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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Bit weird or not?

804 replies

Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 18:10

I'm not sure if I'm being a bit ridiculous so could do with some advice or a good talking too!

Bit of background needed but this may be quite long, sorry Blush

Where I live it is quite rural. I have a dog I walk morning and night around the same time each day but not same time on the dot. I sometimes walk on my own (with dog) sometimes with someone else (more often than not in the evenings)

There are two walks both rural with no street lights and nothing other than the odd tractor, walker, horse rider etc etc. Just to add neither of these walks lead anywhere other than one to a house that then branches off to a longer walk.

So the track I went down today has a house at the top, one a bit further down then nothing till the big house at the end where it branches off.

The middle house (although closer to top of track than middle) goes garden, house, gateway, garden, shed, fence, big tree with the track running along side.

So that's the background now what happened.

I have walked past the middle house, down to big house and am on my way back. I see someone coming and get dog back on lead. The person notices me and moves quickly from right hand side of track to under the big tree (just off left hand side of track) just behind shed of house. Person lights a fag and turns around facing tree.

I find this bit odd but carry on as I get next to him he is still just off track under tree and facing the actual tree. I'm getting a bit on edge as this is clearly a bit strange behaviour.

I say good evening (admittedly I might have sounded a bit nervous) the person turns round while lifting their hood up so I cannot see their face.

I walk past quite briskly! (I'm not sure if IABU but something about the person did frighten me)

As I get nearer the middle house gates I see they are not in as car is not on drive (there is a mid 30's woman on her own living there) I stop and turn to look thinking I wouldn't actually hear if the person ran up behind me. They are still under tree looking straight ahead (not at me, but across the track into side with hedge)

I carry on and as I get to the next house I look again but can't see him and I was not about to walk back and see if he was still there.

Now the whole behaviour of this person was off. They very clearly did not want me to see their face. They were either an incredibly burly woman or a man, fairly thickset about 6ft obviously in black and just quite terrifying.

I am home alone tonight and just a bit worried I suppose that he was either waiting for a person walking (maybe not with good intentions!) or to break into the middle house? Or the thought did cross my mind if was he waiting for my but chicken'd out.

The woman that lived on her own is I suppose fairly vulnerable as her house is a bit away from any others and she is on her own (the house is quite large and obviously worth a fair bit of money so you would presume there could be antiques etc)

This all happened about an hour ago now so it was dark.

I'm not sure if I'm just being silly or should o go and check if he is still there? Phone someone? Or just ignore it all.

Writing it all down makes me think I am over reacting and the bloke maybe just wanted a walk but it really didn't feel like that at the time. His behaviour seemed odd and his body language was quite menacing tbh.

What do the collective of MN think?

Sorry it was so long!

OP posts:
ZoopDragon · 23/12/2017 19:54

How close together are the doors? Is it possible only one person entered and the other doors had something thrown at them?

Trafficjammadness · 23/12/2017 19:56

Any news from the police, they seem to be stepping up their harassment. I don't think I would be brave enough go stay there tonight is there any friends or family you can stay with for a peaceful night

RolfNotRudolf · 23/12/2017 19:57

Not that I'm suggesting that makes their actions justifiable, but it all sounds like a calculated attempt to scare you rather than to steal your belongings, and if that is what is going on suggests they have a "reason" in their own twisted minds and its personal against you
Flowers

muttmad · 23/12/2017 20:00

Actually the buyer idea isn't as daft as it sounds, they could be planning on lowering their offer last minute and think that you're more likely to accept if you can't wait to get out? A bit extreme but who knows what goes through some people's minds!

DesertSky · 23/12/2017 20:03

Oh OP it’s getting ridiculous isn’t it. All I can think is this is a bunch of teenagers messing around. Do you know if there young lads known for getting into trouble in the village? Can you install CCTV? Or park a bit down the road in an inconspicuous friend’s car and take watch tomorrow? xx

Skinandbones · 23/12/2017 20:05

I know at the moment you don't know the who or why, if it's not you that they are actually targeting, are you going to have a word with the new buyer.
If you did and they pulled out who would buy it. Sorry too many mystery books.

BringMeTea · 23/12/2017 20:08

I think RitaMills is on the right track. Bored locals. You’ve said yourself there’s not much entertainment available locally and people are a bit weird and unfriendly. Roll on the move eh? Try not to worry too much.

GardenGeek · 23/12/2017 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kookietoo · 23/12/2017 20:19

Bloody hell Foxy, this is really horrible & im sorry you’re being frightened like this. Didn’t someone further up the thread say you can use an app on your phone to film? Maybe set a few of the phones up to film in windows tonight and definitely invest in CCTV ASAP. Are the police coming out? Hope you don’t get any more disturbances tonight Flowers

DeStijl · 23/12/2017 20:28

Sad this is really upsetting. It's like a real life horror film. I hope you can get to the bottom of this quickly.

