Neighbours car parked in front of mums house caused a break-in

macman

paul2louise said:

My mum parks her car in a garage. She has been letting a neighbour park his Golf GTI in front of her house. 2 weeks ago her front door was forced, key lock removed, security light broken and some other door and security damage incurred. They failed to get into her house as she has clips on the door on the inside. The police told her that there is gang in the area breaking into houses to steal cars. As the neighbours car is in front of the house they were trying to break in to steal the car. The neighbour was a bit put out that they wanted to steal his car. He wasnt very sorry about what happened to my mum who is on her own and this happened as a result of his car being parked. He has moved his car for now, not sure where. He hasnt offered anything towards her costs which I know he doesnt have to but as it was a favour it might of been a kind gesture. But I suppose he has every right to park wherever he wants as noone owns the road. I just want a bit of advice as she is very upset and frightened and out of pocket with costs involved. 

Based on this comment, it seems obvious that the neighbour was parked on a public road, for which he doesn't need mum's or anyone else's permission. The local authority own the road, unless it's unadopted.
How do you jump to the conclusion that a car is owned by the occupants of the house outside which it is parked? People park wherever they can find a space, and you can't assume that the burglars were after the car parked outside. She is equally entitled to park outside his house if she wants. He is not in any way responsible for the damage. It should be claimed on her insurance.

diystarter7

Hi OP
Sorry to hear about the bad news. I hope mum is over this soon.
I'm sorry that some of the posts seem harsh.
Look at it like this, it can happen to anyone.
Therefore, may I suggest an intruder alarm that will be utilised and a Ring security type cam.
A determined crook or someone on drugs may still break in but the noise will make them run
Crroks often pick on property that is not alarmed so an alarm will help.

Take care

diystarter7

Btw, OP. If mum wants, seek help from the local crime prevention officer.
Good luck

JReacher1

There isn’t actually any proof that they tried to break into the house to steal the car parked outside. It’s just speculation. 

Sounds like your mum has good security if they didn’t get in. Maybe look at putting a camera on the door as well. 

diystarter7

JReacher1 said:

There isn’t actually any proof that they tried to break into the house to steal the car parked outside. It’s just speculation. 

Sounds like your mum has good security if they didn’t get in. Maybe look at putting a camera on the door as well. 

Hi

The only thing I'd add is an alarm as per my initial post here.

Alarms keep crims away from your bedside and the last thing you want is to see this type of vermin in your property especially if you/family are inside.

Thanks

ThisIsWeird

The facts here would appear to be:

This neighbour can park pretty much anywhere on this road that they like.

It is presumably not a very congested road for parking, or else the neighb (or the OP) wouldn't be expected to be able to park outside their own house each day, but seemingly manage it as a general rule. (I presume they don't try and reserve a space using cones or anything? It's more likely that each neighbour just 'respects' each other's outside space - an unspoken agreement).

It would be 'usual' for each person, then, to park outside their own house, but there's presumably a valid reason why the neighb doesn't do this? (More than one car, need to keep access clear, etc.?)

The neighb therefore did the polite thing and asked the OP's mum if she minded them parking outside her house instead. They presumably didn't 'have' to ask, but they realise that to park directly outside someone else's house instead of your own is a bit, youknowwhat.

The OP's mum - being a kindly person - was happy to say 'yes' to this.

Her house had an attempted break-in, and there's a reasonable and fair suspicion that this was triggered by the perps connecting her house to the regularly-parked GTi outside.

If so, then surely the conclusions are:

The neighb did nothing wrong. They could have simply parked there - tho' that would have been unneighbourly - but instead checked that it wouldn't annoy your mum. That's good.

Your mum was 'happy' to say "That's fine." That's good too.

She unfortunately had a break-in. That was not the neighb's faulty. It was not your mum's fault. It sadly happens, and that's what insurance is for. And any other emotional support your mum needs.

On the reasonable chance that the perps were targeting the GTi, it would be entirely reasonable for your mum to ask the neighb to no longer park there for this reason. And I'm sure the neighb will understand and agree. (If they have two cars, is there a less desirable model they can leave on the road instead?!)

The neighb does not have to agree, but that would be very poor form indeed - but I doubt your mum can do anything about it, other than taking her own car out of her garage and placing it there instead.

The neighb owes your mum nothing other than a heart-felt 'sorry about what happened'. They are not responsible for what happened - the perps are.

If the neighb feels like offering anything - other than a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and sympathy - that's up to them, but my personal take is that your mum should say 'No thanks - it wasn't your fault. But I'd feel better if you parked elsewhere from now on...'

And she should get a Ring or similar, both for reassurance and as a deterrent. One covering the back too if necessary. It is right that everything should be done to reassure her.

paul2louise

MorningcoffeeIV said:

She should probably not let him park there again, if it's her space/driveway.

Maybe consider some CCTV if burglary is common in the area.

She may be able to claim on her home insurance, but the excess may not make it worthwhile.

yes she worked out she would have to claim for contents on the security fittings and buildings for the locks and door so she just paid it all out. The neighbour had a camera directed at his car and he said he saw the group and her security light coming on and off which is why they broke it. He also said he could see them climbing on her conservatory roof. He aslo said to her that if they had got in they would have forced her to tell them where the keys were. He was upsetting my mum a lot. 

paul2louise

Thanks for replies, Yes the car was not parked on her drive but outside the front of her house. Yes he was polite to ask to park there. She used to have 2 cars and her partner passed away so didnt need the space at the front so the neighbour asked could he parked there. I think he doesnt park his car outside his house because he is on a busier road and she lives on a cul de sac just off this road.Yes there are assumptions but the police spent over 2 hours with my mum and neighbour and explained to them that they had strong feeling that it was the gang they were chasing in the area who were stealing the Golf cars. They couldnt get enough details from the CCTV unfortunately as they were hooded and its was dark but there were several of them. 

Exodi

diystarter7 said:

JReacher1 said:

There isn’t actually any proof that they tried to break into the house to steal the car parked outside. It’s just speculation. 

Sounds like your mum has good security if they didn’t get in. Maybe look at putting a camera on the door as well. 

Hi

The only thing I'd add is an alarm as per my initial post here.

Alarms keep crims away from your bedside and the last thing you want is to see this type of vermin in your property especially if you/family are inside.

Thanks

Second this - my stepdad has been burgled a couple of times now. After the first time he set up cameras and they came back (no surprise as the first time they managed to get away with over £10k in cash... don't ask, this was always against our best advice but unfortunately some old people don't trust banks).

Unfortunately the cameras were essentially useless the second time as they came wearing caps and scarves over their faces. Plus as most cameras are installed high up (so they can't be easily tampered with) this counterproductively means that it's very hard to see somebodies face if they are wearing a cap. The sad reality is, most people don't break into peoples houses wearing a vest and shorts.

I think an alarm is by far the best option. I have one on my own house, and if a door is opened while the alarm is set, there is a large audible beeping giving you ~30 seconds to enter the code. If you don't enter it, the external siren goes off - which I've witnessed first hand and it is truely deafening, there's no way a burglar would continue to break in with that going off.

I set mine when I go to bed or when I go out.

ReadingTim

Whilst breaking in to a house to steal car keys is one theory, it could also be the burglars were targeting an old lady who lives on her own because they though she'd be a soft touch.  Or that is was a junkie looking to nick something to pay for their next fix - you simply can't say for certain, therefore expecting the neighbour to cough up is pushing it a bit - this is what home insurance is for.