'It really scared us': Woman’s relationship with neighbor unravels after neighbor’s son repeatedly breaks into her home and their aggressive dog threatens her children, forcing her to consider involving the police to protect family

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 5, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

We're all about leniency when it comes to complicated neighbors, so being the 'bigger' man or woman is always appreciated. But there are certain times when boundaries are undeniably crossed, and sweeping the issues under the rug becomes increasingly difficult. Especially when the issue is the neighbor's son, who keeps breaking into your house, and their aggressive dog. Now we don't know how big your rug actually is, but we have a feeling sweeping a life-size human and dog under it might cause some major challenges. 

This mother is sitting at a crossroads when trying to decide what to do about her neighbors. She's complained numerous times to the mother across the street about her son's 'tendencies' of entering into their home without permission. This is a very patient approach, some could even say naive, as most neighbors would have called the police by now. She's also asked her to keep her dog from wandering around the neighborhood, especially as her young kids are always playing outside. But when she is met with constant disregard or interest, she is starting to weigh out a more serious response to her uncompromising neighbor. 

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  • The last thing this woman wanted was to involve police or animal control, but her choices are dwindling by the day. It is one thing to argue with a neighbor, it is a whole other story when they are making you and your family feel unsafe in your own neighborhood. Maybe if they won’t take the requests of a kind mother seriously, a police officer may do the job?


     

  • 01
    Teen reading a magazine on the couch
    via Anastasia Shuraeva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA: my neighbors kid keeps breaking into my hous

    My neighbors son keeps breaking into my family's house. He's broken in a handful of times and I've been in contact with his mother but she doesn't seem interested in resolving the issue.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 03
    He typically doesn't take anything but one time hung out in our house for HOURS while we were away.
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  • 04
    He tried to break in again today. I've been nothing but kind and communicative with them, and I've helped look after packages while they're out of town.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 05
    We've had a good neighborly relationship up until now. We also recently had an incident with her dog getting out of the fence, which has happened quite a few times.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 06
    The last time the dog got out, it approached me and my 3 small children in our garage.
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  • 07
    I've met the dog before and reached out my hand to pet it, but it took an aggressive stance and growled at me and my kids.
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  • 08
    It really scared us. When I tried to bring this up, she called us names and insulted me.
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  • 09
    I'm worried to escalate things with her because of how she reacted with the dog incident, but I can't keep having her dog get out and scare my kids, or allow her son to keep breaking into my family's home.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 10
    Aita if I call the cops??? Is there other actions I can take that would keep them off my property and keep me and my family safe outside of reporting him for breaking and entering?
    via Positive-Pen6491
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    A grey Pitbull
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    kidde1 Just decide if you want safety or not. Same for the son or dog, call 911. Either one could pose a threat at any time.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 13
    Cantaloupelnside1303 How old is this kid? Is he 6 or 16? CPS should be notified at the very least.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 14
    Quirky_Bar7327 NTA but depending on the son's age it might be worth confronting him directly (if he is really young) and telling him you will call the police if he comes into your house one more time. If he is young and brought up badly he might not understand just how serious it is.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 15
    I would change all locks and upgrade security regardless because with people like this you are likely to experience retaliation, especially if you involve the cops.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 16
    Itchy_Juice_2528 NTA. Get a door bell camera and in house camera. If the kid breaks in again, call the cops. Loose dangerous dog out on the street? Call the cops. Time to put a stop to this stuff! If the last break in wasn't long ago, stop in your police station and tell them about it. If that kid is breaking in to your house, he may be doing the same in other homes.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 17
    BahamaDon If a little kid can easily break into your house repeatedly, perhaps you have an access problem? Imagine what a real burgler would do? Set up cameras, and get an alarm that is centrally monitored.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 18
    Disastrous-Bee-1557 You cannot seriously be asking if YWBTA for calling the cops on a kid who is repeatedly breaking into you house right? Of course YWNBTA. Aside from the illegality of what he's doing, if that kid trips over something or
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 19
    hurts himself while on your property, you are liable. And you can be damned sure that his parents will have no problem running out to get a lawyer and sue you. Do whatever you need to in order to put a stop to this nonsense.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 20
    Interested Party5280 Get better locks, install cameras, call the cops for the aggressive dog. The cops will go over and have a nice chat with the neighbors. You do not have to press charges, the cops will tell the that you could. That would be court and most likely they wouldn't want that.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 21
    PhDTARDIS NTA. Call the cops. What if he gets injured in your house? She'll sue you, even though HE was in the wrong. While you're at it, see if you can get restraining orders against them.
    via Positive-Pen6491
  • 22
    Loobeedo Sounds like the beginning of one of the Fear Thy Neighbor episodes. Bad neighbors s k. What does the kid say when you tell him to stay out of your house? Can you get an alarm system?
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consequences dangerous-dog neighbors house neighborhood-drama bad neighbors entitled-neighbors tension zero breaking in repeat breaking and entering son
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