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A police matter or not?

(71 Posts)
123gran Mon 06-Dec-21 14:02:42

DD works from home now in a converted bedroom at the front of the house. Recently she noticed a man in a house opposite but one row away watching her, then using binoculars to look. When he realised she’d seen him (she got up to close the curtains) he opened his bedroom window and peered down into the garden through his binoculars!!! Should she report him knowing that she’s no proof and he’ll deny it? He’s unlikely to try it again I’d have thought but likely to find another victim.

Coco51 Tue 07-Dec-21 11:43:49

She could try to take a photograph every time she notices him watching - that would have dates and if it is a regular occurrence and she feels threatened, she should show the police.

EmilyHarburn Tue 07-Dec-21 11:46:50

You can get one way film for the window for day time privacy. It does not work at night as you have the light on and its dark outside. However you would be drawing the curtains than.
www.purlfrost.com/privacy-window-film/one-way-window-film/
I would contact the community police servie by eamil as if this man has turned up elsewhere they would be interested.

Froglady Tue 07-Dec-21 12:00:16

I personally would have a quiet word with the local police - most instances of males attacking women/girls start with low level things like flashing and peeping Tom behaviour and it needs to be nipped in the bud before they go onto other more serious behaviours.

MissAdventure Tue 07-Dec-21 12:01:43

Just put up a blind.
Problem (if there is one) solved.

Bea65 Tue 07-Dec-21 12:01:54

Keep a diary just so you have dates and times and if it happens again, you have evidence..

OldEnough2noBetter Tue 07-Dec-21 12:05:24

123gran

PS. She’s put up some old net curtains and ordered blinds so that should stop her issue but not some other ‘victim’s’. She likes a lot of light in the house so is peeved she has to do it though.

She can set up her laptop on a pile of coffee table books so her face can’t be seen and she still gets light. She could set up her desk not directly in front of the window. Blinds angled the right way still let in plenty of light. If she can report him for staring, he can report her for the same thing.

Daisend1 Tue 07-Dec-21 12:09:38

I have had a camera installed since one of my neighbours had a break in.This will not deter people looking out of their windows which obviously is not an offence but peace of mind for yourself and evidence should any thing criminal take place in your location.

Jaffacake2 Tue 07-Dec-21 12:15:46

Many many decades ago when I was a young student nurse there was a young man exposing himself in the grounds of the nurses home. We all had a look and a giggle then thought we better phone the police. We all were interviewed by the policeman and gave some detailed descriptions that he laughed and said that the man should just knock on the door as we were obviously very interested !!!
Please don't think I am minimising the effects of being watched as both me and both my daughters have had some nasty experiences with perverts.

grannygranby Tue 07-Dec-21 12:16:19

next time it happens, if it does, tell her to photograph him. My smartphone can zoom in..or you can get an app that will! That will both stop him and give you evidence and makes you the accuser and not the victim.

MissAdventure Tue 07-Dec-21 12:18:46

The man has looked through binoculars.
Nobody knows if it was specifically at his neighbour.

Mallin Tue 07-Dec-21 12:23:27

Friend phoned very indignant that a neighbour had complained to her Housing Association that the cctv she’d had installed, also showed anyone walking up their path. She was told to remove it, which she refused as it showed her car, which couldn’t be seen from her house and had recently been vandalised. She was reported to the police and one turned up. He said it wasn’t exactly illegal, but if the neighbours were so very much against what it showed of their visitors, why didn’t they write to them saying Why they wanted a view of their car and that they were quite willing to have the cctv unit fitted on the neighbours house.
The only other position it could go to keep an eye on their car. Adding that of course, the neighbour would be expected to cover the refitting costs.
Months later I asked what happened and she giggled. Seems the neighbours hadn’t replied and the Housing Association said that for them, the incident had been sorted out.

kittylester Tue 07-Dec-21 12:27:24

Jaffacake2

Many many decades ago when I was a young student nurse there was a young man exposing himself in the grounds of the nurses home. We all had a look and a giggle then thought we better phone the police. We all were interviewed by the policeman and gave some detailed descriptions that he laughed and said that the man should just knock on the door as we were obviously very interested !!!
Please don't think I am minimising the effects of being watched as both me and both my daughters have had some nasty experiences with perverts.

