** This article is a work of nonfiction based on actual events as shared with me by a friend who experienced them firsthand; used with permission.
I received a phone call from some friends of ours the other day. My friend’s husband is a work-from-home dad and had called the police on what he believed to be a drunk walking into people’s homes. They live in a cul-de-sac, and he is the self-appointed neighborhood watchdog since he is usually home.
Since it was the middle of the day, he thought it rather odd that a man was staggering around in the cul-de-sac; he went and grabbed his shoes to go out and investigate. When he opened his front door, the man was walking into his neighbor’s house. He was reasonably sure that the neighbor wasn’t home, so he stepped back into his own house and called the police.
While he waited for the police, he kept a close eye on the neighbor’s house from his window. When the police arrived, they went to the house in question and knocked on the door. The ‘intruder’ answered the door. However, it turned out that the intruder was actually the homeowner.
He had been in a car wreck, and a friend dropped him off at the top of the cul-de-sac. Since he had injured his ankle, it appeared that he was staggering and possibly drunk. Imagine my friend’s husband’s shock when he realized what had happened.
It’s great to have a neighborhood watchdog; however, it’s also important to know your neighbors. My friend’s husband went over to apologize to his neighbor. The neighbor thanked my friend’s husband for keeping an eye on things. He was grateful that someone was looking out for his home. What do you think? Is it important to know your neighbors and keep an eye out?
Comments / 11