Vandalised car on drive - Any good ideas ?
Discussion
The in-laws have had their cars vandalised on their drive. I would usually disguard this as a sad sign of the times but they have also been receiving threatening calls and numerous deliveries from Britannia books etc. All post is sent to the wrong spelling of their surname.
They are both retired and very frightened.
I was tempted to put leaflets through doors in the village to offer a reward for any information. Not sure anyone will come forward but it may scare off the guilty party. A sensored flood light has now been fitted but it's only giving them little comfort.
Admittedly, I've not always seen eye-to-eye with them (they are the in-laws after all) but they're not bad people. They certainly don't deserve this.
Anyone experienced the same or can offer some advice.
They are both retired and very frightened.
I was tempted to put leaflets through doors in the village to offer a reward for any information. Not sure anyone will come forward but it may scare off the guilty party. A sensored flood light has now been fitted but it's only giving them little comfort.
Admittedly, I've not always seen eye-to-eye with them (they are the in-laws after all) but they're not bad people. They certainly don't deserve this.
Anyone experienced the same or can offer some advice.
I've called the catalogue companies etc and they are not interested in assisting in any trace. Unfortunately they are both elderly and have signed for some parcels without realising. That's partly my wife's fault as we're overseas and so she sends things to their house. They're used to just signing for things they haven't necessarily ordered.
Police are involved but say there's nothing they can do. Apparently they also need to tell any prospective buyers of their house. Something in the HIPS survey apparently !! That's a whole other thread though.
Police are involved but say there's nothing they can do. Apparently they also need to tell any prospective buyers of their house. Something in the HIPS survey apparently !! That's a whole other thread though.
check ebay out for the security halogen lamps that have in built sc cards adn take a photo or 10s video everytime they light up. search cctv security light.
Easy to fit, look like a normal light, so does not unduly attract but it is some deterrent to opportunists, and then when an incident occurs, just pop up with a ladder and pop out the sd card, into the printer / card reader and you'll have some photos of who it is with luck.
Great bit of kit, £99 IIRC.
I would not sit by and let Briitannia deliver to them. Go to see a solicitor and get a letter sent to them threatening action for harrassment. Bitiannia will hopefully then look into who is doing this, ie paying for the items and do somthing about it.
Easy to fit, look like a normal light, so does not unduly attract but it is some deterrent to opportunists, and then when an incident occurs, just pop up with a ladder and pop out the sd card, into the printer / card reader and you'll have some photos of who it is with luck.
Great bit of kit, £99 IIRC.
I would not sit by and let Briitannia deliver to them. Go to see a solicitor and get a letter sent to them threatening action for harrassment. Bitiannia will hopefully then look into who is doing this, ie paying for the items and do somthing about it.
As posted by S3fella
The items would have to have been paid for. If they were bought with a card then the owner of that card ought to be traceable.
Launch a complaint to the police complaints comission. That might work.
I have questions.
How can you be sure the vandalism, phone calls and packages are all related?
Who might your inlaws have upset? Have they paid all their bills? Have they got into any disputes? Have they pissed off any neighbours? Are either of them Self-Employed? Do they work for the council? Police? Traffic Warden?
What do you think the wrong name signifies?
The items would have to have been paid for. If they were bought with a card then the owner of that card ought to be traceable.
Launch a complaint to the police complaints comission. That might work.
I have questions.
How can you be sure the vandalism, phone calls and packages are all related?
Who might your inlaws have upset? Have they paid all their bills? Have they got into any disputes? Have they pissed off any neighbours? Are either of them Self-Employed? Do they work for the council? Police? Traffic Warden?
What do you think the wrong name signifies?
What are these threats on the phone? Police HAVE to take this seriously if it has escalated to criminal damage as well as harrassment. They can do something, they can requisition info from Britannia if they want.
As already said - approach your MP or councillor or Police complaints if they refuse to act?
Can you use the act whose name has escaped me to request all info Britannia hold on your inlaws? There will be an admin fee, but they must tell you.
As already said - approach your MP or councillor or Police complaints if they refuse to act?
Can you use the act whose name has escaped me to request all info Britannia hold on your inlaws? There will be an admin fee, but they must tell you.
Tell the in-laws to not sign for anything they are not expecting. Tell wife to inform them before she has anything sent to them. Letter from solicitor to Britannica will sort out any "bills".
Put in motion-activated lights and siren.
Put in security video camera on all sides of house. Make sure they are visible.
Put up signs saying CCTV in operation. Make sure they are visible.
Is there no garage for the car? If so, use it. If not, look into video cameras for cars. I know they have them in the US. Huge story in the news recently about some guy caught vandalizing an SUV. He turned himself in when he saw his picture plastered on thousands of chatboards and his friends recognized him on TV (they didn't shop him, but told him they were going to, apparently).
Finally, yes, you absolutely should put notes in all the letterboxes in the village, informing people of the nature of the harassment, the security measures you have taken, and the reward for any information. Make a point of mentioning how insurance covers damage caused by vandalism, which really means that ultimately they will be paying for it. It should stop the mischief.
Put in motion-activated lights and siren.
Put in security video camera on all sides of house. Make sure they are visible.
Put up signs saying CCTV in operation. Make sure they are visible.
Is there no garage for the car? If so, use it. If not, look into video cameras for cars. I know they have them in the US. Huge story in the news recently about some guy caught vandalizing an SUV. He turned himself in when he saw his picture plastered on thousands of chatboards and his friends recognized him on TV (they didn't shop him, but told him they were going to, apparently).
Finally, yes, you absolutely should put notes in all the letterboxes in the village, informing people of the nature of the harassment, the security measures you have taken, and the reward for any information. Make a point of mentioning how insurance covers damage caused by vandalism, which really means that ultimately they will be paying for it. It should stop the mischief.
Edited by just me on Wednesday 17th December 03:57
simontrent said:
I was tempted to put leaflets through doors in the village to offer a reward for any information. .
I think thats a good idea , decent folk would be upset to think of olduns being harrassed in their own home People are also likely to keep a casual eye out for anything going on outside the house too
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