Scumbag neighbours.

[Tristan.]

Apologies. This all gets a bit Jeremy Kyle. I'll bulletpoint it for easier reading.

-My house is in a really quite shit area of Coventry.
-My conservatory is used as a workshop, so is full of tools, has horrible net curtains to prevent them being seen
-Back garden has an unlocked gate. Conservatory is not visible from the alleyway.
-I have an Akita, who lives in the conservatory when I'm out.

This morning I was heading to work and had to top up my coolant. There's an old chap I've spoken to a few times. Nice enough guy, one of those people who's been completely ruined by alcoholism or similar, looks 20 years older than he is, quite hard to understand, not 100% there. He came over and told me he'd seen some people trying to break into my house. The whole conversation took a while and he kept repeating stuff rather than answering my questions. The information I did get out of him was

-A silver car had just left the alleyway.
-Car was driven by John.
-Johns son and a friend had tried my back door and garage door repeatedly on two separate occasions, one last Monday, the other later in the week.
-John lives in a house several doors up from me, but not sure which one.
-John saw them in the act, his reaction to this was unclear.
-Old guy went down and told them not to and got sworn at.
-Dog didn't bark. (she wouldn't, she's not territorial about the garden but would of gone for them had they got in)

Sorry, I know that reads odd, but it's the best way to get it on the page. The guy is really hard to get information from. His bedroom overlooks my cars and he's told me in the past he keeps an eye out, which is nice as I don't really know him.

There's another factor as well. On Monday I noticed my cars had some weird stuff over them, nothing on any other cars and it looks deliberately applied and like it took quite a while:

https://i62.tinypic.com/28krlao.jpg
https://i59.tinypic.com/x6l8hc.jpg
https://i61.tinypic.com/8xlljr.jpg

(not so visible there as it's wet but since it dried it's a weird white stuff that seems to come off ok leaving a small amount of discolour to the paint)

Now if I read this thread I would assume some feud over parking, or a comment in the street or whatever. But I can honestly say that there's no way that's the case. I've lived here nearly 2 years and I think I can remember a dozen or so interactions with people who aren't my direct neighbours. Always perfectly friendly. I work long hours and I just plain don't see the other people that live here, I've definitely done nothing to piss anyone off, unless something's been massively misconstrued, or they just don't like the fact I sometimes wear a suit.

Anyway that's the facts. When the old guy told me, my first reaction was to go have a chat, invite them round to demonstrate just how thoroughly the dog would of fucked them up had they got in and warn them to fuck right off, but the fact I'm not actually sure where they live, just that it's local has put the brakes on that, and having time to think made me realise that presumably the frustration of being unable to rob me led them to minorly vandalise my cars. So what would they do as a result of a confrontation?

Obviously the sensible option is to beef up the security, stick a lock on the back gate and remember to double lock the back door, also take a video inventory of my tools as I've been meaning to for ages for the home insurance, losing them would be a pain financially but the main irritation would be the fact I've built up my set over many years and I would forget quite how many things I have when I claimed insurance. I'm genuinely not that worried about it though, as they're clearly shit thieves. I don't double lock the door as I'm lazy, and on several occasions when it's blown shut I've been able to break in with random shit in the garden within seconds. The only thing I am a little worried about is the fact they tried to break into a room containing a big scary dog, so either they are astonishingly thick, or they had some kind of plan to deal with it, poisoned meat or a weapon or something.

I've always thought neighbourly feuds are fucking stupid, so doing tit for tat stuff back to them is off the table, unless I burn down the house with them in it I'm pretty confident I have more to lose.

So my option is do I bother confronting or just ignore it. I have no idea how old they are, or whatever but I'm not too fussed. I'm not in the slightest bit 'ard but I'm not at all afraid of standing up to people. Worst case scenario is feeling a bit sore the day after if it does come to fisticuffs. (Or getting stabbed and dying to death)

My worry is if I do go round and have a word that they'll deny it and then actually start causing real damage when I'm at work. There's also the slight risk that the old chap saw nothing of the sort and just wanted an excuse to come talk to me.

[instigator]

Can you trust an alcoholic? Your suggestion about him being lonely and just wanting a chat is probably about right.

Do as you suggest... beef up your security, take video of your posessions and get a motion activated camera. They don't cost a fortune these days. And move on.

If it happens again, set fire to the entire neighbourhood. That'll teach 'em.

[nowhere.elysium]

I know that living in London has given me an excessively cynical view of the world, but I've never known how people can be comfortable with leaving their house unlocked when they're out.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[waffles]

I'm surprised that you even entertained the idea of inviting round the people who may have tried to break in to your house already. They would probably have left with a mental shopping list of your stuff to steal (plus meat to keep the dog quiet).

