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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a bit spooked by this.

63 replies

Avigeth · 14/02/2019 20:23

I was cooking dinner in the kitchen when I noticed a car parked across the street. The headlights were on so I thought someone just stopped to answer their phone or text back. But then every time I went to the sink I could see the car was still there. About 20 minutes later there was a knock on the window. I was still busy with food, so just shouted to DH to go get the door. He opened it to a youngish bloke (in his twenties he thought) wearing black tracksuit with his hood up. When the guy saw him, he started stuttering and said he was looking for 'Danielle and Shenaya' or something like that and his knees started shaking. At this point DH noticed, that there were 3 other blokes ready to get out of the car but when they saw him they closed the doors and stayed in. The guy at the door apparently couldn't get away quick enough. I made a joke that I hoped they didn't plan to rob the house, because the only thing worth stealing here is me but DH didn't laugh. He said that clearly they've been watching me since our kitchen doesn't quite look like wealthy people live here. I don't get easily scared but this threw me off balance. DH wasn't even supposed to be home - he finished work early - so it would be just me and DS at home if he didn't. I do have a big bulldog but even with him I probably couldn't do much against 4 grown men...
It could've been genuine ofc but it's a close knit community we live in and I know that nobody by those names and description lives in the area. And why did it take them whole half an hour to knock on the door and ask? I really hope I'm just overreacting but that's really creepy.

OP posts:

WildFlower2019 · 14/02/2019 22:43

Just watch that they're not after the dog. It wouldn't surprise me. Don't leave him out in the garden unattended x

BlankTimes · 14/02/2019 22:44

Lights on means you can’t see who’s inside

If you're inside a house with the lights on, you can't see who may be outside the window because it looks pitch black and reflects the interior, unless there are other close-by light sources outside like streetlights or headlights or a torch.

If you are outside a house that has open curtains and lights on, you can see inside as plain as day.

BlankTimes · 14/02/2019 22:46

To clarify,
"If you're inside a house with the lights on," and there are no curtains or blind drawn

UsedtobeFeckless · 14/02/2019 22:46

She meant headlights on in the car - can't see who's inside ...

StoppinBy · 14/02/2019 22:47

It would scare me too if I thought too hard about it BUT that being said my mates and I once went to a friend's place who was having a party, we 6 arrive, troop out of the car, walk in to the house..... old couple sitting in their chairs watching TV and their son in the hallway.

It took us all a few stunned minutes to realise that we had the wrong house, complete accident and we were all harmless but they weren't to know that and we likely scared the shite out of them.

Maybe it was something like that? I would like to think I could palm it off that way as otherwise I would probably be too scared to be at home by myself after that if I thought they were going to try and harm me.

ThunderStorms · 14/02/2019 22:48

Front on headlights means you are in the light and easily visible (although house lights do this as well), but it also means the headlights 'blind' the onlooker so they can’t see who's sitting in the car.

AcrossthePond55 · 14/02/2019 22:49

It's a habit with me to close the blinds as soon as it's dark outside. Once it's darker outside than it is in the house, you're in clear view.

We also got a Ring doorbell and so far it's working great. We don't get many dodgy people as we live in a rural area, but we do get the occasional person we don't know (usually lost).

Funnily enough my BFF called me this morning about a 'lurker' checking out houses in her end of the street early this morning. She turned on her light (drapes drawn) and as soon as he saw the light on he got in his car and left. She called the police non-emergency and they took a report and thanked her for calling.

BlankTimes · 15/02/2019 00:04

Apologies, I was confused by this in the OP, thinking that the passengers in the car had opened the doors and were going to get out, therefore the interior car light would have been on.

" At this point DH noticed, that there were 3 other blokes ready to get out of the car but when they saw him they closed the doors and stayed in. The guy at the door apparently couldn't get away quick enough."

Guess when OP saw the car the headlights were on pointing towards her and so she couldn't see anyone, then her DH's view was from a different angle, as well as the passengers opening the doors then closing them again.

Eliza9917 · 15/02/2019 00:25

I never answer the door. Anyone I know tells me they are coming and then rings or texts when outside. Anything other than that, I don't answer if here alone.

If dp is here he might answer if it's around the time that the postman comes. The sorting office is just around the corner so we can collect any parcels we miss being delivered.

But other than that, ppl let us know if they are coming and if it's not ppl we know then it's not ppl we want to talk to anyway.

Prob JW's or whatever so no loss.

sophiec123 · 15/02/2019 00:32

I'd be spooked out too! I'd be getting an outdoor security light that shines bright and some cameras if it was me!

RedFeltHeart · 15/02/2019 04:43

I'd report it too.

However, I would suggest that, in future, if there are people behaving suspiciously in the car across the street and then the doorbell goes you don't make any effort to answer the door.

Eliza - I'm with you 100%

StoneofDestiny · 15/02/2019 05:41

A number years ago I spotted a car driving up the road without lights on about 4 am and the occupants dressed in black got out and walked up towards a neighbours pretty decent car. unfortunately they saw me, jumped back in car and drove off.
I called the local police number (took ages to get an answer). I then got told off by them as they 'had been after these guys for ages. You should have dialled 999' as we'd have had a better chance of getting them in action'.
Always be on the safe side - report.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 15/02/2019 07:06

Def report. You may get increased patrols or others may have reported the same and it builds a history.

If no answer at 101 most places have an online reporting option-it varies depending on where you live but just google and you can see options for different areas

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