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AIBU?

To call the police about creepy car on street

291 replies

sianais · 19/09/2018 01:06

Hi all,

Hoping there's someone up who can make me feel a little better. Basically for the last few nights a black Mercedes has been pulling up on the street with a direct view into my upstairs window (full length, curtains always open). Always after midnight. It sits there for around an hour sometimes more, sidelights on and no interior lights (occupants not even having phone screens on which light their faces...) but definitely people inside.

When this happened a few nights ago I saw the reflection of something pointed at my house as a car drove past - looks like a camera lens or similar. I called the police, they sent someone to drive by but they left without speaking to the car. 20 minutes ish later someone left the car, walked across the car park behind my house to another street. The car pulled off a little later.

I assumed it was a couples liaison or something and that I was imagining the lens reflection. It's been here for the last couple nights but I ignored it. Tonight I saw the reflection of something again and watched the drivers side occupant scratch their face clearly holding something and body positioned towards my house. Called police again and shut my curtains. Around 5 minutes later the car pulled away.

Am I being paranoid, or am I being watched?! Sitting here telling myself both things alternately. I live alone with my 3 year old daughter for context.

OP posts:

Report

BathroomLights · 22/09/2018 23:24

Carers don't work in the middle of the night. Unless it's a sleep in, in which case why is she in a car? Keep contacting them if you see the car again.

ambostraw · 22/09/2018 23:28

Community alarm (carers) do work in the night. They are the people who supported living clients have come in when they need something.

I think if they are saying it's a community carer car then that is probably the case. She is possibly on break or between calls. We have nights where there are 10 calls between 10pm & 7am and nights where there are none. And our community alarm people work in 2's.

Thissameearth · 22/09/2018 23:28

Hi OP you said it was a voicemail and not so long ago can you call back and speak to them? Sounds like they’ve found a semi plausible explanation and thought of yes that fits. Except it doesn’t: there’s no caring it’s someone parking then driving off an hour or two later either without anyone getting out, or a passenger getting out. This does not fit their explanation and they need to know so they can consider it further. Don’t wait until the car appears call now and say this doesn’t fit. Hope you’re ok sounds really rubbish and hope there’s a proper explanation and that it ends soon.

Thissameearth · 22/09/2018 23:29

Secondly is it a swanky Merc. Carers do amazing work and one thing that annoys me about it is that it is universally badly paid...

Jackietheduck · 22/09/2018 23:30

Do you think she possibly arrives early but doesn't want to park outside the client's house so parks nearby (doesn't matter where as she is not going to leave the car) and then drives off at a certain time to get to the client's house? Might not want to park outside the client's house in case she is expected to go in early and won't get paid?

How long does the car usually stay parked outside your house?

I was going to say perhaps she doesn't drive and get a lift to the client's house but if the car is registered in her name, that doesn't add up.

ambostraw · 22/09/2018 23:31

Secondly is it a swanky Merc. Carers do amazing work and one thing that annoys me about it is that it is universally badly paid...

Yeah. They should all drive 15 year old bangers

sianais · 22/09/2018 23:34

Jackie, 1 to 2 hours usually (shortest was 25 minutes, the night I had my curtains closed).
Ambo, it's no judgement on her but I thought the same thing. DVLA tells me it's only 3 years old and carers ARE badly paid. But could have been bought in a different career, with savings, through tragic circumstances etc. and obviously I'm not judging. Just would like to know what she's doing outside my house nightly.

OP posts:

MilkAndSevenSugars · 22/09/2018 23:34

Would the police leave you a voicemail with this info? I work at a doctors and we are literally not able to say anything (even your appt has been cancelled or something equally innocuous) on VM - can only say that we have a message and to call us. Due to data protection and the like. Would think the police are the same, no? 🤔 I'd call 101 and check it out, the explanation doesn't make much sense as it is.

sianais · 22/09/2018 23:37

Milk - thank you I thought this! Was surprised it was left on a voicemail; call was also from a withheld number when previously it's been mobile numbers when the PCSOs have got in touch...

OP posts:

Jackietheduck · 22/09/2018 23:43

I'd definitely ring them back and speak to someone to confirm this. You might get some further information (off record!).

I don't know if you can request a call out when the police are so busy but maybe a community officer?

Bimgy85 · 22/09/2018 23:50

Are you alive op?

