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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
itsgettingwierd · 27/07/2021 09:22

Sorry to hear you have nightmare NDN.

I really the fact they don't only break in but are happy to leave fag butts as evidence shows confronting them could be difficult.

Love the idea of calling police about intruders in your garden.

YelloYelloYello · 27/07/2021 09:23

@MrsOrMiss

Lots of bad advice on this thread.

If this were me and these were my neighbours, I'd put up a CCTV sign up. I imagine they are likely to leap to the invasion of privacy 'defence/offensive' as a first reaction if confronted, threaten ME with legal action - I know, it is ridiculous, but I've been caught out like that before. The sign doesn't have to be huge, but it needs to be visible.
Leave it a couple of days, then put up the trellis. You know, to 'train some sweet peas up' because I'm still hoping they germinate before September and fill my garden with a lovely smell.
Best of luck @Weird21.
Flowers to tide you over 'til those sweet peas grow Wink

@MrsOrMiss I think it’s really naive to suggest a trellis and sweet peas. These people have broken into her property. That would make me feel really violated and unsafe. The police need to be involved.

Although like @Dillidilly I wonder if they would actually come out and ‘catch them in the act’. It might be better to send off the cctv footage you already have to their report section online.

Dillidilly · 27/07/2021 09:27

Maybe I've become too cynical, but I just can't see police responding in person 😕
They don't respond to actual burglaries in progress these days.

I really feel for you OP x

Benjispruce5 · 27/07/2021 09:29

@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.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 27/07/2021 09:30

I'd put a laminated sign up informing them they'd been caught on camera and if they do not stop trespassing, and/or if any damage is caused to the property then legal action will be taken against them.

brewstoo · 27/07/2021 09:30

@Dillidilly

Maybe I've become too cynical, but I just can't see police responding in person 😕 They don't respond to actual burglaries in progress these days.

I really feel for you OP x

I agree. I phoned them because there was a man running round our old street with a machete. Knocking on doors with it hidden behind his back. They came three days later Hmm
dinochum · 27/07/2021 09:34

I'm not gonna lie, I'm very invested in this and can't quite believe what I am reading!

PaddleBlue · 27/07/2021 09:36

What CF!

EastWestWhosBest · 27/07/2021 09:36

This kind of thing really worries me. I get paranoid that people use my garden when I’m out.

No further suggestions but I hope you can get it sorted.

househousehousefox · 27/07/2021 09:37

@Ariela

The problem with anti climb paint is it may transfer to the lovely seating, so if you think they will still get over even if it is painted on, then I'd rule that out. (or at least remove the cushions) The spikes etc are fair game, but frankly pyracantha, holly etc to land on would work brilliantly, and the sprinkler would work initially but they'll just repoint it away from your seating. I'd also consider a cardboard cut out - quite like Gareth Southgate myself, position just inside patio doors so can be seen looking over garden towards a person on the wall, so it looks like someone is in the garden, ideally if you can rig it up with a ring doorbell speaker at the same time so it can say 'oi, what are you doing?' in a burly voice.
Did you stop a burglary of your family home when you were left behind as a child one Christmas?
brewstoo · 27/07/2021 09:38

In the case of the OP I'd put up the CCTV sign plus make it difficult and annoying for them.
Maybe a full paddling pool where they climb down, potted plants there too,
things piled on the seats like bags of compost etc

CandidaAlbicans2 · 27/07/2021 09:42

I'd get all the other tenants together and have a combined approach to trying to get them evicted. If the HA is still not bothered, then get the local MP involved.

Although PPs suggestions RE gunk or spikes on the wall are humorous I'd urge caution. Your CF neighbours will probably suspect you've put stuff on there to deter them and if they get injured or their clothes ruined it could backfire on you. Also, I'd be concerned if birds landed on the wall, got covered in the gunk, and became ill trying to remove it. Plus, it's easy to cover spikes with something like a doormat so it doesn't hurt when climbing over. Just keep complaining, en masse, to the HA/MP. Be an oily gate.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 27/07/2021 09:43

I meant be a squeaky gate, not an oily one!

Dasher789 · 27/07/2021 09:43

yes! @acatcalledjohn - remote activated sprinkler is a brilliant idea

or call the police when you see them on the camera

what CF's i hope you get it sorted

NameChange2PostThis · 27/07/2021 09:44

@Muma1992

So much bad advice on this thread.

