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Post by katiejane on Apr 29, 2016 16:30:21 GMT
I had people try our door by mistake before. Only twice has it freaked me. I once had a very upset guy shouting and banging outside my door at 2am - turned out he thought I was his girlfriend two doors up. He was so drunk that I had to call the police ad he wouldn't leave and I was home alone. Another time i had someone turn up and try to get in as he thought i lived in a brothel and he didn't like it when I said he couldn't come in. Turned out I lived in princess road and the same house number in prince's road was a house of ill repute. Another call to the police and they kindly moved him on. I can't imagine living somewhere that someone trying your door means that you are going to threaten them with a gun !
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 8:25:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 16:35:13 GMT
I'd grab my kid, go upstairs and get the gun and call 911
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Post by peano on Apr 29, 2016 16:37:00 GMT
I would allow the dog to continue barking her head off while I called the police. When DS was a baby, an old woman with dementia came into our house through the unlocked front door. We always keep the front door locked now, because nobody uses it, but our back door is unlocked, except when I lock it before bed.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Apr 29, 2016 16:39:05 GMT
I don't understand people not locking their doors. That's just an invitation for trouble. And to those than claim they live in a nice neighborhood. Who do you think thieves want to steal from?! I live in a very nice urban neighborhood. We have a wide mix of residents (old, young, families). Every summer we have a rash of thieves entering unlocked homes while the owners are doing yard work in the back or old people are home alone.
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Post by maryland on Apr 29, 2016 16:45:19 GMT
My friendly dog sounds scary (german shepherd) and if someone came to the door to sneak in, the dog would scare her or him away! But she just has a scary bark, even if it's us coming home.
One time 2 women came right up to our door and started to walk in, then were so embarrassed that they were at the wrong house. They were going to a party next door. They didn't want to scare my husband and kids, who were there when they walked in, so they had our neighbor call and say she knew them, and they just went to the wrong house. I thought it was sweet that they did that.
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Post by scrapmaven on Apr 29, 2016 16:51:03 GMT
I would call 911 in the moment. If someone rings the doorbell I always go to the very locked and bolted door and ask who it is, because we have break-ins in our area. The norm is to see if the occupant is home and if not break into the house. The police recommend that you acknowledge that people are home. However, if someone was just trying to open the door 911 it is.
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Apr 29, 2016 16:53:10 GMT
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Apr 29, 2016 17:15:47 GMT
When someone knocks on my door/rings my bell and I'm not expecting anyone (I know when it's UPS because I can hear the truck), I always shout for the dog to be quiet so they know I am home. If I heard someone actively trying to open my door, I'd hit the panic button on my house alarm that you can hear 3 blocks over. It automatically triggers a call to the police as well as hopefully scares anyone off who shouldn't be there. We have an alarm and I never thought about hitting the panic button! I will keep that in mind if there is a next time and tell my kids to do that too if they are ever home alone and someone tries to get in the house.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Apr 29, 2016 17:17:14 GMT
If someone was trying to open my door, I would yell out to them that I have called the police and they are on the way. If they kept standing there or kept trying to get in, then I would call 9-1-1 and say that someone was trying to break into my home. This.
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Post by scrapcat on Apr 29, 2016 17:37:02 GMT
I may be confused, but was it basically some dumb teenage kid that doesn't know how to communicate, whose friend texted him "come in the door is open" and it's just a innocent mistake? albeit, I don't know why he could not answer you, maybe he thought you were her Mom? Maybe he was just confused/startled/embarrassed? It is kind of scary how many young people don't know how to speak anymore. And according to this thread, could end fatally by not speaking up! yikes.
If I truly felt threatened I would call the police and get out of the house another way, but I probably would have tried to understand if the person was in need of help or lost first.
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 29, 2016 17:44:18 GMT
I'd call 911 immediately. I wouldn't talk to him. This. If someone knocks or rings my bell and I'm not expecting anyone, then I'll call out to see who it is. You don't answer (as my neighbor thinks it's funny to do)? I don't open. But if someone were to just try to open my door (and all both my kids were home, so I knew it wasn't one of them) I'd probably be calling the police. Better safe than sorry.
