Police visiting my old address asking for me - why?

[DorsetandBeyond]

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.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the sensible, knowledgeable suggestions - but also the daft funny ones because I'm a bundle of anxiety about what it could be and I need some light relief!

Do you live alone, or have you always lived alone? Could it be in relation to someone else you were once close to, and the address is the only way they have of contacting you?

This is really useful to know, thanks @StiffyByngsDogBartholomew

Hope it's all OK

Dodgy dealings on the internet and they've got a list of IP addresses and browser history they're working through?

@AInightingale I don't live alone, and the fact they seem to have been wanting to locate just me, and not also my husband, rules out some of the possibilities/people I've been considering.

@DorsetandBeyond
When this mystery is solved, you absolutely have to report back to us with the outcome!
There are many of us who are totally invested in this matter, and absolutely have to know the ending..........please!

Yes

Possibly you've been bequeathed something from a long lost relative? x

Oh blimey, my mind would be in overdrive too so I hope they contact you soon

It wasn't such a long time frame as this but I once had similar when the police needed to track me down because I'd witnessed something at an old job. They needed a statement from me regarding it. My old job gave them the address they had on record for me but unbeknownst to them I'd moved since I left there.

Similar to this, my BIL had the police turn up because his old football coach (from 30 years earlier) had several accusations of child abuse from around that time and they wanted to check if he had been a victim.

They wouldn't discuss it over the phone either because of the sensitive nature.

@HeyNando @slashlover it has occurred to me it could be something like this, although thankfully no one springs to mind from my personal life experience.

I hope it's nothing really grim.

Bloody hell have a bit of sensitivity.
This is OP's life not a TV Drama. It's been suggested several times here it could be a death. Your post is insensitive and completely tactless.

West Yorkshire Police tried to contact my Mother's by then late brother c2002. By chance his widow, although long remarried, still lived at the same address and passed them on to my Mother.

He was the informant for the death of their Mother at Pontefract Hospital in 1972 and somebody had flagged suspicions about Harold Shipman who was on the same ward at the same time.

Unlikely to be fraud as that has been effectively decriminalised - though a former Police Commissioner in Thames Valley was keen, if you lived there.
Most likely a variation on a missing person or someone found that they're struggling to place - maybe a former neighbour whose passing went unnoticed.

Hopefully it's just a mi or thing. I did have the police searching for the former owner of my previous house's son, that was due to a fraud investigation and gambling debts which I had been the complainant about (he was using my address to take out loans etc 5 years after we bought the house!) police were lovely, he was tracked down thanks to my neighbours and he was convicted.

Genuine question, how would the police find me? I’m not known to them, I’m ex directory

Electoral register? That's a publicly available document.

Hope all is ok op

Most of us have a digital footprint these days.

well the OP has shared her problem here, so it's only natural that those of us who have offered suggestions / support etc would like to know the outcome. It's not so hard to understand.

I'm thinking it's either a death or someone from the past has reported you missing.

You don't have any old partners or friends who may have put you down as NOK?

I hope they don't keep you waiting too long.

I had the police leave me a card to call 101. I’m impressed you got a response. When I called the line was always so busy I couldn’t even leave a message. When I did get through about 2 weeks later they said the same. Couldn’t tell me anything on the phone. Eventually they came back and asked if I’d parked somewhere 6 months previously. I said maybe? Actually no idea if I was there that specific day. They said a car had been scratched and my car was on the dash cam as being parked sorta near - did I hit it? I said no, I was sure I’d have noticed if I had.
They said that’s fine, bye bye.

Didn’t hear any more.

Curiosity is normal, I dont think I ever said I didn't understand that, but subscribe to the thread if you want answers. Practically salivating over what could be bad news with reinforced bold fonts and a smiley face is frankly vile.

Nobody owes you, or anyone else an update. Posting advice here isn't transactional.