Panhandlers at front door - suburban

[Anonymous]

Are people really suggesting to keep cash on hand to give these people? Good way to get repeat customers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are people really suggesting to keep cash on hand to give these people? Good way to get repeat customers.

They definitely tell all their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they needed some help? Did you help them?

They were asking for money. If they were asking for directions or for me to call the police I would have done that.

So you are willing to help but not give them what they need? What is WRONG with you? You only help on your terms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't have answered.
Should have gave them some money since you did answer.
Might get a rock through your window now.

We don’t have any cash at home.

You should keep some. Not wise to not have any at all.

Eh, keep some rumpled rupees or yen bank notes around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they needed some help? Did you help them?

They were asking for money. If they were asking for directions or for me to call the police I would have done that.

So you are willing to help but not give them what they need? What is WRONG with you? You only help on your terms?

Sorry i don’t give to panhandlers. I give about $500 a month to various charities because I know a $1 will go a lot further when allocated beyond one person.

I’m only concerned about protecting my family here; I lived near Elizabeth Smart as a child, and it haunts me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't have answered.
Should have gave them some money since you did answer.
Might get a rock through your window now.

We don’t have any cash at home.

You should keep some. Not wise to not have any at all.

Eh, keep some rumpled rupees or yen bank notes around.

Handing out Monopoly money would escalate a situation above just saying no thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they needed some help? Did you help them?

They were asking for money. If they were asking for directions or for me to call the police I would have done that.

So you are willing to help but not give them what they need? What is WRONG with you? You only help on your terms?

I agree with PP. I was helped once when my car had a belt catch on fire before it snapped. A guy came out of a house and let me in to use his phone. I appreciated that.

Handing out cash to door-to-door beggars is a recipe for future problems.

I think OP should call the police to let them know somebody is begging door to door. In our town, the police have community-donated low value gift cards to hand out and they can make referrals and give rides to shelters.

I'm also aware of some crimes that were committed by door-to-door people offering to do chores or casing a specific person.

The police would likely just do a drive through. But at least you would have let them know.

I think if they were super likely to make trouble they would have done it at the door. Might be looking for empty houses just to sleep behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they needed some help? Did you help them?

They were asking for money. If they were asking for directions or for me to call the police I would have done that.

So you are willing to help but not give them what they need? What is WRONG with you? You only help on your terms?

I agree with PP. I was helped once when my car had a belt catch on fire before it snapped. A guy came out of a house and let me in to use his phone. I appreciated that.

Handing out cash to door-to-door beggars is a recipe for future problems.

I think OP should call the police to let them know somebody is begging door to door. In our town, the police have community-donated low value gift cards to hand out and they can make referrals and give rides to shelters.

I'm also aware of some crimes that were committed by door-to-door people offering to do chores or casing a specific person.

The police would likely just do a drive through. But at least you would have let them know.

I think if they were super likely to make trouble they would have done it at the door. Might be looking for empty houses just to sleep behind.

Oh I hope they are that kind. I am turned around because I worry there are darker schemes, but I don’t want the police to harass them or worse. But I also don’t want this to become a regular thing, I guess.

I hate people coming to our door — I feel so vulnerable as we have small children.

[Anonymous]

I would call the non emergency number for local police to let them know. They can help them if they need it or send them on their way if they’re looking for trouble.

[Anonymous]

Just because some one is at your door doesn't mean you ever need to answer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never answer the door for people you do not know. Good way to get murdered.

I’m 100% for this rule, I thought they were wearing delivery uniform. It was just really awkward being at the door.

Now that they are gone, should I call police or just be happy nothing happened?

You don't call the police for something like that.
Just remember to keep some cash on hand and don't open the door. If you have a glass window front door, get a camera or cover up the glass.

How do you know if being cased or just solicitation!

You don't.
Nobody but the people who knocked knows their intentions.

Should I check with my neighbors? Never had this before.

Are you really waiting on an answer from DCUM on this? Of course you contact your neighbors. We all have a text chain and would know if someone freaky was in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

If you have any sort of glass front door you can see through you need to cover it. Go to Home Depot etc and there are plenty of options — films, blinds, roman shades, interior shutters, curtain rods for ruched (is that the right word??) curtains that you keep in place. In my neighborhood everyone has the glass doors and everyone covers them through all of these various means.

[Anonymous]

What on earth would you report to the police? That people rang your bell and asked for money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never answer the door for people you do not know. Good way to get murdered.

Holy crap!! Where do you live?

There are so many people that I don’t know that come to the door and I’ve never been murdered or close to being murdered, or even assaulted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never answer the door for people you do not know. Good way to get murdered.

I’m 100% for this rule, I thought they were wearing delivery uniform. It was just really awkward being at the door.

Now that they are gone, should I call police or just be happy nothing happened?

You people are nuts. We get neighborhood kids (that I don’t know) raising money for this and that. We also get so many political campaigners or people from their office coming to our door (maybe I can murder them?). Then there are census people and neighbors, etc. You all live with a mountain of unnecessary fear - or you really should move.