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Post by cmpeter on Apr 29, 2016 17:48:21 GMT
It would depend on how threatened I felt. Either talk to them, yell at them or hit the panic button on my alarm.
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 29, 2016 17:48:33 GMT
When someone knocks on my door/rings my bell and I'm not expecting anyone (I know when it's UPS because I can hear the truck), I always shout for the dog to be quiet so they know I am home. If I heard someone actively trying to open my door, I'd hit the panic button on my house alarm that you can hear 3 blocks over. It automatically triggers a call to the police as well as hopefully scares anyone off who shouldn't be there. We have an alarm and I never thought about hitting the panic button! I will keep that in mind if there is a next time and tell my kids to do that too if they are ever home alone and someone tries to get in the house. I don't have a house alarm, but I wonder if the car alarm might at least scare the guy off. I usually take my keys to bed, telling myself if I hear someone trying to break in at nite it will wake me up (let me have my fantasy) and that I can hit the car alarm. My neighbors know if they hear it go off to call the police. Never thought to use it should I have an issue in the during the day. Thanx for the idea!
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Post by gmcwife1 on Apr 29, 2016 17:56:02 GMT
Hard for me to know as we have a rather loud barking German Shepherd Dog that starts barking when someone is still on the sidewalk. So I honestly doubt someone would even test the door because of her. She gets up on the couch in front of the window so they can see her through the blinds.
We also have two other medium/large dogs so they would see and hear her and hear the others all going off a the same time.
I guess IF that did ever happen I would also call the police, that is assuming the front door was unlocked and I felt threatened.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 18:23:56 GMT
It sounds like the OP did call the police and was still waiting after 20 minutes for them to arrive. That seems like a far less effective option than many of you seem to think it is.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Apr 29, 2016 18:35:20 GMT
I just read something today that was posted on my neighborhood watch website about a woman in my town who had a knock at the door when she was home alone. She looked through the peephole and didn't recognize the guy, so she went back into the kitchen. A minute later, the guy kicked her side door open and came in because he assumed no one was home. The woman ran upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom and called the police. The guy and his accomplice were caught inside her home fand the woman was okay, thankfully. We have a police liaison who monitors the site and posts pertinent information. Today, she posted that there are representatives from a company canvasing the city with questionnaires. She gave the company name and described their logo and said they had checked in with the police to let them know they would be in the city today. I appreciate things like that. In response to the woman who was home but did not respond to the door knock, she posted a list of things one should do regarding someone at your door. They are pretty much just common sense, but not to everyone, I guess. 1. Always have a verbal response to any knock. Avoid giving the impression that the residence is unoccupied. 2. Keep an eye on people you turn away and what they do next. Report anyone who lingers, tries to get a neighbor to open their door, or otherwise acts suspiciously 3. In a gated community, take as many precautions as you would if the gate was not there. If someone calls your home from the gate and creates a reason to be let into the neighborhood, do not let them in if you cannot verify who and why. 4. Be suspicious of unexpected knocks. If you are not expecting anyone, a service call, or otherwise, do not open the door without asking questions. 5. Be aware of ploys such as fake emergencies, fake deliveries, etc. 6. Use your viewing methods to help verify. Peep holes, nearby windows, vantage points from other rooms may be used to see who is knocking. 7. Do not feel pressured or forced to open your door. You have the ability to allow those into your home that you know and trust. All others are not welcomed - or worth the risk! 8. Consider a high quality security screen door or enclosed porch/entry way to maintain a barrier between you and the door knocker. 9. Install and maintain adequate security lighting for the perimeter of your home. Lighting choices vary and additional lighting around your property is a proactive deterrent. These are really good tips, thank you
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Apr 29, 2016 18:50:27 GMT
Cock a shotgun right inside the door so they could hear it. Or find a sound clip of that on my phone and play it with the volume all the way up. On Bones last night Brennan did this from behind a suspect with an app on her phone. My first thought was I need that app!!
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caro
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Post by caro on Apr 29, 2016 19:25:46 GMT
I keep my glass storm door locked at all times but usually have the front door open. I never open the door to anyone standing there but will talk through the door. If someone tried the door I would look out the window to see the person and I would call the police in a heart beat if I felt uncomfortable.
