Police often at neighbor's

Time to get involved?

Several months ago I noticed a police car parked outside my neighbors' house. I didn't think too much about it, but I did ask the wife what was up and she told me it was a false alarm of her security system. No big deal. But since then, I've seen a police car at their house several (maybe a dozen?) more times. I'm curious and a little suspicious. I'm wondering if I should stick my nose in this and find out what's really up or keep out of it. I have no idea what's going on, but I don't believe the false alarm story.
-- S in Indiana

NuKazoo readers shared their experiences:

Consider the neighbor's privacy. For example, before we moved from our last home in Chicago, cops were regularly outside the home at the end of our block. We didn't know these neighbors. After a handful of police "sightings" I asked another neighbor what was up. I learned that the family the cops were visiting had three teenage boys who regularly tested the law. I was glad I hadn't gotten involved.

-- S. S., Barrington, IL

What affects neighbors affects you. You must find out at least if the neighbor is the offender or the offended. My guess is that if the false alarm story is a lie that the neighbor is covering up something. We went through a period where cops were regularly on our street and it turned out a neighbor was a victim of domestic abuse. She didn't tell anyone on the block because she was ashamed. Eventually the couple divorced. I wish now I had acted on my curiosity. Maybe I could have helped her.

-- Holly from Laguna Hills, CA

You need to know what's going on. If you have questions, get answers. If guns or drugs are involved, your family could become victims. Case in point, a few years back, neighbors noticed lots of characters coming and going to a nearby house at all hours. Some neighbors called the cops, which led to the neighbor's arrest for selling drugs. Who knows what would have happened if that behavior hadn't been stopped.

-- Alyssa in Boothwyn, PA

Curiosity killed the cat. A few years back, I saw a cop at my neighbor's house three or four times during the day (I work out of my home) over the course of a couple months. I happened to mention it to the husband of the couple. Turns out the wife had never told him about the police visiting them and my question caught him completely off guard. I never did hear what was up, but I suspect she and the cop had something going. I should have kept my mouth shut!

-- Dan, Palos Hills, IL

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