Neighbour with Repeated Police Visit, Should I Be Concerned?

Appreciate the Ozbargain community's opinion on this.

A nearby house on my street is a rental property and recently has new tenants moved in. Our suburb is generally safe and very young family oriented with most houses as PPOR.

Since they moved in, I have noticed weekly, sometimes more than once per week, police visits to this property. Sometimes it involves more than 1 police cars with around 6 polices on the property. However, generally the incident seem calm and usually seem like they are just having a chat and after a while the police would leave without further drama. So then why the repeated visits and why the large amount of police presence?

I have tried calling the local police station though they won't tell me anything. Their advice is that if they are a danger to others, we would be notified.

Anyone has experience with this? Should I just take the police's word for it? Any guess as to what's happening here?

Comments

    • Imagine caring so little about your family's safety to be unconcerned about regular police attendance at nearby bogan manor. Could be a thief, wife beater, meth "lab tech", drug dealer, rapist, kiddie fiddler, or worse - a cop or politician… Only someone without any wife, children, or possessions of any value not garnered from Facebook Marketplace, would be completely uninterested.

      That said, police frequently and grossly overreact to most situations. Plus they just get bored, need an excuse to at least appear busy, to ease the pain in their coccyx from sitting down for several hours each day, and they figure they can get some McDonalds afterwards to inhale back at the station, etc.

      In the absence of recent screaming, blood, or gunfire - you can judge the severity of the "offense" by dividing their number by 6 or 7. Then halve the result because unless they're highway patrol, there will be at least 2 of them per vehicle. So one is only slightly above a ventriloquist's dummy.

      So 6 cops means delivering a warrant for unpaid parking fines (or less). Eight to ten means the low-IQ child welfare employees have fabricated some evidence to terrorize another family scarring their children for life by placing them in foster care where they get hooked on drugs and sexually abused and impregnated by the other older children in the same "home" all over a fake complaint from a neighbour who doesn't like them washing their car on the sidewalk. Twelve cops means someone is being evicted for not paying rent for a few months and has refused to open the door. And one cop means your order of drugs has arrived. Zero cops means they couldn't give a rats anus about the unconscious 14 year old girl girl face down in a nearby garden with her skirt up and panties down that you phoned them about 40 minutes ago at 3am who might not be breathing, but don't you touch her, only we get to touch the teen girls… (All actual events in a houso area I once lived.)

  • +1

    If you really want to gossip about it should just join your neighbourhood community group on FB.
    Plenty of stay at home parents/retires gossiping.

  • Move house, I'll give you half market value on account of the neighbourhood.

  • +2

    TDLR
    Renters bad.
    Successfully had last rental tenants evicted with repeated trivial reports to cops.
    Not working this time, any new additional ideas from Ozb folk?

  • -1

    iv have friends with exes who call the cops on them with bs, the cops always have to follow up

    • +1

      I wish I knew people who cared enough about me to do that :( Love me or hate it, it'd still be an obsession.

  • +2

    Time to get out as soon as possible. Keep your kids inside and the windows shut just in case the neighbours are out and about. Get security cameras and an alarm. Probably worth setting up a panic room too until you can move to a rougher area where the police actually raid a nearby house with the swat team on a regular basis.

    • …and bright flood lights on all night shining in every part of your property…

  • Our suburb is generally safe and very young family oriented

    Isn't it even safer now with the regular police presence?

  • +7

    I have tried calling the local police station though they won't tell me anything.

    How dare they not disclose private information to someone that isn't entitled to such information.

    Stop filling your head with 'What if' scenarios… could be something completely innocent. If you're overly concerned, just buy some solar-powered cameras and set them up at the front of your house, in this day and age you probably should have that regardless (assuming you don't have cameras already).

  • +3

    Hi Karen

  • I lived in a bad area for a year through the first year of lockdowns / covid (Victoria) Next door to me had the police there several times a week, sometimes they arrested people in the house, other times they seemed to raid the house I guess?

    I never had any sort of trouble with them at all. In fact I think you're safer assuming these people are dodgy, they aren't going to commit crimes so close to home.

  • Yeah mind your own business.

  • -1

    I for one can't wait for the neighbours to discover which nosey neighbour keeps calling the cops on them . New thread coming up.

  • -4

    You need to move (j/k)

    It's normal to be concerned especially if you got kids and love ones. I would be as well.

