Neighbour Alarm Going off at Night

LVulcan08 on 12/10/2018 - 12:07
Last edited 12/10/2018 - 12:32 by 1 other user

Hi all

Some advice sought. My neighbour is frequently away on long trips (currently away). Recently their alarm has been going off in the early hours of the morning. I don't think the alarm is connected to a security company as is continues for up to an hour. Not sure how it turns off actually.

My question relates to what you would do about it. Who can I talk to or is there a legal way for me to switch the alarm off? I've entertained thoughts of clipping the wire to the alarm - assuming I can even locate it.

Any help appreciated. I need my sleep back!

Home & Garden Security System

Comments

  • dasher86 on 12/10/2018 - 12:09
    +2

    break into the house and disconnect their electricity; hope they don't have a UPS.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 12/10/2018 - 12:15
    +2

    Sounds like you've at least spoken to them before, could you offer to check on their house/remove excess mail in exchange for them giving you the ability to disable the alarm?

    • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 12:19
      +3

      Sounds like OP is offering to check their mail and be their security.

      • Cheaplikethebird on 12/10/2018 - 12:24
        +3

        I just think it would be much more effective to deal with the issue by trying to negotiate with the owner. If the alarm is going off regularly and people in the area are just ignoring it then it's not very effective. Maybe you could convince the guy to get a system that he can log into to check cameras/switch off alarm remotely?

        • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 12:36
          +3

          I'd convince the neighbour to get a remote accessible alarm but I wouldn't want to establish a relationship where I end up being an unpaid sitter.

          If the neighbour is a good guy, they'd be mortified to know the alarm has been disrupting OPs sleep and would welcome the idea of a remote access alarm.

          If the neighbour is trouble, OP having access to their house and alarm is a huge misunderstanding waiting to happen.

  • Masterpupil on 12/10/2018 - 12:21
    +2

    Call the police each time it occurs reporting a break-in, the police will have to investigate and will get annoyed and tell the owners to turn it off?

    • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 22:09
      +1

      No they wont..The police (in WA at least) don't do anything for a burglar alarm going off on residential property.

    • OzBoganYeah on 14/10/2018 - 12:51

      If the OP calls multiple times, the Police will just stop caring.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 12:21
    +4

    Report to police as excessive noise. If the alarm is repetitively being falsely triggered and unattended, it is no longer a security measure and purely a nuisance.

  • holdenmg on 12/10/2018 - 12:22
    +1

    Call your local Council.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 12:30
    +4

    burn the place down

    • MITM on 12/10/2018 - 16:05
      +9

      then the smoke alarms will start.

      • gooddealmate on 12/10/2018 - 18:22

        Not to mention the sirens from the firies.

  • Cheapo Moose on 12/10/2018 - 12:44
    +2

    Have you checked to see if someone is actually attempting to break in?

    Perhaps the thieves know the owners are away and they're triggering it a few times, so after a while, neighbours don't bother looking every time it goes off. Then they go in for real….

  • qwerty on 12/10/2018 - 12:45
    +5

    call the epa https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/noise/neighbourh…

    5 minutes if installed on or after 1 December 1997
    10 minutes if installed before 1 December 1997
    It does not matter if

    the alarm sounds because of a break-in or because it is faulty
    the alarm sounds continuously or intermittently, for the purpose of measuring the time during which it sounds

    What can I do if a neighbour's alarm keeps sounding?
    Contact the police to find out if theft is the cause of the alarm. Phone 131 444 or the number of your local police station. Police officers are not allowed to enter unoccupied premises to stop faulty alarms sounding or enter vehicles to disable car alarms, but they can accompany authorised council officers. Council officers can entire an unoccupied business premises but require a warrant to enter an unoccupied residential building.

    Check with your local police and council about any established response procedures they have to address the prolonged sounding of alarms.

  • HighAndDry on 12/10/2018 - 12:47
    +1

    is there a legal way for me to switch the alarm off?