Littlehenrylee · 23/12/2017 20:31

I don’t think the OP is going to install cctv before she moves house.

I thought this wax somebody messing. But as it’s grown men lurking outside, throwing things at your doors and trespassing, I think it is harassment. I don’t believe it has anything to do with a burglary, House sale or personal vendetta, it is someone’s idea of a joke that has overstepped into harassment. I would call the police and have it logged that there was a prowler on the premises. Whoever it is, has taken it way too far.

64BooLane · 23/12/2017 20:37

Cripes. That’s really scary. Hope you’re ok.

LittleLights · 23/12/2017 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

64BooLane · 23/12/2017 20:42

I wonder if there’s some kind of mix-up - like they’ve been asked to do intimidating stuff in connection with a grudge against someone, and they think it’s you, but they’ve targeted the wrong house.

I know that sounds unlikely ... but it’s just so weird to go to all this bother to scare you over the course of multiple nights. :/

Flowers
DiseasesOfTheSheep · 23/12/2017 20:42

Fwiw OP, I have posted a couple of flippant comments, but that's not because I don't believe you. I can well imagine this happening in certain areas I've known. I'm not convinced the baubles and paper are necessarily related, but whatever these people are playing at, it's not funny. I hope the police are responding appropriately to the latest incidents.

Cococase · 23/12/2017 20:48

Just one bang does seem as though he/they are trying to scare you, rather than gain entry. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this, OP. Sounds awful. You don't have any children in the house, do you? Are you children away? Could this somehow be linked to them?

ItsThisOneThing · 23/12/2017 20:49

Hope you're ok, I've been following your thread and it's getting scarier. I would agree that you can phone the police with a bit more detail now as someone was in your garden. Take care OP

Littlehenrylee · 23/12/2017 20:51

ETA the part I find most uneasy about the last update is that they targeted three doors simultaneously. Surely it is more ‘fun’ to bang one door,?wait for it to be answered, run and hide, go back and bang a different door before running off..... I think this is what kids are more likely to do - like ring your doorbell and run off. Adults trying to scare you is a whole different game. Make sure you lock your doors carefully OP. It is posssible they will try the doors to see if they are unlocked.

When are you moving out?

Can you stay with your friends over Christmas? It is horrible to think you can’t stay in your own home but if you would feel more relaxed and safer somewhere else, I’d go if it was an option.

KrisCringleWinterWonderland · 23/12/2017 20:53

Crikey,how scary. I hope this gets resolved asap, op. Stay safe.

froshiechipandbrickie · 23/12/2017 20:56

Are you part of the local hunting scene (as either supporters or sabs)and now you're being targeted by opponents? Or do you and your DH work for an organisation known for animal vivisection?
Have you in another way publicised controversial beliefs, or put in an objection to a local planning application?
What is happening to you sounds like a programme of intimidation/terrorisation, rather than an attempt to set you up for a burglary, so I'm wondering if there are some fanatics out there who have decided you are their target.

That explanation actually makes sense.

They’re obviously not burglars, this is imo too elaborate and time consuming for bored locals and the next buyer, idk. Not impossible but imo not likely (for various reasons).

Tumbleweeds24 · 23/12/2017 20:59

I've just read the entire thread. This is bloody weird. Thank goodness your husband and your friends are in the house. I would be nothing short of terrified Sad

I cannot for the life of me think of any logical explanation for their behaviour. It makes no sense other than for the fact they clearly want to scare you.

At this stage i'd be desperate for hubby or another male to grab a hold of the twat (or one of them) and frighten them, demanding to know what the hell they think they are playing at.

GimmeSomeLuck · 23/12/2017 21:00

Wow, very creepy! Hope you're ok OP! BrewCake

froshiechipandbrickie · 23/12/2017 21:05

But it seems like they were initially targeting your neighbours but changed their target because you saw them?

It’s just too time consuming and elaborate for bored teens imo. And it does seem more sinister / menacing than just a bit of entertainment, doesn’t?

HolyMountain · 23/12/2017 21:05

I’d like to suggest waiting in the garden;hiding then jumping out on the twats as they threw stuff at your windows. They’d shit a brick before you lot.

Jassmells · 23/12/2017 21:07

Have you googled in your area to see if anything else like this has gone on? Distraction burglaries? Specific type of car being stolen? Someone else with same name as your DH being accused of something?

And did you ever hear anything about the original woman's house you saw the bloke by? That hasn't been burgled or anything?

Are you there Xmas day?

So weird.