# Upstairs neighbor is a peeping tom (listener), what should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157 "2010-08-04T15:39:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/81 "2010-08-08T17:17:47Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > He’s not coming back in here, is he…sigh. I think he figured out that his neighbor is one of the people posting in this thread and it scared him even more. I’m not the one that told. I swear. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/82 "2010-08-09T05:52:47Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I don’t think we’d be doing the OP any favors if we pretended that this is perfectly normal. There’s obviously some paranoia going on here, and I really do recommend he see a doctor. No, but if people here honestly thought that the guy had mental problems, they wouldn’t make fun of him for something he can’t help, right? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/83 "2010-08-09T05:58:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > No, but if people here honestly thought that the guy had mental problems, they wouldn’t make fun of him for something he can’t help, right? Oh, no! Of course not! :eek: I’m starting to think it was a troll, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/84 "2010-08-09T07:50:09Z")
> [@posskb](#): > > I realize I sound paranoid. Yes, you sound paranoid. There is no way she can track your movements. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/85 "2010-08-09T14:15:47Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > > [@posskb](#): > > > > I realize I sound paranoid. > > Yes, you sound paranoid. There is no way she can track your movements. Cameras in the light fixtures. GPS hidden in the labels of his undies too. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/86 "2010-08-09T17:27:44Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > > [@Magiver](#): > > > > Yes, you sound paranoid. There is no way she can track your movements. > > Cameras in the light fixtures. > > GPS hidden in the labels of his undies too. I’m actually fearful for the woman. Actively calling her names and voicing his delusions to her doesn’t bode well. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/87 "2010-08-10T13:50:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m actually fearful for the woman. Actively calling her names and voicing his delusions to her doesn’t bode well. You really think there _is_ a woman? I’m leaning more toward an empty apartment upstairs. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/88 "2010-08-10T17:08:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Magiver](#): > > > > I’m actually fearful for the woman. Actively calling her names and voicing his delusions to her doesn’t bode well. > > You really think there _is_ a woman? I’m leaning more toward an empty apartment upstairs. “I want to lodge a complaint about my upstairs neighbor! She…she LISTENS to me! I can hear her!” “But sir. The unit directly above yours is empty. It’s been empty for the last twenty years.” ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/89 "2010-08-10T17:27:55Z")
If she listening to you, it’s because you’re giving her something to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/90 "2010-08-10T18:42:41Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > No, but if people here honestly thought that the guy had mental problems, they wouldn’t make fun of him for something he can’t help, right? We wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/91 "2010-08-10T22:41:30Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > > [@kittenblue](#): > > > > He’s not coming back in here, is he…sigh. > > I think he figured out that his neighbor is one of the people posting in this thread and it scared him even more. I’m not the one that told. I swear. Hey, everybody! We just found the rat! Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![One1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee7513/32.png) [@One1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One1)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/92 "2011-07-26T04:24:51Z")
OMG - I just came across this site and this post. I was searching for ways to find out how I can tell if my upstairs neighbor is spying/listening to me and this post came up. This is real and it is happening to me right now. The exact same thing posskb posted is happening to me now. At first I thought I was imaginging it so I tested it out. I purposely walked from room to room to see if he would do the same thing and he did. I truely believe this man is spying on me and no one believes me. I happen to like my apartment and have been living here for several years, he moved in about a year ago. After I signed another 18 month lease is when I noticed him following and listening to me. This is so irrating and scary as I’m a single female. I have called the police and they said it’s nothing they can do about it unless I have proof. My apartment complex shrugs it off. Right now I’m typing on my pc at my desk in my dinning room and I just heard him stomp over here. This is so annoying and irritatting. I don’t know what to do. Lik I said I can’t just move and I don’t feel I should he is the one invading my privacy. Posskb you are not imagining this, this is real and it’s probably happening to a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/93 "2011-07-26T04:30:51Z")
It’s way, _way_ more likely that someone concerned about this has some paranoia problems and needs medication and/or therapy than that an upstairs or downstairs neighbor would spy on someone by following them from room to room. Or is a zombie. Either way. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/94 "2011-07-26T05:55:40Z")
Right. Like he might not have something to do in his dinning room, too. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/95 "2011-07-26T12:50:25Z")
Although it has been almost a year and **Posskb** never posted after this thread. On the bright side I don’t think **One1** should be worried that she could now have **Posskb** ’s listening neighbor, as that was a woman. On the other hand, I wonder if the OP has ever seen the movie [Mimic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimic_(film))? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/96 "2011-07-26T12:51:54Z")
> [@One1](#): > > OMG - I just came across this site and this post. I was searching for ways to find out how I can tell if my upstairs neighbor is spying/listening to me and this post came up. > This is real and it is happening to me right now. The exact same thing posskb posted is happening to me now. At first I thought I was imaginging it so I tested it out. I purposely walked from room to room to see if he would do the same thing and he did. I truely believe this man is spying on me and no one believes me. I happen to like my apartment and have been living here for several years, he moved in about a year ago. After I signed another 18 month lease is when I noticed him following and listening to me. This is so irrating and scary as I’m a single female. I have called the police and they said it’s nothing they can do about it unless I have proof. My apartment complex shrugs it off. Right now I’m typing on my pc at my desk in my dinning room and I just heard him stomp over here. This is so annoying and irritatting. I don’t know what to do. Lik I said I can’t just move and I don’t feel I should he is the one invading my privacy. Posskb you are not imagining this, this is real and it’s probably happening to a lot of people. You can hear the person walking around above a lot better than from an apartment below you, so it’s safe to say you are “spying” on him more effectively than he would be on you. For an experiment, why don’t you spend a day or two trying to eavesdrop on your downstairs neighbor and see how successful you are. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/97 "2011-07-26T13:18:32Z")
Buy a fart machine and use it liberally. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/98 "2011-07-26T13:24:40Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > On the other hand, I wonder if the OP has ever seen the movie [Mimic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimic_(film))? Yikes. Holy Franz Kafka! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/99 "2011-07-26T13:26:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Buy a fart machine and use it liberally. I sit on mine. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157/100 "2011-07-26T13:54:48Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > It’s way, _way_ more likely that someone concerned about this has some paranoia problems and needs medication and/or therapy than that an upstairs or downstairs neighbor would spy on someone by following them from room to room. Yeah, I was going to say… The OP gave me that impression, and **One1** ’s post does nothing to change my mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upstairs-neighbor-is-a-peeping-tom-listener-what-should-i-do/549157.md?page=6)