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01.30 Am. That was the time being displayed on my alarm clock as I was woken by the siren whistling loudly from next doors house alarm.
I wearily got out of bed and went downstairs to investigate further.

Out of my back door, I peered over the fence to sneak a look into my neighbour's property. The place was in darkness. A false alarm.
I decided to have a cigarette before going back to bed. I stood on the back step puffing away tiredly, when suddenly a light went on next door in an upstairs bedroom.

That's odd, if she were in, surely she would turn that blasted racket off?' I thought seconds after seeing the light go on. Then, darkness resumed again. The light had gone out. Did they see me?'. I decided I better stand nearer my back door so I couldn't be spotted.

I weighed up the options available to me. Should I go round and tackle the intruder myself? Should I ring the police to tackle the intruder, after all, that's what we pay them for?
Like all good cowards, I chose the second option and dialled the local police.
The operator took the details and at the end of the call asked my date of birth. What did they want that for?' I obliged her request, slightly bemused by the question, and waited for the cavalry.

The cavalry arrived ten minutes or so later in the form of two very young looking uniformed officers. As they approached the front gate of my neighbour's property I opened my front door. "There is definitely someone in there" I informed a nervous looking officer. My news was greeted with what could be described only as fear. The young officer stood, frozen at the gate contemplating his next move.

The second officer had conveniently made his way round to the back alley that skirts our properties, leaving the edgy officer alone in his quest.
After realising I was observing the policeman's behaviour, he was spurred into action. He started to edge very slowly down the path toward the front door. He looked ready to run the very moment a burglar exited the property.

The young patrolman finally reached his destination. He tapped timidly on the front door in a manner that hopefully wouldn't attract an onrushing criminal.
Suddenly the front door sprang open and I watched in amazement as the officer sprinted back to the safety of the gate.

To confound the young constable's embarrassment further, my neighbours head emerged from the low light being emitted through the open door. My neighbour is a middle aged lady that stands all of five feet in height. Awkwardly, the officer walked back to the door and entered the property to clear up this sorry incident.

I closed my front door with a grin stuck to my face. I couldn't believe that I had seen a law enforcer run like a sprinter hearing the starter's pistol' when he saw that front door open.
God help us all if this is the future of crime prevention. A new chapter in the mission statement of policing will read: Upon meeting criminal. Run first, arrest later.

Learn more about this author, Neil Dixon.
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