What's interesting is

[Kablooie]

7. I once reported an unmarked van in our neighborhood.

It was the middle of a week day when many houses were unattended. It came down the street slowly as if the driver was observing the neighborhood and parked at a house that was kind of hidden down a long road.
The sheriffs came and hid with their guns drawn while one went to the house to talk to the driver.
It turns out he was legitimate and he never learned that the other cops were there with guns out.
I talked with one afterwards and they had no problem being called out for a nonexistent crime. They seemed more relieved that there was no crime to deal with.

Since then they told us to put up beware of dog signs. It's one of the best deterrents to thieves.