Neighbours sat in car for hours on end with engine running. It this weird

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Names changed as could be outing

we got some new neighbours across from us about 6 months ago. A man and a women. I was talking to another neighbour and she asked if I had noticed they sit in their car for hours on end with the engine on. Now I had noticed them a few times sat in the car but though nothing if it. The car is parked outside this neighbours house a lot.

Now the neighbour has said to me DH and I have been more aware of it, especially with doing lots of work in the garden. And the fumes from the car as well have been more noticeable since we have been outside a lot. Neighbour is a bit nearer so has noticed them doing it during the day and at night as well. Usually between midnight and 6am.

Basically they sit in the car sometimes it’s the man, sometimes the women, sometimes both. The engine is running all the time (yesterday it was about 7 hours). They seem to be always on their phones and then one of them will get out go in the house and then come back out again into the car. Sometimes they will just get out of the car, walk round it and get back in.

yesterday the other neighbours husband went out and asked them to turn the engine off as his son has asthma and the car is right outside his window and was told very forcefully to mind his own fucking business.

now if it was not for the engine being on all the time I probably would just shrug and think “each to there own”. But this is very strange is it not?

Maybe their house is bugged and they are spies?! 😂 Sorry if someone else has suggested this, no time to read the whole thread.

As others have said it’s illegal to sit there with the engine running for hours . It’s also pollution, so ifvthats the rude response . Your neighbour got when’s asking them to turn it off inwouldccontact environmental health and also keep a diary as someone else suggested. Nothing worse than a smell of fumes!

Long shot but do they have children?

Could it be they are drug dealing but can't move away from their own house because the kids are sleeping?

That would explain dealing on their own doorstep.

( but then probably not as surely one adult would babysit whist the other deals).

And what a sentence that is to even be considering.…

We used to have this issue caused by a man living a few doors down. My (now deceased) elderly neighbour had space outside her house and he would park his little can up late at night with the engine running. I only noticed as I was in bed ill with the windows open. It went on for months. I assumed he was smoking/chilling away from his parents who he lives with. I’ve barley spoken to him but he constantly parks inconsiderately outside everyone’s house even though they can fit all their cars on the drive. The parking up with the engine running stopped some time ago - perhaps he found a hobby.

You can report it to the council but I think all they really do is write a letter.

Report to your local council as idling is illegal or if think they are doing something dodgy Police!

Do you think it’s possible that they’re dealing from the car, which they don’t want to do from the house? Or conducting some other business from there that they feel they can’t do in the house, for some reason (do they have kids?)? Do you ever see anyone else approach the car? I think your neighbour should approach the police & maybe environmental health re. the fumes.

How many women are there? Is it a sister wives thing?

Report this via Crimestoppers every single time. Once the police realise the pattern they will be able to come out and catch the dealing in the act.

Are they renovating their house? Maybe they want to sit in their car for comfort/ warmth or to charge their phones.

I don’t understand why everyone thinks it’s drug dealing. Why would they park on the road outside their house to deal drugs and draw attention to themselves leaving the engine running for hours? It would be less obvious dealing the drugs from their house. If it was too hot inside the house they could sit in the garden.

Also a lot of people on council estates seem to have very nice cars, it’s probably on finance.

There's another thread about neighbour approaching people who like to sit in their car outside of their own flat/house.. could it all be the same involved?

Free heat in winter or air conditioning?

I did have a neighbour who would sit in her car alot but engine not running , sometimes her husband would join her , sometimes they would be having sex ( when dark )

Do they have a young child?

When DS was younger and we’d been out in the car, he’d fall asleep and if we arrived home when he was still sleeping, I’d often park outside our house or on our drive and stay there so he could finish his nap (he would wake up as soon as taken out of the car and then be insufferable for the rest of the day)

If it was hot/cold I would keep the engine running for the heater/air conditioning to stay on. I could be sat outside for an hour or so, just on my phone whilst he was sleeping.

if they had a young child that could be the only way they could get them asleep/to finish naps perhaps?

Yeah they won’t like the ring doorbell

Drug dealers

Dealers quite often sit outside their houses to take calls so they can drive off if they are approached and also avoid neighbours listening etc. I used to always call the police in London over dealers in our garages but they rarely did anything although t there a were a couple of arrests but that didn’t stop it. They would sit there with their engines running all night in winter really annoying. It’s worth remembering that if you do drugs (However much fun it is) you are contributing to the problem and also finding some very unpleasant people!

Clearly selling drugs based on everything you've conveyed (going in and out with packages, antisocial hours, not parking in their own drive, reaction to being told to turn off engine). Report to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously)

Just discussed this with a criminal lawyer friend apparently it is because

• Police need reasonable suspicion to search a vehicle, and unless it’s listed in a warrant, a parked car isn’t automatically fair game in a house search

So if the police don’t get a warrant to cover it they have time to get rid of the drugs. Hence also why it’s not in the drive.

This for sure 💯

Their aggressive reaction when challenged by neighbour also makes me think it’s drugs. I hate idling engines and have reported to council but invariably get given a tel no and it’s an answerphone, I leave a message and you guessed it nothing is done. I gave also emailed my MO to clarify the legal position and she didn’t bother answering. There’s little enforcement alas. I believe traffic wardens can issue a fine but I bet that seldom happens.

Fix a hosepipe from the exhaust to the window. It’ll soon stop.

Somebody is bored today, aren't they?

Isn't idling illegal. I'd tell the police if it is. Really really annoying behaviour.

and also on your drive

I would think they are smoking something questionable but not allowed to do so in the house so they sit in the car. If there’s no one else left in the house like kids though this is odd

Very bizarre behaviour but I think you've got it banged to rights with drugs.

And yes, flash cars do go with drug dealers. They just can't resist.