Woman across the street staring into my house

[Littlejayx]

I live on a busy road in a large village, over the past few weeks I have been home more due to home working starting up again. I used to get alerts from my lighting system that ‘living room had been triggered’ and thought it must be passing traffic, until I was sat down working today to see a neighbour stood scouring my whole living room (not seeing me due to positioning) then light sensor turned on (was off as I hadn’t moved)

I’ve had quite a few run ins with her about letting her dog foul outside my front door/drive, using my bins and trying to stop my Gardner trimming hedges. What do I do? 😩 last time I spoke to her she shouted at me on the street and threatened to report me for assault!

I’m living alone with two young children and hate the thought of her stood looking in my house

Take a photo of her staring in, make it into poster for your garden saying “does this nosy neighbour stare into your windows too, or is it just our house?”

@Littlejayx
Bucket of water from an upstairs window 😂

I would report it to the Police OP. I know it’s worrying doing this to a neighbour but her behaviour is worrying and I would not feel safe with someone doing this.

I would also buy the window film that others have recommended ASAP. And consider a door bell that records too.

Do you know any of the other neighbours well enough to speak to them? Might be worthwhile letting them know about her behaviour and they can keep an eye out too

It’s theft. Report it. It needs stopping now.

Yes to ring doorbell, yes to privacy film, yes to lock on the woodshed. What about a security light? Record all incidents.

Told my DH, he loves the "trunky want a bun" with the addition of lobbing stale buns at her out of an upstairs window. I think you should report her for harassment and trespass to be honest though. She's trying to bully and intimidate you and putting up film etc is just giving into it.

Definitely report it, the persistent harassment and theft, sadly I suspect she will have some form of mental illness.
But that doesn’t mean you should be harassed, the police and other agencies need to deal with her.

Ask the community police officer to go and speak to this woman as soon as possible. She sounds like she has mental issues and it can be really hard to stop someone who becomes obsessed. The film on your windows is a good idea and keep a log of her activities. Community police deal with neighbour issues and it might make her think twice.

I would report it. The least they can do is contact her and tell her to desist.

It is very weird. If she is standing in your yard then surely you can get her to leave as she is trespassing. However, I think having the alarm go off is a great idea.

Put up a camera. Put a sign that says smile you're on camera. Put a gate on your garden and make it lockable so it's not easy to just walk in. Fill up the garden so she can't walk into it. Sounds like a fruit loop. I'd move or get a restraining order out on her.

Is she is unstable and you play games you might put your DC at risk. Please get advice from the police on how to handle this. She should not be entering your property OP.

Oh that's definitely moved up a notch that is certainly stealing and ignore my previous poster saying getting a cardboard cutout policeman go and get the real thing

@talesoftheunexploded

Do not go to her house or attempt to talk to her. It could massively backfire and could undermine your position when you contact the police.

She is the can of worms you do not want to open. Do not get involved - your distance is important and it gives you credibility if police take action.

Let police deal with it.

Spot on.

You can get wireless cameras (with an excellent long-life rechargeable battery) from Amazon that records video and takes photos on motion detection (sends to your phone), and you can speak through them (to tell someone to sod off).

I got one for £50 just before Christmas and it's brilliant quality for the price - I would definitely consider it.

OP, you really need to get a ring doorbell/camera. Unless you have proof to show the police it’s just your word against hers (unless you have witnesses). Far better to be able to show them undeniable proof of what she’s doing before contacting them. And lock up your logs. Anyone could help themselves. This is the world we live in now.

Get a camera so you can record the nutcase god knows how often she’s coming to stare in your house and report to police that would massively freak me out.

Also maybe a security light.

LOL, I'd be tempted to call the police and report a peeper.

Buy a load of those imitation rubber appendages, they have ones with suction cups, stick them right at eye level, obviously only when the kids are out, then invest in a security camera to capture her reaction. Then and only after you've completed those steps, report her to the police for trespass on your yard.

Dang...my mind is slow. You can also order a "trail cam" that is motion activated, set it up so that it faces the window, fairly close. It will turn on and take pictures when something is within range. That way, when you call the police, you have a record of her approaching the house and staring in at you.

Shocking blatant theft!! I hope you reported her. Padlock the log store. As suggested speak to immediate neighbours too, if you can trust them and they are not friends with her

@Littlejayx

Update - I have just seen said neighbour walking out of my drive as we were pulling in from a day out, but had to do a turn around to park and she was running off to her house ( think across the round down 3) with a big bag of something. On investigation I’ve disturbed her taking some of my logs from the log store on the drive!!!! Now is that actual theft or not ?! I had a sleeping toddler so couldn’t run after her 😩

I've just seen this, wow, I'd go crazy, but being more sensible call the police that's theft.

And move log store to very rear of your house to make it harder for her. What a cheek