A strange thing happened to me after crossing the zebra

Taken on my little android phone.

A zebra crossing and a cyclist on my lunch time walk. Not the most exciting of images, but I've posted this because of what happened to me after I crossed the road.

As I got to the other side of the crossing a man approached me (I had my android smart phone in my hand)...

He was foreign and said 'police'..'police'

I looked at him and said 'you want the police'.

He said 'police police'

I put my mobile away.

I pointed him towards some shops and said 'police police' to him

He pointed at himself and said 'Iran' (I think)

I also pointed him to the bus stop and gestured him to speak to the bus driver (who I worked out would have communications to head office)

He ignored my advice.

I then pointed him to the pub (behind where I took the picture) and gestured that he go inside the pub and ask for 'police'

I then looked at him, up and down....he wasn't injured, he wasn't disorientated, he was relatively clean , he wasn't stressed........so I walked away and continued my walk.

This stressed me out on my walk. Had I done enough to help him? Was he trying to scam me and steal my phone. Why did he ask me for 'police' and nobody else (I was wearing a hi viz bib that we have to wear in the factory.)

When I returned back 20 minutes later, he was sat on the wall outside the pub smoking a ciggie !

I did not cross the road, I walked on the other side and spoke to two elderly ladies who appeared to be watching him. I told them my story and they said 'as he'd been there for a while and as he was happily smoking a ciggie, he didn't appear in much need of 'police'

I said I thought they were watching him.....they said no , they were admiring a 'motability scooter' that had just passed by !!!

So that was my Tuesday lunch time walk. I think I acted appropriately and on reflection I think he was either trying to nick my mobile or scam me for cash.

So that's the story of my rather mundane image ! Every picture tells a story

[Kerri]

Interesting story and cool catch

[Anita]

What an odd encounter!

[peter/zipp]

ha! crazy story, strange man.

[Constance Brinkley]

What an unusual encounter! I think it would have made me a little edgy too. You did make me laugh when you saw him and walked on the other side of the road. I so would have done this... Great story to ordinary street shot.

[Sue Wilde]

Fascinating story, Phil.

[Pat Knowles]

I really odd encounter but he does sound an odd character !!! I think those ladies had their priorities right ...that fabulous scooter was more important !! Great story Phil !! I am rather fascinated with those belisher beacon things on the zebra crossing I haven't noticed any like that up here ...I must check !!!

[Sarah Horsfall]

Could he have been saying 'please, please' ? .. just a thought .. hard to know how to respond - sounds like you did your best to help, though!

[Tashy]

One of my favourite photographic titles so far. Very strange incident, my guess is you were right about the high viz jacket, maybe he was just making conversation lol. Nice shot, like how the cyclist is exactly on the white line of the zebra.

[Jennifer C]

got to watch yourself these days, sounds like a strange man. Interesting!

[Juliette Packham]

Now i definitely read this one! he sounds like he was on the rob to me! good decision making - these things always play on your mind a bit! looks bright old weather to be out shooting pics!

[Phil Howcroft]

Thanks everyone for your comments, it was a rather strange encounter, but worth putting my picture up to record ....... @kerristephens @anron @sleepdozer57 @seattle @swilde @happypat @sarahhorsfall @tashy @jenrobcarr @sparkle

[Allison Williams]

I'm sure I would have been equally at a loss. You don't want to ignore an obvious cry for help, if that was, in fact, what it was. I did think he might be saying "please, please," but if so, to what was he referring? Definitely a mystery which I think you handled appropriately.