Bit weird or not?

[Foxysoxy01]

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

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!

Please don't go and investigate unless you can go in car, phone 101 and let them do the investigating!

Yeah I'm just going to call 101 now.

Why would you walk back alone? Don't risk being attacked just to save someone's house (not even your own!). Get someone to go with you. When you walk past tomoro pop a letter into her giving her your mobile number and asking for hers. Neighbours should have each other's numbers and look out for each other.

Absolutely do not go back. I would call 101 if you suspect burglary.

Do not go back tonight OP!

I'd definitely call 101, I live fairly rurally and the local community are urged by the police to call them about anything suspicious as crime rates at this time of year are worryingly high during all the hours of darkness as there's not much street lighting in a lot of places

If it was me, I would call 101 and report their suspicious behaviour.

If they think it's worth it, it will be checked out.

He wouldn't necessarily be breaking in that day. If the house looks worth it he may go every day at different times to suss it out, look for sneaky little paths to escape down etc.

Defo 101. They can dismiss you if they want. I'd also pop a note through the neighbours door saying you'd seen a suspicious character hanging around locally and had told the police, just to let her know. You can add your number to it, and it's a good excuse to swap numbers in case something like this comes up again and you want to get hold of her.

You might walk back and arm yourself with a poker? What? In case he's lit a fire? Unless you are of similar build/height and strength to the guy, what protection would a poker be against an attack? If something doesn't sit right about this guys behaviour, report it to the police. You can't go carry weapons and seeking him out,just because he's unnerved you.

Well just spoken to them.

I don't feel like a complete fool but they weren't particularly interested tbh.

They have logged it in case anyone else sees anything suspicious it will help 'build a picture'

I don't really want to give the woman a note etc as it will worry her especially when she lives alone it seems a bit mean.

I sort of wish the police had said they would check it out as I feel a bit guilty just leaving it.

I keep having thoughts of what if he broke in and was laying in wait or he was waiting for another dog walker etc.
Or what if the person followed me back!!

Or maybe he just sneaked out for a smoke and I'm imagining he is some murdering burglar!

Well, at least you called. Can you see this house from yours? Does this other lady have a dog?
Lock your house up well tonight and perhaps speak to this lady tomorrow.

Honestly if it was me and I found out that a neighbour had seen someone suspicious hanging round my house and hadn't told me I would be really pissed off. I'd rather know and be worried but able to do something about it than find out after a possible event.

Are you on your own all evening? Do you have dh or neighbour who could go out with you? Not sure you should be investigating on your own.

I'd feel just the same as you, OP. I live fairly rurally, on a single track lane and I'd be suspicious of anyone standing around, not walking a dog etc. Most people wouldn't have a reason to be on the lane unless they were driving or cycling through.

I'm glad you reported it. Now just make sure you're all locked up and I've leave a light on, if you don't already do so.

If I were the neighbour I would want to know that you had been sufficiently spooked by someone to call the Police.
What if he is some weird stalker?
Our neighbours once challenged my Brother In Law who arrived unannounced and decided to wait in his car on our drive. it did no harm and we were quite reassured that they were watching out for us.

I don't have the woman's number so to tell her I will have to walk back there and knock on her door.

I am a bit concerned with walking back there now it's getting darker and later (and people saying my poker was a bad idea )

I can't see her house from here, nobody can see mine either

It's times like this I hate the countryside!

Keep loads of lights on!

Do you know her name? You might be able to find her on FB.

Don’t do it now, please. I’d just keep my eyes and ears open and tell her tomorrow. Also trying to find her online is a good idea.

There are times when I long for a big house in a remote location. Right now is not one of those times. Tonight I’ll happily put up with difficult parking & irritating (but built like a brick outhouse) neighbour.

I really think that over the next few days you need to knock on the doors of all the houses around you and make a contact list so that in an emergency you ALL have local support. 5 hours for the police to get there in an emergency means you should all be better prepared & able to help each other.

Leave your handbag & car keys downstairs tonight. If he breaks in hopefully he’ll be satisfied with that & leave you alone. Put some of f DH’s stuff by the door, big old pair of boots outside if you can and the slightest hint of noise, call the police (who may have someone local who can come out to you) do not be a muppet and go & investigate.

I know it might be embarrassing but you could call the police again and say you are very concerned and please can they come out. I've called the police with suspicions from time to time - sometimes with good reason and often because I've misinterpreted something. It doesn't matter if you've got it wrong though, the important thing is you are being a good neighbour.

Don't walk back on your own. If you can't get the police to come out you can visit your neighbour tomorrow and swap numbers. Maybe this occasion should prompt you to gather a few neighbours' numbers.

Possibly he was the lookout, for somebody already in there.

I completely agree with AnnieAnon - make sure to get neighbours' numbers in future. It will benefit all of you and knowing your neighbours can only be a good thing.

God I hate the countryside.

I find it insane you guys dont have each others numbers by the way!

@Sugarpiehoneyeye

That's a good point actually.

Maybe he moved over to the tree because then he was in someones line of vision and that was their signal.