Someone has broken into your property. You are a single woman living alone. Next time they are there, call the police and say that someone has broken into your property at the back, it doesn't matter who they are.

Also, do call the HA and say there are police involved.

Agree with this. Do not do anything until Friday when you can report them. @Weird21 you only have one shot at calling the police because you can see a burglary in progress at your property on CCTV. Any actions you take to acknowledge the neighbours’ actions will mean you can’t do this as it will become trespass (civil) not burglary (criminal). If the police can’t or won’t come, you can at least get a crime number out of it.

Later you can ‘discover’ who they are, and take the crime number and screenshots to their LL HA. Explain you are single and frightened for your safety, so it has to be anonymous. The police may be able to advise you, even if they can’t actively help.

Then you can make whatever changes you need to your garden eg spikes, trellis, etc.

Do not confront them or challenge them directly. Do not leave notes or signs or booby-traps. So many funny suggestions but not funny when it’s your life. They will not be intimidated and may be goaded into retaliation. These are not CFs, they are sociopaths. Stay safe.

MrsOrMiss · 27/07/2021 09:46

@YelloYelloYello

Okay, I see your point BUT, you're missing the bigger picture. These neighbours don't care about anything but themselves. They will continue to use the OPs things until they are finished or are made to stop. They have no fear of the police or HA sanctions. They will however not want to be evicted- not because they love their home, but because of the inconvenience of moving.
If they climb on/over the trellis, it will break, they'll have caused criminal damage and the police will be called. The police probably won't do much BUT it will be evidence of anti social behaviour, which will be logged with the police and HA. Eventually, it'll be added to the evidence for eviction. I know they don't give a toss about any sweet peas - it's simply what the OP tells the police as her reason for putting up the trellis. If she says 'to stop them coming into my garden' the police will give HER a warning.
It took the police and local council 8 years to evict one of my neighbours who were like the OPs 'lovely' neighbours. The list of evidence was immense, 8 long years of constant abuse, threats, burglary, violence etc to get them evicted. This family - like my neighbours - know exactly how to play the system and they will.

Muma1992 · 27/07/2021 09:47

@NameChange2PostThis this advice, absolutely

househousehousefox · 27/07/2021 09:49

They will start throwing stuff in your garden and ordinary takeaways to your house and stuff on the daily if you personally deal with them.
I would go for the anti climb paint and spikes with a notice. Do not mention that you know.

RubyViolet · 27/07/2021 09:49

This is very serious. Report to the Police and their housing association.
You don’t have to speak to the trespassers, you could ask to be anonymous in your dealings with the housing association, they might presume another neighbour reported them as you are obviously not at home.
The Police should be told that there are trespassers in your garden, and that you think they are casing the house….they will come if they think there is a crime happening.
Set up a discreet CCTV camera so you can log all activities.

Baycitystroller · 27/07/2021 09:50

I agree a cautious approach. They sound total arseholes.

YelloYelloYello · 27/07/2021 09:52

@MrsOrMiss you’re making a huge number of assumptions and suggesting this is exactly the same situation you went through.

Your experience sounds awful though. Did they actually break into your fenced off property like they have here?

TeeBee · 27/07/2021 09:54

Could you also put a motion sensor with a loud siren in your garden? Think they cost around £20.

Howshouldibehave · 27/07/2021 09:59

Some people are such CF!!

custardbear · 27/07/2021 10:00

Wht CF's!
I'd take the chairs in too and leave a note on the table about police, trespassing and prosecution

MrsOrMiss · 27/07/2021 10:03

@YelloYelloYello
Yes, along with, beating my kids up, stealing their school musical instruments, throwing sh*t over the fence, partying in the garden all night and day, firing their air rifle at my son in our garden. Is that enough examples for you to maybes realise, I've had plenty experience of this kind of thing? Or do you need me to recount the time 3 of the sons tried to rape my then 6 year old when she was in her paddling pool, in our garden. Yeah, the police 'rushed' to help then too, the next day. They didn't speak to my neighbours for another 2 days. They were just 'curious' MissOrMiss and thought as DD was in her pool, she'd like to 'play' Drs and nurses, she said yes'. 6 fucking years old. The oldest boy was 8, the youngest 6. Yes, they had a child a year. They weren't the youngest or oldest.

They know how to play the system, they'll not stop until evicted.