What would you do if you saw a sign in a window saying "help me"

[Lois345]

I saw a sign in a window today saying "help me." It was one of those neat black framed boards that you can write on by moving little white plastic letters around. It was facing the street. Would you call the police? Do you think they would respond to this? I live in Edinburgh, if that makes any difference (maybe someone here with local knowledge of the police)

I'd assume it was probably a joke but I'd still call the police. I'd rather find out that it was a mischievous child and the outcome was an embarrassed parent, than to find out it was a DV issue and the outcome was, well, worse.

Call the police.

I’d have to report it just in case it was serious. Imagine needing help so desperately, and managing to get a message up... then everyone ignoring or laughing at it and walking on by.

Could be someone self-isolating with Covid symptons who needs support??
It's obviously playing on your mind so I'd probably ring the non-emergency police number with the address.

I'd report it.

I would assume it was a joke but I'd call the police anyway to be sure.

I would contact police on 101 provided it didn't say '... move this piano' lower down the board

Police.

50/50 student prank versus woman suffering domestic violence and unable to escape.

If the latter, you've helped an incredibly vulnerable woman in a dangerous situation. If the former, the police will kick their arses for wasting time, which will also be a good outcome.

I would call the non emergency police number. And photograph it if possible to do discretely.

I’d rather be safe than sorry and call the police.

I would and did.
I was 18, no kids of my own, didn't know what to do, so went to a phone box, no mobiles then.
It turned out to be a child in danger, read about the awful case in local newspaper.
It may well be nothing, but you'd never forgive yourself if you heard something awful had happened.

Call the police. They can decide what to do.

You can't cause any harm by calling them but someone could be hurt if you don't.

Yes I’d call the police

Call police. If the house was in a 'safe' area, I might knock there and on neighbour's door but doubt I would get an answer.

Where in Edinburgh? If in Marchmont e.g , then I’d assume student prank. If in Ravelston Dykes, I’d call police.

I would call the police, if it’s a joke the police would also deal with that.

It's almost certainly a joke, but you never know. Call the police.

I would probably think it was a joke but call the police anyway. I wouldn't risk knocking on the door though

Call the police! Better safe than sorry.

Is it a house you pass often? Anything you've notified that was off before?

I would call the police and let it be up to them to decide.
If it is a prank then it's a silly one. I'd hate to do nothing and someone really need help.

Noticed not notified

Again call the police. It might be someone very ill and in need of genuine help.

Is it a local house you walk past regularly?

It's halloween so nothing! There are lots of then now round here.

Before we married I was with my fiancé watching TV one evening and we heard a faint cry for help. We weren't sure we'd heard it correctly - so faint, so went outside. He lived in a flat/maisonette and the cry came from the flat underneath. Called the local police station and they came out fairly quickly, broke in and found the old lady in the flat below had tried to move a heavy electric heater and fallen with the heater on top of her. They had to get an ambulance as she had burns. If we hadn't noticed her call she could have died.

Pleas for help may be a joke but they could well be the genuine thing. I doubt the police will criticise you if its a genuine mistake.

Is it a Halloween decoration?

I would contact Police so they can check it out and to get it removed.