    I would increase my home security (an outdoor camera would help but not deliberately facing them) and keep an eye for any odd activities near my home that's about it

    Police won't tell you sht. And privacy laws is also bs they just don't want you to know

    Chat with other neighbours to suss out what they know

    Are they having parties all the time or being quiet still get knock from police?

    Heard any domestic violence from your neighbour?

    Some nosey neighbour once reported me just cause I had verbal arguments in an apartment, reported as domestic violence. Just cause he feels like it.

    That Mr Farmer dude was a police abuser and waste of tax payers money. He feels obliged to do that rather than knocking someone's door to tell them to be more quiet. Wasn't even after hours. Maybe you have another Mr Farmer neighbour doing that daily

    That wimp was so fragile and didn't bother having guts to knock people's doors, and droves a pink car. Also complained to strata for us putting decoration on our door.

  • -2

    Title has "Neighbour".
    Post has "A nearby house on my street".

    Looks like OP does not know where the house is, so no problem until OP finds the house.

    • +1

      Hey Andy, did you know that people in nearby houses on your street are considered your neighbours?

  • +2

    We used to have the police around all the time to the neighbours house. They were looking for their eldest son to have a chat or serve a warrant but he moved around a lot.
    There's not much you can do about it.

  • If it isn't affecting you then mind your own business would be my advice.

  • Possibly domestic violence. Don’t jump to conclusions though, and perhaps mind your own business.

  • Ask your other neighbours.

  • They could be in witness protection for all we know (I don't think so, but throwing another option out there). You'll never find out.

  • Poker nights, police are going to play.

  • +4

    What drugs are they selling? Asking for a friend.

  • +1

    Think of the constant police presence on your street as a good thing. The first place I lived after moving out of home had a drug dealers house at the end of the street. Every second day there would be a police car parked at the front of my house for hours on end, watching the activities going on in the 'drug house'. Safest place I ever lived.

  • +1

    have you considered a young constable might have moved in? their mates are coming around from the station after work driving company cars.

  • You could try ringing around local real estates agents to find who handles the rental (or search the address on realestate dot com/rentals) and inform the agent of the police visits. And ask them to inform the landlord.

    Not sure what would come of it though.

    • +1

      Even after those desperate attempts to want to know someone else’s private business, even if you found the managing agent or landlord, nothing would happen and rightly so.

      Having the police at your property, with no issues visible to OP and what he was told by police, is not remotely a crime and certainly not a breach of the tenancy act.

  • When the police turned up in our street it was because some our our neighbors (a few houses away) were dealing small quantities of drugs. Police raids adds some excitement to the dull suburbanite lifestyle.

  • OP is jealous cause his soy milkshakes don't bring all the boys in blue to his yard…

    Just go over and ask them for invite to the next popo shindig - if it pisses them off enough, you'll get your wish anyway :)

    • -1

      My god i am glad NOT to be your neighbour. You joker…

      • Dead right. Half their username checks out

    • "the only rental property in the street and surprise surprise, police call outs etc. We suspected domestic violence."

      Rental that is the problem.

      House owners (including mortgage paying "owners", of course) do not commit crimes, do not engage in violence, do not take drugs …
      And Santa will bring lots of presents too …

    • -3

      wow people can’t sense sarcasm! Haha

      • So it was a lie?

        You got us a good one!

        Well played?

        • +1

          I think the big elephant in the room is the OP identifying their neighbour as a renter

  • I have tried calling the local police station though they won't tell me anything. Their advice is that if they are a danger to others, we would be notified.

    Should I just take the police's word for it?

    No, don't take their word for it, I suggest you kick the door down of the local police station and demand for the Commissioner to be summoned to give you a detailed explanation.

  • +2

    Let us know when SWAT turn up.

  • +1

    The new tenant is a police officer on mental health leave and his colleagues drop by to check on him when they're in the neighbourhood and have a few minutes to spare?

  • +3

    It's probably none of OP business.
    However, there most certainly is something to worry about.
    So the cops attend on a regular basis.
    And they have said if there was an issue for neighbours, the neighbours would be informed, yes?
    And SIX (6) cops attend, not the usual 2.
    If there is enough of an issue that 6 cops are required for THEIR safety, and on a regular basis, damn right the neighbours have have something to be concerned about.
    Six police!!! Either its overkill and a waste of resources, or there is a safety issue.

    Having said that, if OP pokes their nose in, it will attract trouble, so best to MYOB.

