I would definitely call the sheriff and ask them to investigate for you AND to give you the results.. I would NOT let it just hang.

Yes, call the sheriff. We had a similar occurrence in our area. The man would park in various places along the street, trying to avoid too much attention. It turned out to be an ex-boyfriend stalking his former girlfriend; she a restraining order, and he was not supposed to be in the area.

don't do like I did...should have called the cops, instead just took down licence, while he was smoking a bong...they couldn't do a thing without the person in the car...so yes, do call...

I would call the Sheriff's Office to file a report. I'd also try to get photos of the vehicle and its occupants, as well as the license plate. I'd keep a log of the dates and times that the vehicle was parked across the street -- time that it got there (or when you first noticed it) as well as the time it left.

Call don't wait. Better to safe than sorry.

Could be a private investigator trying to watch one of our neighbors. We had a guy parked up at our rural corner for a solid week. I found a bag of his TRASH up there (obviously cleaned out his glove box) and we tracked him down and called and got his father who told us what he was doing there, watching the comings and goings of a person. Told him to tell his son, the private investigator, to stop being a litterbug and a jerk and that we didn't appreciate having to clean up after his bored butt and that leaving personal information laying around like that was STUPID.

I would get a plate number if at all possible and make and model of car. It might be too dangerous to get close enough for a good pic of the person/persons. I would also call the police. Actually, I would leave my house and call the police, then come back. So if the person is approached by the police they hopefully won't connect the report to you since you weren't home.

I would also make every effort to not come home after dark. Be home before and make sure your house is secure. It's wonderful that you have big dogs.

Be safe!

I like that you have a gun and dogs! Smart! I also like that your worried....smart! Yes, I'd call the sheriff...it shouldn't be a big deal for them to stop and say "hello"....and take down the plate, make/model for when you call the sheriffs, then it would be on file. Stay safe.....

My first thought was a P.I. but, who knows. I'd call the sheriff and give him/her the heads up on what's going on. I agree with making notes and try to get a pic of the car/license without being noticed if possible. You certainly don't want to invite trouble. Glad you have the dogs for your safety.

I make it a habit to look out my windows regularly and especially at night before I go to bed. It allows me to observe any unusual cars/activities in and around the area. We live in a cul-de-sac so we know what cars don't belong and if they are parked in an odd spot because we all have good size driveways.

I don't think twice about reporting suspicious activity to the non-emergency number for our police department. They always thank this for 'nosy neighbors'. Sometimes it's 'something'. Sometimes it's 'nothing'. Once I called the police because I saw two men in a strange car parked across the street just before dawn. The police knew about them. They were there to repossess a car from someone renting across the street -- a first (and only) event for me.

We had a car with 2 people in it sitting in front of my next door neighbors house. We have narrow streets here so it was dangerous. This went on for a few days they would just sit there in the car and it is hot here. So finally my neighbor and her husband who is about 7 feet tall and large(and their big dog) went out and asked them what they were doing sitting on their property, they have to mow that area they were parked on and they could not mow. They were there to serve papers on someone on our street and were parked waiting for a chance to get them at home. They did not say who but they were not there the next day so they either got them or gave up.

It never hurts to document everything and ask the neighbors to do the same so you have some matching info from others to go with yours and call it in to the sheriff. Stay safe!

I'm willing to bet none of you has ever "observed" or prevented unlawful or threatening activity by looking out the window.

Ummm, you would be quite wrong, Snidely! We had a heroin problem last year and an empty lot just two doors down was the drop site. We are a nosy bunch and pretty soon we all knew what was going on. As soon as the car pulled up, I called the police. The dealer and the person buying the drugs were soon arrested. Our police appreciate us keeping an eye on things. We know when a car doesn't seem to belong and we keep an eye out. I would rather have nosy neighbors keeping things safe than not.

I am the OP and I was going to add that I am the nosy neighbor who watches out for stuff going on. Across from me is a church and I have called the pastor's wife when I see activity at the church that is not normal; like kids ripping hostas out of the ground and other vandalism. This car sits out on the street in front of the only unlocked door of the church although I have not seen anyone go into the church. Last night when the car left they turned down the next block and never came out from behind the church which is odd. On the other side of the church is what is referred to around town as the "meth apartments".

For my peace of mind I am going to talk to the sheriff office about this. If they are leaving when they see someone watching them, I believe they are up to no good.

"I'm willing to bet none of you has ever "observed" or prevented unlawful or threatening activity by looking out the window."

Maybe none of the contributors above....BUT...I beg to differ with the premise for your remark. Having lived in Northern Cal for some years...I was an active member of the California Block Watch system. Here in the East I'm a member of a similar group. The local PD's opening and appreciatively encourage such organizations. From my own personal contributions over these years, I've actively assisted in the identification and arrest of a couple of child perverts and a few drug busts. And...apparently the US government finds our eyes to be a valuable resource in their apprehension of criminals as their after 9/11 slogan advertises..."See It...Report It".

For the record...anyone hired to serve an order of the court...or to repossess property must register with the police department in the geographic area in which they're working. If those dallying in parked cars on your street are legit...a call to the local PD will put your mind at ease very quickly. They have a list of such people at the ready and will relieve your angst as soon as your give them identifying info.

We all have been told to be aware of our surroundings and rightfully so. It pays to report any suspicious vehicles. We live in a pretty safe area, but if I see a vehicle stopped anywhere in front of our house, I am at my big window, phone in hand, moving around. When they see me, they leave. If it is at night, I flip on our big spotlights which light up the whole place and they leave.

I called law enforcement when I noticed drug dealers had taken up residence in the garage of the empty house next door to our office and once when five biker looking types were threatening each other with knives across the street from our office. Both times the police were here, and the situations remedied, within minutes.

