Drunk neighbours, Henry Cavill and zomboons, oh my!

This evening around dinnertime, I heard the intercom but ignored it because I was faffing about online when I should have been editing my vampire novel. And I knew who it was anyway - my neighbours across the stairwell have always buzzed other tenants to let them into the block instead of using their own intercom pass and I'm sick of it. I've whinged about it on AW before. "I'm not their fucking concierge!" and the like.

Well, a little later, around 7pm, there was an almighty bang; the guy who lives next door was thumping my door. I don't think he was kicking it, but anyway, it was pretty noisy. Someone else must have let them in. He did it a few times before his girlfriend got him back into their flat, still shouting, "You should have let us in; it's fucking freezing out there!"

I swithered about calling the police and eventually got my coat on and slipped out to my dad's house, just to get away and to calm down. I was scared of going past this guy's front door but did it anyway.

I called the police from my dad's and they advised against a police visit because the disturbance was over and I wasn't in physical danger. Too, I said this is completely out of character for him. We've passed each other on the stairs, said hello, they've knocked and asked if I have any spare teabags when they run out, normal neighbour stuff. Nothing like this has ever happened before. In fact, I've ignored their buzzing the intercom before and nothing's come of it. When they get in the block after someone else buzzes them in, they come upstairs, unlock their door, go into their flat, end of story.

Around an hour and a half ago I'm sure I heard someone try my front door.

Five minutes after that, he shouted through the letterbox, "Thanks for letting us in, you bitch!" and that was it. No kicking, no punching, no nothing.

I called the police and was crying on the phone to the woman I spoke to. She advised a police presence this time, because and I quote, "You can't be scared in your own home."

I expressed my concern that this might aggravate him, but she said a talking-to might make him leave me alone. So I'm waiting on the police arriving.

However...ten minutes ago, a taxi pulled up outside with someone in the back. I waited to see who'd pay and get out, but no-one. They were actually here to pick up none other than my neighbour. Maybe the taxi beeped, maybe he was watching out of his window for it, I don't know, but the tenement door opened, he came out, got in the cab and it sped off.

Sorry if this is rambling. I'm sat here crying and shaking and waiting for the police to get here. I hope I did the right thing calling them. I don't want it to make the situation worse after they've been, but then...the guy's left to go God knows where anyway.

My main concern is what happens after this - you know, passing him on the stairs, what if it happens again, and so on...

Maybe a police visit will make him even angrier.

I hope so. I really fucking hope so.

alleycat said:

You said it was out of character for him. Had he been drinking?

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I'm not sure. I've long suspected they might be given to substance abuse but they've always been docile, friendly, no bother at all. This is a real shock.

All kidding aside, is it even possible to maintain a high or a bad trip from 6pm or thereabouts to 2 in the morning?

You'd have thought his anger would fade from then, but he still shouted through my door at me just after one this morning. Course, I had the privacy button on so perhaps he'd been pressing the intercom and I didn't hear it, but even so...that's a long time to stay angry at someone simply for not picking up the intercom handset.

Snowstorm said:

You did right by calling the police. That's messed up that he could do that. I'm glad for you that likely he'll be gone--hopefully for the night.

Perhaps in the next few days--after you have both calmed down--approach him to find out why he did what he did. Since it sounds like you're usually on good terms with him, then perhaps you two can come to an understanding. (If he's got the door code, then just use the thing rather than bother others.)

Hang in there, you AW's badass dork!

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I mentioned this in the bordello too, and kuwisdelu strongly advised against approaching either of them. I agree with him.

Regarding the door, there's no code. There's a little widget you hold up to the panel, the door buzzes and opens, and you get in. If you don't have the pass key, you have to buzz someone's flat to let you in.

shelleyo said:

Jesus Christ!

You're not their personal gatekeeper. And anyway, what if you'd been in the shower and not even heard the buzzer? They shouldn't rely on other people all the time.

I hope everything turns out okay. The fact that he tried the door--that's spooky. I'm glad the woman on the phone took you seriously and didn't brush it off.

Shelley

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Yeah, I know. And as a tenant, he should have his own key. I bet he's lost them. When you move in, the council give you three. I have one myself, I've given my dad one, and I have the third kept as a spare. It costs £40 for a replacement set, so whatever my neighbours have done with theirs, they're obviously too cheap to shell out for new.

Anyway, trying the door. I don't want to think about that. I'm telling myself he stumbled against the handle or it was me hearing him lift the letterbox rather than turning the handle. I'm just going to try to forget about that.

It's an hour and twenty since I called the police. I've had no sleep, but I probably won't sleep at all tonight anyway.

What worries me is coming and going, passing on the stairwell, what if he starts something then? I can't let the stress get to me though.

I've been praying, too. Yeah, me. Praying.

That's a good idea about the note of apology. What do other folks think? Might be like pouring oil on troubled waters, so to speak. I don't mind looking like a pussy if you guys think it might help calm things down.

Police still not here. I was going to go out tomorrow but overdue library books and missing groceries pale in comparison to getting some sleep and waiting for this to blow over.

Police just pulled up.

Wait, wasn't them. I saw a police car slow down outside and assumed it was my call out they were answering, but they must have been letting other traffic pas t or slowing down for the mini-roundabout outside my block. *sigh*

Still I wait.

Oh, I meant to add: I also emailed my local council to lodge an anti-social behaviour report. I left my email address and mobile number. Around half an hour later I received an auto-response acknowledging my complaint, telling me it's in the queue and someone will be in touch.