IF YOU SEE SOMETHING...

Almost every day, no matter what the weather, a little before 8 A.M., a white van pulls up and parks on a side street. Casually dressed, and disheveled men and women walk down the hill, cross the street or seemingly wander out of the park and congregate around it for varying periods of time. No one takes anything away in boxes or bags as they leave.

*******

It's after one o'clock in the morning. The sound of a dial box is heard. Then from outside, a woman's slurred yelling is heard. "Can you open the door?!" The main door slams. She passes where she used to live, and ascends the stairs to a level where only one person resides. She commences banging on doors on every floor. One person inquires from the inside without opening their door. "Were you asleep? Did I disturb you? You got a few dollars?" A muffled angry reply is heard, then a door slams. More door banging. No one answers. She leaves the building and goes to the bus stop. After a while, a car pulls up. She crosses the street and gets into it. The car's lights go out. She remains inside for about 10 minutes. She exits. The car goes in one direction, she goes back to the bus stop.

*******

Two guys wearing all black, with hoods covering their heads, walk around a parked car. They look from side to side. One crosses the street. One stays near the car. Every time someone walks by, they freeze in their tracks. They walk to an adjacent street where another car is parked. From it, they retrieve a jack. They come back to the original car and, unsuccessfully attempt to jack it up. A woman and her child are exiting a car. They walk up to the woman and startle her. They talk, briefly. The woman shakes her head. They walk away from her. She hurries to get her things from her car, takes her child by the hand and goes into her building. They guys go back to the car. One opens the door and retrieves a long, metal tool. They go back to the curbside and try once again to jack up the car. They've been going through the motions required to jack up a car for a while, yet the car never elevates.

******

A car pulls up and parks. A guy walks down the hill and enters the back seat of the car. It's chilly outside, but his only outerwear is a light jacket. He remains inside the car for a few minutes. He exits. The car leaves. He walks quickly in the same direction the car has traveled.

*****

It's a school day. It's after 9 A.M. A group of uniformed kids is heading in a direction where there is no school. As they walk, they occasionally look back. They adjust their hoodies to obscure their faces. Some have backpacks. Some don't.

Harmless, explainable circumstances? Serious issues that deserve a 911 call? Or could it be proof that you are turning into your neighborhood's modern day version of Mrs. Kravitz?