Just got done filling out a police report.

[InternalDialogue]

I've got to stay up a bit to work past the adrenaline.

A man kicked in the door of my neighbor's house. I heard the thumps, heard the house alarm ring, and then heard him cursing. That got me up to look out my window, and I saw him headed down my alley.

The police dispatcher said someone had just reported a break-in at the same address and police were on their way.

Turns out a neighbor across the street drove by at the exact moment the guy kicked in the door, and that neighbor noticed everything and was able to ID the man when police brought him around.

I got hold of my neighbor's girlfriend (he wasn't home) and got her to come over and speak to the police. I had seen just enough that they wanted a statement from me to corroborate the main witness.

So it's all over, but I'm still a bit jumpy. Something about getting a peek at the tail end of a burglary next door to make your heart skip.

[barb162]

1. Have a drink or an aspirin. That would make anyone nervous.

[InternalDialogue]

2. Judging by my reaction, I would make a horrible police officer.

Unfortunately I have no beer in the house. One would definitely go down well right now.

But we'll get through -- my cat's still kind of excited that one of the cops saw her and said, "Ooh, kitty!" She's awful proud of that.

:beer:

[Broken_Hero]

3. Damn what a night....

I'm glad everything is ok...Have a brew on me, it might calm you down :toast:

[InternalDialogue]

6. Hi, petersond.

I rarely keep beer in the house, but last night would have been a good time to have some in the fridge, just to smooth over the spike of energy.

And like I told reformedrepub, my experience with police in my neighborhood has always been nothing but good. So luckily, the nervous energy was the only annoyance for me. Nothing close to the experience my block had last year, when a drunk driver played pinball with his truck on our street -- hit at least eight cars, by our count, drove across two lawns, swiped an 80-foot maple tree eight feet from my home, and left tire rubber on my front porch step. Everyone on my end of the block was outside at 2:00 a.m. with flashlights and video cameras, playing CSI with tire tracks and scattered car parts until the officers showed up. The police caught that guy within an hour too. :thumbsup:

Still, thanks for the beer. I think I'll gladly bring some home tonight and have a retroactive drink.

[reformedrepub]

4. You okay.....

If you have any questions...ask away.

[InternalDialogue]

5. Hey, rr.

I got myself settled down to sleep before your reply. I haven't met you before, so this could be a dumb question, but are you a police officer?

Things actually went smoothly, as far as things like this go, and it's not the first criminal activity that has come to a climax right outside my home, but it's the first time one of my immediate neighbors was victimized. It's one thing to hear a sound, see some activity, and call the police, then see what goes down. It's another thing when the realization hits that you just saw your friend's house get hit.

The police have always responded quickly and well when I've needed them here, and the officer I talked to last night was really good at keeping me informed as things developed -- by the time I had gotten my neighbor's girlfriend talking on the phone with the first officer to respond, a cruiser had pulled up with the burglar in the back. My neighbor ID'ed him, the details I had corroborated his ID, and they got the house secured.

So I got to sleep late, didn't get to sleep as long as I wish I could have this morning, and my neighbor won't be happy when he comes back to town. But the sun's out, it's a new day, and things always seem better in the morning.