Sitting up all night, waiting for a crime to happen...

Its now 2am on a sunday morning, and I am probably the only one still awake in the entire neighbourhood! Well, there is a reason for this madness, I can happily declare. A few hours ago, as I left the supermarket with my weekly shopping bag, I realised there was a "dangerous dog" let loose by its owner, which was running madly along my usual path back home. So, I took a detour, along the car park - something I would normally never consider. I could sense someone watching me intently, and as I gazed up, I noticed the driver of a parked van staring straight at me. I thought no more of it, and walked past his van. A few minutes later, as I turned into the small road that leads to the cul-de-sac where I live, I noticed the same van hurrying past me, and turning into the very cul-de-sac where I live. Surely this was just a strange coincidence? Or so I thought at that time. However, within seconds of my entering my house and locking myself in, I heard the man drive off...

In the next half hour, I went about my usual chores - got my pizza toppings ready, switched on the oven, did the dishes while the pizza was getting fit for consumption. And then it struck me! I hit panic mode...what if the guy was a Registered Sex Offender? What if he planned to break in at night when everyone was asleep? What if I was murdered in bed? And finally, what if he was just visiting one of my neighbours? So, I went about knocking on my neighbours' doors. Spoke to 3 of them, all of whom advised me to "be careful and lock all doors and windows". A couple of other neighbours were away. And I trekked back to the supermarket, to see if I could speak to one of the Police Community Support Officers? Unfortunately, none of them were about. But, I did get to explain to the security officer, who took my concerns seriously and got me to speak to the Police department, who immediately logged the details on their system. I was asked a dozen questions...and finally told to go home, and call 999 if I hear any strange noises!

Back home, I promptly double-checked the latches on all windows, and bemoaned the lack of iron grills along windows, as is the case in the country of my birth. Glass can be broken easily by any determined burglar. I'd also switched on 2 lights in the house, and the telly, and my laptop. And then, there was a knock on my door. I was terrified! But the lady on the other side of the wooden door was a Police Community support officer, who had been told to check in on me by the operator. We had a long chat, and I received some really sensible advice. She suggested that another possibility could be that he had come this way accidentally and had stopped to check his SatNav or the map...Well, it somehow didn't sound convincing enough to me. I was also given phone numbers to call in case I hear unusual noises in the night.

That was three and a half hours ago...and here I am, waiting to see if there is any attempt to commit a crime tonight. The wait is long and agonising. There is a lot going on in my mind right now. But topmost among it all is the realisation that living in the countryside is not all that glamorous as it is made out to be:-)