    ……

    Yeah, burglars would love to know too.

    • bargainhunter87 on 12/10/2018 - 12:57

      highandDry shutup

      • HighAndDry on 12/10/2018 - 12:58

        Oh hey it's you from the other thread!

        • bargainhunter87 on 12/10/2018 - 12:59

          yeah how's the slippery floor going m8

          • HighAndDry on 12/10/2018 - 13:00
            -2

            @bargainhunter87: Managing to stay upright so far, thanks for asking.

            • bargainhunter87 on 12/10/2018 - 13:01

              @HighAndDry: Good to know. We wouldn't want a compensation claim that would leave you high and dry.

            • Smashed Avo on 12/10/2018 - 13:18
              +3

              @HighAndDry: Isn't it great when the convivial atmosphere follows over from a previous thread? Ahhhh OzBargain..

  • JimmyF on 12/10/2018 - 13:04
    +2

    Who can I talk to

    Umm your Neighbour and what did they say when you raised the issue with them!?

  • Randxyz123 on 12/10/2018 - 13:20
    +2

    Have you got a contact number for your neighbours ?

    That would be my first avenue of contact. Ask if they would consider installing a lockbox so if you need to get in to disable their alarm you can. Maybe also suggest they get back to base monitoring… I don’t really know what the point of an alarm without back to base monitoring is…

    Don’t call the police yet. Let them try and sort the issue out first.

    Have you checked to see if it wasn’t an actual breakin??

    Cutting the wires is illegal. Slip something under the door if they have someone checking up on the house they’ll see it and might be able to sort it.

  • burtie on 12/10/2018 - 14:08
    +1

    My neighbour had a fire alarm that was going off for ages when they weren't home. Someone called the fire brigade to come and check it out but everything was fine. Started going off again and went for an entire weekend. I left a friendly note in their mail box which they found when they returned home from being away and it's never happened again. They were so embarrassed (and apologetic) when they found out.

  • Vulcan08 on 12/10/2018 - 15:49

    Thank you for all the replies.

    A few clarifying points: the neighbor does not speak english. They purchased the house either as an investment or simply to get money out of their home country and the home/garden is largely neglected. They did install security cameras and the security system. They are currently travelling and this is the first trip that they are away on where the alarm has become an issue.

    From most comments, I gather it would be unwise to disable the system myself. Leaving a note is something I could try (not that it solves the short term issue) and hope that someone is able to interpret it for them. If it goes off again, I may resort to phoning the police.

    • Randxyz123 on 12/10/2018 - 19:18
      -1

      They purchased the house either as an investment or simply to get money out of their home country and the home/garden is largely neglected.

      I'd be tempted to report them in this case. They are a security risk for the entire street and it's an eyesore. I'm sure in Vic it's illegal to do what they've done now. You can't just leave a house unoccupied for extended periods of time.

      I have a similar situation near me(owners live overseas, are actually around quite a bit) at least in. my case the owners have someone come to check it every month have a gardener to mow the lawns, cut the hedge back as necessary. Basic home maintenance… Before anyone says "they might not be able to afford that" if you can afford to travel and have a house sit empty then you can afford a caretaker of your house.

      I really wouldn't go over there. Give it until tomorrow and if it won't stop, the police and the council. Maybe they can get in touch with the owners somehow.

  • Hithere on 13/10/2018 - 09:14

    If the alarm is going off on a regular basis and it's annoying other neighbours also have you considered contacting the EPA about this issue?

    They have wide powers to take action over excessive noise.

  • Blue Suby on 13/10/2018 - 10:31

    We also had this problem-and to be fair the neighbour had a few call outs to the alarm people and eventually it was found to be probably a cockroach or similar running across the sensor and setting off the alarm. They spray the sensor with bug repellent and there has't been a problem for ages. We are on good terms with neighbour and they now leave us a key and our own passcode should it happen while they're away. (It hasn't!)

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