What would you do?
 

I live in an apartment block of 3 floors. It is in a gated enclosure, and the flats on the ground floor have doors that open onto a public pathway. Just taking the rubbish out, I went past a flat at the end of the block.

Casually looking in, I noticed the place looked trashed. The TV is knocked over on the floor, there are video games strewn about the place, and ornaments smashed on the floor. There are normally two motorbikes outside, and there is only one there now, and the cover is strewn on the floor.

It could have been burgled, but I am wondering about the possibility if there has been an argument (a pretty extreme one at that). I am thinking the guy may have possibly left on his bike in a temper and rode off, leaving the cover on the floor.

If I called the police, they may not thank me for it.

I have tried knocking on the door but there is no answer. To be honest, you would have thought the neighbours would have heard something?

I don't know what to do for the best?

idk but i love your new avatar

Call the police, better to be safe then sorry.

I am not 100% sure what I would do but if you heard nothing and no one else did then it seems odd.
If you cannot get an answer at the door then that's of concern too,if they are usually there.

You are only being neighbourly after all and I guess if I felt something was as odd as you describe and that there seems no explanation for things as they are then there is no harm in having someone check it out.
I guess,although some people take exception to others poking their nose in,if you know things are not usually like this then I would personally rather be safe than sorry and have it checked out just as a precaution.

If I kneEw the people even more so would I do that. However, if you know or think they are or can be hostile people who live there then maybe my way is not an answer in this case.

Is there a Lanlord
or someone in charge of it all

its there job to get police.

Call the 101 police number. Best to report it that way, then they can't get at you for ringing the emergency number or anything/

It's one of these ones that you don't know what to do for the best, my own thing would be to either check with the landlord or council or the police.

I'd far rather be safe than sorry....... It's a horrible position but my own gut feeling is: I'd be calling the police.

I don't know them at all, and I live at the other side of the building, so I would not have heard anything, and I can't get in touch with the landlord until tomorrow unfortunately. I might go and try and see again if anyone is there, and if not use that 101 number. I forgot about that. Thanks Joe.

I dont know what the '101' number is - so sorry about that.

It most likely is a major domestic.... but , as I say: it's so hard to call - and it's one of those ''can't do right for doing wrong'' scenarios.

Let us know how you get on eh?

This

It's for reporting non-emergency incidents. I'm just worried that, if it is a major domestic, then they won't be too happy if the police turn up on their doorstep. I don't really know what they would do in that situation either, as there seems to be nobody home.

Is anyone else in at all in the block of flats that might've heard something?

one thing you should not be doing is knocking on the door,
leave it to the police or just leave it.

ah right... I've never really had need. Yes, that does perhaps sound a better idea.

But the other thing is: if YOU have noticed, then so too might other 'less concerned' people - if the house is empty - and it looks like that and can be seen like that from the outside: it's also a prime target to be burgled (if it was a domestic) if you see what I mean.

I disagree.

it's called living in a caring community, where people actually give two hoots for those that live around them.

If you hadn't seen some old dear for a while, passed her house and it was trashed, and her little car was gone: would you just leave it? You wouldn't want to check up on here and see if she (or he) was alright?

It cannot be seen publicly, as it's not on the side of the street, but it can be seen by residents.

look stick to the topic you always add another aspect to get your opinion across this not about an old lady.

ring the 101 number like someone has suggested. a few years ago when i lived @ my old place one night the dog across the road barked all night and i mean all night and i knew something was up but i did nothing then @ about 6am i heard sirens etc someone had rang the police thank god as the poor guy who lived there had died and the poor dog was trying to alert help.

The point is, if it were my flat, and it had been burgled, I would hope somebody would report it so it could be made secure (as it mustn't be if someone has broken in), but I would like to be sure first. Pyramid is only using a situation as an example.

It's called looking at things from all angles.

I must have missed where the OP quoted the ages of the people concerned. .... oh wait: It seems I didn't miss that .... there WAS no age mentioned.

I'd appreciate you not trying to cause arguments - it's tedious.

That was precisely my very point. I know my neighbours have done similar when my back gate was lying opened during the day, as well as my garden shed.... (and they know it's always locked) - they went round to check - and then let me know.

I call that being good neighbours and looking out for each other.

look you posted this so you are un sure so take it from someone with a lot of life experiences and have been involved in situations you could not imagine the right answer is to phone the police if its a break in they will deal with it if its a domestic they will deal with it but knocking on the door puts you in danger.

See...this kind of story haunts me, I'd never forgive myself if that cropped up and I'd never done anything.

grow up

Hard situation because you dont want a beating up. Probably phone from a phonebox tbh so they cant trace it back to you and get you further involved.

I'd say I'd given good contribution to this thread and to the OP's predicament, and given many reasons for and against and have also backed others in their suggestion in calling 101 etc, being a good a neighbour. I'd call that pretty grown up but then again, I am 47.

I seriously doubt that if the OP called 101 / the police, that it would be revealed who called. Far as I'm aware: they don't reveal - for that very reason.

Yes. I posted this to get input from as many peoples as possible, and for it to be discussed.

we both know what you do!
you take what someone says and turn into you asking the poster questions on another situation playing the moral card.
stop asking me to explain my self to you.

It is an awkward one - but ultimately - you do what YOU feel is right for you - for your reasons. If that makes sense. You certainly don't have to answer to any of us on here; it's like everything else: we can only put over our thoughts: when we are actually FACED with something like this in real life, as you are: we may react differently.

I have just been past again, and it seems they are back home now, so I don't need to do anything, as there is someone there. Hopefully it was just an argument, and all is ok. Either way, they are in a position to deal with it themselves now.

Thanks for all your advice. :hugesmile:

We don't have 101 as far as I know, so I would just call the local police station anonymously and let them deal with whatevers happened, don't call the emergency number though.

edit - just noticed the last post.

Go back to my flat and phone the police there. I'd rather be anonymous if phoning the police would affront these people.

:dance:

All sorted - and at least it sort of kept your mind off things during it all.

No doubt you'll be seeing them treking in with new lamps and vases soon. ..... :)

well, if it's already been burgled then reporting it now or the owners reporting it when they find it, isn't going to make a whole lot of difference. If you actually witnessed it taking place then maybe it would but not now it's happened already.

Edit, just read your last post

One of the factors of my concern, was that the property might not be secure in that case. If left in such state, it could be left open to further theft, or vandalism, for example.

TBH. I'd have someone like you as a neighbour in a flash.... I'm so lucky that I do actually have the vast majority of immediate neighbours who are like that, and I far prefer it. Feel far safer than the ones who all 'keep themselves to themselves' and don't 'look out for one another'.

Especially when there is so much crime/drugs etc these days.

Having had my house broken into once (along with one of my neighbours) : it's not something I want to experience again; me and my neighbours were gutted - oen of the reasons we all keep an eye out now.