The purpose of Neighborhood Watch, an official government funded organization, is to report just this behavior to the police.
Exactly. That whole:
That might be the behavior of a boy who was turned around in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Or of a boy enjoying a cell phone conversation with a girl and not overly eager to return to where his sweet nothings might be overheard by his dad.
Or it could be the behavior of a criminal casing houses. Who is up late, who isn't. Where might my next home invasion be... Where is that Audi I saw drive into this neighborhood, my bro has a call out for one... Where the h*ll is xxxx Riverview, that's where Tony said the papers were stacking up on the porch...
Suspicious behavior is suspicious behavior, no excuses. As a youth I've had more than one conversation with law enforcement when I was doing something stupid - and yes I deserved the talking to every time. I'm alive today 'cause I told them exactly what I was doing, I didn't jump on top of anyone and start beating them up.