As I rounded the corner of the next street I heard a familiar sound in the distance. A home alarm system was ringing. As I got nearer to the source of the sound to my surprise I realised it was my neighbour John's house. I had known John for many years. We go out for a beer every Thursday and shoot some pool.



As I continued I saw quite a number of people on both sidewalks. They were just walking past John's house! They were walking past without taking the slightest bit of notice! I thought to myself do they not care? How can they be so disinterested so callous?

How would they feel if it was their house that was being burgled? I tried to be charitable and non-judgemental. Perhaps they have heard so many home alarms systems ringing that they have just simply got fed up with the situation and decided not to take any interest at all.

Or perhaps they were afraid that if they became involved they would be in danger themselves from intruders, I couldn't decide.

Anyway at that point I decided to investigate it for myself after all it was my neighbour's house. I opened the gate and walked along the path down the side of the house. His home alarm system was still ringing. The front of the house looked onto the sidewalk the windows and the front door all seemed to be intact.

I continued down the side of the house and turned the corner to the front of the house. I walked past the back door which looked fine and on towards the first large double window. In the corner of the window I saw a cracked pane and what I would describe as signs where someone had been trying to force the window open. There were chunks of the frame in small bits on the floor and of course flakes of paint everywhere.

There were definitely signs of an attempted break-in but it was also clear to me it was an aborted attempt.

Now just at that moment what do you think happened? What would you think was the worst thing that could happen to you in that situation?

Yes that's right the Cops arrived. He too had heard the home alarm system ringing. There I was standing at the scene of a crime. I turned around slowly to face the policeman. His hand had moved slowly to his waist ready to draw his weapon.

At that precise moment out of the corner of my eye I spotted a large screwdriver lying on the ground. The implement that I assumed the burglar had used. I was clearly in the frame (no pun intended). Now how was I going to explain this? ??.continued