Why are the here? What is this?

[OhnoItHappeningAgain]

Hi, there is a couple who keep walking onto my driveway as part of their walk, they stand there loitering, come right up to my garage, walk around car, and look through windows etc. They then go. They look abit strange, and this is scaring my young dcs who sometimes play there, and become startled. They are older and I think harmless enough, but we don't like it. It is odd behaviour as my driveway is enclosed and there's no walkway or anything, it is a dead end if that makes sense.
What do I do? Because they are older I feel abit awkward saying anything, but at the same time it is trespassing on private property, they have no business being here.

OP- Do you own parents/grandparents go wandering around and trespassing on other peoples property?

You can still be friendly with them- but with an open ended question. 'Good Morning. I've noticed you both on my drive/looking in my windows often- why are you doing that/what are you looking for???' with a wide smile- and wait for their response.

How often do they do this? Is it daily?

1. "Hello, can I help you?"
2. "Well, I'd rather you didn't. This is private property." to whatever they reply
3. Come back here and tell us what happens!

'Excuse me, hi, I've seen you here a couple of times and wondered if I could help you with something?

No, just out for a walk? Ok well this is private property so I'd appreciate it if you didn't walk up the drive or peer into the windows in future as it's quite disconcerting. Have a lovely day now'

Tell them that they are on your property uninvited. Take their photo and tell them that you’ll be sending it to the police. Make sure that they know to get lost.

I think you should ask them. However my husband and I often go for walks and we are interested in both gardens and architecture so we are often found outside houses/gardens (on the sidewalk) having intense conversations about features of the houses ir gardens, and gesticulating madly to illustrate our points. We are perfectly harmless and sometimes the homeowner will come out and joon the discussion. e.g “Have you noticed that the north side is asymetrical and the windows don’t line up—why is that?”

The fact that they're older would make me feel more comfortable about asking them to leave if I can help them, not less. Older people are (generally) less likely to be up to mischief, and also less of a physical threat than someone younger would be.

They posted some through my door the other day :( Completely ignoring the No Junk Mail sign on my letterbox!

I would wait til they leave, follow them and the stand on their drive and look in their windows 😂

@AlfietheSchnauzer I stand corrected. They used to post the "Watchtower" through the door but I think they realised, more often than not, it went straight in the bin. It was costing them too much to distribute it, so they make it available online or if they think you are a serious candidate/victim. I think they just post a leaflet thru the door now, hence the men usually carry a briefcase containing them. Also, they think it makes them look official.

I’m loving the idea that older people can get away with anything by virtue of being old and “harmless”. I’m going to start planning a heist. Everyone will say “Well, gosh! She was such a sweet old dear! Who’d have thought she would go all Breaking Bad!”

I had a tiny leaflet through my door about an hour ago titled 'Exercise patience'

I think they have been spying on me

'I think you should ask them. However my husband and I often go for walks and we are interested in both gardens and architecture so we are often found outside houses/gardens (on the sidewalk) having intense conversations about features of the houses ir gardens, and gesticulating madly to illustrate our points. We are perfectly harmless and sometimes the homeowner will come out and joon the discussion. e.g “Have you noticed that the north side is asymetrical and the windows don’t line up—why is that?”

Would you do this on a driveway of a new build housing estate though? There's nothing intriguing about any architechture here unfortunately 😂

Think i'll go with:

"FatCatBum · Today 15:50
'Excuse me, hi, I've seen you here a couple of times and wondered if I could help you with something?

No, just out for a walk? Ok well this is private property so I'd appreciate it if you didn't walk up the drive or peer into the windows in future as it's quite disconcerting. Have a lovely day now'

I think this is a nice polite way of telling them to keep off private property, it is a dead end etc.

Yet another MN "problem" which could be solved by the simple use of conversation.

Get one of those car alarms that goes off when anyone breathes in the general direction of the car and sounds like a choir of banshees from hell.

Turn it on at roughly the time they have their walk.

Warn the kids and any other interested parties that it might go off in advance.

Hide behind curtain.

This with bells on. 🙄

@StevieNicksfan that is really unsettling. I think religious callers should be banned. I don't knock on their doors preaching the big bang theory. I never understand why, imo it's like a cult.

This is bonkers. No idea why you wouldn't just ask what they are doing.

@GulesMeansRed 🤣🤣 i know you're right, i just find them out of the ordinary and wasn't sure how to be polite while not overreacting, and telling them to keep off. Some great idea here, i will update after their next visit.

@Keitharingsbitch i know, i will, guess i fell for the harmless old couple talk from my nbr! I then thought maybe lonely/mental health issues going on. I have over thought this way too much evidently, but now idea that they could very well be jehovas (sp?) witnesses is making me annoyed! I'll be having a word on their their next visit.

@AlfietheSchnauzer . Ah, but you see they don't consider it Junk Mail. It is in fact Very Special Religious Literature!

My guess is they object to some feature of your property...

@OhnoItHappeningAgain JWs are a cult. They have ruined people's lives. If it is them then they are intimidating and frightening you and your children and that's totally unacceptable. You can always phone the local Kingdom Hall and request that they tell their members not to call at your house, this might stop them from calling again without you having to confront them. If these people then still turn up and aren't JWs, then I'm afraid you are back to the option of challenging them from the window. How often do they appear?

Honestly, I swear a a Mnetter could be smacked over the face with a kipper and they’d be on here saying ‘Whilst out walking my dog today, an elderly lady smacked me across the mouth with a kipper, I hate confrontation so didn’t want to say anything, I felt it would be overreacting to shout at her, she may have dementia or autism, AIBU?’ JUST ASK THEM!!!