<p>Okay, so a few minutes ago I was in my bathroom, the window of which looks into my neighbor’s backyard (not the best layout, I know, but we have the funky glass so no one can see in). And all of a sudden I hear yelling.</p>
<p>At first I thought it was in my house because it was LOUD, but it wasn’t my parents and my sister is out of town.</p>
<p>I finally realized it was coming from my neighbors’ house. It’s really freaking me out, because it’ll be really loud for a few minutes, and then it’ll go really quiet, and then start back up again…like they’re moving around the house as they’re fighting or something. I’ve heard a little swearing, but other than that it’s just loud.</p>
<p>Is it just because the windows are open (we just got new windows and have them all open to cut A/C costs) that I can really hear it? It’s 11:30 PM here…how late should I wait/how bad should I let it get before I take action, if indeed it comes to that? I do know the number for my sheriff’s dept., but should I even to that?</p>
<p>My parents are asleep already, so I don’t think they even know anything’s going on. It’s just freaking me out a little. Especially because the man has already “lost” (read: divorced) his wife and a new woman has moved in, so obviously his problem-solving skills and ethics aren’t in the best place. Should I take any type of action if it doesn’t stop soon?</p>
<p>It’s been pretty quiet for the last few minutes. Maybe I’m just paranoid because it’s so late and I’m a big fan of COPS? I’m a little sheltered, but not so much that I can’t differentiate between normal fighting and out-of-hand fighting, and I feel like I would know when to call for help…but I just can’t be sure.</p>
<p>not to sound mean or anything but i think you should just mind your business. it could be just a petty argument and if you go and call the police it would be this huge scene for no reason. have a nice glass of juice and go to bed :-)</p>
<p>Okay, maybe it’s just late and I’m rambling. But I’ve noticed of late that whenever people say “No offense, BUT…” or “not to be mean, BUT…”</p>
<p>That it actually makes me more offended/upset than if they hadn’t said it at all.</p>
<p>Just noticing.</p>
<p>Anyway.</p>
<p>Normally, I wouldn’t even think of calling the police due to reasons you listed. But this argument was downright scary…both their tones of voice were…I don’t even know how to describe it…hateful, and I could flat-out hear what they were yelling. They finally stopped around 12:30, but come on…I think I know the difference between a “petty argument” and a domestic disturbance. Trust me, I’ve witnessed plenty of the former.</p>
<p>i completely understand where you are coming from but arguments in my house tend to sound like that even if they are over something silly like someone making a mess and not cleaning up. they may have been slightly intoxicated which always escalates things. now if you heard someone screaming “no, help! get off me!” then i would be concerned.</p>
<p>Many years ago I knocked on the neighbor’s door when I heard her getting hit by her boyfriend (“stop hitting me!” is pretty clear). When they came to the door she hit me for interfering. Thankfully she moved quite soon after that.</p>
<p>And the next time I pulled a guy off his girlfriend (I should be clear that I lived across the street from a bar)–she hit me too.</p>
<p>After that I started calling 911 and telling people from a distance that I had done so.</p>
<p>IMHO, if it’s loud enough to scare you next door, it’s time to call the police. Don’t deal with it yourself.</p>
<p>I do no think a loud argument implies anyone is in danger. Of course if you heard someone say, “stop hitting me” that would be different. But a loud argument is not a dangerous situation. What it is…it is disturbing the neighbors. So, if it did not stop, you could call their house anonymously and say that the noise coming from their house at this late hour was disturbing others and to please stop. Then, you could wait to see what happens. If it continued, then you could call and report it. I am not saying to interfere in person as dmd was describing. But a call to ask them to be quieter as people cannot sleep, etc. is worth a try before calling police, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Grace says that it was “freaking me out a little.”</p>
<p>My feeling is that you should go with your instincts. If something is scaring you, it probably deserves attention. It’s safer to let the police check it out instead of getting directly involved. </p>
<p>I just feel differently. If the two homes are fairly close and the windows are open and a couple is having a loud argument, as many do, I don’t know that the cops need to be called. I think the first attempt should be calling their number and telling them that the noise is disturbing others and to please keep it down. If that is not effective, then get help. I’d hate to think of cops being called every time a couple has an argument that gets loud (and I can see why this was heard if their homes are fairly close and the windows are open).</p>
<p>EMK…I was thinking the same thing…if she was very concerned, and is a teen, the first step would be to wake her parents and ask what to do and have them assess the situation or call the neighbor and ask them to quiet down.</p>
<p>For a loud argument I would not call the police. I would wake a parent up to inform them if it was freaking me out. Inevitably the impact will be on the parents if you had called the cops.</p>
<p>I did not wake my parents, because I wasn’t ready to take action and because the actual yelling was so infrequent. Had it gotten any worse than it already was, or I heard any evidence of abuse as others have described, I would definitely have gone to my parents. </p>
<p>I think it scared me more than anything because it’s been a while since I’ve heard a loud argument like that. Our houses are indeed pretty close (separated just by a driveway), and the windows were open…and reason finally did kick in that unless it got worse, there was no sense in me doing anything.</p>
<p>I don’t think its much to worry about really, unless you see anything. My parents are crazy and yell so that you can hear it from the street outside of my house sometimes…</p>
<p>hgfm - we have an obnoxious miniature schnauzer who barks at anything she sees moving outside. If she hears someone outside, she gets herself to a window to see what’s going on. If she spots someone, it’s off to the races… bark, yap, arf, woof, etc. If we’re at home (her sound carries really loudly throughout the house), someone (if not more than one person) will always yell (usually at the top of their lungs), “Shut up” or “No”. I’ve often wondered what it sounded like from outside the house if one was walking by; do people think people are yelling at each other inside the house?</p>
<p>I realize you have other information that makes this a bit different than our situation, but keep it in mind for future ‘noises’ you might hear from neighbors.</p>
<p>So glad I could give you a laugh. I hope people walking by our house laugh, too.</p>
<p>Truth be told, I miss my doggie really bad 'bout right now. There’s a house-sitter (who takes very good care of her) with her right now, but I’ve found that California is a very dog-friendly area (at least where we’ve been the last few days), and every time I see one, I almost want to call home and have the house-sitter hold the phone up to the dog’s ear so I can say hi. Is that pathetic or what?</p>
<p>Maybe you should consider the totality of the circumstances in deciding if to call the police. </p>
<p>For example:
Are loud arguments common?
Does anyone look beat up or hurt afterward?
Do you hear the sounds of physical fighting, not just arguing?
Is someone pleading for help?
Do you hear adult screaming, such that you know something is wrong?
Are children screaming, beyond the ordinary? </p>
<p>And of course, when in doubt, call the police.</p>