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AIBU?

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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:
twiney · 20/12/2017 19:55

Maybe he was an ex hanging around til she got back from work/stalking

ShoesHaveSouls · 20/12/2017 19:59

Here's what I would do OP - tomorrow, in the daylight, I would walk up to the woman's house and knock on her door. Say sorry if this seems nosy, but you saw this man hanging around- and so on. Exchange numbers, and get to know your near-neighbours. As you are so rural this is important!

YANBU btw - I would have found this very unnerving. I walk my dog in fairly isolated places - and my spidey senses are always raised by men walking alone without a dog, or people just hanging around.

ShoesHaveSouls · 20/12/2017 20:02

*If I was that woman, I would want to know.

Original poster
Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 20:06

I hope this isn't too outing as the next part will be quite embarrassing if anyone works out who I am!

But my near neighbours do not like to participate in village life. I think most would think it an impertinence to go knocking on their doors and if I suggested swapping numbers etc they would probably get a shotgun and chase me off their land Grin

I promise I am not like the rest of them, in fact I'm sort of normal.

OP posts:
twiney · 20/12/2017 20:08

Do you not have someone who's like the unofficial village patriarch/matriarch you could call?

ShoesHaveSouls · 20/12/2017 20:10

Oh dear, Foxy Grin 'Get orf my land' types? No I wouldn't suggest swapping numbers then! You've reported it, so I can't think what else you can do.

RestingBitchFaced · 20/12/2017 20:18

Do you have a car? Could you drive past and have a look? Rather than walk, would be safer

Sashkin · 20/12/2017 20:29

My mum lives in a similar house - detached four-bedroom place, set back from the road. She was broken into around 5pm a couple of weeks ago. All they took was jewellery, presumably because they had to jump a wall and go in and out through a window so could only take what they could carry (so the iPad was left untouched on her bed, but the whole house was taken apart looking for valuables).

Police told us that 4-5pm is prime burglary time - it’s dark at this time of year so they won’t be observed, but most people are out at work (as my mum was) so they know they won’t be disturbed.

She now has lots of lights on a timer (plus security cams, alarms etc - it’s really shaken her up). It wasn’t until afterwards that she realised how empty her house looked, completely unlit.

Original poster
Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 23:25

Ok so I've just been woken up by some whistling outside.
It sounds like a tune being repeated, then stops for a bit and then starts again.

Feeling a little bit creeped out tbh!

OP posts:
BadFeminist · 20/12/2017 23:32

To creep you out even more, the old house I used to live in had a basement that ran the length of the house, with an internal door and external doors.

One night I heard loads of banging, ex was out and when I called he blamed the wind. I locked the upstairs door and ignored it.

Three days later DP notices the external basement doors had been kicked in and there were footsteps in the dust of at least two different sets of boots leading right under the house and up into the internal door which they had tried to jimmy but it had (unusually I might add) been double locked and double bolted by DP at some point that day.

I would always question anyone without a reason to be hanging around rural houses. Always.

user1497997754 · 20/12/2017 23:35

I would phone 101 now.....

ShoesHaveSouls · 20/12/2017 23:36

Oh, fuck that OP.

Switch on every light in the house - check all the doors and windows are locked. Keep your phone in your hand.

How's your dog with people coming to the house? Mine barks his head off at the postman, window cleaner, cars driving past, a mouse breathing on the back door....so he always makes me feel safe - because I know nobody could actually get in the house without him barking his head off.

Original poster
Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 23:40

My dog would go mental if someone came to the door but would lick them to death if they came in.

I am staying in bed at the moment because the dog has one good point, he is very protective of anyone in bed and would literally kill someone trying to get to me if I shouted.

I don't really want to call 101, what am I going to say? I saw a bloke earlier who may or may not have been dodgy and now I hear whistling. They would think I'm mental!

OP posts:
funkyzebra · 20/12/2017 23:41

Omg maybe call 101 again! Keep some sort of object to hand to defend yourself (not an obvious weapon though).
You are probably safe though. Try not to overthink too much. I am an over thinker. Thanks

TotemIcePole · 20/12/2017 23:45

Are u sure it wasnt an old phone you have in a drawer or a laptop turning off?

Prusik · 20/12/2017 23:46

I'm not surprised you're creeped! Can anyone come over for the night?

appleoftheluck · 20/12/2017 23:49

Have you got a friend that could come over now and stay with you?

Original poster
Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 23:51

No nobody can come over really unless absolutely dire. Nearest person to me is half an hour and it's really late to be getting people up.

Pretty sure it wasn't a phone as there was quite a pause between the tune each time.

The even creepier thing is that I keep thinking I hear my gate opening. I'm sure it's not but I think it's my mind playing tricks now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 23:52

And the dog hasn't barked at all so it can't be the gate going or he would definitely hear it.

OP posts:
keepingbees · 20/12/2017 23:54

I would ring 101 and explain the situation of being alone and what happened earlier. They might send a patrol car round just to have a look. If someone was hanging around it would scare them off at least, and it would put your mind at rest.
I have a fear of living in an isolated house for this very reason. Hope you're ok!

BadFeminist · 20/12/2017 23:55

It might be your mind. Do you have a torch you can flash about?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 20/12/2017 23:57

Are you okay Foxy ?

randomuntrainedcuntowner · 20/12/2017 23:57

Oh dear! Crapping myself on your behalf! Do you live alone?

Bodear · 20/12/2017 23:57

Hey op, hope you’re ok. I would definitely call 101 again. We pay taxes to have the police and I think calling them to let them know you’ve heard someone hanging around outside, which is unusual for where you live, is perfectly reasonable. If nothing else, it’ll make you feel better.

ClandestineAdulation · 20/12/2017 23:58

Definitely call 101 again. Better to be safe and it’ll put your mind at rest.