Guy with cell phone in my yard?

Question

Earlier this evening (around 5) my dog started barking and I looked to see a car parked in the street and the passenger (a boy who looked about 19) was standing in my yard holding his cell phone up. At first I thought he was looking for a signal, but then when he saw me, look out the window he ran and got in the car with another guy the same age and they sped away. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if he wasn't taking a picture of my house for some reason. I've lived here 3 years and we aren't refinancing or anything that would require a new appraisal.

Any ideas what he was doing? What I should do?

Answer 1

I would call it in just like the other's above have said but I will offer an alternate explanation as well.  There are real estate companys that higher scouts to check out property and using cell phone picks is a fast way to check out if a property is desirable from the outside.

Answer 2

tear your house down so when he comes back he gets confused if he is on the right street.

seriously, who cares if someone took a picture of your house? I take pictures of interesting things, including houses, street scenes, details, interesting landscaping all the time.

if you can see it in public, you can take a picture of it.

btw, I was a producer on a movie this year, and in scouting locations and looking for prop vehicles, I drove all over town taking pictures to send back to the director to see if it was what he wanted. easily hundreds of properties and hundreds of vehicles, all in my cell phone or digicam or both.

we never had any issues at all...

stop being so paranoid.

Answer 3

Sounds like he was looking for weaknesses so he can break in.  I'd call the police, and maybe borrow a BIG dog for a couple of weeks.  Also, be sure your doors and windows are locked, and install an alarm system if you don't already have one.  

Answer 4

Maybe he was taking pictures/ video, to try and plot a break into your home. Who knows.  

Answer 5

Sounds like your his next victim.

Unfortunately, people are just wierd like that.

It also sounds like he was looking for some weak spots for him and his entourage to easily open and break in.

Secure your locks and windows.

Answer 6

i dont no wat is up with those guys, but it doesnt seem too good.

i say u shuld let the police no so they can keep a watch out.

Answer 7

he was casing the joint. lock your doors and windows

Answer 8

You should call the police. He might be trying to come up with a plan on how to break into your house. If you give the police a description now, they know who to look for if it happens. If not, they can at least look for them now and charge them for trespassing. You can prevent something bad from happening now.

Lock all your doors and windows. It's imperative that you do this. Keep a mobile or cell phone on you in case they break in during the middle of the night. You can hide in a closet, and call the police.

Answer 9

If they are 19 they don't work for a real estate company. Even if he did he would have no reason to run away so fast. If a company wanted to "scout" they would call...... but you are not looking into a refi or anything so you are not on a list. Or they would send you one of those "do you want to refi" cards in the mail. A picture would be worthless.

If they were taking a picture for this reason they would have a camera that could take a picture from off of your property. Not a phone camera. And why at 5 instead of at noon when the light is better?

If they just needed a signal why be standing in your yard instead of down on the corner. Why on your property? And why would they speed away if it was as innocuous as getting a signal?

It could be nothing but you must make the assumption that something is up. Call the police non-emergency number, have someone come out and tell them what is up. It is possible that they have had reports of this from others. A few houses in your area may have been burgled. They may bump up the patrols a bit and also be on the lookout for that car.

Of course bump up some basic security measures home wise. How to do that is best left to another question.

As an aside do you have teenagers or any kids in the house? If that is the case it would be more likely that it has something to do with that.  

Answer 10

It is called "casing the joint".  I would file a police report.  Also let your neighbors know to be on the lookout and to call the cops if anyone sees him again.