When A Stranger Knocking at Your Gate Crying In The Middle Of The Night!
By keshlois143
@keshlois143 (713)
Philippines
June 30, 2011 11:14am CST
A crazy and risky event of my life. Someone whom I do not know, well, atleast based on the voice calling me outside, I am not really familiar with her voice, had been knocking while crying at the gate of my house. I was already sleeping then and suddenly a trembling voice heard at my gate. i did not know what to do. She seemed to need a help but should I go out and open the house to a stranger at this hour? What if it is just a trap? Oh, this thing had bothered me that I could not go back to my sleep at once. And that is the reason why I am now online in my MyLot. Actually I have been oriented to never respond to anyone calling me outside not by m y name. Well, I am just obedient to my parents and they are right it is for my safety. What bothers me is what will I say to my neighbors when they ask me tomorrow about the case. Will I say that I did not hear her? It is hard to lie and of course, I do not want to be known so scared of the strange voice also.
5 people like this
23 responses
@1corner (744)
• Canada
30 Jun 11
Do you have 9-1-1 service where you live? I understand your hesitation in venturing out to help; still, I wouldn't be comfortable if it had been me who experienced it, to just let it go. At least, by calling 9-1-1, the police could intervene on your behalf. We've actually had cops knocking on our door in the middle of the night on 2 occasions trying to figure out who called them, because they could only figure out where the ping of the call came.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Jul 11
That's what I would do too. I would be too concerned to just ignore her and go to sleep again. It could be a trick, but it could also be someone in need of help. I would call 911 and get someone out there to investigate the problem.
@jeneias (608)
• United States
30 Jun 11
I would have at least checked it out. Did she sound like she was hurt or in trouble? You can tell by a persons voice whether they truly need help or not. I couldn't live with myself if someone was screaming for help and I did nothing, then found out later that I could have helped. And that's the best feeling in the world -- helping someone who is in need. Why wouldn't you want to?
1 person likes this
@dont_pick_your_nose (2279)
• Australia
4 Jul 11
It's scary sometimes to think of who is out there and what their intentions are. I however am more like you. I would have investigated the noise and would like to think that if i was in trouble and calling out for help that someone would also help me. I would still be cautious that i was not walking into a trap and perhaps wouldn't let the person inside my house but i would like to help in some way. I think alot of Australians would do the same thing. we don't have alot of violence but we do still have to be careful, you never know what a strangers intentions are.
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
30 Jun 11
If it were someone screaming in the street, I'd take a look but if they were at my door, I'd call the police. They're equipped to handle things like that and are experienced enough not to get themselves into trouble. It's hard not to be as helpful as possible but the risk would not just be mine: I have my lady (and a cat) to protect as well.
If I were a trained martial artist or ex-military, I might consider opening the door... but I'm a computer geek, so my chances against an intruder would be pretty low!
@srjac0902 (1169)
• Italy
2 Jul 11
If someone screams at night for help, even though it appears that its a single lady, prudence is not to go out, you never know what harm can wait for you. Its better both the couples deal with it. Better enquire for the matter through the window and if its for an information to find a place we can indicate it by speaking through the window. If it is for something else yes inform the police but do not go outside specially when you are alone.
@AishaBR (345)
• United States
30 Jun 11
This happened to me, It was 12 at night and a woman was knocking at the door. I went up to the door and saw her. I went and told my husband it has some crazy looking woman at the door. He went to the door an she was asking for directions, and he was like you ran over my flowerbed and she was like oh I didn't see it and she was like do you want me to pay for it he was like no. Then he was like are you drunk (she was) and she said no. Then he told her here the place was and she left. We was like the hell. But if I was alone I wouldn't have answered the door especially since I was with my newborn and if my neighbor's asked I would have said no I didnt know her and it was late at night.
1 person likes this
@keshlois143 (713)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
MsTckle, thanks for the idea. Sad and bad of me not to think about calling police because I was even scared getting nearby the phone. Well, I have learned in the following day that it was a neighbor seeking for a help because an accident incurred to their daughter. Well, I apologized and made them realized that they should have at least mentioned my name when they were knocking.
@dont_pick_your_nose (2279)
• Australia
4 Jul 11
I don't blame you for being scared, were you home alone at the time? Also i wonder how old you are as you mentioned your parents. I don't think we should put ourselves in danger to rescue a stranger because as you say we could be walking into a trap. I would call out through the door or gate, if possible look who is out there through the window or door peep hole. I think i would try to call someone for her even the police. I would have tried to do something.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
4 Jul 11
Do you have a peep hole in your door? I probably wouldn't open the door unless there were a chain on it so the person couldn't push their way in. I might call out the window to see what the person needed and if not, I might call the police and ask them to investigate. That would probably be the safest way to handle the situation. I think if anyone asked me about it I would just say that I don't open my door to strangers for safety reason and leave it alone at that. Have a great week!!!
