Monday 20 October 2008

Another visit from the polizia

A while ago you may recall that we had a visit from the police. They wanted information on our neighbours.

We never heard from them again, and bel ragazzo commented that they could have been fake police since they never returned to follow up their 'apparent' investigation, they were not in uniform and we had not seen their identification. We soon forgot about them.

On Saturday as I was leaving the apartment, I bumped into these two 'police men' out side of my door. They were knocking on the neighbours door and we stopped and chatted as they remembered me. One was in casual dress, but this time the second one was in police uniform. They asked had I seen anyone and I said that there is normally always someone there, but I had never seen their faces. They then left their names and numbers again and asked me to call if I saw someone inside the apartment.

I did not think to ask for identification as they were the same police from last time, and one of them was in full uniform.

Being the good citizen that I am, I tried to call the police this morning to report someone entering the neighbours apartment. I called the number and asked for both officers, and the lady on the end of the line said there was no one there by those names. I asked her if this was the police station and she said it was not the police....

I don't know what to think. I have the piece of paper that they left me with their names and phone numbers, so this afternoon when bel ragazzo is back from Florence, I think we should call the 'real' police and explain the strange situation.

I am not sure if they really are fake police, but there sure is something strange going on...

EDIT: Since writting this post I have realised that the police are real and not fake. They just have bad hand writing as I thought their 7 was a 9. Bel ragazzo can read bad Italian hand writing and told me the number was in fact 7 and when I called it again, it was the police station who answered. So all good!

6 comments:

Jewel said...

How creepy. Did they have official business cards or they just told you their number? I would have thought they'd be required to show you their badges or something?

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Jewel,
Hope you read my edit. They were real and I just misread their phone number! I was ready to go to the real police and report them, but glad I waited for bel ragazzo to get home and clarify the phone number for me.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear they are real police and hopefully everything will be under control with whatever they wanted from your neighbors.

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Carla,
I am so glad they are real too. I was having horrible thoughts that the fake police were some thugs or criminals... My mind does get the better of me sometimes.

Jewel said...

Not so much drama then. So what exactly are your neighbours up to (apart from throwing things in your courtyard)?

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Jewel,
No these are the neighbours on the other side. Not the courtyard neighbours. I have no idea what they are up to...but they are always coming and going to quickly we have yet to see their faces.