Sort out your security, if they genuinely did try to get in but failed then they seem like the bright sparks who may be foiled by a fucking huge padlock. And get some decent blinds to hide everything once you have done a full inventory.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Andy_Pagin]

I wouldn't read too much into the name John, for my generation John is what you call a bloke whos name you don't know.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Poseidon]

[Boris the spider]

FFS. Do not invite any fucker into house. Don't confront or speak to anyone about the conversation.
Beef up secutity. Lock the doors and windows.
Make a note of what you have got.
The old fella just might be telling the truth.
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[BTTD]

Might be worth a call to 101, or whatever it is, to report the alleged attempted break in and apparent vandalism. There may have been other shed thefts in the area that the police have already had reported.
Probably a waste of time, but you're paying for them anyway...

[Pete.]

You're out all day and neighbours are scumbags? Anything confrontational you do will end in you losing property to fire, theft or vandalism. Fix the gate, fit a security light, alarm and put up a 'beware of the dog' sign just in case they do get in. If the dog tears a chunk out of an intruder it'll be your fault not his unless there's a warning sign up.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Tristan.]

[Sload]

Warned you about that area, you will never know their intentions or thought processes as you just don't think like them, they could be pro wannabe thieves, druggies or just prats out for causing mischief. assuming it's not the old fella pulling your chain.

One other angle to consider, they might be wanting to rob your dog fella.

[Tristan.]

[jeddy11]

Ah i read about this before about beware of the dog signs etc... If you have a sign up and a burgler does get mauled he can successfully sue you as you knew your dog was dangerous !! With no sign then it ambiguous wether you knew it was dangerous or not so then becomes his own fault..

Typical story man puts sign up gets sued he wouldn't have done if there was no sign - crazy world we live in eh ?

EDIT bit too slow as the signs just been mentioned in above post boo !

[metalangel]

[-Matt-]

[haroman666]

There shouldn't be any reason to "go round" as it's information from someone who's "not quite there" and you don't really know where they live anyway.

Wash the jism off the cars. Beef up security to the max: Padlocks, deadbolts, security lights, CCTV.
If it were my tools that I thought maybe at risk then i'd be taking my box up to my bedroom and sleeping next to it for the forseeable future.
But then that's just me.
As per what n.e said; I don't know how people can be so care free about ££££'s worth of stuff.
At uni, i'd lock the front door when I was in.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[stinkwheel]

Boundry security.

An unlocked gate allows someone to walk in and have a mooch round then claim they were going to ask you for a cup of sugar/were lost/though they heard a kitten crying.

Breaking in through a locked gate is breaking and entering. It's a step-change in potential consequences before they are even close to being in a position to actually steal something.

Climbing over a wall with anti-climb pain and/or carpet gripper rods on the top runins your addidas 3-stripes. Landing up to your armpits in a pyracanthus bush on the other side makes you wish you'd stayed in watching I'm, a celebrity.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Paris2]

Echo what everyone else has said about CCTV, if it were me I'd get a couple of cheap IP cameras.

If they do try and break in, you can watch and see if you recognise them. It's not like they are random people on a random break in, they live down the street.
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

[growler]

Don't think a dog will stop them we were still burgled with 3 German shepards in the house
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DILLIGAF

[effit]

I'd get the back garden secured properly mate. Then surround it with one these when you are out...https://www.williampowell.com/Shooting--Dogs/Game-Bags--Accessories/Poacher-Alarm-Gun-%28Use-12-Bore-Blank-Cartridge-AM201-pack-of-20%29_MA101.htm

[haroman666]

[Tristan.]

Ordered one of the blank alarms screwfix later in the week for a lock for the back gate. Growler how did that work? Did the dogs just not mind or did they give them food or something?

Realised my webcam plan is flawed in that I don't actually own a pc... plus I wouldn't actually recognise them anyway.

I think I'll hold off on the anti climb/glass on the wall because A) my neighbours fences are both short and flimsy and B) sad fact but I don't want to cause them to be frustrated and carry out more damage.

Doge sign is perfect.

BCF I'm disappointed nobody has said how they would deal with the situation with a flurry of throat punches, or putting dog shit on door handles or whatever.

[stinkwheel]

farmers now put up a sign saying "Bull in Field." rather than the old "Beware of the Bull." sign for the exact reason people say you shouldn't put up a "beware of the dog" sign.

There are plenty of signs out there saying "Loose dogs. Do not enter." which I'd suggest strikes the correct balance between firmly warning someone off without implying the dog itself is in any way dangerous.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[1cyl]

3rd time of saying......

Autonomous paintball drone gun is the way to go.
https://youtu.be/Jcxg_QuHyYE

I however just have CCTV, a dog with a touch of paranoia, some decent locks and a working alarm system.

And I tried not to pick a house to close to a scumville or helltown.
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[haroman666]