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AIBU?

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Original poster

Halloween jumpscare neighbour

19 replies

SproutLady · 10/04/2025 00:46

My wife and I (both women) were watching tv in our living room tonight next to our French windows. We live in the countryside backing onto a field and woodland, so we have no blinds or curtains as the location is so private and rural. Suddenly, a figure appeared pressed up against our back window, wearing a Michael Myers Halloween mask. It was heartstoppingly terrifying. After a long moment, I realised it was our neighbour’s son. He is about sixty, and has pulled this kind of stunt before. I opened the back door and screamed at him about how frightening his behaviour was. He ran away but returned five minutes later to apologise. I shouted at him again about how women grow up looking over their shoulders for fear of strange men attacking them. We are both distressed and shaken and can’t sleep. Would we be unreasonable to log this with the police?

OP posts:
Lavender14 · 10/04/2025 00:51

If this isn't the first time I 100% would be logging this with police that is not normal behaviour and its unacceptable for him to feel entitled to scare you in your own home.

EmeraldRoulette · 10/04/2025 00:51

I'm not sure

if he's done it before then it might count as harrassment

is it the kind of area where police would come and have a word with him about that?

I'm sorry you live next to such an awful specimen.

sleepandcoffee · 10/04/2025 00:52

That’s a terrible trick and awful to invade your space like that ! I thought you were going to say 16 not 60 , I would report to the police as he clearly thinks this is acceptable behaviour.

Fraaances · 10/04/2025 00:55

Absolutely call the police. I suspect he’ll bitch about you “overreacting” but the pervy fucker needs to dealt with. Who knows what his actual game plan is, really?

MumbleBumbleAppleCrumble · 10/04/2025 01:03

Did you type that correctly? He’s about 60? If that’s right then you absolutely need to report this. If 16 or 6 then speak to the parents.
you say he’s your neighbours’ son, does he live there too or is this someone IN THEIR SIXTIES(!!!) popping in to see their parent(s) and randomly deciding that they are then going to trespass in to the garden next door and scare some strangers shitless??? You need to deal with this and you are absolutely not unreasonable in being furious and in finding it terrifying or bizarre.

Original poster
SproutLady · 10/04/2025 01:09

MumbleBumbleAppleCrumble · 10/04/2025 01:03

Did you type that correctly? He’s about 60? If that’s right then you absolutely need to report this. If 16 or 6 then speak to the parents.
you say he’s your neighbours’ son, does he live there too or is this someone IN THEIR SIXTIES(!!!) popping in to see their parent(s) and randomly deciding that they are then going to trespass in to the garden next door and scare some strangers shitless??? You need to deal with this and you are absolutely not unreasonable in being furious and in finding it terrifying or bizarre.

Yep. This is a sixty year old man, or thereabouts. I’m fifty and he’s a decade older than me. His mum is our neighbour and is in her eighties and frail. He doesnt live there but visits regularly, is a good son and we are on good terms generally, but this jump scare is the latest of about four or five over the last decade. He has both our phone numbers and so could have texted if he wanted to pop round for a chat about his mum’s wellbeing. This latest episode happened late in the evening after it was pitch black outside.

OP posts:
KierEagan · 10/04/2025 01:12

This man is 60 years old? Does he have some kind of additional needs that would make it difficult to understand what is wrong with his behavior? Do you normally have a friendly relationship, such that he could have misread your signs and thought you would be OK with it? Not that any of that would make it OK but it would make it easier to understand.

I have to say no matter how remote I am I could never relax at night without some kind of curtains or shades. But that's because I don't want anyone looking in, not because I expect someone to show up outside the window and scare me!

