Neighbour cutting electricity

[asadinho]

Hello oracle. On bank holiday sunday evening around 10.30, I was playing some music at a reasonable volume, and suddenly our electricity went off. Moments later the upstairs neighbour came down wielding a pair of pliers saying that he's cut the electricity. We are reasonable people and we do not wish to disturb anyone. If the music was too loud, we would gladly turn it down if communicated. He previously complained over 6 months ago, by turning up at our door waving pliers in my face somewhat threateningly. We have been conscious of the level that we must keep the sound thereafter, and this was his first complaint since. Having recently bought new speakers, positioned in another part of the room, we are not aware of the sound thresholds of the house with the new set-up.

The neighbour in question acts as a caretaker of sorts for the building, yet claims to be the landlord and is generally prone to terrorising other tenants for a variety of minor complaints. Another neighbour told me that he did exactly the same to him at 2pm. Needless to say, tampering with the fuse box of another home's electricity seems to be far from legal. What are the laws on this? He has threatened to do it again, and this is obviously not the way to deal with the issue. Luckily I did not have any work open on any of my computers, but if he were to do that again, I could lose valuable data. It is an extremely irresponsible thing to do, not knowing whether or not anyone here relies on electricity for medical equipment. Please kindly advise.

[craft1948]

Well I'm flummoxed at the thought of someone cutting an electric cable with pliers and still being alive.

[MarkRae]

Firstly, call the police to report this act of vandalism and criminal damage.

[sandyRoe]

probably used an owl or two as insulation for the pliers

[Sipowicz]

Troll?

[snags]

http://3.bp.blogspot..../funny-owl_8983_1.jpg

[asadinho]

Well I'm not sure why the pliers were needed, in fact, as he cut the electricity from the fuse box.

[craft1948]

Nice owl snags...............

[albaqwerty]

My fuse box is in my home. How did he gain access to yours?

Had a similar problem on Saturday night, I just asked the neighbour to turn the bass down, music fine but the constant thumping was making my picutres jump!!

[daffy654]

Hello oracle ?????

[Old_Geezer]

Tell him to cut it out or you'll have words !

[asadinho]

@ Mark - cheers, I thought about calling the police, but I'm worried that might just heat matters up unnecessarily. Not looking for confrontation. I only want to warn him against such adventures in future, and simply to knock should he ever be disturbed again. Anyone know if there's any legislation on this sort of activity?

[asadinho]

@ albaqwerty: the fuse box is in the communal part of the house. It's a detached house divided into 4 flats.

[craft1948]

So as you type this you have no electricity?

[asadinho]

He turned it back on after he came to see us.

[albaqwerty]

Have a quiet word with your local council or CAB.

[EvianBaby]

So it's more likely he just took the fuse out for a couple of minutes?

[Flyhalf]

Where to begin?
First, I'd cut off his access to YOUR fuse box. Even if he is a "caretaker of sorts", you should have places he is not allowed to access - he "turns up" at your door.
As to the police option, two problems arise: dificulty proving the offence, and they may look on it as essentially a civil matter.
Is there a landlord? If so, that is your best hope - inform him/her, and make clear you wilif old them responsible if there is any repeat. If it's separate owners occupying communal space, call in the management committee.

[VHG]

>>>I thought about calling the police, but I'm worried that might just heat matters up unnecessarily.

To be honest I think his behaviour has already done that.

[Old_Geezer]

Yeah, confrontation, I hate it too. But sometimes you have to put your foot down. Is your idea of reasonable volume in tune with the other tenants ?