If there was a......
By speedy1279
@speedy1279 (2665)
United States
July 2, 2007 6:40pm CST
stranger knocking on your door. Would you answer it? Okay the reason I am asking is this. Just a little while ago I had a strange guy knock on my door. I won't open my door for strangers. It is just not safe anymore to do so. So I peeked out my bedroom window and he was just sitting there on his Harley. It looked like he couldn't get it to start, but I still didn't feel comfortable opening the door. I waited about 10 mins to see if he was going to leave. He didn't leave so I called the local Sheriff dept and told them that there was a guy trying to get his harley started on my driveway. I went on to tell them what he looked like and that I didn't think he was dangerous. But that he knocked on my door and I don't open my door to people I don't know. They said okay and they would send someone out. After I hung up the phone my husband asked who I had called. When I told him. My husband said that it was wrong of me to call the cops. I don't think I did anything wrong. Anyways the cops showed up and talked to the guy. Then they came to my door to tell me that the guy just wanted to let me know he was broke down and a friend was on thier way to help him. Well okay! So I explained to the cops that I only called because he looked to be having trouble and that I don't open my door to strangers. The cops said that was the right thing to do and that everything was okay. I even told the cops to let the guy know that it wasn't personal that I called the cops, I just don't answer my door to strangers.
So what would you have done? Would you have called the cops? Or would you have just watched from the window to see what he did? Share your thoughts please!
4 people like this
23 responses
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I think you did the right thing by not opening your door to strangers. As for calling the cops, I'm not sure if I would of done that. I would of left the guy there and just watched him to see anything suspicious OR had my husband handle it. If the cops said you did a good thing, then you did :)
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Oh so they have non emergency numbers too - sorry for being ignorant but I'm new to USA! Aah something I will remember. Well after your explanation I think you did the right thing, especially since it happened at night time.
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I believe most cities have a non-emergency number. Where I live is outside city limits, so we have to call the Sheriff department and not the city police. But both have non-emergency numbers. Plus now a days you just can't trust anyone. They say that most serial killers and rapist look like average people that you would not suspect to be bad.
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Well see my husband was already in bed. The door bell woke him up. That is when he asked me what was going on. When I called the police I didn't tell them he was dangerous. I made sure they understood that the only reason I was calling is because he looked to be broken down ,he knocked on my door and I don't open my door to strangers. Had my husband not been in bed already I probably wouldn't have called the police. By the way I guess I left something out in my discussion. When I called the police. I called the non-emergency number. So they didn't come pulling up with lights and sirens on.
1 person likes this
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I think I would have waited to see what he did. I wouldn't have called the police because I don't really like the police and because I don't like dealing with them. If he was doing something wrong and I had proof of that and I actually saw him then I would have called the police. But I would have waited because I don't like calling the cops too much.
1 person likes this
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I understand. But I forgot to mention in my discussion. When I called the police, I called the non-emergency number. So they when the police arrived, they didn't pull up with sirens and lights on. They just asked if everything was okay.
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
3 Jul 07
Well if it was broad daylight I would have opened the door, if it was night I would have been a bit more cautious. If I'd seen him sitting on his harley I would have opened my door (as I would have been out of reach) and asked if everything was okay, as he was waiting for his friend that would have been the end of it. I do think that people need to be careful as even the most harmless looking person could turn out to be very dangerous.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I would have sent my husband out in your case- I don’t open the door for strangers either- if I’m home alone or if it is just my daughter and me- My house is always locked when it is just us- Plus we have 2 dogs- that are outside- usually strangers don’t stop at the house- Carmen (boxer) won’t let them to the door- unless I go out- : ) If my sig. other is home- He gets the door- or he is already outside and sees what they want- I wouldn’t have called the cops- I would have just waited for him to leave- or sent out your husband.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
10 Jul 07
Since you called the cops to get the guy help and not to get him in trouble I think it is fine. I agree with you that it is not safe anymore and strangers can't be trusted.
I recently had 4 dogs ( 3 passed away in a time period of 6 months ) But when I had all 4 dogs I would answer the door only if I had one of my dogs with me. She wouldn't run out the door or run away, I knew she would stay with me and protect me if the stranger was dangerous. But usally I don't like answering the door for strangers so I just ignore them.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
11 Jul 07
oh my gosh! Not even joking...like 5-10mins after I responded to this discussion a huge truck came down my street with loud music, they turned around and pulled up in front of my house! They just sat their with their lights off, but music on. I was creeped out! lol. I left the room for a bit until they left.
@redlime (94)
• Philippines
5 Jul 07
ya know speedy good for you you're not in the philippines... it is do unpolite not to open the door even in a stranger.. well iguess there is a big difference living here... but yo know, you're right of ahwat you've done, you are playing it safe, and what if that person is a real criminal? but yet, here in us, it's not likly to act like that..
1 person likes this
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
3 Jul 07
You did the right thing. It's better to be safe than sorry. I made a mistake once of letting a stranger use the phone during an ice storm. After he came in I couldn't hardly to get him to leave. Then he mentioned he had been in prison for kidnapping. He didn't harm me but I felt really uncomfortable and he kept coming back to my house. Don't worry. Everything worked out fine.
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
10 Jul 07
I have opened the door, with a cordless phone in my hand. That way if they needed to call for help I could just hand them the phone. It has happened to me a few times, sometimes late at night. I don't blame you if you were afraid to open the door for him and your husband was sleeping.
I would much rather that you called the cops than left him stranded. One night when I broke down, someone wouldn't open their door for me to ask about calling for help. I was grateful that they called the cops since I was stranded on a back road with two small children in my car.
@indiavani (863)
• India
4 Jul 07
Hello Speedy1279! If some stranger would have knowcked my door, I would just open the inner door & ask him who he is. Actually in my house the entry door has two doors, the outer one is transparent where you can communicate with the person outside safely. So, I wouldn't call cops. But yes, if I would have felt he is rude or something, I would have called my neighbor's for help because they are all really helpful & cooperative.
@katkat3 (425)
•
11 Jul 07
I usually open my door because the only people that can acyually knock on my door are people that know the code to the main door, although if I'm not aware that anyone is due to come round I get a bit worried in case it's my ex. But hardly anyone ever comes round anyway, which is fine by me cos I can completely relax! :0)
@tep91005 (375)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I won't open the door to strangers either. I don't even like opening the door for repairmen and things..Unless I know they are coming. I'm parinoid like that. I've seen way to many scary movies and watched way to much news and I also like my privacy. My husband would have answered the door. He knows no stranger.
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Yeah I agree with you. If I don't know they are coming. I won't answer the door either. As far my husband goes. He was already in bed and the door bell woke him up. Had he still been up then that would have been different.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
3 Jul 07
you are doing the right thing... i won't open my door to stranger as well especially when i am alone at home... too many scary things happen nowadays and we just can't risk our safety by doing something wrong...
@venshida (4836)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I would not have opened my door, but I would of watch through the window to see what he was up to. If he sat their for a long time, I probably would of called the cops. You did the right thing, you just cannot take chances nowadays, it's better to be safe than sorry.
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
3 Jul 07
You did the right thing. You can never be too careful. You hadn't accused him of anything so there was no problem with it. More people should be aware of who comes to their door and maybe we wouldn't have the murders we have these days. One should never open the door to a stranger. Good job!!
@cathiesblogg (753)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I feel like you..there are way too many mean people in the world today!
