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Original poster

Not seen neighbours in weeks lights and heating on

351 replies

stillwaitingonaring · 13/01/2022 10:14

Been thinking to myself the last week or so how weird it is that we haven't seen the neighbours in weeks probably coming up to a month now. Every single light on in the house and heating on all day and night.

They have had lots of police involvement in the past, she had 4 older children with learning difficulties police were being called out so many times a week. Her children are normally jumping on the car roof slamming doors etc. Not seen or heard a peep from them since mid December. I always felt sorry for her because it seemed like she couldn't cope with all of them in that small house they were running her ragged.

I knocked on yesterday morning and obviously no answer, is this something you would report to the police or just leave it?

OP posts:
Shmithecat2 · 13/01/2022 17:21

I'm glad you reported it. Not quite the same lifestyle by the sounds of it, but my neighbour went quiet for a few days. He was a gentle man, no visitors we saw, he did work full time etc...- he'd had a heart attack and died in his armchair one evening. I was devastated. Turns out he did have family, a brother who came swarming as soon as the house was handed over to him. We'd never seen him in the 18 months we lived next door.

HermioneGrangersHair · 13/01/2022 17:52

@starfishmummy

They was destroying her car jumping on the roof and throwing toilet rolls over the house. Running up and down the estate next door nearly ran them over. I am guessing they had some learning difficulties.

Wow. Not every person who behaves badly has learning difficulties. Have you any idea how insulting your assumption is?

I don’t think the OP meant to be rude or judgemental. People in their 20s don’t often go about wrecking cars and running about throwing toilet rolls either. ( The op had said police called multiple times so implies that this wasn’t a one off. ) Whether it’s one thing or the other isn’t really the reason for the thread.
ChiefStockingStuffer · 13/01/2022 18:00

Reporting the stark change in behaviour any no sign of them was the right thing to do.

damnthisvirusandmarriage · 13/01/2022 18:16

Following with interest

Beachbreak2411 · 13/01/2022 18:25

Hope they are ok!!

When I was young (12) I had a paper round.. one of my houses was a lovely little old lady; after a few days I realised the papers / post were all piled up (they had a glass porch) .. I told my boss and he went round to check.. also thought it was odd so called police; they found her lying on her bedroom floor unable to move. She’d had a stroke; she was ok in the end but I still think of her (20 odd years later) when I go by her house. (Her family gave me a huge bag of sweets 😂) I’m hyper aware of things like this now so think you deff did the right thing OP!

Sheabutterisdelish · 13/01/2022 18:35

I think th

starfishmummy · 13/01/2022 18:41

People in their 20s don’t often go about wrecking cars and running about throwing toilet rolls either. ( The op had said police called multiple times so implies that this wasn’t a one off. )

But that doesn't mean they have learning disabilities.

ShagMeRiggins · 13/01/2022 18:42

@Gargellen

I would ask the police to do a welfare check.

Reminds me of the woman that had been dead in her flat for four years with the telly going day and night. The neighbours said that in retrospect, it did seem odd.

She was only discovered because her bank account had run out of money for her rent payments to fail.

I don’t remember this, but that’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard in terms of neighbourhoods. Four years??!!
soundsgreektome · 13/01/2022 18:47

Definitely done the right thing.

Lightstoobright · 13/01/2022 18:49

Well done OP

Araisaris · 13/01/2022 18:50

@ShagMeRiggins I’m sure there was a film m/documentary made about it.

WellThatsATurnipForTheBooks · 13/01/2022 18:50

It sounds like a single call to the housing people would give an answer so it must be frustrating that they didn't respond to your call.

Here's hoping the police get a reply.

SantasCat · 13/01/2022 18:52

Oh god, hope they are okay

Christmas1988 · 13/01/2022 18:52

Do you have an update for us nosey lot?

mummymayhem18 · 13/01/2022 18:53

How bizarre! They've probably moved out but always best to check with circumstances like this.

ShagMeRiggins · 13/01/2022 18:54

@HelloDaisy

You were definitely right to report it as better to be safe than sorry.

When I was working as a nurse in the community I was asked to visit a lady as the gp was concerned about her. On arrival at her house I saw 3 milk deliveries on the doorstep and saw her on the kitchen floor. I always thought it was a sad situation that she died alone and nobody was concerned about her, no relatives, no neighbours and not even the milkman…

Also tragic.

Every time I hear “not my circus, not my monkeys,” I think of it in very large terms (eg, Djokovic & Australian Open) or very personal terms (eg my Sil is out of order)

BatshitBanshee · 13/01/2022 18:57

Dreams of a Life is the documentary about that lady who lay dead and decomposing in her flat for four years with no one noticing. I think her name was Joyce. Desperately sad, I often think of her.

You did the right thing OP, hoping they just did a flit and not something more sinister.

BrotherHelp · 13/01/2022 19:01

Thank you to everyone who does phone the police for welfare checks, one of you will one day save a life or save someone the grief of not knowing. The police would rather check and find someone well than leave someone ill/dead and not.

ShagMeRiggins · 13/01/2022 19:01

Accidentally pressed post…

I understand both. Large terms = I can’t do anything about this and have no influence, Personal terms = if I speak out it will fuck up my life.

For me, moral questions are often centred around complete strangers, or people who you know (but don’t know).

That seems to get to the heart of the matter.

Are you bring a caring neighbour by having a chat—should you feel brave and safe enough to do so—or are you being a busy body and judgmental snitch?

I’m exaggerating, of course. Still, it’s an interesting dilemma.

ShagMeRiggins · 13/01/2022 19:05

[quote Araisaris]@ShagMeRiggins I’m sure there was a film m/documentary made about it.[/quote]
Thank you. I’ll search for it.

Wbeezer · 13/01/2022 19:06

We had a welfare check done on us once!
Someone reported lots of milk still on the doorstep at @10am and was concerned, thing is milkmen tend to deliver in bulk twice a week round here and i hadn't taken it in as i was still in my PJs (school holidays). Luckily it was the GP who phoned not the police coming round. I felt a bit embarrassed... People are very alert/nosey round here.

InFiveMins · 13/01/2022 19:10

I'd be concerned and would have reported it too OP. Hopefully it's innocent and they have just gone away for a while.

TheMooch · 13/01/2022 19:11

I am glad you phoned the police. Sounds like they know the family so may have info on them.

It was 'nosey' neighbours of my Gran who spotted her lounge curtains hadn't been opened like they'd normally would be one Saturday morning. They couldn't get hold of my parents so phoned the police, who broke in and found her dead.

Sograteful they'd kept a quiet eye on her curtains everyday and spotted it.

dane8 · 13/01/2022 19:14

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Letsallscreamatthesistene · 13/01/2022 19:16

I reckon they've gone. I hope so anyway. I hope its nothing sinister.

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