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.

I do hope it's resolved quickly, I would feel spooked too

@Alwaysgiraffe Oh for goodness sake, that's ridiculous! I'll be annoyed (and also relieved) if it's something as trivial as this.

Although the fact I haven't lived there for 10 years makes me think it can't be parking related or related to the car I currently own.

Also if it was car related they'd have got your details from the DVLA, I assume you have changed your address with them?

My FIL had similar - his pickup truck number plates had been cloned and used for serious crime in Northern Ireland. They were double checking who he’d sold it to.

Mine was a super simple car got scratched in a car park, were you there/was it you thing and they wouldn’t say on the phone.
There wasn’t even video or a photo. Just a dash cam image of my car parked a few bays away.
Them not explaining on the phone is normal and doesn’t mean it’s serious.

You're very bossy. OP will update if she wants, probably doesn't need your help.

I had the police turn up at my door recently.

An old teacher at my school is being investigated for grooming and sexual abuse. They wanted to know if I'd had any experience with him.

It could be investigative, something historic that you've been adjacent to but unknowing of.

Bossy? If thats what pointing out you're a bunch of ghouls salivating over someone else's life makes me then bring it on.

OP doesn't need my help. But then she also doesn't need you lot rubbing your hands on your thighs with excitement either.
Oh, and the poster who I took issue with originally probably didn't need your help either, but you chimed in 😉

This happened to my Aunty too. The police informed her of the death of a cousin she hadn't seen for 20 years but apparently she was listed by her cousin as her Next of Kin. My Aunty had to deal with her funeral. Thankfully the cousin had enough money in her bank account to pay for it. Hopefully it won't be anything like that. Strange when you rang they wouldn't just tell you.

Could you perhaps pop down do the local police station? Couldn't the officers who went to your ex neighbour have left their details? Hope it's nothing too serious.

My DD lost her tube pass etc. it was found a couple of years later during a search of a suspect’s home in relation to something else. They basically wanted to know if it had been nicked or just found as he claimed.

With distant relatives and friends who may have been elderly or reclusive, an old address, found by police or social services in a book of contacts when they are very ill or have died, does seem a distinct possibility.

The only time the police have ever turned up at my door was when my lodger rang 999.

She was volunteering at a marathon, had rung 999 because someone had become ill, but had got cut off, I think before even speaking to anyone.

They traced the registered address of her phone number and came knocking.

@DeeKitch Why would the police be involved with that ?

I had the police rock up at my door once from something years before. A police officer had had sex with a friend of mine when we were at school and she’d reported it years later. My name had been given as someone who she’d confided in at the time. So to back her story up I guess. He got away with it anyway.

I hope your relative who you believe to be in a coercive situation is safe and that the news is not about them.

I would think it's nothing as serious as that.

Decades ago the police called to my house - we had just moved in and had no phone yet installed and of course no mobiles then - to let me know my grandmother had died.

But ..... This is a public forum. People come on here to invite comments on their queries, issues, problems they've posted.The WHOLE POINT is to 'chime in' . The OPs post is intriguing and people want to know the outcome.

In terms of identity theft, you don’t necessarily need to have lost any ID. Could be from an online website leak or something.
When I had my identity stolen I used checkmyfile to keep track of everything - this will include all credit applications as well as accounts/credit cards. They offer a month free trial so if it does turn out to be fraud related could be worth signing up to have a look. But, bear in mind that likely the accounts will be registered to your old address (as that’s where the police went), but checkmyfile does include previous addresses.
I hope for your sake it’s not identity theft - it’s a fucking nightmare to get on top off, I lost hours and hours of my life cancelling accounts.
Also, if it is identity theft. Put a password on your credit file ASAP (checkmyfile will do this for you, or you can write to the different credit agencies individually). It’ll make it more complicated for you to take out credit in the future, so don’t do it unless you’re sure, but will stop them from making any new accounts. X

you: The WHOLE POINT is to 'chime in'

Also You:* *OP will update if she wants, probably doesn't need your help.

Make your mind up. 😂

Read a book maybe if you crave intrigue.

Could it be that you have been named as a witness to something in the past by a neighbour?

Someone reports a crime like being abused as a child, but now they are an adult. They say ‘I think that Suzie at number 12 saw something,’ but they don’t know your more than Suzie.

I hope you find out what it is soon, it's frustrating as whenever I tried to contact a police officer who was dealing with my case, they were either on nights or an off day.

I work in the criminal justice system and the first thing that occurred to me is, is your address up to date at DVLA. You wouldn't believe the number of people who don't update it and when they speed end up with fines they don't know about.

There is no time limit on prosecuting indictable offences. So yes, if the offence was serious enough that it could be tried in a crown court.

I wonder why Police systems are so out of date that they don't have your new address after a decade? No help to you but I'm just curious.

More than a decade ago a relative died and I was named executor of her will. One of the beneficiaries had moved to Australia and couldn't be traced. I contacted the local police in the town where I had a last-known address for him and they very kindly helped in the search for him including speaking to a former girlfriend of his and his neighbours. Perhaps a long-lost relative in Australia has left you money in a will. Unfortunately we have never managed to trace him.