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
4 Jul 11
I have had this happen to me too. I know that nobody would come over in the middle of the night. Especially without calling me first. I just yelled out to her to go away.
You were perfectly right not to open your door or go out. What you should have done was call the police. They could help her if she had a problem. If it wasnt a trap and she really needed help she was like asking for trouble just by being out that late at night.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
2 Jul 11
Since rhe person did not call you by name, and you di d not recognize her voice, I would have called the police to send a patrolman by to check it out. As y ou said, it might have been a trap, or the poerson might have actually been in trouble. Actually, I might have called the police even if the crying person had called me by name.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Jul 11
perhaps you should have yelled out the door that you would call emergency for her. just to be helpful but would not come out for fear of getting attacked. some people have actually went out to help someone and got killed themselves also
. 
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
30 Jun 11
I think if someone is knocking on your door or screaming for help then you should at least see what it is they need. If it turns out that they really were in serious trouble and you just ignored them, then I think you would have committed a serious moral wrong. It may not be against the law.. it wouldn't land you in jail... but it would still be wrong. There are tons of heartbreaking stories where people are lying by the side of the road or screaming for help, and nobody comes to help them because they think that "someone else will do something" and they "don't want to get involved". If you hear it, then you should act. There's no guarantee that anyone else will.
And to be on the safe side grab a kitchen knife or a baseball bat or pepper spray If it turns out they aren't in trouble and they're trying to get you to come out so they can rob you, beat you, or worse. I wouldn't let that fear hold you back though.
@keshlois143 (713)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
We already had known a certain story where in my mother's place, there was a neighbor who was calling for help at the gate and when the house owner opened the gate, guys followed and ask for a lot of valuables. Good thing the guys did not touch their lives but had taken money and other appliances. Thus, the anticipation came into my mind and that made me not respond the call.
@merenwen315 (123)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
Hello. My response would a little late for your question now. But just in case this happens again, if you believe in prayers, you pray before you go to sleep. You see if you have prayed, then your angels and guardians will guard you through the night keeping away bad people or any bad elements that might want to impose you any harm. But for instance, still someone knocked in the middle of the night, you can feel it if that person is a harm to you or is in harm. If you can't distinguish, the first thought that came to your mind, stick with it. If you got confused whether to let that stranger in or not, just choose your own safety. If you can peep from far away, go have a good look. But if it's not possible and you're alone, just call someone from your neighborhood or your friend to come and accompany you to assist that stranger.
@luanakent (794)
• Brazil
1 Jul 11
You should not worry about what the neighbors say...id they also heard, they also could have helped..if they want.
To open the ldoors lto strangers is very dangerous both day and night.
if the person knows you..what not call???
be carefull and you can to pray for this unknown
@tiina05 (2317)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
hello,
Actually, for me what is did is right because you dont really know who the person is and you are just thinking in advance that what if it is just a trap. it is not right to risk your like that night because you dont really know what will happened next. alright? So, you are thinking about your neighbor it is depends on you if you want to tell the truth or not but if you have no choice but to tell the truth you just said it because you are just securing yourself. 
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
1 Jul 11
Why didn't you look out the window and see if someone was really there? If someone was there you could have called law enforcement. Let them handle the problem. That way you would've remained safe and the person would have received help. Best Wishes!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Jul 11
I probably wouldn't go out either in the dark. You never know when it could be a ruse to get you to open your house and then you get robbed. It's too bad that we have to be so cautious, but I am instructed the same as you... never open the door to someone you don't know in the night... I don't let anyone in that I don't know.. however, if someone was crying like that I would probably call 911 and get the cops out there to see about her. She could be playing a game, or she could have been injured or raped or something... so to be sure everything is okay I would call the law to either take her away or help her in some way... but in any case I am like you.. I wouldn't respond at all in case it is trouble.
@marycheene (53)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
If i were in your case I will do the same thing. but at least i will peep through the window to check the situation. It's hard to trust nowadays, especially if you are a woman and alone. When i started working i learned that it's best not to trust easily to ensure my safety.
@matheusr8 (2)
• Brazil
1 Jul 11
Of course, people will always say that if you open the door it could be an serial killer, kidnapper, whatever. But in other way, the girl could be an desperate, drunk person in need of love, so the best way to do is to take a peek on your window and if she's pretty go and talk to her, but put a knife on your poket, just to make sure.