MissMoan · 10/04/2025 01:13

Please call the police. Pranks like this could trigger heart malfunctions / panic attacks etc in certain people

MumbleBumbleAppleCrumble · 10/04/2025 01:18

SproutLady · 10/04/2025 01:09

Yep. This is a sixty year old man, or thereabouts. I’m fifty and he’s a decade older than me. His mum is our neighbour and is in her eighties and frail. He doesnt live there but visits regularly, is a good son and we are on good terms generally, but this jump scare is the latest of about four or five over the last decade. He has both our phone numbers and so could have texted if he wanted to pop round for a chat about his mum’s wellbeing. This latest episode happened late in the evening after it was pitch black outside.

Edited
Show quote history

Gosh poor you. A horrid thing. He clearly thinks it’s hilarious - and presumably thought you would too? Or else is being completely awful.
A difficult and horrible situation as reporting things and then wondering if there will be consequences is probably just as bad as hoping he won’t do it again.
Could you speak to him again in the daytime and really make it clear that your anger was not just of the moment, but is real and justified, and say that if he does it again you will contact the police and report trespass and menacing behaviour?
Perhaps also think about a security light and maybe even a camera? At least with a light you would get some warning rather than a masked face at the window.
Horrid thing to happen. Hope you both manage to sleep and put it aside for the night.

Mog65 · 10/04/2025 02:22

I to had thought you meant to type 6. Certainly report the pervert! What is a grown older man doing creeping round your house like that. Makes you wonder what else he does. Hope you're both ok

Toddlerteaplease · 10/04/2025 02:40

That is bizarre behaviour for a grown man in his sixties. I can imagine how terrifying that would be. That needs to stop. If it’s not the first time I would notify the police.

Lavenderandbrown · 10/04/2025 02:58

He’s weird It’s weird behavior. It sounds like you gave him a good yell and he came back around and apologized. I wouldn’t report it to the police this time…and I realize this isnt the first time…mostly because of his mum. I would call the weirdo and say something like…listen little fucker if you step onto my property again without calling first let alone in a scream mask I’m calling 911( uk equivalent) or police. Have some respect for your mother you clown.
And honestly I would tell
his mum what he’s been doing too.

EmeraldRoulette · 10/04/2025 17:42

i'm also wondering how he got access. He's obviously had to access your land in order to do this. What a weirdo.

Original poster
SproutLady · 10/04/2025 20:53

Thank you, everybody, for your replies and suggestions. We spoke to a friend in the police last night and she advised us to log it in case of any escalation, but not to take it further. We did so via the police report online system and were clear it wasn’t an emergency, just a log. Two police showed up at nine this morning and were really concerned at the weird behaviour. They took it seriously but we decided that they shouldn’t go round to have a word with our neighbour this time. It is logged, however. Thanks again for advice and support.

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 10/04/2025 22:05

@SproutLady I think it's a shame you didn't let the police go round when they were actually concerned about it.

highlandsake · 10/04/2025 22:17

@SproutLadyThis would absolutely terrify Me! What a strange strange Man, you should have let the Police go round Confused

Jabberwok · 10/04/2025 22:19

SproutLady · 10/04/2025 20:53

Thank you, everybody, for your replies and suggestions. We spoke to a friend in the police last night and she advised us to log it in case of any escalation, but not to take it further. We did so via the police report online system and were clear it wasn’t an emergency, just a log. Two police showed up at nine this morning and were really concerned at the weird behaviour. They took it seriously but we decided that they shouldn’t go round to have a word with our neighbour this time. It is logged, however. Thanks again for advice and support.

Personally I'd have let them go round because he's a dick and that may stop him.doing it again. Also if his mum's frail he's not going to visiting much soon (sadly)...or he might move in

I would tell him that you have reported it to the police and they visited and wanted to talk to him but you out them off. Tell him that if it ever happens again you will press charges (no such thing in England but most people don't know that)

Or tell him your friends xl bully will be staying on and off and has access to the garden

Thecatspjymas · 10/04/2025 22:21

I would report it OP. This is not normal behaviour. I am assuming there’s no learning difficulties that you are aware of though.

CanOfMangoTango · 10/04/2025 22:31

I also think you should have let the police go round.

Why did you report it if you didn't want them to do anything?

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