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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Suspicious postman or am I paranoid?!

17 replies

Maybebabymaybenot · 20/12/2020 22:44

More of a WWYD. On Friday, I noticed the outline of someone standing very close to my front door (glass panels) but weren't knocking. You have to come up a driveway to get to the door so wouldn't have stopped there while passing. As I started taking the chain off they walked away but I opened the door and saw it was a postman.

I called over to ask had he been trying to deliver something (thinking maybe my doorbell was broken) but he said no, just putting a letter through. But there was no letter.....

It was all very odd but I shrugged it off. Now I am thinking though this was a very odd lie to tell and my car was in for MOT so not on the drive at post time for the 1st time since March.

Please tell me I'm paranoid because I am pretty creeped out the more I think of it!

YABU = You are paranoid, it's nothing
YANBU = This was odd and I should be concerned what he was actually doing at my door as clearly not posting anything which he then lied about.

OP posts:

ShopTattsyrup · 20/12/2020 23:18

Definitely odd! If he was up to no good or if he went to the wrong door number and then had a brain fart and stood there for a moment (something I would 100% do) is unclear but definitely odd behaviour!

I suppose the most reassuring thing is that if a neighbour saw a man entering your house they'd be much more likely to remember if it was a postie as their uniform is fairly noticable ... not sure if that's comforting or not!

FelicityBeedle · 20/12/2020 23:21

Probably on autopilot. Walked up went to grab your letter and found there wasn’t one

AIMD · 20/12/2020 23:23

If it’s happened once I wouldn’t be suspicious.
Like pp said maybe he walked up then realised there wasn’t a letter. Or maybe he stopped and checked his phone while he was stood by your door.

If it was several times I’d be worried.

Ileanna · 20/12/2020 23:27

Didn't you ask where the letter was?

pophop · 20/12/2020 23:32

I'm a postie I do this at least once a day, realise I'm at the wrong door, usually call myself an idiot out loud and walk away... or have to knock on the door and wait cause I've actually posted the letter 🤦‍♀️ it's bloody manic just now plus I do a different route every day, so on average 6/700 houses to remember each day, it's easily done.

pophop · 20/12/2020 23:33

Also no way any postie has time to have a nosy or scope out your house just now and if they do then I want to know where they are working so I can get a transfer! 😂

Original poster

Maybebabymaybenot · 20/12/2020 23:40

Hmm yes I thought initially well he just got mixed up and hovered getting his head together but then why did he tell me he put a letter through when he didn't? Also seems an odd coincidence that it was the 1 day my car wasn't on the drive and he walked away as soon as I stated opening the door.

I'm not usually a suspicious person and at the time just thought he made a mistake s o didn't question further when I realised the lie about the letter. It was only later when I realised about the car not being there and started to think it was odd.

I do live alone with a small child though so sudden onset paranoia is a very real possibility!

OP posts:

alphajuliet123 · 20/12/2020 23:52

Was he definitely a real postman? Did he have a mailbag and deliver stuff to other houses?

ktp100 · 21/12/2020 00:22

That's so weird. Would creep me out, for sure.

You think maybe he had a parcel and was pulling a dodgy? Checking you weren't in so he could say he left it in a safe place and taking it?

I caught an Amazon driver putting a parcel on my porch, taking a photo of it to prove he delivered it then taking it back on friday.

Silly season is in full swing!!

RandomUsernameHere · 21/12/2020 00:26

Same as a PP, my first thought was that he might not be a real postman. We have four or five different postmen but I would recognise all of them (I've been WFH for a while so usually at home when they deliver).

christmaspigeon · 21/12/2020 07:30

It could have been worse. I once arrived home to find a postman having a wee on my doorstep!

Dizzy1234 · 21/12/2020 07:50

I always trust my instincts, they're there to warn you when something is off.
Good thing is, if he was up to no good he now knows not to rely on your car being there as an indication of you being at home and you confronted him.
Hopefully that'll be the end of it, if you're worried beef up your security and get a ring doorbell

Original poster

Maybebabymaybenot · 22/12/2020 00:30

Thanks to everyone who commented, I know there is most likely an innocent explanation but reassured to know I'm not the only ine who would find it odd or unsettling.

I am going to look into ring doorbell cams etc (not just because of this incident) as I currently have nothing like that and live alone with a young child.

Thanks again!

OP posts:

Nikhedonia · 22/12/2020 00:50

My first thought was that he wasn't a genuine postman

Yeahnahmum · 22/12/2020 01:54

Not a postie. Just burglar looking to rob houses and he came up with a lame excuse.
Ive had this. Didnt report to the police but later it turned out they robbed my neighbors house. Police later came over to my house and adviced me if you see anything dodgy like that, to report it.

dontgobaconmyheart · 22/12/2020 09:08

Who can say OP. Could be nothing or something ir anything inbetween. If you're worried generally I'd put a camera up in the door. Quite common these days. You can always query it with Royal Mail, check this was indeed the postman.

MRex · 22/12/2020 09:11

Report it to your local community police officer. If it's a one-off then no bother. If they've had a spate of break-ins or parcel thefts then it gives them a clue.

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