Forum Index
»
Off-Topic
Stranger Knocked on Door Begging for Money
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
NP here. DEFINITELY call the police, OP. Non emergency is fine. That is in fact one of the oldest way of criminals seeing who lives there, when and under what circumstances. According to what time you answered the door, what you were wearing, jewelry, who was home in the background, countless other things you and I have not even thought of - you are setting yourself up. Maybe nothing happens, or maybe s/he went to other neighbors that day and knows just who they are going to hit and when. I'm not trying to make you paranoid, but truly you are not in Kansas anymore. In my friends (really, really nice) neighborhood, there were 2-3 guys working together, knocking on doors. One distracting in the front while the other one/s tried back doors. You would never have known there was more than one guy. Turns out, they were wanted on something else (probably another burglary). One of the neighbors had the where with all to call the police while another kept the guy talking in her driveway (kind of dangerous, if you ask me). I guess she was playing stupid. The cops pulled up and arrested two of them on the spot. In another friends (again, really nice) neighborhood, there were a string of robberies and they caught 3 guys hiding in the woods behind the houses hours later. I think they used police dogs, but they got them. It is kind of scary to think people would hide for hours like that. Especially having kids in the neighborhood. Don't think that it won't happen to you. I can't say this enough. If you go to Home Depot and get yourself a peep hole, you are doing your family the biggest favor. It costs very little. And you won't feel compelled to open the door for a stranger. I don't care how "official" s/he looks. IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING ANYONE, DO *NOT* ANSWER THE DOOR. Period. My kids were taught to ALWAYS use the peep hole. They love it. They were also taught that they never should answer the door for anyone, even if the person saw them looking out a window or something; even if the person says it is an emergency (in which case, the stranger would not rely on a child!); even (especially) if someone is pounding the door down. It is our house to keep safe. Period. If I had sidelight windows or windows on the front (or whatever) door, I would put curtains or shades up so they can not look in when they are at the door. Some people are pretty bold and persistent on a stranger's doorstep! Yet others are rather stupid when someone is at their door! There are a lot of people who RELY on transplants from outside of D.C., new in the area, to answer the door out of naivete and some strange feeling of "obligation" or "I'm not afraid". YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO ANSWER YOUR DOOR. DON'T. BE SMART. BE SAFE. I can't say this enough. |
Anonymous
| If I even go to the door, I talk to such people past my locked door - just yelling through the side lights. They usually are highly offended, but I could care less about the feelings of uninvited guests - less so if you are with some PAC. |
Anonymous
Ok well my home and family will be safe because of my so called over-reaction and you might have a dangerous situation come out of no where since you cannot imagine bad things actually happening. I would rather be preventative then sorry about not doing it later on. |
Anonymous
| 22:21 & 22:26: You remind me of a mom at my school who was so proud of the fact that she "does not give strangers cash on her doorstep." Well BFD, he just cased your place, Einstein! Don't be too "smart" at the risk of your family. |
Anonymous
Do we assume that you open your door to anyone who knocks? |
Anonymous
| I have heard of strangers coming to the door, usually selling magazine subscriptions....to better myself and be more like you.....so how did you get this nice house? You're kidding, right? |
Anonymous
| Does no one around here have alarms? That was the first thing we did when we moved in! |
Anonymous
| Some little girls knocked on my door a few weeks ago and asked me to buy cookies!! Do you think they could have been casing the joint? |
cuzimawesome
Member Offline
Member Offline
Such a typical response. Just because somebody isn't as paranoid as you, they're completely irresponsible and "cannot imagine bad things happening." It's possible to be cautious without being paranoid. |
Anonymous
Maybe... was there a shady looking "daddy" with them? |
Anonymous
| WTF? Are people that naive? Really? Wow! |
Anonymous
No, I don't, but I also don't imagine doomsday scenarios or think that any person on my street who I don't recognize is "casing the joint." Yeesh.  How can you live your life that way?
|
Anonymous
So, on what basis do you decide if you'll open your door? (assuming that you don't "recognize" the person) |
Anonymous
| I mean, crime's only gone down 50-60% per 100k people in Northern Virginia since 1980. In MoCo, it's gone down 20% or so, but in Prince George's, it's held stubbornly high. |
Anonymous
| You either are expecting someone or not. It's not that difficult. Why make it so? Simply don't answer for strangers. That's it. |