Threatening man

[Sue]

I've just had a "visit" from somebody asking if I wanted rubbish clearance.

There is a pile of builder's stuff outside my house.

When I said no, the builders were coming back, he said was it all rubbish.

When I said I had no idea, he said what a pity I had such a lovely house (it has been boarded up for months and only just unboarded) but was so rude (???) and how about he came back tomorrow and broke all my windows.

I said I would take his car reg (which I did) and he said the car wasn't registered to him anyway.

Has anybody else had a similar "visit"? I feel very shaken. Not to mention worried about my windows :(

[KidKruger]

Wow ! What a vile individual.

Personally I?d call the police, I wonder if this guy was casing the place.

[DulwichFox]

Hi Sue..

Probably a chancer. Would of charged you to take away your building rubbish away

and dumped it up the road somewhere.

Try not to worry. you've had enough stress recently.

Foxy

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> Wow ! What a vile individual.

> Personally I?d call the police, I wonder if this

> guy was casing the place.

Don't know, I was outside looking at the front because the builders had just left for the day.

It doesn't seem worth bothering the police, what are they going to do? If they find the guy and speak to him, it could make things worse for me :(

If he was checking the place out, he won't be very happy if he breaks in. I don't even have a TV at the moment - there's nothing of value here at all.

[Sue]

It was a silver Astra, if that rings any bells with anybody.

White man maybe late thirties early forties, hard to tell.

I imagine he is going round the area looking for "rubbish" which people might want "cleared."

[cella]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've just had a "visit" from somebody asking if I

> wanted rubbish clearance.

>

> There is a pile of builder's stuff outside my

> house.

>

> When I said no, the builders were coming back, he

> said was it all rubbish.

>

> When I said I had no idea, he said what a pity I

> had such a lovely house (it has been boarded up

> for months and only just unboarded) but was so

> rude (???) and how about he came back tomorrow and

> broke all my windows.

>

> I said I would take his car reg (which I did) and

> he said the car wasn't registered to him anyway.

>

> Has anybody else had a similar "visit"? I feel

> very shaken. Not to mention worried about my

> windows :(

That's terrible Sue - hope you've recovered somewhat. Maybe reconsider reporting it - if nothing else it goes towards building stats. I'm slightly concerned as there's a pile of similiar outside our house at the moment so will see if there's a weekend visit.

[se22cat]

This is an awful thing to happen to you, Sue, hope you do report it. Might be worth investing in a doorbell/security camera combo such as Ring which get discounted online sometimes, that way you don't have to face such horrible people again & it gives you a sense of safety. I hope the rest of the week is less stressful and you can put it past you, not nice having a shakeup like this, and hearing it happen to someone who does a lot for the community saddens me even more.

[Sue]

Thanks both, I was actually outside my house when it happened, so a security camera wouldn't have helped I think.

I was at one point worried he was about to get out of his car, but thankfully he didn't.

[Blah Blah]

Definitely report it . Why? Because he might knock on the door of someone more vulnerable who will then get short shifted by him. As you said, you have ongoing building works, and builders who will take care of rubbish disposal at the end. This guy was looking to charge you for (probably illegal) dumping of that rubbish. And you should never feel so threatened by a cold caller anyway. Plenty of red flags there.

[Pugwash]

A friend of mine some years ago fell for a scam where someone stated they would remove wood/plants/bramble from her front garden. She refused him, and was furious to find some days later whilst she was out that same person had approached her husband with the same request and he allowed the guy to remove the stuff and had paid him.

Relating the story ( and her annoyance re her husband) to our local beat officers - they arranged to interview both of them at home and took descriptions. Police kept couple informed for several months and reported that the same 'gang' were targeting elderly people in ED with ground clearance, replacing downpipes and guttering, roof tiles etc. Police asked her to warn any vulnerable neighbours/friends/etc and to contact them should they be approached by this gang.

[Sue]

Just looking at the online reporting site for the Met.

Would this come under "crime" (not a crime as far as I can see) or "antisocial behaviour"?

I can't see that any other category applies, except possibly "something you've seen or heard"?

None of them really seem relevant to the situation.

[IlonaM]

Potential scam and threatening behaviour (threat to cause criminal damage breaking your windows), so I'd report as crime or, if you're reticent, anti-social behaviour.

[Sue]

Thanks!

[JohnL]

Ironically sounds like trash talking to me and nothing he says has any real value

My reply to all these people is basically "you what".

[Sue]

I have reported it.

There was a section under "crime" for "threats, verbal abuse or assault." Thankfully it wasn't assault.

[Sue]

JohnL Wrote:

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> Ironically sounds like trash talking to me and

> nothing he says has any real value

You may not have thought that if you were an oldish woman by herself with nobody else about, as I was.

[ladyH]

Glad you reported. Call 101 if he comes back.

[Metallic]

Sorry to hear this - it is intimidating and worrying. Keep that car reg. on hand in case you see him somewhere else locally, at someone's door. Then dial 999 - he did threaten your property which is an offence.

Without being too specific, could you say where you live?

[Sue]

Metallic Wrote:

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> Sorry to hear this - it is intimidating and

> worrying. Keep that car reg. on hand in case you

> see him somewhere else locally, at someone's door.

> Then dial 999 - he did threaten your property

> which is an offence.

>

> Without being too specific, could you say where

> you live?

Ulverscroft Road. Off North Cross Road.