back gate

The police came around the house last night to ask if, in the light of the recent break-in two doors up, I?d seen or heard anything suspicious.

Wanting to cooperate, I reminded them of the time I saw a man walking up and down the back lanes a few weeks prior. He was looking over the back fences and into the houses, even going so far as opening gates and walking into back gardens.

Their interest suddenly prickled, no doubt after hours of fruitless door-to-doors, I proceeded to give them a description of the man I saw all those weeks ago. But it?s only now they?ve left that I realise I had just given them a perfect description of the man who lives in the house that got burgled.

I hope I'm never called as a witness.