'[You] accused them of stealing THEIR OWN PACKAGE': Neighbors squabble over cats, dogs, and stolen packages, then one neighbor involves police

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 13, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

Some neighbors will never see eye to eye. This woman told her story expecting people to take her side of the argument, but instead, commenters told her she was totally in the wrong. 

As this woman explained in a post to r/AmItheA**hole, she and her next door neighbors have been "pretty much at odds since day one." She writes that they've had tons of disagreements over issues large and small. One of those is the OP's three cats, who are let into her backyard and then get chased around by the neighbor's dog. They also disagreed on fencing, which the neighbor asked the OP to help pay for, as well as taking down an old tree on both their properties. 

However, the more the OP tells in the story, the more she sounds like the bad neighbor. Her go-to move is to call up the police for every little thing. After you check out this story, click here for a petty revenge story that was two years in the making. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 9762800384
    via Randy Fath on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - r/AmItheA u/ringpackageaita A . Posted by AITA For calling the cops on my neighbor after they took a package off my porch I (38F) live alone in the house I grew up in. It was left to me by my mother after she passed away 10 years ago. About 4 years ago, a couple about my age moved in next door and we've pretty much been at odds since day one. There have been numerous times and issues that we've disagreed on.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 03
    Font - I have 3 cats that I sometimes let out into my backyard. My neighbors have a dog that would jump the 5-foot chain link fence separating our yards to chase my cats. I told my neighbors if I caught their dog doing it again, I would call the cops. They actually had the audacity to ask if I would be willing to split the cost of a taller privacy fence instead of, you know, training your dog not to jump the fence. Obviously, I refused as I wasn't the one causing the problem and the fence is tec
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 04
    Font - Then, they asked me to split the cost of taking down an Ash tree that was on their property. It had become infested with some bug that killed the tree and dead limbs were falling on their driveway. They had the city come out and the survey guy said the tree was actually about 10% on my property. I told them the tree was theirs and if they want it down, they'll have to pay for it because I don't have a problem with it.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 05
    Font - Needless to say, we're not friends. They've also thrown some loud, late-night parties that included bonfires and loud music that I had to call the cops for as well. I am currently out of town visiting family for a couple weeks. I have a friend who comes over to my house everyday to check on my cats and check for mail and packages. I have medication for my cats that are delivered regularly.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 06
    Font - I got a notification the other day that some packages were delivered, so I texted my friend to let them know. But before my friend could get there, I got a notification from my Ring doorbell. I pulled up the live feed and saw my neighbor on my patio. I asked him what he was doing and he said a package of theirs got delivered to my house by mistake so he was just grabbing it.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 07
    Font - I told him to leave and that my friend would bring over his package when she comes over. He said he's not waiting for that and tried to leave. I told him if he takes a package from my porch I'm calling the cops. He shoved the package in front of the camera and said "That's my name and address, OP. I'm taking my package." Then he walked away. So, I called the police and told them that he stole a package from me and I have video proof. They said they would investigate.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 08
    Font - When my friend got there a little later, the police were talking to my neighbors. The police must have left while she was checking on my cats, because when she went to leave it was just my neighbors outside.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 09
    Font - The husband yelled at her to tell me that I'm a huge a and that I need to take the police off speed-dial and let them deal with more important s instead of using them as my own personal problem-solving service.
    via u/ringpackageaita
  • 10
    Font - Independent_Tie_4984. Parta pant [3] YTA I get the fence thing. You could have pitched in on the tree just to chill things out. Calling the police about the parties without talking to them about it first is very as e. If it was his package and it had their name and address on it calling the cops on them was also an a move. You're officially an as neighbor now.
    via u/Independent_Tie_4984
  • 11
    Font - odubik A Aficionad... This is a toxic situation. At each step prior to the Ring conversation, I think that you did the right thing. Even calling the cops when they are being loud after previous bad experiences makes sense to me... you don't need to go beg them to be quiet. But, telling them to leave a package with their name on it is being an as
    via u/odubik
  • 12
    Font - Sure, call the cops for them trespassing, but they aren't stealing from you.
    via u/odubik
  • 13
    Font - dragonkin08. Except OP is the one creating all the bad experiences. They are escalating at every point for absolutely no reason.
    via u/dragonkin08
  • 14
    Font - TheHatOnTheCat If it was his package and it had their name and address on calling the cops on them was also an move. a Yeah, wtf is OP's argument here exactly? "Excuse me Officer, these people took their own belongings. Arrest them!"
    via u/TheHatOnTheCat
  • 15
    Font - They even showed the ring camera that it was their name on the package. But OP wanted them to leave their package out to maybe actually get stolen beacuse... power play? a I cannot thing of ANY reason other then power play. a
    via u/TheHatOnTheCat
  • 16
    Font - FickleInteraction980. Don't forget to mention that it's illegal to use police the way that they've been doing. What if there was an actual crime being committed and police couldn't attend because they were dealing with Op? I'm pretty sure police can arrest people for nuisance calls like this.
    via u/FickleInteraction980
  • 17
    Font - Also for parties isn't there a time limit with some countries? Like in Australia anything after 11pm is a no-no but until then it's free for all. Op YTA. I'd hate to have a neighbour like you. You'd probably call child services on a crying baby because it's disturbing you.
    via u/FickleInteraction980
  • 18
    Font - gogogadgetrage. Fence costs are typically split between neighbors. Although you have a right to say no to a super expensive fence and if there current one is fine. The tree I'm confused. Who planted it? Did the neighbor plant it and it was encroaching on OPS property or was it just a preexisting tree? Seems like some context is needed about the responsibility. Then calling the police claiming they when they know the has been no theft because the neighbor shows the name and address. I mean
    via u/gogogadgetrage
  • 19
    Font - fuzzyaccountingpro. In reality op was the neighbor as from day 1. What neighbor were asking were reasonable.
    via u/fuzzyaccountingpro
  • 20
    Font - Roadgoddess YTA- in soooo many ways. You know in my neighbourhood, when something happens, I talk to my neighbours before I do anything else. And you know what has never happened? I've never had an issue where I've had to call the police. You are seriously an awful neighbor. I get not necessarily wanting to pitch in on the fence but the way you handle everything else is rude and confrontational.
    via u/Roadgoddess
  • 21
    Font - All the problems that are occurring are stemming from you, not your neighbors. I actually feel sorry for them, I feel like they would probably the type people writing on neighbours from H sub in Reddit about you based on the things you have listed above. Honestly, become a human and start talking to them versus escalating it, especially since it was their package.
    via u/Roadgoddess
  • 22
    Font - jrm1102. Commander in Cheeks [28... YTA - sure. You dont get along. But stop calling the cops for trivial matters! Do you actually think the they were stealing a package or were you just trying to continue this grudge and be petty.
    via u/jrm1102
  • 23
    Font - Sorry_I_Guess Parta pant [3] YTA They sound like absolutely awful neighbours, and under any other circumstances I'd side with you in a second. But you called the cops and accused them of stealing THEIR OWN PACKAGE.
    via u/Sorry_I_Guess
  • 24
    Font - They didn't steal from you. They fetched something that belonged to them off your porch. And while yes, I suppose they were trespassing, if you get medication delivered then you know that sometimes packages can't wait, and perhaps this was a situation like that... and it doesn't sound like you cared to listen to anything they had to explain. If you want to be seen as the better person than your AH neighbours, then you have to actually BE the better person.
    via u/Sorry_I_Guess

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cops dogs aita neighbors package Bad Neighbor theft Cats delivery
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