ChrisP Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Just had the doorbell ring, and literally by the time i got there, this person had walked to the side of the house calling "Hello? Hello?" and walked around to the back. I went to the back door to find out what he wanted, and he claimed someone had rang him to ask about resurfacing our drive, which I no is not true. Whilst saying this I could see he was scanning the back garden, the garage and the chickens. Then went on to ask about if our campervan was for sale, despite me saying could he go and come back later when my parents are in. In the end I had to ask twice for him to go. That's the first time that I've been worried by someone coming to the door during the day Should I be worried? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I would be worried too Very suspicious. Write down (now before you forget anything) everything that happened, what he looked like, height, accent, what he was driving, the time etc etc just in case you/ your parents decide to report him. I would be tempted to report him, he may be trying this with other people too..... If you are worried can you speak to your parents now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Yes, you should Contact your local neighbourhood watch co ordinator or the Police RIGHT NOW! Phone your folks too, & tell them what has happened. It sounds to me like he was scanning your property, & I am sure that you would rather be safe than sorry. The Police will take your concerns seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Try not to panic!! I would try to ring your parents, and maybe a friend to keep you company?? Definately ring the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Well I rang my dad, and he said neither he nor my mum had rang anyone about having the drive resurfaced. Trying to find the N.W number on the internet now Wish I could remember the letters he had on his top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew and Alan Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 if u have neighbours you could tell them too, just as a precaution. he might try his luck with them now that he knows theres' someone in your house. I'd ring the police too, after all thats what they are there for ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 You may remember them, but if not, knowing that his top had letters on is still a very good start! Hope the neighbourhood watch are helpful. If you can't get through to them, phone the police. I once had to describe someone to the police and couldn't for the life of me decide how tall he was! I did remember the disgusting teeth though, oh, and the bright orange bomber jacket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 A nasty experience. I would certainly inform the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Thanks all, have written it down, and am going to fill in one of those 'report an incident online' form thing. Luckily, is broody at the moment and locked out of the eglu, so is so loud when I go anywhere near the garden, let alone if anyone else would! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Be very suspicious - they were using classic distraction burglary techniques - report it ASAP to your police station, with descriptions of any people and vehicles. This is rife in our area and they are taking it very seriously. They were waiting to see if anyone was in, and also whether you'd left the back door open (likely in this weather) when you went to the front, or had left the front open while you went looking for them at the back. Never leave any downstairs windows or doors open unless you are in a position to see them. Always close and lock doors, even if you just pop up to the loo. There was a similar distraction burglary recently in a road near ours..... 'water board' this time. Resident left the back door open while they went to answer the doorbell. Some nutter claiming to be from the waterboard, told to sling his hook. Resident went back into the kitchen to find their wallet and car keys gone, by the time they'd got back to the front, their car had gone too. I have window restrictors on all my windows, upstairs and down. So they can be opened but not beyond a certain distance. I always close and lock the back door unless I'm in sight of it. Sad, but necesary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Well the garage door was open (had been cleaning and feeding the chickens) and backdoor open All is firmly locked now, and the keys are back inside the house, not out on the rabbit hutch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Well done for being suspicious and reporting it. I had somedo do a similar thing last year he wanted to re do our fence as he had seen 'druggies' going in and out through the broken panel coming out 'high as kites' At the time I was pregnant with mikey ash was 18 moths old and paul was working awa yI cried for hours! anyway called the police and it turns out he was on as ASBO for cold calling and the police didn't know he was clever enough to come up with such a great scare story to get me to buy! He was supposed to go to court before xmas but as he was in for something else they contacted me and delayed it till his release and took him back inside! IDIOT! Let us know if anything come of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgie Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 It's such a shame these people never come to my house - my two Ridgebacks would've eaten him alive the second he stepped through the gate, there are certain advantages to having large breed dogs! Seriously though, this must have been very alarming for you, especially as you were on your own, fingers crossed they catch up with this moron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Let all you neighbours know as we were pestered with people a few years back wanting to tarmac everyones driveway..but at least then you can all look out for each other...take car reg model/make if they come back again.. Glad you were at home ..cheeky def let the local police know as mentioned Just lock up..in this nice weather we all want our windows open..mind you I have been keeping curtains shut etc to keep sun out indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 These people are a menace - best bet is to tell them you have no money as in the present climate this could well be true. At our last house our neighbour agreed stupidly to let them do his drive and they pestered me to death. OH had to go round and speak to neighbour as if I had the air wouldve been blue The mess they made was dreadful but it served his right. They were wanted by police and were a particular nasty crowd who ruled by menacing people. Well done for being vigilant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 That must of been horrid, i'd have been shaking in my boots. Sounds like you dealt with it really well though, your parents should be very proud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Well just a reminder to be careful with doors windows etc in the hot weather. and not to leave bins next to fences/doors that could be used to climb in. I found tonight that something has been stolen from the back garden. There are people that drive round in vans in our area looking for s"Ooops, word censored!" metal and next door has warned us before. What is worrying is not what was taken but without going into details they had to climb in and it is not overlooked. The item was large and probably would have needed 2 people to carry and I was in the house at the back or garden apart from 10 mins to have a shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I also realised I let Yorkshire Water check something in my back garden so now wondering if it was bogus. Didn't check ID as they weren't in my house and I was locked inside. Check ID! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 If they are bone fide then they won't mind you checking the utility company to check! If you contact your local police station, then the crime prevention officer will come round to do a free home security assessment and cam make some excellent suggestions as to how to improve it. Please DO contact the police when this happens though, even if it's in retrospect and you've only just found out - you should have two numbers; 999 for emergencies and and other one for non-urgent calls - when they are working to catch the little darlings and buildign up a pattern of when and where they've been seen, it really helps to have all the reports they can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Sorry to hear that you have been unsettled by intruders. Last week OH and myself had been left to look after MIL's house for a couple of days. Only 5 minutes drive from our house so we were able to call in every evening and water the garden for her. When we arrived on Wednesday we couldn't open the lounge door I went upstairs to see if all was in place and nothing had been touched, but when OH managed to force his way into the lounge he found that a table had been wedged against the door and the lounge window had been smashed. Intruders had broken through from the back garden and destroyed a double glazed window . How no one heard the noise I don't know, but her house is not overlooked at the back and none of the neighbours knew anything had happened. The police said that the tactics are just as you described. They ring the doorbell....no answer. The go round the back calling out....no answer. The see that the property is empty and in they go Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 If they are bone fide then they won't mind you checking the utility company to check! If you contact your local police station, then the crime prevention officer will come round to do a free home security assessment and cam make some excellent suggestions as to how to improve it. Please DO contact the police when this happens though, even if it's in retrospect and you've only just found out - you should have two numbers; 999 for emergencies and and other one for non-urgent calls - when they are working to catch the little darlings and buildign up a pattern of when and where they've been seen, it really helps to have all the reports they can The water company says it is not one of their people and they would have had ID out ready when I opened the door. So added to the other police incident as believe this could have been the same people checking out my back garden. I've been assigned a police officer who should contact me within 2 days. He will also follow up with the water company. I do want a home security assessment but might see how it goes with the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 gosh - good thing you checked! Most burglaries are made via windows or doors that are left open, so this sort of technique is likely to pay dividends for burglars in the current weather conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 We had something similar a few years back when my mother was staying - she told me that a man had knocked on the front door asking whether it was her toddler he'd just seen running out of the back gate. Luckily she had the back door closed at the time and gave him short shrift. It would have been tough for any toddler to get out of our back gate as there are two gates with high latches to negotiate. My guess is that he was wanting her to leave the front door open while she went through to the back to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
