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.

We've had incidents happen in my street during the night - when youths have been actively damaging property. No show from the police.

The one time they did come out straight away was when there was trouble during the day and the perpetrator was already known to the police.

I feel for you OP, but I'm just going to gently put this here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-and-housing/repairs-and-housing-conditions/renting-from-the-council-or-a-housing-association/withholding-rent-because-repairs-havent-been-done/

@Sparklfairy just popping on to say I'm sorry this has happened to you and I hope you are ok.
I think posters are getting a bit confused and forgetting quite how traumatic it all must have been for you. I can totally understand you not wanting the police (or anyone) coming to your hotel room and knocking on the door. I can also understand that you probably don't want anyone in your safe space just now.

Take care and good luck with getting the situation resolved.

OP, this has sent chills down my spine. I'm so sorry. The police have been awful. This person should have been sectioned (especially with the neighbour who he admitted it to and heard your screams). Even if the letting agents can't evict him immediately they can absolutely fit all the locks (glad to hear one is going to be fitted but they seem a lot more relaxed than they would have been if it were their door). Even if it were a neighbour dispute I'm shocked that kicking someone's door in seems to be of no concern to the police. I shouldn't be though, I know. My thoughts are with you, OP.

I believe one thing is ‘youths causing property damage’ which is pretty annoying but not an immediate threat to someone’s life, OK, so that can wait. A mentally unwell stranger break into your door during a psychotic breakdown is a very dangerous situation and a police emergency, should be treated as such.

I agree that it should be.

Yep, I carry this when walking at night. In case of sudden attacks of muscle pain. Be careful not to get it in your eyes though. Would be quite incapacitating. 👍

Can you get the lockmith back to install a deadbolt and perhaps some extra bolts top and bottom of the door?

Hang in there

This happened to me. I was also manhandled and had bruising on my arms. Received threats to my life. Police did nothing and literally left me with a broken door in the same building as the perpetrator.
9 years later and I am still not letting it go. I am in the process of requesting a 'Right to Review' as suggested by the DPS.
Please don't leave it. Take urgent action now

All of the above and in the meantime pour a bottle of tabasco into a large perfume / spray type bottle and keep it with you. Spray his eyes if he even thinks to harass you again.

Hope your ok it sounds terrifying and why on earth have the police not come!! My husband laughed at me because I brought pepper spray I live in UK and I read that many stories about weirdos that I am takeing no chances.

This is fucking stupid advice.

This could result in them taking her LESS seriously in future, not more, putting her in more danger!

They show up, its patently not bloody true, they make a note of her making malicious complaints about him, disbelieve that the first incidents were real... next time she calls its on the system for her name/that address and so no one shows up in a hurry...

And yes, wasting police time isn't a smart move anyway.

Yes but this is for police to act on not the landlord! How do you know it's the same landlord? And if it is, you know you can't evict someone overnight right?

It's cutting off your nose to spite your face BTW :)

Aw what an ordeal I'd be the sake in your shoes although I think I'd want to move rather than him evicted as he will still know where you are unfortunately.

Hope meeting with police is successful

Ask the letting agents to install a London bar. It’s stops people kicking the door in. Good luck- sounds scary.

But going there just puts it off for another day and puts the onus on you, vs them?

I get it OP.

I've had a lot of problems with a drug using neighbour including abuse at the door and the police themselves knew that just rocking up at his flat a week later would likely aggravate things. In my case, instead of them just turning up at his door it was decided we would log everything and build a solid case first so it's less likely he'll get away with it when it escalates.

The difference with you though is that he has actually committed an offence that he can be arrested for on the spot, and he should have been. I think you've been let down.

They should have come round, on the night, and arrested him for that. If he has mental health issues he should be sectioned.

Don't get me started on having to live in proximity to people with mental ill health that isn't being managed because I understand that too. Some random nutcase threatened to shoot me on the bus a few months ago when I was with my toddler - I reported it on the spot in the hope they would send somebody to intercept the bus and arrest him. They didn't.

Apparently it's a routine thing in London, mentally ill people being disorderly, and I shouldn't have been surprised by it - according to MN actually!)

People who haven't lived in proximity and been targeted by somebody like this don't understand what it's like. You have to analyse every move you make for fear of making it worse, and yes sometimes that means not feeling able to do the 'obvious' thing in the eyes of people who are not connected to the situation.

I just wanted to say I understand, don't think you are 'odd' or a 'nutter' or any of the other shite you've been labelled here.

If there's any chance of you being able to move please do everything you can to make it happen. Easier said than done, I know.

MY GOODNESS!. this is so scary .

@SilverSam I really appreciate your post. This has to be carefully handled. The fact that the police have rung me a number of times and still not arrested him or attended... I'm not 'delaying' anything by getting a firm appointment, I'm probably speeding things up.

But of course, MN can be like this. Acting the authority on shit they know nothing about. But that's ok.

I’m speechless. What the hell. Could you go to the local police station? Go to your council and explain what happened and see if they’ll move you (if you’re a council tenant). God you must’ve got the fright of your life. Do you have any family near by? I’m so sorry OP.

Morning OP. I hope you managed to get some kind of sleep. I've been thinking about this post and it really is terrifying that in all likelihood, the police will do nothing and you will have to bear the full cost of moving to feel safe again.

When I see a person who reminds me of another, I think solely to myself "gosh, they remind me of..." I don't go and smash their door in. Do you know his name? Can you do some investigation?

OP the police monitor their Twitter accounts so if you know the handle for them I would complain in there.

I was randomly attacked by someone with schizophrenia and I reminded him of someone else. Your neighbour sounds very unwell and terrifying for both you and other women.

Unfortunately this.