Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call the police?

136 replies

Geordieminx · 10/12/2011 08:38

Ok so a random one.

There is a young asian guy that lives up the road from us (street at right angles to ours so not really 'neighbours')

I have only seen him once or twice, and this is only because is he is quite precious(?) with his car, and if he cant park it in his "space" outside of his house then he would park outside of ours, so he could see if from his window. It's only an 04 Kia type thing, but anyways.

All of the above isnt really relevant, so...

The car hasn't moved since the beginning of October, possibly longer. Not an inch. Havent seen the guy either. And of course the more I think about it the more I think it's all a bit weird? I know he lives alone, and now have visions of him dead in there being eaten by his cat or something, although to be fair I don't even think he has a cat.

So, do I ring the police, and tell them there is a car in our street belonging to a neighbour that hasn't moved for over 2 months, and risk sounding like a complete loon-- or do I mind my own business?

OP posts:
bagelmonkey · 10/12/2011 09:17

Please let us know what happens. I want to find out this all ends well.

lisad123 · 10/12/2011 09:19

Maybe she thought it might be relevant, as others now assume his not english and gone home for a holiday Confused

Tbh I think op is very nice to care about her neighbour, and agree she should call police.

lborolass · 10/12/2011 09:22

How thoughtful of you, I would probably take a walk along the row of houses and see if there are any indications of anything odd.

I think he's possibly away as a young lad is likely to have parents/friends who would come looking for him if hed been missing for many weeks.

TribbleTrappedinTinsel · 10/12/2011 09:29

Geordie Just ring the police, it's better to be safe than sorry and they can have a knock on his door to see if he's ok.

xPAULAx · 10/12/2011 09:45

I'm baffled these days that pointing out someone's race is seen as racist. People try waaaay too hard to be offended these days.

OP give the police the car reg number so they can tie it to an address and please keep us updated.

ExquisiteChristmasCake · 10/12/2011 09:58

"trips home"? There's the implication his home isn't "here". The race card comes into it in the sense that if he was white it wouldn't have been mentioned despite the fact his "home" could be Aus or France or SA.

SanTEEClaus · 10/12/2011 09:58

I am also baffled as to why just mentioning someone's race is racist. It's not. It's discriptive. If OP had said 'he has black hair' no one would bat an eye. Stop being the PC police and relax. You'll be much happier.

OP I'd ring the police and it's very nice of you to be concerned for him.

ShengdanRoad · 10/12/2011 10:06

"trips home"? There's the implication his home isn't "here".

Yes, because although a lot of Asians in Britain are British, there are likewise a lot who are not. OP isn't suggesting that they should "all go back where they came from", is she??

Bunbaker · 10/12/2011 10:10

I think you are massively overthinking this exquisite. The OP is merely using her powers of observation to come to some sort of conclusion as to the whereabouts of this young man.

If she went to the police they would want a description. Even if the young man is British born and bred he may still have family overseas.

Selks · 10/12/2011 10:19

Some of my Asian colleagues who were born in the UK will still talk about a trip 'home' - to India or Pakistan or wherever.
Some people on this thread are trying to find a problem where there isn't one...have they nothing better to do?

Eglu · 10/12/2011 10:21

Definitely overthinkingvthe racism exquisite. You are just proof of some people spending their lives being professionally offended.

I would knock on a couple of doors possibly. Is the car still taxed. If not then you could call the police about that as a starter.

jasper · 10/12/2011 10:21

selks, yes, same with my colleagues.

roundcornsilkvirgin · 10/12/2011 10:23

exquisite - my family are Irish and are settled here. If they visit Ireland they say that they are going 'home.' It is a common term for visiting the country of your heritage.
Nice of you to be concerned geordieminx Smile

WorraLiberty · 10/12/2011 10:24

Oh dear God, my Dad is Irish and has lived here 56 years

He still says he's "going home" when he books a flight to Ireland

What is it about people who are constantly looking for something to be offended by when it comes to an innocent mention of someone's race? Hmm

GypsyMoth · 10/12/2011 10:25

Oh mumsnet at it's best!!

Op...I would go looking for his house and ask a few neighbours which it is on the pretence you saw someone near his car last nights. You want to ask him to check it over or something, for damage, scratches....

I would spend twenty mins investigating myself before calling police. I have watched too much scooby doo I think!

WorraLiberty · 10/12/2011 10:25

Now wondering if I'm related to roundcorns Xmas Shock Xmas Grin

roundcornsilkvirgin · 10/12/2011 10:26
Grin
TidyDancer · 10/12/2011 10:30

Oh FFS, I knew this would attract people wanting to be offended as soon as I read the OP. Mentioning race is not racist, and clearly there is a reason to mention it on this thread.

OP, is there anyone in the street/area who you have seen speaking to him? Failing that, I would go down the route of knocking asking about a parcel delivery (sorry, can't find the post where that was suggested, I know I read it though!). If that proves fruitless, I would then call the police non-emergency number.

I think it's very sweet you are so caring about your neighbour. I hope all works out okay.

xPAULAx · 10/12/2011 10:31

''Professionally offended''

And THAT is my phrase of the week!

CrackerHatsandStetsonsAreCool · 10/12/2011 10:32

But exquisite, if he was a white Aussie, she'd say "There is a young aussie guy that lives up the road from us..."

Am also Confused about why mentioning that would be racist.

Birdsgottafly · 10/12/2011 10:32

As others have said phoning the police is a possibility. I would ask about, if you are concerned for your neighbours, it would be useful for you to know who lives where.

But check that the car has an upto date tax disc on it. I know of a few people who have recently had to stop using their cars because they cannot afford to run them, for now.

TidyDancer · 10/12/2011 10:40

That's a good point Birds. OP, is there anything unusual about the car now? Some people don't realise (no idea how, but go figure!) that when a car is SORN, it can't be left on the street. Maybe he's done that? It doesn't explain why you haven't seen him at all, but it would account for lack of car activity.

noir · 10/12/2011 10:46

Actually I think the fact he's Asian might be relevant given the time of year, has he gone on a Hajj pilgrimage? Lots of my British Asian clients go on extended trips abroad at this time of year.

Letz · 10/12/2011 10:47

Oh exquisite, shut up and go start your own race thread and stop ruining this one. Cheers.

PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas · 10/12/2011 10:48

ask his neighbour, i did this when i lived in a flat and saw the old lady who lived on the same floor as me has lots of mail and milk outside her door, it turned out she had gone away and forgotten to cancel her milk. she came round when she got home to say thankyou for noticing and enquiring, i would have phoned the police if the neighbours had not have known.