Neighbour kicked my door down/broke in

[Sparklfairy]

AIBU to expect the police to arrest/remove him...?

I live alone in a flat in a block of 4. I have met this neighbour just once, and introduced myself. A few weeks ago he knocked on my door, not threateningly, but persistently - consistent knocking for 3-4 minutes... at 1.30am. I was awake as I WFH but nights, and just ignored it.

He went away, and there's been nothing since. Until yesterday at 6-something in the morning. Again, I was working but the flat was in total silence. No tv or any noise that would disturb him, I was literally just sitting on my bed.

Suddenly I heard a bang and froze. I was confused and didn't know what it was and was trying to work out where it was coming from. 3 or 4 further bangs and my front door burst open and he was stood there, swaying, glassy eyed.

I screamed. It's a studio, tiny flat, like one of those micro flats that you see advertised but yes, this is my life and I had no escape, no room to hide in, not even a bathroom with a lock on the door (as there is no lock, and the bathroom is opposite the front door).

I screamed at him, he said I was 'in' his head, fucking with his head (when I've done absolutely nothing), and when he tried to step towards me I screamed again and he suddenly 'clicked', became lucid and said ok and left. I was shaking.

My other neighbour (upstairs, but next door to him), texted me saying he heard screaming, and let me take refuge in his flat. Before I did, I obviously called 999. The police seemed non committal, that someone would come out at some point. 36 hours later I've had no visit.

But here is the kicker. When hiding in my neighbours flat, my friend/neighbour had the bright idea of just knocking on his door and talking to crazy tenant. He has recorded the conversation where crazy tenant admits I did nothing wrong but I just 'remind him' of someone and that's why he broke my door down

I rang 101 with the crime ref to update. The lady was so helpful and checked with her supervisor as she was astonished no one had come out to me yet. She reassured me that someone would attend and it had been miscategorised/recategorised now.

It's now nearly 9pm on Sunday and STILL nothing. I can't go home. The lock has been 'fixed' but obviously Crazy Tenant has proven that he can break it whenever he likes. I live alone. I have stressed every single detail which should have escalated this, but nothing is being done. I have chased with the letting agent but basically they're saying I have to wait until Monday for any action to be done. And even then, they were non committal as to WHAT would happen.

So I'm stuck, and cannot go home, and my rent is due today. I have no idea what to do.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you. I can’t think of anything to advise but didn’t want to read and run.

Maybe it would help to turn this into a letter and send it to the Police Commissioner?

This is terrifying. I don't know what you should do, but I wanted to say I hope the police come and take him away tonight. It sounds like he might need medicating? So sorry you're experiencing this.

Who do you rent the flat from?

I would be on to the landlord asap especially if they are also next doors landlord.

Do they have an out of hours emergency number?

This is outrageous. I don’t know what to suggest other than phoning again and going down to the letting agents first thing in the morning. Maybe contact your MP? It’s neglect. You can’t go back, it’s unsafe.

Hi, I don't mean to alarm you but your neighbour sounds like he could be quite mentally ill. I work it mental health, it sounds like he may have some sort of delusional belief about you. It may be that he takes drugs (you mentioned glassy eyed) and that has brought it on but he sounds really not in his right mind. I don't know where you live, can you call 111, select the mental health option and speak to them? Or can you Google your local Mental Health Crisis Team and speak to them. They will probably also get the police involved but hopefully can escalate things. Keep you safe and get him the help he needs.

Absolutely disgraceful that the police didnt attend straight away

This is awful. You need.to call 999 again and say you need someone out now. And yes i say call 999 and not 101 because the threat is still there. Did you in anyway minimise what happened on the initial call? Because they usually have a scale to allocate jobs but a stranger breaking into your home whilst you are in it would be classed as urgent.

I'm not surprised you don't want to go back. What a terrifying experience. The neighbour clearly has issues. I don't know what to suggest - women's services at the council? The police need to step up.

OP this is awful.

please call 999 and report as an emergency as the threat still very much exists

This is absolutely disgraceful!! I can't believe you are being let down like this. I really hope you get full support as of tomorrow. I'd be raising fresh hell over this!

