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Original poster

Worried about Elderly neighbours

33 replies

LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 02:25

Very odd thing just happened.

We live in a semi detached house with a window off the landing, the glazing has a pattern and about 6ft away is next doors house who also have a window.

DS had just woken us up and I was carrying him back to his bedroom with all the lights off when a bright torch light was shined from next doors house into our window and waved around. It couldn’t have been from the street outside as I saw the source of the light.

What would have been next doors landing light flashed in and off a few times aswell.

I turned our main light on and off and next door did the same. There was also what looked light an attempt to shine the torch again but less purposeful.

Our neighbours are very elderly. The only time I’ve seen the go outside is to use a trolley to be to walk to their washing line. They have grandchildren but so far as I know they’re only there when their parents are there and there is no car on the drive.

I feel like I should do something. I’ve knocked the door but nobody came, everything is locked and it’s a porch door so I can’t call through the letter box. I have no contact details for them or their family.

DH thought I was silly to knock the door. But I’m worried that they might have fallen over or something. WWYD?

OP posts:
AntiHop · 16/12/2021 02:30

Do you think there may be an intruder? Call the police.

PurpleFlower1983 · 16/12/2021 02:39

I would call the police.

Bellyups · 16/12/2021 02:42

I would actually call the police in this circumstance. Get them to so a welfare check

Original poster
LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 02:43

Why would an intruder ‘reply’ to my light though?

All very strange. Would you call 999 or 101?

OP posts:
stmw123 · 16/12/2021 02:46

101 I think

stmw123 · 16/12/2021 02:47

Call 101 and they can 'triage' the call and advise. I suppose that's kind of what they're there for?

RobertSmithsLipstick · 16/12/2021 02:48

It might seem that they were replying, but that could be just coincidence.

PurpleFlower1983 · 16/12/2021 02:56

101 but I think they will send someone round.

LovelyJubblyBubbly · 16/12/2021 03:00

Best to call 101 as others suggest. This is a classic example of wishing you had followed your gut instinct if something has happened. My first thought was a possible intruder but it could be something like a fall or a power outage.

alwayslearning789 · 16/12/2021 03:05

Have you called 101 OP.

Sounds like you should follow your gut instinct with this one.

Better to get it checked out if everything is okay.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 16/12/2021 03:07

It seems as if perhaps the they are signalling for help.
As said, far better safe than sorry.
I'd be tempted to go and knock again or shout through the letterbox.

Original poster
LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 03:07

On hold to 101.

Thanks all. I’ve been thinking that if someone was using a torch to walk up their stairs it would look like a light being shined at their window over to our house.

OP posts:
HeadPain · 16/12/2021 03:08

Yes I'd have to call someone after that, probably police not sure 101 or 999. Better to call and if it's nothing that's a good thing, not a waste of time.

Original poster
LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 03:11

An intruder didn’t cross my mind at the time. I’m starting to think I was a bit silly to go and knock given there could have been someone untoward in the house.

OP posts:
RobertSmithsLipstick · 16/12/2021 03:13

Well it's hard to think when something happens out of the blue.
You need to have a sounding board to bounce some thoughts at.

MildlyMiserable · 16/12/2021 03:16

Hoping everything is okay 🤞

BeetyAxe · 16/12/2021 03:17

Any news OP? I agree you have done the right thing by checking. I also assumed intruder to be honest.

eurochick · 16/12/2021 03:17

I also think they might have been signalling.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 16/12/2021 03:22

Now we all need to know!

Original poster
LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 03:23

Still on hold.

The only part of the signalling that doesn’t make sense is how they would have known we were moving about or even awake. We hadn’t turned on any lights (in an attempt to get baby back to sleep asap). But the light only happened as I was walking past. I’d have noticed otherwise as I fed DS with the door to the landing open.

OP posts:
RobertSmithsLipstick · 16/12/2021 03:29

I sound like a doom merchant, but maybe it was something they thought might be worth a try on the off chance someone might notice?
And on the off chance, you did?

HeadPain · 16/12/2021 03:32

I don't think 999 would be mad about you calling them about this even if it didn't turn out to be a 999 situation. How long has it been now since this happened? Does 101 tell you how long the wait is?

MrsSantaClausitback · 16/12/2021 03:33

Any luck with getting through? I thought intruder…

BeetyAxe · 16/12/2021 07:35

Hi,hope you got some sleep. Have you any update?

Original poster
LightsS0bright · 16/12/2021 09:11

I go through and they logged the incident but I don’t know if it’ll go any further than that with the police. I went to sleep after so I don’t know if they sent anyone out.

It was our bin day today so I’ll keep an eye on whether they’ve been able to move their bin back or not. They can normally move their own bin so if it hasn’t moved this time I might pester 101 again just incase they have fallen over or something.

OP posts: