House trashed whilst I was at work

[Monkey987]

Just want to know what you would do in my situation.
A relative of mine (with mental health concerns) came to my house uninvited and smashed my window in an attempt to get in.
He also destroyed lots of other items in my garden and house.

He's done at least £1000 worth of damage.
I'm torn.
Am I being unreasonable to report them to the police for criminal damage so I can go through my insurance and claim?

Or do I pretend I have no idea how the damage happened.

The relative doesn't have a pot to p**s in. So no point asking them to fix it.

If your relative is unwell enough to smash windows and cause that much damage yes I would be calling the police.

Call the police and get a crime number

I’d absolutely call the police. I wouldn’t want anything to do with them after that

I would report him. People have to take responsibility for their actions. Sometimes they have to hit rock bottom before they can start to climb up, and this could help him in the long run.

I would report or get them to pay. They can't have it both ways

Unless there was a very good reason they smashed the window, as in they saw smoke or something, then yes call the police. They aren't safe to be out and about

Calling the police is probably best for the perpetrator also - may be sectioned/get help they need. Also may be of risk to you in the future if not sanctioned.

Can you report the damage to the police and leave it at that without disclosing who did it?

Are you concerned for your safety from this person?

What kind of help and support does your relative have? I wonder if reporting to the police might help accelerate adult services stepping in?

A police report might be a gateway to health care treatment?

I’d report it. He sounds as if he is a danger to himself and others.

I've fully blocked them. I'm done with the madness.
I've been trying to help him for years and the message is clearly not going in :-(

Why would you not report this?
It doesnt help your family member to pretend you dont know. You would be enabling them.
Plus they'll do it again, or worse.

This is what I'm thinking.
I slept on it but still can't decide as I don't want to make a life changing decision

Yes, call the police.

I was thinking of just telling the police that I was out (which I was) and don't know who it was.
The only reason I know is because my neighbour confronted him.

Your relative made a life-changing decision by breaking in to your home and damaging it. Your choice is whether you wish to be complicit in covering up that criminal act or not.

To be honest I have no idea why I'm so reluctant to call the police.
I was absolutely fuming and angry when I first found out but now I've calmed down I doubt the police will even do anything about it

If you report it to the police and they bother to come round, they may just speak to your neighbour to see if they saw or heard anything, so I think you should be honest, otherwise you might end up getting yourself in trouble OP.

You can't lie, it could get you into trouble. Tbh if he's able to do that to you then god only knows what he might do next so you need to make the police aware

What do you think the police will do?

If you do report it and pretend you dont know who did it the police will probably ask if anyone, including your neighbours, saw what happened.
So then you would be having to lie about your neighbour not only seeing what happened but actually intervening.
So if you are going to report it - which you should- its much better to be honest and tell the police who actually did it.

I'm still shocked this has even happened. I can't believe a relative would smash my window in and wreck my house.
To be honest I'm done pandering to people that clearly have no morals.
I still havnt even got an apology...

Depends if he's got a criminal record already really, they might just caution him.

If you intend to make an insurance claim you will likely need a crime reference number from the Police for the Ins Company.