Anne said, "...anyone hired to serve an order of the court...or to repossess property must register with the police department in the geographic area in which they're working."

In California, anyone who is at least 18 years of age and not a party to the action can serve "orders of the court." If there is a requirement to register with the PD "in the geographic area in which they are working" it's a new one and not publicized.

It's really quite common for sheriff's office to serve orders here. Two birds with one stone?

Count me as another who has reported suspicious activity, not only in my neighborhood, but when I've been other places. I also do not hesitate to alert store employees when I see someone shoplifting.

Lindsey...thank you for the input. Perhaps I used the incorrect wording. Here in CT if you're going to be involved in a repossession or similar procedure you must be licensed and you're expected to make your intent known to the local PD in the area you're working. Otherwise you're liable to bump into a lot of trouble you don't need or want. It's been a long while since I lived in CA so I'm not up-to-date on your serving process. Under normal process here...orders of the court are served by a court official in the effected jurisdiction. Repossession and other similar servings are done by private companies.

Glad you decided to call the sheriff. I would ask if they could start patrolling your area more often and show a little more presence until you figure out what is going on.

Snidley, it's obvious your comment wasn't very well thought out. Of COURSE we report things we see out of a window! What do you think the members of Neighborhood watch groups are for and do? Turn a blind eye? Go up to where the crimes are being committed, confirm it's a crime and then call? Or better yet, wait until someone knocks on your door to see if you noticed someone emptying out their house?!

Anyone over the age of 18 can serve papers here in California. But in general process servers don't sit for hours waiting for someone to show up. I served papers for people. You generally know where they work or where they live or even whee they eat breakfast. So staking out isn't necessary.

My guess is the car is either doing surveillance as either a PI service or perhaps a bounty hunter looking for someone who skipped bail.

DS worked surveillance in the past when he was working all sorts of odd jobs. If working a steady case they might let the local LEOs know but generally not. It was more often, we need someone out there, go. They don't sit in front of the person's home. They sit down where they can have a good view of the block where they can see things coming and going. Long cold hours, eating cold food and p-ing in a cup. LOL

Just out of curiousity.. Is there an unsecured wifi network available there?

He could be parking there to use someone's network.

Gardenspice, I was thinking the same thing. I used to pass a car on the same block mornings, all kinds of weather that sometimes led to windows steamed up. Who ever it was had found a 'hot signal' and was taking advantage of it, otherwise no threat to the neighborhood.

Another time, a married man meeting a lover. It was my mailman as it turns out!

Not that I make light of strange cars appearing in neighborhoods without explanation. I would ask for an extra patrol as possible - and I do belong to a neighborhood block watch.

We have 22 acres of vacant land and woods across from us, the drive leading in is gated. A couple of years ago after the owner moved out of state we noticed quite a bit of activity. Cars pulling up, opening the gate and going in. After a week or so, we called and asked the Sheriffs office to check it out, and it ended up being a relative of the owner using it as a safe spot to sell drugs and party.

"I don't have too much worry about my safety as I have dogs with big teeth and a Remington 12 gauge tactical loaded with 00 buckshot which would not be brought out until someone is through the door."

I LOVE this!!!

OP here again. I did call the sheriff dept to report and they were interested. I will be reporting again the next time I see the car. There have been a few thefts around town so who know what is going on. At least whoever is doing it know that people are looking at them now. Since they took off so fast last night when they saw me looking at them, I am positive they were up to no good.

Thank you, I will. I talked to other neighbors so they will be on the lookout as well.

I am glad to read you called the sheriff gardenerlorisc_ia. Please take no offense to this but I don't think it is very wise to announce to a bunch of strangers that you have a Remington 12 gauge tactical loaded with 00 buckshot. Some folks are pretty internet savvy and it would not take long to figure out where that bad boy resides. Take care!

That Remington, while a decent arm, would not be on anyone's list of highly coveted firearms. Heck they are sold at WM for under $400. And, anyone who would be crazy enough to think about getting it would have enough bite marks on them they would be admitted to the closest hospital. And that is not even mentioning that they would look like a pile of hamburger from 00 buckshot.

They can actually get a home address off the comments one posts? Amazing!

Anyway, thanks for letting me know and I mean that sincerely. Maybe I need to phrase my comments more carefully.

I agree with the above,.....come and take it! Ha ha!! Let me see what you look like with big teeth marks on your behind where my catahoula and pit bull escort you away. Actually, we did wake up with a total stranger in the house one morning at 5:30 a.m. When I went out to see why the other dogs were making a fuss, and saw him, my husband came out of the bedroom with a pistol and it was only by the grace of God that he jumped off the porch and didn't get shot. My worst (best) dogs were in the bedroom, raising hell, but they took off after him, as he ran thru the woods with brambles, etc. He was arrested and got 5 years, which I don't think was enough, but I don't think he will come back to my house.

Marilyn: Don't take offense at this question, but I recall someone here posting your tale of the dogs and your husband coming out of the bedroom with a gun -- and only his briefs on. Same husband? (The previous time I read it, the "visual" was pretty darn good!)

Gardener: Since you wrote "them" -- of the car's occupants -- I wonder if it was a little lunch-hour rendezvous... Maybe taking the dogs out for a walk out front every now and then would make any questionable people scram!

Hi Pammy, One time I saw 2 people and they were chatting quite animatedly but other times there was just a single person there.

Since they saw me standing watching them and they left fairly rapidly, I have not seen the car since. So, unless they are out of my sight, they have apparently picked another spot for whatever they were up to.

I have seen rendezvous hook up in the church parking lot and leave in one vehicle for a short time. There are no secrets in a small town! hehe