To call the police about creepy car on street

[sianais]

Hi all,

Hoping there's someone up who can make me feel a little better. Basically for the last few nights a black Mercedes has been pulling up on the street with a direct view into my upstairs window (full length, curtains always open). Always after midnight. It sits there for around an hour sometimes more, sidelights on and no interior lights (occupants not even having phone screens on which light their faces...) but definitely people inside.

When this happened a few nights ago I saw the reflection of something pointed at my house as a car drove past - looks like a camera lens or similar. I called the police, they sent someone to drive by but they left without speaking to the car. 20 minutes ish later someone left the car, walked across the car park behind my house to another street. The car pulled off a little later.

I assumed it was a couples liaison or something and that I was imagining the lens reflection. It's been here for the last couple nights but I ignored it. Tonight I saw the reflection of something again and watched the drivers side occupant scratch their face clearly holding something and body positioned towards my house. Called police again and shut my curtains. Around 5 minutes later the car pulled away.

Am I being paranoid, or am I being watched?! Sitting here telling myself both things alternately. I live alone with my 3 year old daughter for context.

[MurielTheSheepDog]

Oh, this sounds creepy. Sorry op. Not really got any advice but hopefully someone will be along soon to help.

[RonniePickering]

Hard to tell for sure, but I’d have had my curtains shut after the first time of wondering if someone was parked up, staring in.

[Onynx]

Trying to be rational - is there somebody who might have an interest in watching you? An ex or estranged family member? Somebody with a crush on you? Can you get the reg of the car and check who the owner is?

[theworldistoosmall]

Start closing your curtains at night?
To be able to see into a moving car at night, and determine an object is a camera lens you must have exceptional eyesight.

Sorry but you are being paranoid.

[sianais]

World, the car isn't moving, it's been stopped on the street just outside my house. If it was moving obviously I'd not have been able to see! As I said earlier I may have been mistaken, I saw a reflection from passing car headlights off something held at eye level which says to me a camera or similar.

Onynx - my dad and I have no contact but he definitely wouldn't drive a car this nice!! Ex doesn't drive. I've got the car reg, but can only find that it's taxed and insured on DVLA (which is nice at least it's not illegal!)

Ronnie, I thought I was being paranoid and I like to see the stars at night hence leaving them open - will definitely be keeping them closed for the forseeable though.

Muriel - thanks. It's a bit disconcerting, my rational brain is saying it's definitely nothing but as we all know, it hits a certain time of night and rational brain leaves in favour of paranoia!

[ilovesooty]

Another vote for closing your curtains.

[Zfactorstar]

Could be a private investigator for someone on your street.

[sianais]

Xfactorstar - yes this is true. At the risk of sounding like a curtain twitcher, I got back from work a couple months ago to find police outside the house opposite from me and a guy packing boxes into his car(previously regularly there, never seen it again since!). Perhaps related to that. If so, it makes me feel a little better.

[Anniebonannie]

Maybe it's binoculars the person in the car is using.

[LoveAGoodChat]

I would call the police again and tell them their is a suspicious car hanging around your house, you have suspicions you are being watched and possibly fed, even if they do nothing , it will be on record...op it might be wise to get a security camera or even have a camera inside your house filming so if they do try to do anything to you or your house at least you have video footage of the car and people ...that sounds so worrying...do you have a few big stocky male friends or relatives who could go earlier to your house and then when the car pulls up they could walk out as a group and ask them what they are doing there each day and to move on ?

[LoveAGoodChat]

*filmed...not fed...autocorrect

[sianais]

LoveAGoodChat, I called them again tonight and said just this, so that it's on record. I might invest in a security camera that's not a bad idea. As you say at least then if something happens I have footage.

I need new friends- only one particularly big or stocky! I have some friends coming over on Saturday so if the car appears I might ask him to go. Along with other (although not quite so burly!) friends of course

[sianais]

Love, if I was being fed I wouldn't be quite as paranoid - I love a good cake and if they added cake to the deal...

[Time40]

I'd go out there with my partner, and we'd ask them what they were doing - it would be interesting to see what they said.

[Redglitter]

Did you tell the Police you have the car reg no?

[LoveAGoodChat]

Put something in front of your front and back doors (something non breakable but will make a noise if knocked over so that it will wake you incase they try and break in...so it gives you time to grab your daughter and phone and lock yourself in the bathroom ,)...

[LoveAGoodChat]

Love, if I was being fed I wouldn't be quite as paranoid - I love a good cake and if they added cake to the deal... grin

Lol wouldn't it be nice if midnight cake delivery service actually existed

[sianais]

Time40, no partner or I definitely would!

Redglitter, yes and I gave it them so that's on record too luckily.

Love, I live in a townhouse (3 floors) and sleep like the dead so not sure it would wake me up! Time to nag my landlord about a burglar alarm maybe.

[SlimGin]

Did the police give you any advice when you last called?
Hopefully it's undercover police staking out your neighbour! Very unnerving though

[LoveAGoodChat]

What about your friends as a group including the stocky one coming over for a coffee, staying until the car appears and then them all going out and making it clear that while the car has been watching you, you all have been watching it, and they could ask them what they think they are doing hanging around outside your house and that the police have been notified and given their registration....it might scare them away permanently if they know the police are involved

[Redglitter]

Instead of getting stocky friends over you'd be better phoning the Police either again just now or if they come back & explain how nervous this is making you. They can check the car out & either reassure you or speak to the owner. Slightly less dramatic but probably more effective

[Nightwatch999]

It could actually be an undercover Police Car doing surveillance, or on the look out for Burglars. Not uncommon for them to do this.

[NarcolepticOuchMouse]

I'd start taking pictures and videos of it and what it's up to. Whatever it's doing doesn't sound benign.

[Shinesweetfreedom]

Have you spoken to other neighbours to see if they have noticed.

[LoveAGoodChat]

Op keep records of when it arrives and leaves...each day to see if there is a pattern...is there any houses facing yours it could be watching?..

I don't want to scare you but in our local news for my town there was a couple of cars hanging around suspiciously outside houses (going back each day) and then soon after those houses got robbed, it turned out they were burglars sizing up their next job...

Now as soon as the police here get a dodgy car hanging around phonecall they put it on their social media and on our local website (even release the number plate too)..so that if anybody spots it hanging around in their area they can let police know ...I hope yours turns out to be innocent and nothing bad, please keep us updated...you are not alone, you have mumsnetters here to virtually keep you company