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caro
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Post by caro on Apr 29, 2016 19:28:09 GMT
It sounds like the OP did call the police and was still waiting after 20 minutes for them to arrive. That seems like a far less effective option than many of you seem to think it is. In my town police would be at the door in 5 mins. And 911 would stay on the line with the person calling.
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Post by ladytrisha on Apr 29, 2016 19:36:21 GMT
Our police dept. just put out an alert on this same scenario.
They will knock on door and then try the door; after a couple of attempts, they will go into the back yard and then break in. We've been told it is gang/drug activity and they're coming in from other towns and just going street by street until they get lucky.
Our town, that used to be one of the safest, is now known as a heroin hotspot, and it even has a crime stoppers facebook page. It's so sad and frightening.
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Post by peano on Apr 29, 2016 19:42:33 GMT
It sounds like the OP did call the police and was still waiting after 20 minutes for them to arrive. That seems like a far less effective option than many of you seem to think it is. I take my town's culture into effect. Aside from Sandy Hook, I essentially live in Mayberry, and judging from the police records published in our town's weekly newspaper, the police are occupied largely with grocery store shoplifting and car accidents. Burglaries tend to be cars. The last time I had to call the police, to put down a deer that wandered into my backyard with a horribly broken leg, they were literally here within 4-5 minutes. But even if the culture was different, I wouldn't consider arming myself. I think people who are not "battle-ready" e.g. military and law enforcement, vastly overestimate their capability to react appropriately in a high-stress situation and that's why so many innocent people get blown away.
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Post by wholarmor on Apr 29, 2016 19:52:41 GMT
I don't have a gun in my house, and I'm not anti-gun, but I am hoping that those meeting people at the door with a gun at least have to go unlock their safe, first, especially if they ever have kids in the house. I've had someone try to come into our old apartment, and it turned out that they were just really drunk. I worry with some of these responses, that we're going to have a bunch of dead people who were just at the wrong house.
My dog will scare away anyone from even coming to the door, lol. She's a nice dog, but she barks her fool head off, and scares people. I would call 911 if I felt threatened.
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Post by KiwiJo on Apr 29, 2016 20:08:49 GMT
I'm afraid that this thread is one of the classic ’shake your head and say "only in America" ' moments for me.
All this talk of guns in the house is downright scary, as far as I am concerned; I don't know anyone who has a gun. If I heard someone trying to open my door, I would call out to ask who it is, and go to a window where I might be able to see them. If they didn't answer and went away, I would go around the house locking the doors, closing the windows, then get on with my day. If they continued to stand there I would open the door - no-one with nefarious intent is going to keep standing there - there must be some reason fr them to be there.
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Apr 29, 2016 20:18:45 GMT
If someone was to knock on my door right now I would know it was a neighbor, maintenance guy, or a retaliative or friend coming to visit because our apartment complex in gated and nobody can come through the gates unless they have a code or I let them in.
But I still lock my doors. The one in my room going out to the patio is always locked It is easier to lock it every time we use it rather than trying to figure out if it is locked or not when we leave. I still look in and make sure it is locked before I leave.
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Post by shaniam on Apr 29, 2016 20:19:38 GMT
My neighbor told me someone tried to open their front door just last week. I kinda would like to see what would happen if someone tried that at my house. I have three dogs, one is a German Shephard and is very protective.
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Post by shaniam on Apr 29, 2016 20:21:51 GMT
I'm afraid that this thread is one of the classic ’shake your head and say "only in America" ' moments for me. All this talk of guns in the house is downright scary, as far as I am concerned; I don't know anyone who has a gun. If I heard someone trying to open my door, I would call out to ask who it is, and go to a window where I might be able to see them. If they didn't answer and went away, I would go around the house locking the doors, closing the windows, then get on with my day. If they continued to stand there I would open the door - no-one with nefarious intent is going to keep standing there - there must be some reason fr them to be there. That is very dangerous. By the time you go around and lock everything they could be inside and then it's too late to tell if the have bad intentions or not.