And that is one reason why it should be nentioned to the police or, at least, a community support officer.

christine96777 Tue 07-Dec-21 12:29:30

Yes your daughter can put up nets and blinds, but she should also report this to the police.

Delila Tue 07-Dec-21 12:47:38

I often stand looking out of my front window, just day-dreaming. Is that ok?

Sometimes I wish I had binoculars so I can get a closer look at a bird in a tree beyond my neighbour’s house, but now I see my actions could be misinterpreted.

Hithere Tue 07-Dec-21 12:57:17

Of course please call.
Your daughter is feeling uncomfortable in her own home, by his actions.

Police may or not do something. They may have received calls of others and he is already a person who has a red flag in this

This kind of behaviour is dangerous.
The minimization in this thread is really concerning

grandtanteJE65 Tue 07-Dec-21 13:06:24

Does your daughter live alone?

I take it she does not know this neighbour even to speak to.

If she is single, it is probably best to ignore this, unless it happens again, then report it to the police.

If she has a husband or a boyfriend surely he could lightly say to this man next time he sees him in the street., something like, "You know, your bird-watching through binoculars scared my wife, she thought you were casing out our house."

If the man is genuinely either trying out a new pair of binoculars or bird watching, I am sure he will apologise and explain what he was doing

If he is looking at your daughter, he has been made aware that she knows and doesn't like it.

Sometimes I feel we invent problems these days, because we don't know and perhaps don't want to know our neighbours.

Brownowl564 Tue 07-Dec-21 13:08:07

Unfortunately he isn’t doing anything illegal if it is a one off but if it continues then it could be a form of harassment which could be acted upon by the police, I would actually put a camera up and record any incidents as evidence and if it continues keep a diary of any incidents and report to the police

She777 Tue 07-Dec-21 13:10:34

I would contact the police, get it recorded just in case your daughter has any further issues with him. She should also write down the times and dates of any further instances.
It isn’t a criminal matter at the moment but if it did become one she has already got some proof to expedite the issue.

MissAdventure Tue 07-Dec-21 13:12:17

Because the police aren't busy enough.
Someone looked at someone else once and it upset them.

albertina Tue 07-Dec-21 13:15:58

There's no harm in reporting this incident. My daughter works for the police and says that sometimes this kind of behaviour can be part of a pattern that could lead to something more serious.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 07-Dec-21 13:16:14

Are you suggesting training a camera on his window Brownowl?!

MissAdventure Tue 07-Dec-21 13:16:48

That would be illegal.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 07-Dec-21 13:28:03

Yes, the daughter would soon be getting a visit from the police.

WonderBra Tue 07-Dec-21 13:39:19

Not sure if I misread this, but if he's also been reported or observed by neighbours standing naked at his window, then I'd definitely be a bit worried - it's neither harmless nor acceptable behaviour.
I'd definitely speak to community police, as often indecent exposure and voyeurism is the fore-runner to worse offenses.

BazingaGranny Tue 07-Dec-21 14:22:03

Some good ideas here. As regards not being overlooked by a neighbour, she might be able to have half blinds or put a piece of fake frosted glass (you can buy it on a roll in a DiY store) temporarily in just the bottom half or third of her window. This gives you maximum day light and sunlight whilst maintaining privacy, and may work at night depending on what she chooses.

We’ve done this in one room because we didn’t want our neighbours to inadvertently look in our upstairs spare room/study or for them to think we were staring at them! If your daughter sits in her room and sees exactly where through the window she is being overlooked, she can place the blind accordingly. Lots of ideas on Pinterest.

Hope it all gets resolved, she’s obviously worried.