Friends

29 July 2018

DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!



This is a story of long ago, published in 2009, which illustrates my opinion of our wonderful police force.

Set the scene:

My son and I lived in a very large house, divided into two flats. My flat was on the ground floor, accessible by front and side doors. The side entrance was reached via an alleyway between houses, and through a gate that led to the yard.

As a single Mum I had to work. Arrangements were made for Jon before and after a school day but there were times when he was alone in the house. He was very young when this episode took place. In those days it wasn’t illegal to leave a child alone and I made sure people knew he was there and to look out for him, including the neighbour upstairs.

‘Never open the door to strangers.’ I warned. ‘Always ring the office to check it out.’

One day, the dreaded call was received.

Two men had entered the side gate and were knocking on the door.

Scared boy rang his Mum.

‘Okay,’ I said, trying for his sake to keep calm. ‘So what are they doing now?’

‘They’ve gone down the garden,’ said young son. 

The garden also provided access to the French doors in my lounge.

Panic!

‘Don’t open the door,’ I said, trying not to scare my boy.

Leaving him holding on the phone, I went to the switchboard and rang the police on a different line. Told them a young child was alone in the house and two men were trying to get in. 

On our way, they said, after taking details of son’s name and age.

Went back to talk to my son … and learned that the police had already arrived. Yes, as quick as that. I could hear them calling to him through the door, telling him not to be afraid. I grabbed my coat and ran while switchboard colleague rang the neighbour.

Two men were apprehended.

Milkmen!

They had entered my property to use the toilet.

How did they know it was there?

I didn’t have a milkman!

On arriving home, neighbour in the upstairs flat told me she had seen the men enter the outside toilet, situated further down the yard. She had a perfect view from her window. Apparently, the police arrived as they were coming out.
`
When things were settled I wrote to the General Manager of the Dairy to complain about the men taking such liberties. Had a nice letter back, was assured that steps had been taken to reprimand the culprits but that their excuse was taken as legitimate and they would not lose their jobs.

MONTHS LATER

The mystery was solved.

I discovered that my cousin’s husband had taken a job as a milkman.

Near to my house, his colleague had skidded and fallen onto a broken bottle.

Gashed his thigh!

In order to see to the wound my relative called at my house for help. and, since no-one opened the door, they went to the outside toilet.

‘Well,’ said cousin’s husband, ‘he could hardly drop his trousers in the road.’

I asked why he didn’t tell me about it, but he said he felt such a fool. After the interview with the boss he couldn’t face my wrath as well.

So here’s the point of relating the story:

Our police didn’t waste time then and they don’t waste time now. No matter what people say, when we need help they never let us down.

15 comments:

  1. This is a very interesting event. Must have been a scary situation and I am glad it went well. You have made a good point. With all the negative stories out there and a few bad apples, we must remember the majority are there to help us in times of need and have done so. Being a police man’s daughter I applaud the point you have made. Thanks Valerie :)

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  2. Denise, my son is now mid-fifties but neither he nor I have forgotten that day. It wasn't funny at the time but it has raised a few laughs in later years. I suppose the retelling gets more and more 'dressed up'. Naturally, having worked in the CID for many years, I still praise the boys in flue.

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  3. What a funny story! I really laughed when I read it!

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  4. Valerie, what a GREAT story! And what a twist at the end that I wasn't expecting.

    "Our police didn’t waste time then and they don’t waste time now. No matter what people say, when we need help they never let us down."

    Yes, you are so right about that. As I'm sure you've seen on the news, we here in US have had a lot of issues with disrespect for the men and women on our police force. To me, they have such dangerous job to begin with, let alone now having to be seriously concerned about violence towards them.

    I have great respect and admiration for the men and women who serve on our police force.

    Have a super Sunday, my friend!

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    1. Hi Ron, I hope I got it across that the story was for real. The disrespect we see now for those who would protect us growing at a pace and it worries me no end. Where I live a lot of residents are too scared to leave their homes - that shows how bad it's getting. And most in my road are elderly, what chance do they have against ruffians?

      I have had a quiet day... Charlie slept for most of it hehe. Hope the coming week is a good one for both of us x

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  5. Heartwarming post!

    Yes, our police take very good care of us.

    And we need to appreciate them. Not revile them, as so many do, in my country. Grrrrrrrr.... And sighhhhh...

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    1. Hi, and welcome. It is the same in the UK, no respect for those who try to make us safe.
      I noted your other comments on different posts and will try to reply to them all in due course.

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  6. It must have been a very worrying experience for you both. I think people would like to see a Dixon of Dock Green bobby walking or cycling rather than just ones driving cars or watching a ccctv screen. Great post Valerie.

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    1. I agree with you about bobbies on the beat. Where I live there is talk of closing the police station altogether. The residents are in uproar about it. I mean, where does one go if help is needed?

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  7. We too have excellent police. Also fortunate that violent crime is quite rare in our small town rural area...:)

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    1. Sadly, violence is becoming all too common in my area - which was once regarded as THE place to live and noted for an absence of crime.

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  8. A scare and a laugh, all within the space of a few hundred words. Magic! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  9. Thanks, Cuban. It is amazing how a serious tale can turn into a funny one.

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  10. It would have been a worrying situation for you both. Thank God that nothing seriously happened!
    Appreciate the work of police:)

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    Replies
    1. Indeed it was a worrying time. I don't know how people go on in this present time.

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