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AIBU?

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Original poster

To call the police about a note put through my door tonight

55 replies

Anenome · 16/09/2010 20:03

I am freaked out because this evening, I at around 6.30pm I saw a screwed up piece of notepaper on my doormat. Because I had swept and tidied the hall I know it was not there ten minutes prior to that. I looked at it and got a bad feeling Confused because it is weird ramblings....which to my untrained eye appear to be the thoughts/fears of someone with manic depression or paranoia...my close cousin was dagnosed with both some years ago and I was with her a lot in the time she spiralled down.

Here's what the note says.

HELP!" Dr Atttisfield Cambridge 2 Dr Paul Grant University f Sandiego California "Condence (sic) Matter Physics" Involved in something similar to 97 incident very little chance of me see c6oh Finished. "Apologize" please send Away From Chester Tell people the truth

Now...this is weird to me. The words HeLP APOLOGZE and AWAY are highlighted and certain words are written in red whilst others are in black.

I feel scared because my husband is working abroad and I am alone with 2 small kids.

This WOULD happend just as night is drawing in! I live in a cul-de-sac...it's impossible to just wander to my house by accident...I am scared incase some nutter has been watching me or something...what do I do??

I googled C6oh and it IS somethng to do with manic depression...some chemical their brains are short of...I live in chester by the way ...so it must be a local person.

SHould I call the cops or not?

OP posts:
nomedoit · 16/09/2010 20:33

Why is everyone being so 'mustn't make a fuss' about the phone number? Why does she have to call the lcoal number? She's a woman on her own and she's got a legitimate cause for concern. It's actually the police job to act in this type of situation.

HalfTermHero · 16/09/2010 20:45

Well done for seeking help, op. If you feel scared and threatened in your own home then you have every right to call the police and request advice and assistance.

nomedoit · 16/09/2010 20:47

So glad they are on their way!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 16/09/2010 20:58

Glad to hear they are sending someone round they'll probably look to see if they can find any signs of anyone being on your property.
Wonder if your neighbours have had anything similar?

Ripeberry · 16/09/2010 21:03

Let us know what they say.

singarainbow · 16/09/2010 21:09

just a thought...but the police may view it as a coded message for some incident alert or something. I would have called the police too, the worst thing is that it is just ramblings of someone who doesn't know any better.

Original poster
Anenome · 16/09/2010 21:10

Called them and they sent 2 coppers round. The guy spent a lot of time reading it and tryin to make some sense out of it...and came to the conclusion that it is probably "misdirected"...IE written by a mentally trobled person and put through the wrong letterbox.

OR...some kid has found it and shoved it through a letterbox to freak someone (me) out.

He asked me all about my neighbours and colleagues...no weirdo's to report except 1 middle aged man down the road who stares at me....the officer said if I get another it's probaby a stalker Shock...because someone who had really bad intentions would never post a note full of fingerprints to advertise their guilt...even crazies make an effort to cover up apparently!

So all in all I feel a lot better..obviously it's weird...but hey...so am I! Grin thanks all!

OP posts:
bigfootbeliever · 16/09/2010 21:15

It is weird isnt it?

Hope you're OK now.

HalfTermHero · 16/09/2010 21:16

Glad to hear you are feeling happier Smile

Original poster
Anenome · 16/09/2010 21:20

Thanks guys...he felt that it read like aa note written for someone specifically...not a veiled threat or anything...so hey-ho..at worst I have a stalker...and they're all the rage in Hollywood! Plus...on the upside we are joining DH in Australia around December...so I would love to see a stalker with the tenacity to stalk me to the other side of the world!

OP posts:
funkychunkymunky · 16/09/2010 23:25

Glad that it's sorted. If you do get another then pick it up with tweezers and put it in a clear plastic bag so it can be NIN tested (fingerprinting for paper). Just in case it is about something specific.

Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 00:04

Yes...will do! The policeman told me to chuck this one...I burnt it!

He said it's not worth anything as we all touched it!

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 17/09/2010 01:12

Very weird!! I'm glad you called the police!

Have you name changed recently? Are you who I think you are? DH flew to Aus some what unexpectedly?

gtamom · 17/09/2010 01:36

Glad the police came around, and you feel reassured. If the person drops off any other notes to anyone else, hopefully they will report them as well. Just to find the poor soul who wrote it. My friends adult step child is schizophrenic and write long garbled letters to them sometimes, when off medications and on the streets.

