Security precautions for student flat.

[sense4all]

Miss Sense lives in Scotland ... we are based on the edge of London. The girls have caught a nutter peering into their apartment using binoculars and he kept jotting in a notebook round his neck. They have called the Police and a community officer has been round to the flat and noted the details etc. What advice would you give to your child if you found yourself in a similar predicament, just incase I missed any bright ideas out.
Thanks in advance, Sense X.

[Louisa 69]

That's creepy!!! tell her to put up thick netting or verticle blinds and to keep the curtains closed at night....which you've probably already told her.

[leelapops]

Always lock doors and windows, especially when she is home alone, sense. I know it isn't much fun, but perhaps close the blinds/curtains? If he can't see, he might give up. Warn surrounding housing. If they could get photo of him to put up in local shops etc. it might deter him too.
And ask Miss Sense to keep a note of any times that she spots him, and wht he is doing.
Most of all, she shouldn't walk alone down her street, especially late at night. I hope she is OK-it must be awful for you to feel her safety is compromised.

[rabbitygirl]

Not security precautions, but If they see him again take his photo - making sure he sees it done.

Or get a klaxon or similar loud item, walk up to him, sound it and shout extremely loudly

P E R V E R T !

[Doc Spock]

If he is that far away to use binoculars, how do they know he has a notebook.

[sense4all]

I gave her all the parent spiel I could muster. It's a worry though! She is a sensible girl and now the boys are going to come into the flat when they walk them home - not just make sure they get through their door. A couple of weeks ago the lock on the main door was forced into the close - she had it fixed within the day ... coincidence ... now I wonder. However you have to try and leave them on a better note ... so I told her he was just gathering evidence to contest his council tax banding , but I feel really concerned now.

[sense4all]

Doc. compassion oozing as ever - perhaps he is an equal opportunites voyeur and his prescription glasses are just not up to the job.

He was dressed in black from head to foot and it was the shine of his notebook cover that alerted them to his presence outside their kitchen in the garden.

Legend they made it very obvious that they had seen him as they stood by the window on the phone to the Police giving the best description of him that they could while he tried to hide in the trees in the garden. Luckily the boyfriends were in residence for their supper that evening too.

[gonzo00]

don't any of these students have access to an air rifle?? (belive that they can be bought over the counter in scotland by anyone over the age of 16)...what's he gonna do...go into a police station to report being shot at whilst perving???

[annie0000]

A colleague of mine had a similar experience with a neighbour of his - he is 50, married with 2 grown up kids - the neighbour would always be looking into his house and if he met him on the street, he would make comments about his wallpaper etc. He put up with this for a wee while until the neighbour gave him a photo of his own house for Christmas and in it, you could clearly see into his daughters bedroom - she was about 20 at the time. He went round to the house and told him what he would do to him if he ever saw him with a camera pointed in his direction again. At the end of the day, he feels that there was no malicious intent involved, just a sad pathetic guy who had no life of his own. You may find that this bloke is just the same. It is difficult to know if there is anything more that you can advise your daughter, as you don't know how this person is likely to react. I think that if it was me, I would be planning a visit to see her soon and go and confront him/see what he is up to. You don't know if he would react unfavourably to them taking his photo/ standing in their own window with binoculars and a notebook. You dont say whereabout in Scotland your daughter is, is it an okay area otherwise, or is it right in the city center?

[what..the?]

Unbelievable, may a ask what the police said, and what they plan to do about this guy they cannot just leave it surely.

Yes I would put up a 'double' net/curtain trio on all windows, so that during the day if they want to open the curtains they can still no be seen. For that of course would need two curtain rails, or you can use extenable/adjustable temporary curtain rails from your local DIY they are spring loaded which are very good for the nets.

Lighting can they improve that, can they afford it, the landlord or the council for the safety of the residences, like a security light which is triggered by movement.

Carry personal alarms with them, maybe buy her one which is small and pocket sized and give it too her in passing like it is nothing important so not too worry her. I do not know if pepper spray is legal always worth a look though.

Mini torches too you could buy her one esp at nite it would help her see her way around and ward off people.

If things get worse make sure she tells people when she will be out and for how long.

I think if they ring the police everytime he does it the police will get the idea and will do more about it. If they could set up an camera or camcorder themselves on a tripod looking down into the garden and capture him doing this that would be good evidence. I am sure they have cameras and a tripod costs �10, or maybe just a mobile phone camera. if only the police could turn up quickly enough to catch him in the act they would have to do something.

[sense4all]

Cheers, everyone - the layout of the flat mans that one of the girls has her bedroom in the back next to the kitchen. They are very good about keeping curtains shut etc. There are six apartments in the close, one is a mad old dear on the top floor ( I think they are standard issue ) An oil worker who is never there, the middle floor are a bunch of student boys that they are friends with and a flat that is held by someone who never visits/ doesn't let it - but now lives in the States. So not a lot of neighbourly support to call on if the boys are out. The Police were OK they came out and gave them the basic spec on security and told them that they were, and are, doing all the right things ... to let them know if it happens again. She lives in an ordinary ( not all students ) part of Aberdeen. It is the fact that he is dressed for subterfuge that is the most worrying bit, hard on the heels of the front close lock being forced. She wil tell all the people that she knows in the area what has happened so word gets about. Thanks Sense X.

[sense4all]

Annie , I wish this bloke HAD been perving from the comfort of his own flat ... no he was in their garden ... dressed in black with his notebook and binoculars... as you say for their own safety they did not go outside to challenge him ( some of the nagging over the years must have sunk in! ) but got straight on the blower to the Police. My God the world has some strange and interesting folk in it. I feel the Police ought to be interested as this might just be the begining of his perving career.

[annie0000]

Hi sense, I hope everything goes okay - god there are some weird people in the world. it may even be that the police are already aware of this guy - i would take their advice and report any suspicious activity. Maybe they should let an upstairs flat next year.