Have you ever reported a suspicious vehicle, or persons acting suspiciously, to the police ?

[WildRosie]

I've had one of each. Firstly, about five years ago, I got up at about 8 o'clock one morning and noticed a Transit-style van parked on the layby outside with what looked like two or three people sitting in the front. So far, so normal. Then I noticed the new ladders on the van's roof rack, as if it were a tradesman's van. The van was as clean as a whistle, in excellent shape so a bit too smart-looking. Then I noticed it had windows along the side, not just tinted but blacked-out. It was still there when I went out for the morning and I thought nothing more of it. When it was still there when I got home again at about 1pm I thought it was just a bit too odd for comfort so I sneaked out to get the registration (occupants still inside) and phoned the non-emergency police number from back inside. The operator was brilliant, very calm and clear and asked a fair few questions. She said they would be back in touch whatever the situation turned out to be. About five minutes later, the same police operator phoned back to assure me there was nothing to worry about but she wouldn't tell me why the van was there or what else was going on. I think I must have stumbled on to something though because, just a few minutes later, the van was driven away. Obviously a surveillance vehicle of some sort. If I spoiled Operation Britannica for MI6 or Special Branch, I am truly sorry ! But they were just standing out a little too much.

Secondly, when I was still at the family home, one dark night I noticed a youth skulking around outside the next-door neighbour's house. I didn't recognise him (dark night didn't help) and guessed he was up to no good so I dialled 999 straight away. In the meantime I went downstairs where my M&D were watching television, turned the sound down and told them the situation in hushed tones. Police turned up in a matter of minutes with an incredibly bright flashlight and shone it around next door's driveway and front garden. No sign of our hero by this time. The neighbours came to the door and the constable told them what was going on. Anyways, it turns out the youth in question was their grandson who was staying with them at the time. Probably lost his key. They were very grateful for my vigilance nevertheless but their grandson was probably less impressed! Great police response.

After the first-mentioned incident, I did wonder if the likes of Border Force, MI5 and Special Branch were obliged to inform the Chief Constable if they were carrying out operations on their patch or even if permission was required. Somebody fairly high up must have instructed my 'targets' to call it a day.

I’d imagine number one was possibly private investigators?
I’ve only once called the police when a car pulled up outside the pub I was leaving and dropped a comatose/dead looking man on the road. Another car pulled up and a heated argument erupted.
Never got to find out what happened as I was rushing for a train to London

999 is for emergencies only.

Calling 999 because a young person is minding their own business standing on a street is insane levels of busybodiness.

Do you often suffer from such extreme anxiety, OP?

No froggy. I assume you're referring to my second paragraph. He wasn't on the street, he was ostensibly skulking around my neighbour's house and grounds during the hours of darkness. Not on a public road but private property. I didn't know who he was or what he was up to so I used my judgement and let the police decide if it was worth their while. It was. Their call.

The thing that struck me about the (surveillance) van was how quickly it departed after I'd reported it. I'm not sure private investigators would have that level of contact with any police force.

I reported some dodgy types breaking into the back of a warehouse late one evening. The operator wanted to know the postcode. I suggested they consult a map, since I'd given them both the name of the road and a description of the location, but no - without the postcode they didn't want to know.

Waste of my bloody time in reporting it.

I appreciate I didn't make it clear in my original post that the youth-next-door wasn't on the street but within the grounds of the house.

Yep, once to 999 when I was about 15 and could see a burglary in progress & the other time to 111 (?) as man was clearly scouting houses.

The police in my area would not be remotely interested in anything like that. I couldn't even get someone to speak to me when I was the victim of an attempted carjacking.

I would only ring them if I witnessed a violent assault or a murder.

I saw a dodgy looking van waiting for a guy who was walking down our road the other week m. I was sure they were scouting out to plan burglary. But I didn't phone anyone as I felt instance. I remembered the Reg too for days.

Yes I reported a man next to a major A road into London with a gun dressed in camo in a field as dh and myself was driving past. They called me back a hour later saying they was just sending someone out.

In hindsight he looked like he was doing paintball but the field had glasshouses and poly tunnels in it. It was like a semi automatic gun. He was holding it like a armed police officer would.

I felt like a bit of a tit really. I haven't reported any weird things since.

Yeah. Neighbours arguing. Domestic violence

Shit sorry - re read thread title.

Yes reported people dealing drugs in a car park.

Yes I’ve reported a couple arguing in the street as the man was using threatening language towards the woman.

Someone shouting ‘help help help’ TWICE, two different houses etc.

I've reported a flasher. He was hanging round tge hospital at 0630am perfect time for nurses going to work. Interview with the police was awful. I was in early 20s police man early 20s and we were discussing a stranger's anatomy!! Never caught the guy.

I once reported someone I saw climbing in a window down the street.

It turned out he was the decorator.

There had been a couple of break-ins in our area in recent weeks. One night about 6.30pm I was heading out and noticed a group of about 5 kids at the door of a house 5 doors up. They were huddled round it and looked suspicious, they looked to the road as I drove past, and I gave them a stare as I drove out. Didn't think much of it straight away but a couple of minutes later I thought 'hang on there aren't kids living at that house, so why were they all crowded by the door (they have side doors down the driveway). So I rang the police with full descriptions, they found them equipped to burgle just round the corner, and the house 5 doors up had a fair bit of damage to the door and frame (they'd not got in but had been disturbed) .

All the time but I live in north London. Examples include half naked man in the thunderstorm trying to climb someone’s porch, a car that drove up and down my road 5 times photographing the houses with a zoom lens, once a group of kids throwing fireworks at buses and pedestrians - police didn’t even come and someone later died, loads of fights in my old road - one was 5 women beating up a man in the front garden with saucepans and things. Plenty of gang related stuff going on on the main road.

polkadotpjs I wish I had reported my suspicions like that when we had several days of people sitting out on front walls on the phone for long periods. I thought it was weird but not worth calling the police. I was burgled on the Friday immediately after I left for the school run, they’d been watching me after all

This is years ago but my elderly neighbour knocked on my door one night as someone random had parked outside her house and appeared to be committing suicide - engine running with hose pipe from exhaust. She had called the police but they had told her they were very busy at the moment and could she talk to the person in the car. Being very elderly she didn’t want to but luckily the they changed their mind and drove off.

I reported a man beating a woman at the bus stop on a Friday afternoon. It was horrible. I have reported a flat on our estate that was being used as a crack house - nothing was done for months. Luckily, I was at the window and saw 2 fellas get out of a car with guns and called 999. These men were do brazen! It was daylight (prob about 4 in the afternoon) and they didn't give a shit who saw them. They were long gone by the time the police turned up (though in fairness they were pretty quick and turned up ready for action) . It was also the end of business for that particular flat as it was under surveillance for weeks after.

Am so glad we were able to move out of there.

Reported some dodgy looking guy who was off his head sitting outside a school. He was sitting down in the middle of the path opposite the school, really unkept and swaying on the floor. So I reported his. Never found out what happened.

I've also reported my dad and he got arrested.