Especially in the wake this week of the Hone Office announcing ‘Raneem’s Law’ after that awful case where a mother and daughter were murdered and police ignored five calls from them- ring up and remind your police service of that case. Do they want another one on their hands? This is really shocking. Definitely PCC and your local police commissioner.

I would email your local police and crimes commissioner, MP and local paper in one email cc’ing everyone. You poor thing!

Wow bloody hell, how terrifying and what an awful non response from the police, honestly policing is appalling these days. Do you have any family or friends you can go and stay with? I'd say get on to the police again, let them know you can't go home and that your neighbour is a danger and not in his right mind and may need a mental health act assessment

Thank you all so much, I've spent the best part of two days being dismissed and made to feel like I'm dramatising

At the very least I have proof of criminal damage, and obviously harassment, but I don't understand why they wouldn't come over and arrest him. They really seem to think that it's some 'neighbour dispute' and sort of an equal blame, but it isn't. I have absolutely stressed, and they've noted, that he is volatile, drugs involved etc, and the living situation re the council, and they have continued to decategorised it.

I'm completely at a loss and just feel like crying.

Omg awful (both the incident and lack of response from the police).

Are you able to physically get to a police station? If so I’d walk in, be stern, and tell them that nobody has been to you and you are too terrified to go back to your own home until he is dealt with.

This is awful, where are you now? I'd be ringing the police again, your landlord or agent.
Are you able to be with someone?

@Sparklfairy Many years ago, aged 17, I was in a very unsafe building, and had the door kicked in just as you described.

A drunken man just swaying there {Lansdowne Drive, London Fields}
I was in bed, terrified.

I didn't call police, {No mobiles in those days} but left the place - the men in the next room told him off {for want of a better word}

Can you move?

No way in heck would I want to stay there.

In your shoes OP, I would go down to the nearest police station, and demand to see the highest ranking officer available. Show them what you've written here, and the responses, and tell them you're not leaving until they take action, and remove this man, who is clearly a danger to a female on her own. As a previous poster said, this is absolutely DISGUSTING in view of the 'Raneem’s Law' publicity this week, and yet again, a woman is being left alone and in danger, and the police are nowhere to be found!!! Once you've got it sorted OP, I would also go to the papers with your story, if they don't pick it up from MN beforehand. The more publicity these situations get, the better, then perhaps they'll finally see that we're no longer prepared to sit back and be murdered, while the police continue to do nothing to protect us! Please come back and let us know what happens.

Please install a camera ring bell outside your door. The police won’t be able to ignore it:

Are you willing to say which police force area you are in OP? This is absolutely disgraceful.

Hi, I don't mean to alarm you but your neighbour sounds like he could be quite mentally ill.

No shit?

OP, can you get some heavy bolts on the door if you have to move back?

The whole situation sounds utterly horrific

Email your local police force, head of complaints and tell them you have documented an illegal and unauthorised break in on xx and xx and you are living in fear as no one has been out to process your complaint and/or deal with or charge your neighbour. State that if any harm comes to you due to the lack of action of the police force, you will hold whatever district police force totally responsible for any damages and personal harm that may come to you as a direct result of their inaction. That within 24 hours of your email, you expect a reply telling you they are dealing with the matter or you will be contacting the police ombudsman and taking the matter as far as possible up the chain of command.

Next get a camera and ring doorbell and stronger door locks, and if the letting agency object, tell them they are next on the claims list too if he attempts to break in again. Then buy a rape alarm on ebay, and either get a bottle of mace or whatever you can to burn the eyes out that fuckers head and damn him to hell and back.

This is absolutely fucking disgusting, and I am horrified on your behalf, OP. How is a drugged-up nutter breaking into the home of a woman alone NOT a priority response incident?

I am sorry you're going through this, and I really hope you have somewhere safe to stay.

This is one MN story I actually hope the media do pick up on.

It's an utter disgrace that the Police have done nothing to help.

WTAF! I was just thinking tonight that you can't really rely on the police to do much when a crime is committed or you're in a situation like yours.

Contact the police again, then maybe contact your MP if the police don't help.