DamsonGin · 22/09/2018 23:51

Maybe the carer is catching a quick kip in between calls and your road is on the route between them. That could explain the lack of mobile phone light and maybe they have glasses that caught the light that you saw.

tiredtiddlytubby · 22/09/2018 23:53

Is the engine on? Just wondering if they could be chatting away using Bluetooth whilst waiting for a shift to start

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 22/09/2018 23:55

Very concerning behavior. Did you say you have friends keeping you company tonight?
TBH I would call someone to stay with me. I would not be able to relax, you are very brave!
Also maybe ring the station to ask did they leave the voicemail

BobLemon · 23/09/2018 00:05

I have a theory!

The driver is a relative of the lady carer. Either she can’t drive at present or they worry about her working alone late at night. She has to give meds/check late on someone. The driver enjoys sudoku and keeps parking in the same spot as they need the light from a street light to shine just right

IS there a street light? Where parking too far back/forward would cause a shadow?

Geraldine170 · 23/09/2018 00:08

Carers don't work in the middle of the night.

That’s complete nonsense. One of my friends is a carer and she only works nights.

I’m a bit surprised that the police gave out personal information including her sex and profession. This is not only illegal under the new data protection laws, it could possibly make this woman vulnerable to crime herself if they’re giving out information like that. Ditto response time. Someone asked the police to make a welfare check on me and my children not that long ago because there were genuine and immediate concerns for our welfare. It took them 3 days to come round. I’m surprised they are going out immediately when no crime has been committed. Especially given how overstretched they are at the minute. Do you live somewhere sparsely populated?

You do sound a little paranoid OP. She probably parks there in her break to meet somebody. I don’t know why you thought you saw a lens. Does anybody actually use proper cameras these days? It would more likely be someone wearing glasses.

I know my street is used by people who don’t want to be seen because it’s a badly lit cul de sac so only people who live here come down here. One car does it regularly and we’re fairly sure that’s a girl meeting a boyfriend her family don’t approve of because he’s not from the same culture. I don’t think she would be that worried about blocking the car park either given the time of night and the fact she was staying in the car and could move. It’s probably totally innocent and you’re letting your imagination run away with you.

Nightwatch999 · 23/09/2018 00:12

Of course carers work during the night, Out of Hours District Nurses do too, alongside Palliative Care teams.

If the Police have informed you of this then all is well!

Geraldine170 · 23/09/2018 00:14

Milk - thank you I thought this! Was surprised it was left on a voicemail; call was also from a withheld number when previously it's been mobile numbers when the PCSOs have got in touch

So now you think the person in the car knows you contacted the police, knows what you’ve been saying to them and has called to give you false information to throw you off the scent? Despite the fact the actual police would probably still contact you again in that situation and it would be very easily exposed when they knew nothing about the call?

That’s definitely paranoia. Do you suffer from anxiety generally?

sianais · 23/09/2018 00:41

Thanks, Nightwatch. I feel a lot better.

It is surprising Geraldine but as I said they didn't come out - PCSOs added it to their normal route and someone swung by the other night- presumably no other urgent jobs. I wouldn't want to take them away from a crime.

Agreed the likely culprit is glasses, and yes you're right I am a little paranoid. I won't be calling the police again unless something happens which absolutely proves their theory wrong i.e I see something illegal happening.

I don't think it was the person in the car! I'm sure it was the actual police as like you said it's easy to verify, was just surprised at the different mode of contact as PCSOs didn't leave a VM at all.

I don't suffer from anxiety particularly although I used to.

All is well, no cars and friends are round. Happy at a likely explanation and although it doesn't explain everything, I'm not overly worried anymore.

Thank you all for support, suggestions, theories and counter arguments. You've kept me from going too crazy and let me practice my drawing skills...! Think it's at an end although I feel I did the right thing, after all as others have spoken about it could have been something worse than it was.

OP posts:

Geraldine170 · 23/09/2018 01:10

If you’ve suffered from anxiety before could it be a recurrence? Are you under a lot of stress or anything?

TheMaddHugger · 23/09/2018 03:00

((((Madd Hugs))))

dontbesillyhenry · 23/09/2018 16:26

Ffs maybe the carer has two jobs or has changed carer and bought swanky car when she was earning more...or someone gave it her...or wtf does it matter

JLG19 · 23/09/2018 20:05

calm down, dontbesillyhenry.

Glad you're feeling reassured, OP. Try not to think/worry about it any longer, it's not good to get fixated on things like this and your imagination can start to run away with you. Take care

covetingthepreciousthings · 23/09/2018 21:03

Glad you've had a bit of an explanation @sianais
Keep us updated if there's anymore goings on though.

mayhew · 23/09/2018 21:31

I have known male partners of midwives ( I am a community mw) drive them to night calls and sit outside as a safety precaution.

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