Suspicious Behavior

NewMexiKen is reading Edward Conlon’s Blue Blood, an excellent memoir of life in the NYPD. So, of course, I too want to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior.

And conveniently enough, it has appeared in my neighborhood.

I live at one end of a very quiet street. After 8PM or so, I reckon fewer than a half-dozen cars routinely pass down my street before morning. It’s also an unusually dark street because we purposefully have no street lights and bright porch and yard lights are prohibited. (We like the sky.) Indeed, last night for example, the only real light was the glow from the city and the moon.

The house opposite mine is for rent and has been vacant for more than two months. Sunday and Monday nights after 9PM a dark sedan parked in front of the house (that is, opposite my driveway). A single individual, apparently male, got out, very quietly, and faded from sight. I thought he might be checking the vacant house, but no light came on inside or out. After 15 minutes (I was reading, only vaguely aware of the car and man and not keeping close track), he got back into the car and drove down the street. First night, I gave little thought to it. Second night, I thought that it was at least curious.

Last night, the third night, around 9:45 the car pulled into the driveway of the vacant house — which activated the motion-detector flood lights. I began to watch. When the floods finally went out (after about five minutes), the man got quietly out of the car and disappeared from sight. He was gone about 20-25 minutes, then came back, quietly got in the car and drove off.

I should add that I was reading in my bedroom in the recliner all three evenings (it’s the best chair and the coolest room). I keep the French door to the front courtyard open, so can see the street (dark as it is). I certainly would not have noticed this if I had been at the computer or watching the TV in the living room. (Both of which are in the back of the house.)

So what do you think he’s up to? Suspicious, no? Should I do anything?

This morning I saw my next-door neighbor and told him this story. He usually knows everything that’s going on around here, so I’m certain he’ll be observant if it happens again tonight.