Tom in Fauntleroy e-mailed to share news of an unsettling “visitor” early today – and half an hour later, we are adding to this story, with Charles‘s report of a suspicious sighting in Highland Park – read on for both:
First, from Tom:
We live on Fauntleroy across the street from Lincoln Park. Last night (1:30 am Wednesday morning) we were awoken by our dog barking. There was someone on our front porch lightly rapping the knocker. We jumped up, our dog went out to the living room to investigate, and the rapping continued a bit. Not hearing our names being called, and knowing that any friends would have called us by phone (and would never have come by our house anywhere near that hour) we were concerned.
We called 911. While placing the call, the person stepped off of our porch (didn’t get a look) and said “hello” in an off kind of voice. Peeking out we didn’t get a look, but our front porch light went on, and our neighbor’s backyard motion sensor went on a minute later.
The police were there within 3 minutes with two cars, checked on us at the front door then looked around all of the houses nearby. They continued to patrol the area for the next 20 minutes, no indication that they found anyone.
Our sense was that either it was a disoriented (drunk, ill) person or someone scoping the place to see if there would be any reply before attempting to enter. Either way, a bit creepy.
We just wanted to put the word out to folks in our area because we have seen recent reports of activity nearby this spring.
Also, wanted to give a big thanks to the police for the quick and thorough response.
We appreciate their work and presence.
Editor’s note: At recent crime-prevention meetings, police have reiterated that it is a typical M.O. for burglars to loudly knock at any door they can find, to check for any signs someone is home, before deciding whether to break in. So they say caution is certainly warranted. Now – added at 9 pm – the report we just got from Charles:
Just thought it might be worth letting folks know that tonight (6.3.09 @ about 7:45 PM) a young male (African American, about 5’7″, about 140 lbs, wearing longer denim blue shorts and a red-and-white plaid shirt) hopped my hurricane fence while I was mowing the lawn in the back yard (I live in the 9000 block of 13th Avenue SW [map]).
He seemed to be in a panic and said that someone was chasing him. He asked me to call the police. I told him that I didn’t have my phone and that I’d need to go get it. He started to follow me and asked if he could come into the house. I told him no twice and left to go into the house. I called 911 immediately. The fellow was gone when I went back outside, apparently hopping the fence again. Before I was off the phone with the operator, a police car drove by and started to sweep the area. That car and another cruiser drove by a few minutes later to let me know that they’d not seen him but that they’d keep their eyes open.
I don’t know if this was a legitimate call for assistance or a scam to gain trust and entry into my home.
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