Folks standing in your street, frequently

always_sunny

Hopefully this post sort of belongs here, not strictly home, not strictly family!

Here it is - what would you do if near your home outside there were people frequently (most of the time) just standing there? There are a bunch (less than 5) of blokes that seems to be hanging around the side walk in between shifts on the footpath. They don't really do anything disruptive beside having a smoke or two and a can of soft drink. Usually from mid morning till early evening unless it's raining. No noise really, no nothing, but it's kind of odd that every time I step out there's someone there making me paranoid about safety.

I did check the crime stats and my street is safe, no reported nothing for months and months and months.

I have seen the same scenario in many parts of London and not really sure what to do.
Ideally I would like the street to be without 'stationary' people but I also understand that they are not doing anything either! What would you advise?

missbiggles1

If they're between shifts, surely they can't be there all that often?

always_sunny

maybe 'waiting for work' maybe more appropriate... It's not always the same dudes, but they do rotate but the faces are starting to be familiar.

pigpen

if they are becoming familiar faces whats the issue? They arent doing any harm and probably making your house safer.. who is going to break in with 3 or 4 blokes standing outside?


I think you're being a bit hysterical and paranoid!

missbiggles1

always_sunny wrote: »

maybe 'waiting for work' maybe more appropriate... It's not always the same dudes, but they do rotate but the faces are starting to be familiar.

Even if they're having a fag before starting work (and assuming you're close to a large factory with lots of staff) I still can't see how they're there all the time.

Is the factory/warehouse/whatever actually in your road or are they walking there from somewhere further away?

Loanranger

We get this occasionally and it's a team of leaflet deliverers or a team of door knockers flogging something we don't want. They're waiting for the leaflets or their team boss.
I agree that it is worrying until you know they are not doing any harm and to suggest that the OP is paranoid or hysterical is not helpful. Maybe the OP is an older person living alone and feeling vulnerable.

pigpen

Loanranger wrote: »

We get this occasionally and it's a team of leaflet deliverers or a team of door knockers flogging something we don't want.
I agree that it is worrying until you know they are not doing any harm and to suggest that the OP is paranoid or hysterical is not helpful. Maybe the OP is an older person living alone and feeling vulnerable.

she herself said she is paranoid.. hardly a revelation!

where are they supposed to go?

I always have groups of young men outside my house.. during the day they are Polish guys drinking and smoking and never any bother or students just chatting .. evenings drunken morons from the pub across the road.. if they get rowdy they get told to move along.. if they arent doing anything wrong being paranoid about them being there is hysterical.

always_sunny

Geez - I was just asking for advice and opinion no need to get cranky! Lucky I don't have you outside my door.

As I said they don't do anything, no bother, nothing. I was only asking if it's odd having a bunch of guys pretty much outside my front door all the time. I am not feeling old or vulnerable, I will get used to having folks watching when I get in and out I suppose.

always_sunny

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Even if they're having a fag before starting work (and assuming you're close to a large factory with lots of staff) I still can't see how they're there all the time.

Is the factory/warehouse/whatever actually in your road or are they walking there from somewhere further away?

There's parking off the street and a tree for shade. I suppose from 10ish in the morning till 8ish in the evening. Maybe not the same ones but here and there the same folks.

As someone suggested they're waiting for their boss to drop off some work (leaflet, etc).

missbiggles1

pigpen wrote: »

she herself said she is paranoid.. hardly a revelation!

where are they supposed to go?

I always have groups of young men outside my house.. during the day they are Polish guys drinking and smoking and never any bother or students just chatting .. evenings drunken morons from the pub across the road.. if they get rowdy they get told to move along.. if they arent doing anything wrong being paranoid about them being there is hysterical.

Thank goodness I don't live where you live!:eek:

Gavin83

always_sunny wrote: »

Geez - I was just asking for advice and opinion no need to get cranky! Lucky I don't have you outside my door.

As I said they don't do anything, no bother, nothing. I was only asking if it's odd having a bunch of guys pretty much outside my front door all the time. I am not feeling old or vulnerable, I will get used to having folks watching when I get in and out I suppose.

Really not much you can do about it. Unless they're doing something illegal or harassing you (which they don't appear to be) then just leave them be. You know they're not scoping your property and are just there for work so try and think of them as a neighbourhood watch.

Where I used to live we often used to get a group of Polish men hanging around drinking and talking. They were never a bother.