Who is walking past my house at 3am?

[dottydally]

So having exhausted all of our own theories, I wonder if MN has any good ideas.

About 6 weeks ago I bought a Ring doorbell. I'm expecting a baby in a few weeks and I'm already excited about knowing whether it's worth getting up to answer the door.

The strange bit, though, is that since having the doorbell I've noticed that someone keeps walking past my house at 3:25am. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac so it's not a through road. Theres a green out of the front of my house which separates the path running along the front of me/my neighbours and the roadway. The mystery walker is always wearing a high-vis jacket and only usually walks one way (into the dead end). It is always bang on 3:25am.

I am the last house on my row and I've already spoken to the house in the very end of the cul-de-sac and it's not them.

I wondered about the milkman but I know he comes about 5:15 as he often meets my other half.

It's not every day, but averages 3 times per week. Not always the same day.

The most recent time the camera caught them was 3:15am yesterday morning. They were 10 minutes early and this time walked both ways past my house, with a torch shining on the floor as they walked back. There is approx 20 seconds between them walking past the first and second time.

So, wise MN, any good ideas? Or am I going to have to camp out at my window from 3am tomorrow in the hope of seeing them?!

Jeez, I have a small camera set up to watch my gates after someone left them open and my dogs got o

Well, yes, that seems reasonable! So does putting a lock on your gates.

OP can and is watching the road beyond, thats different, and odd. It might be something to do with the angle of the camera being set, but its not really acceptable to be routinely filming acticity outside your own property, as thats taking security a bit far right?

I think it's normal for home security cameras to cover part of the street, judging from the amount of footage collected by police when tracking people in relation to nearby crime.

Hi vis is a very sensible precaution if your early shift commute involves walking along roads with no pavements at 3 in the morning when drivers won’t be looking out for pedestrians. I agree that some unsavoury characters also wear them as camouflage, but the punctuality speaks against that option.

Well, yes, that seems reasonable! So does putting a lock on your gates

OP can and is watching the road beyond, thats different, and odd
I use the lock on a night, it's not practical in the day. The camera covers the road and path between the gateposts, so 7feet? Nothing I can do about that though. It's got to face the gates from one side or another, so it will cover the road and path however I angle it. It's set low down and angled slightly up, so I see less than I could. In theory I could mount it in an upstairs room and see a lot more.

@PancakeAndKeith
Where on earth are your neighbours going at 3am...Very interesting, I'd have followed them by now

I'm thinking a ghost, especially as he's only passing one way

People do realise that the op isn’t filming her street all night and then watching the footage back?
With a Ring doorbell I believe it films every time someone walks within a certain distance of it. It then let’s you know. So in the morning the op is getting a message to say that someone triggered the doorbell, not rang it but came within range.

films every time someone walks within a certain distance of it. It then let’s you know.

Well that Ring doorbell sounds like a bloody nuisance if ita doing that every time someone walks along the pavement or passes along the road, surely it needs setting to within your own grounds, whatever distance that may be?

I'd chuck the thing in the bin if I lived on a busy street. That can't be right, or necessary, surely?

I'd chuck the thing in the bin if I lived on a busy street. That can't be right, or necessary, surely?

Well you wouldn’t buy one if your door was right on a busy street.

Why ever not? Isn't it simply so you can see who's at the door? Even when you're not in?

Pointless then really, as it's triggered by people nothing to do with you.

I have a ring doorbell, I do think people assume that it only records when you press it (note to my neighbours who knew I was away and came onto my property to do stuff to something on my side of the fence) but it records all movement AND sound.

Due to the angle of the doorbell mounting for the best view from the front door there can be overlap onto the pavement, not in my case as my door doesn't face the road. You are only in trouble if you are filming other people's front doors.

The Ring package we have stores the videos for a certain length of time. We have the ring doorbell and several ring cameras which just record movement, usually foxes or the occasional cat at night. You can also live view it so just turn on your camera. It is connected to your phone so you can view it anywhere. It is fantastic. I love it.

Me? I would have to set an alarm to see chappy coming down the street to see where he goes. I blame my Mum, she always said "I hate a mystery!"

AnyMinute it doesn't keep pinging your phone unless you set it to do that. It only notifies you when someone rings your doorbell. A godsend if you are out and you have a delivery as you can speak to and see the delivery person.

Mine pings a lot with just movement of the trees, I am only interested in the door rings.

Sounds a lot more hassle than it's worth for the sake of a delivery card every now and again!

@AnyMinuteNow it's a godsend if you live in a large house in the middle of nowhere.

Well,no different to any other camera then

This thread is about the 3am walker though so lets not derail about brands, as good or bad as they may be.

I've followed this from the beginning and the only way we'll all get to find out is if OP confronts him, or gets DH to. I wouldn't want to go out there at 3am!

Notice that the OP is conveniently ignoring any posts questioning the positioning of the camera.

Any update OP

@Aloe6 it’s just the range of the ring doorbell. You can adjust it in but if your door is closish to the path and road it will record
Must be legal or Ring wouldn’t be able to sell it like that

hes the Blair Witch

😆

If he was staking the place out you would have been robbed by now. It is someone who starts or ends work at that time. I guess you have no fences, so it is an easy short cut. If it is past your house and not in your garden, it is really none of your business and tf you do not live anywhere busy.

Is it the KLF?

Have never ever loved a post more @CasanovaFrankenstein

brilliance @CasanovaFrankenstein

I wonder whats behind the garden though, could he be cutting through to somewhere else beyond the garden? Wheelie bins help people get over fences and walls, or to get up to first floor windows, flat roofs etc so dont rule out your gate because it is blocked by bins