  • Something is obviously happening at the house - my street is the same - lovely neighbourhood + lovely neighbours - then a Federal Police raid on a house further down the street - pilot who crashed his small plane in Qld after picking up too much cocaine from New Guinea - load was too heavy - not the smartest move. You just never know what is happening in peoples lives. Even the closest neighbours suspected nothing. On the surface they just looked like a happy family with young kids. Just be polite and wave and be happy that you don't live next door.

  • +4

    Could be a JP, my grandfather was one and police visited his house almost daily to get him to sign off

  • With the increasing wealth divide between renters and the property owners, this is only going to get worse. Cue J'berg - 10ft electrified fences and armed security for private homes. That's your future my friend.

  • +2

    Neighbour might be claiming more than $300 for laundry from ATO without tax receipts, that's why. Taxman coming down hard these days to front up the $400 billions needed for AUKUS subs.

  • +1

    Just think of all the houses in your neighbourhood that dont get police visits. You have no idea whats going on in those houses.

    Could be meth labs and serial killers all around you that never get a police visit.

  • -1

    @taxdeduction
    More info about the "Tenant": a single person, family, age-group, homely, quiet, noisy, active, dormant?
    I can understand your concern as it looks like the harmony in your community might be affected somewhat. Unfortunately the Police will never reveal.

    Some years ago in our neighbourhood someone found out there was a podophile just got released and had moved next to their house. The authorities would say this is rehab and the person has a right to live a new life, and hopefully they wont re-offend. But they were so disturbed that they sold and moved out.

    • "But they were so disturbed that they sold and moved out."

      Some peoples hate competition …

    • We had a letterbox drop once saying there was a paedophile living a couple of doors down. Alas, my MIL was the one that found it and told my children!

      I did call the police to let them know - not to report them as I knew they'd know already.

      But just in case it was someone with a grudge against the alleged paedo and so the police were aware of what was circulating.

  • A policeman lives there?

    • Or a police informant …

  • Secret donut shop for cops.

  • +1

    Check their mail to get a name, them Google it so we know what were dealing with here.

    Consider tailing their car for a few weeks to see what they do for a living.

    • +1

      Or put an AirTag on their car.

      Nothing could go wrong.

  • QLD has an online crime map, allows you to monitor by street
    https://www.police.qld.gov.au/maps-and-statistics

  • OP, amazingly you don't trust the police advising about nothing to worry about but yet you choose to trust the police as doing an honest job.

    It doesn't add up.
    You trust or you mistrust. In all aspects.

  • maybe they are serial killers, who knows.

  • A few years ago, my next-door neighbour woke up at midnight to see a few people holding guns standing at the far end of his backyard. He called 000 immediately and was told by the operator to go back to bed, turn off the light and that everything was under control. Apparently the police was raiding the house on the other side of his fence. Those people weren't ideal neighbours before that. They drank until late, shouted, argued and had frequent visits from the police. After the raid, everything went really quiet. We didn't even know when they moved out and new people moved in.

    Another house down the road from ours is a public housing with a couple of young people. Again, frequent visits by the police, sometimes 3 cars. I once saw the policing trying to calm the guy down while he was yelling and crying. I don't know what sort of troubles he got himself into but he was fine as a neighbour, as in he kept to himself and acted respectfully with other people.

    So OP, it might look worrying from your perspective but there's not much that you can do. Just let thing continue its course and enjoy your life.

  • arksk your neighbours - someone should have picked up the gossip

  • Police came to my door once and knocked on my door, with the lights flashing on the car outside.

    After shitting my pants and opening the door, one of them handed over my lost wallet lol.

    Could be anything, no need to panic OP.

  • -1

    I've lived next to dodgy neighbours. They robbed us and then smashed our window with a rock through the window above my sleeping 2 week old a week later.

    I think it's reasonable to want to know what sort of scum is nearby.

  • Would it bother me? Yeah
    What can I do about it? Not a lot, except move

  • +2

    I really feel like people are making up shit stories as posts here.
    Fun reading the comments though!

  • -1

    Neighbour is commie double agent. Cops are politely enquiring as to where the suitcase nuke is hidden.

  • Yes you certainly could be concerned.
    Question is, is there anything you can do about it? = No.
    Unless of course you are prepared to move, and no guarantee it won't happen anywhere else though.
    Sounds to me like DV calls… some f…d up bad stuff happens behind closed doors in some houses.