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ginacivey
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Post by ginacivey on Apr 29, 2016 20:23:37 GMT
He'd probably be met with a pistol in his face. I'd probably call 911 too. Sheriff lives just up the road so they'd haul ass here, that's the nice thing about small towns, something like that happens you have 3 cops sitting in your driveway in 4 minutes. Good for you for having your door locked! Years ago I used to be a late night person and slept late in the morning until like 10. About 8:30 one morning someone just walks into my house (we never locked the doors!) I heard them and looked over the railing at him, and was like "WTF!?" He said he was here for the a/c repair (or whatever) and I said I hadn't ordered anything. Turns out he was one block over. I never called the cops, never did anything that day but the more I thought about it the more I wondered so I called the company and the guy that answered was the guy that came into my house! So I feel like it was a legit mistake. That would never happen now, we keep everything locked up pretty tight. I forget to lock when I'm in the house though by myself which is stupid. unless your town is so small there isn't a police force - and the county has 3 cops on duty - to cover the entire county relying on law enforcement, for me, is unreliable at best I'd grab a shotgun and holler thru the door....if it's harmless they'll answer i'd look thru the window and if it's an intruder i'll shoot them thru the door gina
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Apr 29, 2016 20:34:32 GMT
He'd probably be met with a pistol in his face. I'd probably call 911 too. Sheriff lives just up the road so they'd haul ass here, that's the nice thing about small towns, something like that happens you have 3 cops sitting in your driveway in 4 minutes. Good for you for having your door locked! Years ago I used to be a late night person and slept late in the morning until like 10. About 8:30 one morning someone just walks into my house (we never locked the doors!) I heard them and looked over the railing at him, and was like "WTF!?" He said he was here for the a/c repair (or whatever) and I said I hadn't ordered anything. Turns out he was one block over. I never called the cops, never did anything that day but the more I thought about it the more I wondered so I called the company and the guy that answered was the guy that came into my house! So I feel like it was a legit mistake. That would never happen now, we keep everything locked up pretty tight. I forget to lock when I'm in the house though by myself which is stupid. unless your town is so small there isn't a police force - and the county has 3 cops on duty - to cover the entire county relying on law enforcement, for me, is unreliable at best I'd grab a shotgun and holler thru the door....if it's harmless they'll answer i'd look thru the window and if it's an intruder i'll shoot them thru the doorgina That'd probably be a bad idea since the prosecuting attorney could make the case that you had an escape route (if you do). I'm pretty sure in MO they have to be making an entry.
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Rainbow
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Post by Rainbow on Apr 29, 2016 20:39:48 GMT
He'd probably be met with a pistol in his face. I'd probably call 911 too. Sheriff lives just up the road so they'd haul ass here, that's the nice thing about small towns, something like that happens you have 3 cops sitting in your driveway in 4 minutes. Good for you for having your door locked! Years ago I used to be a late night person and slept late in the morning until like 10. About 8:30 one morning someone just walks into my house (we never locked the doors!) I heard them and looked over the railing at him, and was like "WTF!?" He said he was here for the a/c repair (or whatever) and I said I hadn't ordered anything. Turns out he was one block over. I never called the cops, never did anything that day but the more I thought about it the more I wondered so I called the company and the guy that answered was the guy that came into my house! So I feel like it was a legit mistake. That would never happen now, we keep everything locked up pretty tight. I forget to lock when I'm in the house though by myself which is stupid. unless your town is so small there isn't a police force - and the county has 3 cops on duty - to cover the entire county relying on law enforcement, for me, is unreliable at best I'd grab a shotgun and holler thru the door....if it's harmless they'll answer i'd look thru the window and if it's an intruder i'll shoot them thru the door gina There's no need to shoot someone standing outside.
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Post by myshelly on Apr 29, 2016 20:46:59 GMT
unless your town is so small there isn't a police force - and the county has 3 cops on duty - to cover the entire county relying on law enforcement, for me, is unreliable at best I'd grab a shotgun and holler thru the door....if it's harmless they'll answer i'd look thru the window and if it's an intruder i'll shoot them thru the door gina There's no need to shoot someone standing outside.There is if he's trying to enter my home.
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