I liked the idea someone had about calling local hospital or mental health people, just in case they can help? Did you happen to mention that idea to the police officer?

gtamom · 17/09/2010 01:55

Oh look, I googled Dr Paul grant,
webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:zDHrOzq8R9kJ:www.med.upenn.edu/suicide/postdoc.html+Dr+Paul+Grant+University+Sandiego+California&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

Paul Grant, Ph.D.

The goal of my research efforts is to improve functioning and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. I am, therefore, interested in describing the experience of affected individuals in terms of cognitive products and processes that might be amenable to treatment intervention. Defeatist and negativistic beliefs, for example, soak up a significant portion of the variance in the commonly observed association between cognitive impairment and functional outcome in schizophrenia. I am currently investigating the hypothesis that change in these beliefs and attitudes will produce corresponding improvement in negative symptoms, functioning and quality of life. Most generally, I am interested to extend the scope and efficacy of cognitive behavioral interventions for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

gtamom · 17/09/2010 02:29

Oh, you burned it!
So that means you are not as a curious person as I! [grin}

Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 08:58

Thanks GTAMOM...I liked the iea of calling mental health services too..so I did mention it..the policeman laughed and said "If we looked in one area alone for those with mental health issues we would be looking at half the population!"

He said that although it LOOKS like it was written by sommeone with manic depression or similar...there are too many forms of mental illness to be able to suspect one person.

Fancy you finding that about the doctor! Hmmm....DH didn't fly to Oz unexpectedly....he has been flitting to and fro there for a year now for work.
And no...I have my own name still!

He's due back quite soon.

I'm trying not to worry as I have a full on imagintion and last night I was imagining every bump was "him" coming to get me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 12:17

Little update...the station just called me to say they have had 4 more notes reported this morning...apparently people feel they were posted last night but only found them ths morning.

One is in my street and others in surrounding streets. The content was similar or the same....it's made the police feel that further investigation is needed...which is good as I hate to think of some poor soul wandering around having an awful time with themselves Sad

Hope they find the person and help them...I also feel MUCH better nowing it was random and I was not the only one!

OP posts:
booyhoo · 17/09/2010 12:42

oh goodness, well, i am glad tehy are now investigating and the person will get help hopefully. thank goodness it wasn't anything personal to you though.

gtamom · 18/09/2010 09:42

Oh good, it really does sound random. Did you let your neighbors know, so they can be on the look out for anyone acting in a strange manner?

Original poster
Anenome · 18/09/2010 09:54

Yes booyhoo and gtamom, it's a relief....the policeman who let me know about the other notes said they will let me know what they find if anything.

I feel soooo much happier but wont tell the neighbours...a lot of them are elderly and would panic I think. Thanks for being there nd listening to my fears!

OP posts:
TheVeryLazyLadybird · 18/09/2010 10:04

Crikey!
DH is away so its just me and DS at the moment and if that had happened to me I would have been straight on the phone to the police too!

Sounds like a totally mixed up, confused, scared cry for help doesn't it? Sad

Hope the police manage to find some answers.

Don't know if I could have destroyed the note though, I'd have had to keep it just to prove to myself I didnt imagine it! lol

Original poster
Anenome · 18/09/2010 10:51

TheVeryLazyLadybird it is sad isn't it? Too many people fall through the cracks I think...I had to destroy the note as tbh it felt yucky and weird to have it in my home...sort of contaminated.

Since the police showed no interest in keeping it Hmm I decided it was of no use except as a remnider that a weird person had been on my doorstep!

At least they're trying to find out who it was! I am assuming the person was havng an "episode" due to medicatioon trouble...and hoping they're being looked after. Very sad Sad

OP posts:
bumder · 18/09/2010 14:56

Hi Anenome. Is it Chester UK you are talking about cos I live there? Where abouts are you - I'm in Blacon. That would have scared the hell out of me too. Glad the police are looking into it.

TheVeryLazyLadybird · 19/09/2010 19:20

It is sad yes Sad

I hope the police can do something to help.

Can understand why you wanted to get rid of it though.