A mum from Buckinghamshire was left puzzled by ‘cereal’ nuisance at her family’s doorstep.
Hengameh Shahroodi from Amersham told the BFP how for three weeks, every Saturday, someone would leave a selection of cereal boxes outside her door without any explanation.
After the first incident, the mum-of-two decided to report it to the police after the strange behaviour went from being funny to menacing.
She said: “It is kind of childish, it’s not very serious but it’s upsetting because we don’t know. I’ve started worrying if I can leave kids alone.
“First time was at 8.30pm, there was loud banging on the door and one big cereal box and a bit of milk and a spoon had been left outside.
“My husband went to the door and it was just behind the door.
“We thought it was a joke.”
Next Saturday on March 18 the offenders had left one big cereal box and smaller ones.
“It was an arrangement in the front garden all over the place, and again banging at the front door. We heard someone running away and my husband went outside.
“He thinks he saw them, but he’s not sure if he’s the same people.
“The third time was outside on the pavement - just one big box and smaller ones, all of them were open,” she said.
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The cereal incidents left the mum of a 10 and 17-year-old concerned despite living in a “safe and calm neighbourhood.”
After the third incident on March 25, Hengameh took to the neighbourhood app Nextdoor, pleading for help from other residents in case there was “a sign we don’t recognise or know.”
“What are they trying to tell us?”, she said.
Other residents suggested it could be a prank or a challenge trending on the social media platform TikTok, but neither of her children recognised it as a trend.
She claimed the police told her the incidents could mount to Anti-Social Behaviour.
“Third time they said they’ll level it up, and they consider it harassment as it’s happening every week. They said it’s most likely to be some teenagers, and if we can get some footage they can try to identify them with some schools in the area,” she said.
“We just installed a camera bell on Sunday, because we thought it will help and scare them off.”
When the family were away last Saturday (April 1), nothing was left outside.
A statement from the police said: “Thames Valley Police is investigating a series of incidents that have occurred in Woodfield Farm on 11, 18 and 25 March in which cereal boxes have been left outside of a property.
“An investigation is ongoing.
“Anyone with information can make a report by calling 101 or via the Thames Valley Police website, quoting reference 43230133053.”
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