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Original poster

Neighbours

27 replies

JayneMarple · 30/07/2020 22:19

Moved house, new neighbours seem lovely, get on well with them, have asked them to let us know parking etiquette and have checked if they can hear music etc through walls, so far no issues.

A week ago, my car was keyed in a prominent position. We inherited old cameras but were for show really. I'm gutted, so we installed new cameras.

Fast forward to tonight my neighbour on one side has parked their vehicle outside my house (no issues with this). They come back to it and find it's been keyed.

Check the cameras to find that it was another neighbour that had done it - clearly identifiable.

Now have a dilemma - do we let our neighbour know who did it and risk further repercussions? I'm now wondering if culprit keyed my car last week.

Have had no beef with the culprit and quite shocked as they seem so unassuming.

If we pass the information on or speak directly to the person who did the damage, we risk causing problems for ourselves with new neighbours and this is a long term house. However, if there's a possibility the damage done to my car was done by this person, it suggests they already have beef with us.

Help!

OP posts:
Normalmumandwife · 30/07/2020 22:23

Yes of course you do...but first call the police and present the evidence as well so they can be arrested

Gin4thewin · 30/07/2020 22:24

Tbh i would tell them and burn off the cctv in case they wanted to report it, thats criminal damage. Even more so that the same person damaged your own car also

Gin4thewin · 30/07/2020 22:26

You can report the damage to your own car but obviously no evidence in your case unfortunately. The neighbour has to report the damage to their own property themselves. I doubt anyone would get arrested, likely be solved by a voluntary interview

Original poster
JayneMarple · 30/07/2020 22:34

I can't prove that the person who keyed my neigbour's car also did mine, as it was the damage done to my car that prompted the change in cameras.

The culprit is a neighbour close by, so it could provoke more direct issues with them if I pass the evidence on or speak to them about it.

I'm thinking of using my car as bait (it's already scratched in the worst place so prepared to risk another scratch) and waiting a few days before going back to my neighbour whose vehicle was keyed and seeing if any further damage is done to my car. That way, I'd have more chance of gathering evidence as I can't prove they keyed my car?

OP posts:
Gin4thewin · 30/07/2020 23:04

No but it builds a picture if there are further damages to both your own and others cars. If you mention your worried, neighbour team can always keep an eye out and it would all get logged going further anyway. Your cctv would capture anything further also. So odd how theres nothing that sparked it also though. I would hand the cctv over though, if i knew a neighbour had the evidence and knew who who damaged my car, id want it. If there was cameras up before but they didnt work, neighbour cant be that fussed about being caught

Endogal · 30/07/2020 23:07

I understand why you'd want to go ahead with that plan but I'd worry it could throw up an issue r.e. insurance if they somehow found out through the investigation you had known and not gone to the police sooner?

Absolutely tell your neighbour and the police though wtaf gives them the right to go around damaging others property!!!!

BadgeronaMoped · 30/07/2020 23:19

Ugh, we used to have a weird next door neighbour who would key any car parked on the road outside his house (terraced/on-street parking). We only found out he had form for this after our car was keyed... Never spoke to us, if he'd said it bothered him I'd have parked further down the street!
I would definitely tell your neighbour what you saw, I know I was glad to know who'd done ours.

BitOfFun · 30/07/2020 23:19

This is absolutely weird. Who is the other neighbour, and what's their beef?

CaurnieBred · 31/07/2020 00:20

I would report to police!

AmIAWeed · 31/07/2020 07:13

I would report to the police and give them the evidence, explain your car was keyed hence updating the cameras. For all you know this is an ongoing issue and they have suspicions and your evidence will help.
As for creating beef, pretty certain the neighbor started when he keyed your car!!

LaughingDonkey · 31/07/2020 07:21

@JayneMarple

I do not think you can tell your neighbour of keyed car who actually did it due to data protection law. If your camera is directed at public path/road, where car is parked (not on your property boundary).

www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

Original poster
JayneMarple · 31/07/2020 10:05

@LaughingDonkey Urgh that puts me in a tricky position. 🙄😫

Looks like I'll have to tell neighbour who had their car keyed that and see if they want to go to police about it first.

Think there's previous between the two neighbours, so there's a motive for culprit. I get on well with both but now my car has been keyed, worried I'm now going to be start of issues.

I've always got on with my neighbours and bit gutted to find out my other neighbour would do this.

OP posts:
Requinblanc · 31/07/2020 10:39

Report to the police and give them the evidence you have. They will speak to the person who had their car damaged and to the culprit. If you don't put a stop to it now your weirdo neighbour will continue...Such an odd way to behave.

FartingInTheFence · 31/07/2020 10:43

Stop pussyfooting around OP.

Confront the culprit neighbour and say you have evidence of them vandalising the other car and say that you suspect them if doing it to you car too.

At the very least, that should deter them from vandalising your car for the interim - and make it clear to said neighbour that you are or have already reported them to the Police for criminal damage.

Amazes me to no end how people rush to a forum to ask for advice instead of using common sense. I mean, fuck me, if you see a crime, you report it.

The repercussions can also be dealt with. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

HoneysuckIejasmine · 31/07/2020 10:47

If I had video footage of my neighbours car being vandalised, I would definitely tell them. I might speak to the police first regarding if I can give the neighbour the footage, or if I need to hand it directly to the police.

LaughingDonkey · 31/07/2020 10:56

@JayneMarple

I think I wasn't clear in my previous post - OP can't tell her neighbour (who's car was keyed) who is responsible for vandalism, if footage comes from camera directed to a public road/path. It might be classed as personal data protection law violation and something to do with filming public spaces.

I would contact police first and ask if evidence is acceptable, and possible course of action.

I might be wrong, but better to check before some personal vendetta ensues...

LaurieFairyCake · 31/07/2020 10:58

You can film in public spaces and if you capture a crime on camera you obviously report it

LaurieFairyCake · 31/07/2020 10:58

There's no expectation of privacy in public spaces obviously

Original poster
JayneMarple · 31/07/2020 11:05

Plot thickens, went out to my car this morning to find part of headlight has been pulled off, so will be checking camera footage tonight to see if two separate people or the same person.

Culprit overheard me chatting about what had happened and that I'll be checking camera footage so that's started ball rolling.

OP posts:
FartingInTheFence · 31/07/2020 11:29

You really ought to be reporting this to the police, like now - instead of posting here.

BurtsBeesKnees · 31/07/2020 11:31

Of course you should tell the neighbour, also
Provide evidence for their and your car to the police. It's criminal damage

LaughingDonkey · 31/07/2020 11:46

@LaurieFairyCake

Oh, ok! As I had dilemma with my video-ring doorbell! And when reading gov.co.uk I was under impression I'm not allowed to record public areas!

Good to know, thanks! OP, ignore me!

YummyInMyTummy · 31/07/2020 11:55

This is so bizarre - why wouldn’t you report it?? Any beef was started by the person who criminally damaged the car(s)!
Check with the police if you can inform neighbour; if you can’t, both of you inform the police and the police can view your recording.

shiveringwiggles · 31/07/2020 12:10

I'm shocked how brazen the crazy neighbour is being by committing the same crime in the same place repeatedly.