Man sitting outside of my house

[Whatnametochoose85]

Hello,
(Not so much as an AIBU but more of a what would you do type of situation)

So this morning at roughly 07:30am a car pulled up outside my house which is nothing unusual in itself as I live on quite a busy street where there is lots of on-street parking, not many houses have driveways so residents just park wherever they can. At that time of the morning there were quite a few empty spaces along the street, one being in front of our home. A man was sitting inside the car and looked like he was texting on his phone.
I didn't think anything of it, went to work at 8:30, returned for lunch to let the dog out and the car is still there with the man sitting with his phone in his hand as before. Went back to work and just returned to see he's still there!!

I've never seen him or the car before, he's not a resident on the street (as far as I know). I've lived here for 14 years and recognise the neighbours and their cars. I initially just brushed it off as he may be waiting for someone, or may be a relative of a neighbour or something like that but as time has gone on I am feeling a bit uneasy about it!
He's not harming anyone, seems to be minding his own business but I can't help feel it's a bit odd.
He's obviously seen me leave and return so has known when the house was empty. I think this is what has made me feel a bit creeped out. I'm probably overreacting, but what do you think ?

He is perhaps pretending to whoever he lives with that he is at work. And has had to find somewhere to park up.

hmm having just had my garden burgled I would perhaps ring 101 and report it as suspicious to the police, give description and reg just in case

This happened to us once - same guy over a few days but different cars - and it turned out to be undercover police

What is he doing wrong? Where will 101 "log it?"

I was going to say, probably a surveillance of some sort going on. Either police or court official waiting to serve papers?

I had this years ago and reported it to the police. It was somebody from the MOD doing surveillance on a house. My house 😂.

Maybe his partner has kicked him out and he is now working from his new home?

Seriously though, I would probably be concerned if this was in a small side road but not if I lived on a main road. I would probably surrepticiously photograph him in the car and get registration plate in the photo in case anything did happen in the neighbourhood though.

Come on NameChange84, you can't drop that on us and not tell us why.

DWP Stazi, probably.

Stasi

It could be any number of things - surveillance by either police or DWP/HMRC, traffic survey, someone pretending they're at work, he might have gotten out in the time periods when you haven't been there and it's just been coincidence that he's been back in the car when you've been back. I really don't think the police would be interested or concerned about someone parked up on a busy street.

@NameChange84

I had this years ago and reported it to the police. It was somebody from the MOD doing surveillance on a house. My house 😂.

Well you can't just leave it there! That's just mean 😁

Using your Wi-Fi?
Take a photo of something in the garden making sure to get his car in it, make it obvious.
He'll soon fuck off.

Are you posting from Guantanamo 84?

I haven't called 101 as yet as I just wasn't sure what to do.
I did think private investigator but just don't know. He doesn't really fit the description but then again who knows !! Without sounding rude he is wearing a grubby hi Viz tabard and is very unkempt looking. Vehicle is an older style people carrier (2006 reg). I know it's not relevant what he drives or how he looks. We live in a busy ,built-up area about a mile from the city centre so find it odd that he wouldn't pick a more remote area if he was trying to hide from someone?
I do suffer from anxiety so am aware I'm probably magnifying this and jumping to conclusions

Is he a gang master of a load of poor blokes selling dusters?

yes, talk to the dog, stand still rover, mummy wants a nice photo of you.
make sure you get reg no. and face of occupant if poss.
you could simply ask him if he's broken down or needs any help ?
maybe with brawny neighbour hovering behind...

I appreciate that's unlikely in a pandemic. And for eight hours. Didn't see that bit first read.

He doesn't really fit the description

That's what he wants you to think!

The dog is barking for her walk so going to go outside and take her so the photo idea is great!
He doesn't look approachable at all, looks very gruff and unfriendly. I have my son with me too but he's only 7, my partner won't be back until 9pm ish.

@VeggieSausageRoll yes definitely. It's very puzzling! Half of me wants to approach him but concerned about doing so in case I antagonise him or encourage him !

I left at 08:30 ,dropped son at local holiday club, went to work ,returned at lunch, went back to work, collected son on way home and we both got back around 16:15 ish.

I wouldn’t worry too much about him casing the joint and ‘knowing’ the house is empty. I’ve let myself in and out twice today not because the house is empty but because the other two adults here are WFM and I don’t want to disturb them by knocking to be let in.

Could it be someone doing a traffic survey? I've quite often seen people sitting in cars on busy roads doing that, and especially if he's wearing a hi-vis tabard.

@Sparklesocks

This happened to us once - same guy over a few days but different cars - and it turned out to be undercover police

I was going to suggest undercover police.

I noticed cars on my street with people always in them a lot over a few days a few years ago.

Then they raised a property and they were dealing drugs from there.

My streets quiet enough to have noticed cars and not expect drugs either. But goes to show things aren't always what they seem.