  • Be Alert but Not Alarmed.

  • Plot twist: The neighbour is repeatedly complaining to police that OP is constantly watching them and invading their privacy.
    Large police presence is to reassure them you are a harmless OzBargainer with too much time on your hands.

  • Maybe you could ask your neighbours what's going on, rather than asking random Internet strangers to speculate?

  • If the cops turn up on the street at night with the lights flashing but no siren, your best bet is to bring some electro music to the party and create a street rave of the situation

  • +2

    Maybe the neighbour is a cop
    or maybe you should leave the house once in a while. Find a hobby. Touch some grass. Take up surfing. Something at least.

  • Definitely a hardened ex con who has served time and on parole.

  • +2

    I have tried calling the local police station though they won't tell me anything. Their advice is that if they are a danger to others, we would be notified.

    Do you honestly think you have the right to pry into other people's business?

    There's probably someone in that house who is on bail or on parole (likely on bail)

  • +7

    We had police attend our property several times over a few months because our daughter was suicidal and would threaten to use weapons. It was an awful experience. It led to them having her committed under the mental health care act which saved her life as she was then put into the inpatient program at the Monash Children's Hospital and she has been so much better since, though still struggles with mental health which they see her weekly for.

    So yeah, having the cops over doesn't necessarily mean your danger is at risk. There's so much more to it and unless it impacts you directly, you should keep your business to yourself.

  • +4

    Sounds like none your business furthermore I think you're a weirdo for posting something like this on a bargain forum just like the other weirdo that posted about a dollar something

  • Klopeks

  • Our suburb is generally safe

    So then while you are minding your own business and not trying to pry into someone else's life you can rest assured that your suburb is now even safer because of the added police presence.

    Only half of what I said is true though…

  • +5

    Back when I was renting I had police (4 of them) knock on my door at 2am, claiming I had been beating my wife. It turned out they had received a phone call that supposedly originated from my house where a boy had told them I had been beating his mum. None of the names matched anyone I knew, and there were no children at the house. Clearly they weren't convinced, because in the coming months they returned a number of times. Apart from it being embarrassing for me having police knocking on my door every week, my bigger concern was that presumably someone actually /had/ been beating their wife in front of a young kid, and perhaps if the police had managed to go the right house and interrogate the correct person, a repeat incident could have been avoided. I'll never know.

    The moral of the story is that just because police keep showing up at a house, doesn't necessarily mean the occupants are up to no good.

  • As long as they kill each other quietly, I don't care

    • OP might. As property prices might go down.

      • Nah, they're renting, they'll put new carpet in and bring in new tenants

  • Oh my, what has this world come to?

    I bet you were one of those people who also called the police on neighbors who didn't wear masks or were outside during covid.

  • I think you'll be fine. The person living there will eventually end up in jail, or they will move too. As they don't want the police appearing on their doorstep too. Win/Win either way!

  • +1

    I've seen these scenarios before, usually ends with homicide due to neighbourhood disputes

  • I have the police at my place quite often. Usually it’s a friend visiting.

  • Absolutely, you have every right to be concerned and protect your street.
    I would contact the owners and make them aware of the issue.
    Best to get them out before they stop paying rent, damage the home or degrade the street further.
    If it is a drug house with many visits from buyers, criminals or local thief's setting up shop, I'm sure crime will be on the rise in your street.

  • Your comments have been very satisfying seeing as recently my landlord queried me damaging neighbours backyard late at night and being arrested soon after, sent by my neighbour. Police had come around that night because I called them, because someone was jumping fences, I don't jump my neighbours fences, I have a front door, and a key. Some people are dangerously nosey

  • Could be anything. Do they arrive with their blues and reds on? I lived in a neighbourhood with a house that had alot of police cars out the front all the time. I think I came to the theory that he is or was a police Sergeant or something and the boys were paying a visit.

  • During COVID, I lived with a housemate, who I thought I knew as a friend prior to being a housemate, who abused "nangs"/nitrous oxide.

    It led to both me and my other housemate calling the cops on him multiple times as he would lock himself in his room and either laugh hysterically, or cry and threaten harm (mostly to himself). The sounds he made were audible to the street as he'd insist on having his window open - I cannot fully express the depth of my embarrassment and anxiety.

    I wish it didn't happen, but I hope you have enough compassion for your neighbors as mine did during that.

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