cigarette butts behind.
They're counting on OP to be too intimidated as a single woman to do anything.
I think this is definitely a call the police about intruders scenario. Then put up the anti-climb paint and a CCTV sign.
I also second sending screenshots to the housing association.

[IamtheDevilsAvocado]

Also it occurs to me WHY are they doing this? Are they new and don't realise there's a park closeby?

If they do? They're the sort of grim people who just like intimidating single women-which needs a different handling to the common or garden cheeky fuckers....

(yes im thinking of you neighbour who consistently used our paid for parking spots ON OUR COMMUNAL drive - she lived a couple of hundred metres away... .. When confronted, she whined.. But where am I supposed to put my caaaar?? I've got no parking... Well that will be the eff off large car park 100m in the other direction....). I think she got very used to assuming that no one would challenge her as everyone thought she was someone else's guest..)

[Fruityfriday]

If they are wearing shorts can you sprinkle chilli powder all over the seat (without cushions) hopefully they will rub their eyes or get it on their nether regions

[User5827372728]

Firstly, I would try something that doesn’t involve the police, more for the polices sake than your CF neighbours.

Maybe make the camera obvious and leave a note on the table.

If they do it again then I would call the police, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t help

[rainbowstardrops]

What on earth????!!!!! 😲 absolute CFs!

[badacorn]

I hope this is resolved safely op.

[StrongTea]

Blooming cheek, creepy as well that they are obviously watching you.

[UnGoogled]

I would be really worried and scared if this was happening to me. Don't do anything retaliatory, OP. Causing them injury won't end well. You seem sensible, though!

[senoritarita]

Can you leave music playing that is going to annoy them? Classical music? Like they do at underground stations to deter loitering

[Siameasy]

I would not treat it as a civil trespass, I would act as anyone ordinarily would if they saw a stranger in their garden - assume nefarious intentions, possibly burglary, and call the police
“Hi im a female living alone there are X amount of strangers in my garden they’ve climbed a wall to get in I’m scared for my safety”

[Elderflowervioletrose]

Speechless these people sound vile. I hope you get it sorted OP

[Siameasy]

And yes we have the ring doorbell with the mic-get a man with a burly voice to talk through it saying something ominous or mentioning “burglars”. Burglars often enter through gardens and target sheds

[User5827372728]

OP do you own your flat?

If you come to sell you don’t want lots of official tape in your way. I wouldn’t buy a flat if I found out the neighbours trespass and use my garden.

If you rent as your landlord.

[AtomicBronde]

Mind blown!

Can’t believe the CFkers!

Difficult as they obviously don’t give a shit that you’ll find out.