Stranger Knocked on Door Begging for Money

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[Post New]04/22/2011 05:40
Anonymous
In my neighborhood recently we had someone come by selling all natural cleaning stuff. She said it was so natural you could eat it (and she licked the spray bottle). She then asked to come in to demonstrate. I told her no I was ok for now but you can leave your order form or is there a web site I could go too and order later? She said "nope, you can only get it here and now and you can't order it".
I looked the product up online and found you could get it at target so I called the non emergency number and put a message out on my neighborhood list serve. All the police did was talk to them (turns out their was two of them) and took their names, so if they were casing the neighborhood I doubt they would come back.
[Post New]04/22/2011 06:01
Anonymous
I would put a message on the neighborhood listserv if you have one stating what happened and describing the individual. If there's a pattern of him "casing the neighborhood" or even just aggressively panhandling, it's established, with the date. And your neighbors are warned.
[Post New]04/22/2011 06:26
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote: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?


I think most of us are able to tell the difference between "some little girls knocking on the door" and an adult who's a stranger.
[Post New]04/22/2011 07:02
Anonymous
The fact that he asked for money makes me think he wasn't casing the place, rather was probably an addict looking for money. I think those who try to sell something or say "Oops, wrong house" are more likely to be casing.
[Post New]04/22/2011 07:45
Anonymous
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's better to be safe than sorry but my god, people... paranoia, anyone? Not everyone is out to get you. The responses are a bit over the top. It's like you're all expecting a home invasion any minute now. Culture of fear, indeed.


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.


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.


Im not paranoid I am smart and read people well. Big difference. And yeah if some sketchy person (and yes they are sketchy bc they come to my door asking for money) I would not open it if I did not know who it was. I rarely do that if my DH is not home. My choice not yours...go away now.
[Post New]04/22/2011 07:54
Anonymous
I always keep my doors locked and never open the door to a knock. I look out first to see who it is. If I don't know them, I either ignore it or open a nearby window to ask what they want. My kids are trained not to open the door.

I encourage you to do the same.
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:02
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote: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.


Again, if you DON'T answer the door, you put yourself in a dangerous position. I'm not talking about opening it and inviting the caller in for tea. Just peer out through the windows, or open it on the chair. I don't let people in. I talk to them through the glass.

I would always rather know who's there. What if it's the UPS guy with a package requiring delivery? You'd really rather huddle up under your bed than go look through the peephole, and then have to drive out to Greenbelt or whereverthehell to pick up the package you were too scared to sign for?
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:03
Anonymous
...and that should have been "a package requiring signature".
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:33
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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?


I think most of us are able to tell the difference between "some little girls knocking on the door" and an adult who's a stranger.


Yes but you never know. Those three sweet innocent little girls could be recently adopted by some criminal mastermind who is using their innocent cookie selling as a front for his nefarious schemes........

Just saying.
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:34
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Again, if you DON'T answer the door, you put yourself in a dangerous position. I'm not talking about opening it and inviting the caller in for tea. Just peer out through the windows, or open it on the chair. I don't let people in. I talk to them through the glass.

I would always rather know who's there. What if it's the UPS guy with a package requiring delivery? You'd really rather huddle up under your bed than go look through the peephole, and then have to drive out to Greenbelt or whereverthehell to pick up the package you were too scared to sign for?


That's what peep holes are for.
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:37
cuzimawesome
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's better to be safe than sorry but my god, people... paranoia, anyone? Not everyone is out to get you. The responses are a bit over the top. It's like you're all expecting a home invasion any minute now. Culture of fear, indeed.


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.


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.


Im not paranoid I am smart and read people well. Big difference. And yeah if some sketchy person (and yes they are sketchy bc they come to my door asking for money) I would not open it if I did not know who it was. I rarely do that if my DH is not home. My choice not yours...go away now.


In my earlier post I stated that I don't open my door for strangers. So I'm making the same decision as you. I just don't believe that every person that comes through my neighborhood is casing the joint. And unless somebody is acting very suspiciously... I don't call the cops. Your posts just come across as overly aggressive and defensive. Don't get so bothered with the fact that I called you out on your reaction to the PP. Now let's be super best friends.
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:44
Anonymous
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's better to be safe than sorry but my god, people... paranoia, anyone? Not everyone is out to get you. The responses are a bit over the top. It's like you're all expecting a home invasion any minute now. Culture of fear, indeed.


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.


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.


Im not paranoid I am smart and read people well. Big difference. And yeah if some sketchy person (and yes they are sketchy bc they come to my door asking for money) I would not open it if I did not know who it was. I rarely do that if my DH is not home. My choice not yours...go away now.


In my earlier post I stated that I don't open my door for strangers. So I'm making the same decision as you. I just don't believe that every person that comes through my neighborhood is casing the joint. And unless somebody is acting very suspiciously... I don't call the cops. Your posts just come across as overly aggressive and defensive. Don't get so bothered with the fact that I called you out on your reaction to the PP. Now let's be super best friends.


Ha, but you called me paranoid. And trust me I am the farthest from it. Not like it matters on here though you dont know who I am. I dont call the cops either but if someone did this I would call the non-memergency line. It might sound defensive because I am defending my position. Ok super best friend!
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:50
cuzimawesome
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know it's better to be safe than sorry but my god, people... paranoia, anyone? Not everyone is out to get you. The responses are a bit over the top. It's like you're all expecting a home invasion any minute now. Culture of fear, indeed.


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.


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.


Im not paranoid I am smart and read people well. Big difference. And yeah if some sketchy person (and yes they are sketchy bc they come to my door asking for money) I would not open it if I did not know who it was. I rarely do that if my DH is not home. My choice not yours...go away now.


In my earlier post I stated that I don't open my door for strangers. So I'm making the same decision as you. I just don't believe that every person that comes through my neighborhood is casing the joint. And unless somebody is acting very suspiciously... I don't call the cops. Your posts just come across as overly aggressive and defensive. Don't get so bothered with the fact that I called you out on your reaction to the PP. Now let's be super best friends.


Ha, but you called me paranoid. And trust me I am the farthest from it. Not like it matters on here though you dont know who I am. I dont call the cops either but if someone did this I would call the non-memergency line. It might sound defensive because I am defending my position. Ok super best friend!


Okay, I take back my paranoid statement. I do this because we are super best friends now.
[Post New]04/22/2011 08:52
Anonymous
^^^ Awesome!!!!
[Post New]04/22/2011 10:30
Anonymous
Interesting thread. My grandmother told me that during the Depression, strangers would often knock on her parents' door and ask for help. They were out of work and hungry. These men were asked to sit at the table in the yard, and they were given a meal.

Fast forward to the Great Recession, and people won't even answer the door any more. Are we really in more danger? Are crime rates really higher than they were? Or are we just more scared and closed off to the need we see around us?

I for one am going to continue answering my door, and I'll let my children see me do it. I rather run the miniscule risk of an armed robbery than model fear and (can't believe I'm going to say this) un-Christianlike behavior for my kids to emulate. I'm not particularly religious, but especially at Easter, I do think of what that man who made friends with lepers and prostitutes would say about all this.

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