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Original poster

Police visiting my old address asking for me - why?

212 replies

DorsetandBeyond · 21/11/2023 14:26

My ex-neighbour has contacted me to let me know that the police have visited their house (and presumably my old address too) trying to locate me.

I haven't lived at the address for a decade. Ex-neighbour was asked by police if she could contact me (we are friends on social media, although only in very occasional contact) and request that I ring 101. I've rung 101, they asked for my details and current address, and confirmed that there was something on the system but couldn't say what it was. Just said that the relevant dept would be in touch with me as soon as possible.

I can't think what on earth it could be related to, especially where it would be linked to such an old address and not my current address. I've never been witness to a crime, to my knowledge.

So, what are the possible reasons for a police visit to your house? And I'm thinking particularly of a visit to a very old address like this, which suggests that it can't be something current.

Any ideas, knowledge from police officers or those in the know, or accounts of similar experiences would be very welcome. I'm worrying about one or two family members that I've lost touch with in the last few years, which is making me feel really anxious that it might be related to them, but I'm sure there must be other reasons.

OP posts:
Keepinmovin · 21/11/2023 14:28

The only time I was visited by police was because I was named next of kin to a relative who'd sadly passed away. Hopefully not that

ohtowinthelottery · 21/11/2023 14:32

I was visited by the police once. They said they'd had trouble tracking me down as I'd moved, so I'm guessing they'd been to my old address first. They'd found my car that had been stolen 3 years earlier and "I hadn't updated them that I'd moved" (2 years after the car disappeared and the insurance had paid out!).

TurquoiseThings · 21/11/2023 14:34

No experience but I can't imagine how stressful this must feel OP. I hope the relevant department gets in touch really soon, it must be such a worry.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Crime
TheresaCrowd · 21/11/2023 14:34

Fraud? Maybe someone's managed to take out credit cards/loans in your name?

PecanPeach · 21/11/2023 14:34

I knew someone who had this and it was financial crime related but honestly it could be anything.

SM4713 · 21/11/2023 14:36

No idea? Maybe an old handbag with cards/passport has been found?
Have you ever had things lost or stolen?

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 21/11/2023 14:38

Keepinmovin · 21/11/2023 14:28

The only time I was visited by police was because I was named next of kin to a relative who'd sadly passed away. Hopefully not that

This was my immediate thought tbh.

HollyFern1110 · 21/11/2023 14:39

With my SIL, she was the next of kin named in a distant relatives will, and her old address was in that will (I'm assuming she lived there when the will was made).

She was in infrequent contact with the relative by phone but wasn't aware of her having passed away. She had passed in fairly grim circumstances so not sure if that's why the police were involved.

Catapultaway · 21/11/2023 14:40

Could be anything, you would have thought if it was crime related or an emergency / death they would have asked your neighbour for the contact details and not request you get in touch.
Hope it's nothing serious, though imagine stressful waiting.

GodspeedJune · 21/11/2023 14:40

Are the family members people who would list you as next of kin? I really hope it isn’t to inform you of a bereavement, but would brace yourself.

I hope they get in touch soon so you aren’t left wondering like this.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 21/11/2023 14:42

That sounds very stressful, OP. Hope you won't have to wait too long to find out what it is about.

susanu67 · 21/11/2023 14:43

have you considered ringing the POLICE and asking them?

botheredand · 21/11/2023 14:45

susanu67 · 21/11/2023 14:43

have you considered ringing the POLICE and asking them?

Have you considered reading the part in OPs post where they said they rang 101 and are waiting to hear back from the police?

Mamato29192 · 21/11/2023 14:45

susanu67 · 21/11/2023 14:43

have you considered ringing the POLICE and asking them?

She did...

Original poster
DorsetandBeyond · 21/11/2023 14:46

Oh no, I hadn't thought of financial crime, that's a scary thought. Yes, I suppose identity theft/fraud could be one of the most likely reasons.

I can't imagine I would be named as the next of kin of anyone who I'm not in close contact with. Although possibly one of the more distant relatives I've slipped out of contact with wouldn't have any closer relatives anymore. I really hope it's not that.

@SM4713 I've been very lucky in my life - purse pickpocketed a couple of times about 20 years ago, bike stolen once, even longer ago. That's it.

OP posts:
eurochick · 21/11/2023 14:46

If you are going to be a smart arse at least be smart...

Thatladdo · 21/11/2023 14:49

You might have witnessed something and not realised its importance, something fraud related, an ill judged social media post or comment or someones made an alligation against you - could be quite a few things.

Original poster
DorsetandBeyond · 21/11/2023 14:49

@susanu67, yes, as I said in my original post - I followed the police request to ring 101 (for the police force in the area I used to live). I gave them my full details, as requested. The person was not able to give out any info on the phone "for reasons of confidentiality" and said I would need to wait for the relevant dept to call me. They wouldn't give me any info at all as to what it was related to, or a time frame in which I'll be contacted. Ringing them back in these circumstances seems pointless.

OP posts:
NCgoingdry · 21/11/2023 14:49

@DorsetandBeyond ex police here - if we've asked YOU to ring and not tried to get contact details directly from your former neighbour, it's really not that serious/life threatening.

Try not to stress - could be a number of things - witness to something, something posted online, fraud, lost property, welfare check. Potentially a death message but I doubt it.

GrimDamnFanjo · 21/11/2023 14:53

Did you have any contact with the police when you were at the previous address?

ChristmasShopping23 · 21/11/2023 14:54

Something to do with your car or parking?
I had a police officer turn up at my door out of the blue once who asked, Did you park in … road earlier today?
I said, Yes.
He said, You were parked with two wheels on the pavement.
I said, Oh was I? Sorry.
He said, No worries, I don’t care anyway. And off he went.

Original poster
DorsetandBeyond · 21/11/2023 14:55

NCgoingdry · 21/11/2023 14:49

@DorsetandBeyond ex police here - if we've asked YOU to ring and not tried to get contact details directly from your former neighbour, it's really not that serious/life threatening.

Try not to stress - could be a number of things - witness to something, something posted online, fraud, lost property, welfare check. Potentially a death message but I doubt it.

@NCgoingdry Thanks, your info about the difference between them asking me to ring and getting contact info directly from my former neighbour is reassuring. Hopefully it's one of the less serious possibilities then.

I have a relative who I've been worrying may be being coercively controlled and I may be being prevented from being in contact with. I've been trying to work out how to handle it and if/how best to report it - my instant thought and fear was that something has happened to them and I've been too late.

OP posts:
penjil · 21/11/2023 15:01

TheresaCrowd · 21/11/2023 14:34

Fraud? Maybe someone's managed to take out credit cards/loans in your name?

I don't think the police do track and trace and home visits for that. 🙄

The banks deal with it.

penjil · 21/11/2023 15:03

susanu67 · 21/11/2023 14:43

have you considered ringing the POLICE and asking them?

🙄

Have you tried reading the original post properly?

MintJulia · 21/11/2023 15:06

I had that. My old vehicle. that I'd sold a decade earlier, had been used in a robbery, and the new owner hadn't registered it. so the police wanted to know if the buyer had paid by cheque, and could be traced.