COGGY wrote:Hi Rosenberg
I have to say I find your remarks offensive, particularly the last comment. It is possible that the men were innocent, in which case no harm has been done. If they are not innocent then having the number plate may be extremely helpful. Possibly if your house was burgled (I am not speaking from experience luckily) you would be grateful if someone had noted anything suspicious. In this case there had been a recent burglary nearby so all the more reason to take note of anything unusual.
Regards
Coggy
Hello Coggy,
What do you find offensive about my remarks?
-- The fact that I raise the possibility that the men might be innocent?
-- The fact that the police shouldn't be burdened with people's unfounded fears?
-- The widely held view that Dail Mail readers are small-minded, property-obsessed, neighbourhood-watching curtain twitchers?
-- That "shady" could have referred to an ethinic minority? Some people DO use such euphamisms and I don't know whether the OP is one of them without asking.
I really can't see why any of that might be offensive.
In answer to your speculation: yes I have been burgled, many years ago before I installed an alarm and CCTV. I agree that suspicious activity should be reported to the police, but people need to apply a degree of judgement before doing so. Not everything unusual or unpleasant falls into that category. And anyway, somebody "casing the joint" is hardly going to make themselves known to the owner - they would do it discreetly.
You say if they are innocent, no harm has been done. What about wasting the police's time? What about increasing the possibility that the men's old van might be stopped and searched unecessarily? Even shady looking characters might find that upsetting, inconvenient, intimidating or alienating.