Holy Sh*t That Was Scary

[MakeThatMakeSense]

So, I was just driving home alone at ~00:15am

And I saw a guy in a black tracksuit, out in the rain, in a posh road amongst big gated houses. And it looked like he was trying to break into a parked car.

So I was just processing what I was seeing. So I slowed down as I drove past, and then came to a stop down the street (much further, but still in sight I suppose).

It's not a remote spot. And actually it's not a road that tends to have 0 passing traffic.

Anyway, I called the police and told them what I saw. They asked if he was still there. I looked in my mirrors, couldn't see him. Assumed he must have fled. And backed up, still with police on hands free. Said no, I can't see him anymore.

However, then I saw an eye looking at me through the gap between the gate and the wall of this big gated house.

I still had the police on the phone.

I wound my window down and said "can I help you?" And then he appeared over the fence, shouting abuse at me aggressively and proclaiming that that was his house.

I really felt like it was not his house.
But whatever, I drove off and was talking to the police giving a description of him.
But I see him running after me in the rearview mirror.

So I just continued to drive on at a steady pace. But he must have jumped in a car because next thing, I'm being chased / pulled up alongside by this lunatic scally shouting abuse at me through the window.

I didn't react and I didn't want to speed up so in the end he threw a glass bottle at my car and sped off like a mad man.

The whole time I was on the phone to police.

They're out looking for him now.

Was scared to go home for a while but I'm in now.

Just sat here thinking... Wow I was just wanting to get in bed and enjoy catching up on Traitors and somehow ended up in some sort of mad dramatic night.

Did I do the right thing?
Feel like j just got myself in dangers path?
Should I have just ignored what I saw?

It just depresses me to think I wouldn't look out for people in my local area. Hence j felt a duty to call police.

I don't know what scene I just stumbled on but there was definitely something 'off' about it.

YABU - you should have just ignored it and gone about your business

YANBU - you did the right thing calling the police

YANBU to call the police at his suspicious behaviour.
YABU to speak/call out to him.
Hope you are ok.

DD was staying at her partner's parents house, it's an actual "hall" but does have neighbours. He forgot to put the bins out and went out at 1am in joggers and hoodie, then realised he didn't know which bin day it was so went skulking around to see what the neighbours had put out.
Neighbours spotted a suspicious man, rang the police who apprehended him and questioned him for ages.

OP, Maybe the police will visit the householders today to check if his story checks out?

No one knows what they would do in an scary situation.
its easy to think afterwards.
Hope you feel ok.

Hahaha sorry OP this is a actually hilarious. Look at PPs having to describe this.

I get you are shaken. Whilst you could have done things differently - your home safe and sound having rattled a criminal so not too bad an outcome.

You will laugh at this one day for sure. Might take a while

People have a duty to their loved ones not to put themselves in danger, this is my point.

Only if there are, police officers, ex magistrates, councillors etc within the gated community. The Police attended because it's a 'hall'.
A housing officer has just been stabbed to death. We've had local shootings of bystanders. It was a stupid thing to do because the perpetrator would have to assume that you could identify them. That isn't far fetched in some areas of the country. Situations can escalate.

So it was his car? Why on earth would you ask him any questions?

It’s not brave it’s just naive and un-street wise.

It doesn't matter if it was stupid or not ffs. She was trying to answer police questions. They shouldn't be asking so many questions on calls like that and they should prioritise getting someone out. Fckn call handlers taking forever to triage when someone is literally calling frightened at night too.
They always act like they're not going to come out if you cannot give an accurate description of the guy or something or have every tiny detail.

We put ourselves in danger simply driving to school/work.

We have no duty to live risk free lives otherwise people wouldn't be police officers or firefighters or fighter pilots.

People take risks for the good of society. That's allowed, in fact it's commendable.

The OP decided to help. That's fine. If she'd made a different decision thst would be fine too.

How many times have we heard of people being mugged/attacked and people say "Why didn't someone help?" I wouldn't go that far but I certainly don't criticise people for taking a risk for the good of society.

I don't understand the eye through the gate thing, but there we are

even if this is made up I really enjoyed it

But there was no risk to any person. That would have been complety different. It was a car break in. Why would anyone put herself in harm's way to save a car radio?

I guess coming from London you learn to look the other way when it's a car burglary. I've certainly seen enough and you do NOT want to mess with the people I saw doing the robbing.

Me too, very entertaining 😄

That's all people are disagreeing with @MakeThatMakeSense about. Yes, she absolutely should have called the police - that's doing her duty, not being heroic - but no, she should not have challenged him face to face because that's just being stupid and reckless. If the police were still on the line to her (a bit odd in itself, given how stretched they are), I think the scenario would have been her giving a running commentary of what the bloke was doing and they absolutely would have told her not to confront him.

I think if it was a child or someone vulnerable at risk then yes I would intervene, but I’m not going to put my personal safety at risk for a material object. Call the police and let them handle it, it’s what they’re trained and equipped for.

Please ignore all the posters weighing in on this scenario and what they would have done. You did what you thought was right at the time. You’ve learned from it. You might have stopped someone losing their property.

You're a good egg.

Really stupid behaviour. Call the police and move on. You’re not a bloody vigilante

Except, in the end it seems this man actually lived there and was trying to get into his own car

He was breaking into a car. Why would you risk your personal safety for that?

How did you see his eye in a gap in the fence in the dark, whilst reversing, was there a street light right outside his fence?
how did he managed to jump in a car after he had presumably run several paces away from the house as he chased you? I mean by the time he’s found his keys, unlocked his door and put his seat belt on started the engine, you would have already gone…

Maybe I’ve read it wrong, but how or why was he then peering through a gate/fence at OP? Was he now inside grounds?

I didn't say I would.

...but other people do, I'm glad they do and they should be commended, not criticised.

My friend was out one night, not very late though, driving through town and a guy opened her door and jumped in at the lights, for a laugh, he was with friends.
She nearly crashed the car with the fright.
He only laughed and got out again.

I'm picking kids up late and the locking the car the minute i get in is the first thing I do until they are getting in.

I need to be here for my family so I can’t think of anything material I would defend over being here for them. There’s a lot of people out there who’d shank you just for looking at them ‘wrong’. At least we have personal phones now and can call the police while it’s happening.

You should never have confronted him. He knows your face, your car and your reg. Hopefully he doesn't bear a grudge, I'd be worried.