Not AIBU but more WWYD ask my neighbours?

[maybefour]

Aware this isn’t fully fitting to the question but posting for traffic

I’m going on holiday soon and I live on an estate where I know a few of my neighbours by name and would be happy to chap on their door if needed. We are going to be away for a few weeks so I feel like it might be sensible to tell them that we will be away and to message us if they see anything they would deem as ‘unusual’ happening around our house?

For context this normally wouldn’t cross my mind but a family member of mine got broken into fairly recently so I feel it may be good to do but I also don’t want to burden others with the need to ‘watch out’ for our property while we’re away?

Cameras? Door cam/ring door bell ???

I wouldn't want to advertise I was away personally. I only would share this with those who I genuinely already consider my friends or close family. If there have been break-ins locally (not sure if this is the case or if your family member is local to you) even less reason to advertise it.

I'd just pick up a cheap ring type doorbell or a camera for the front door so you can check alerts from your phone if needs be.

I tell my immediate neighbours either side, and they do likewise. Have done this in 3 houses over 30 years - have/had good relationship with them, and trust them

That's definitely a normal thing to do in my area.

That's my strategy too.
I just ask them to keep a eye on the front door for mail/pamphlets/circulars etc sticking out and to push them fully through the post box so it doesn't announce to the world that no one is home.

No ring doorbell, didn’t realise you could pick them up cheaply so think I will now, thanks @Krevlornswath

Have a good relationship to one of my immediate neighbours on one side who WFH so is there a lot of the time & also with one across the street

Just worried it feels very exposing knocking on their door to say something like that, but I know if they did that with me I would appreciate knowing rather than wondering why I hadn’t seen them in a few weeks

Of course tell your direct neighbours. Be weird not to. You might end up as a mumsnet post for I’ve not seen my neighbours in two weeks otherwise! Don’t overthink it!!

@Willweeverfindoutvery true, or I could end up as your user name if I never come back! (I hope that’s not a low blow joke I’ve just made)

Thank you for acknowledging that people mis-use AIBU just to get eyeballs.

Nothing wrong with leaving them a nice little note. And then of course maybe bring them a little giftie from your trip.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell neighbours only if I was chatting to them before we go at some point.

I usually tell my lovely ‘unofficial neighbourhood watch type’ retired neighbours as they are lovely and good for keeping an eye out. They don’t have a drive so I also let them park on our driveway when we’re away which is a good deterrent.