Put Your Hands Up
By dorianna
@dorianna (509)
United States
November 30, 2015 5:35pm CST
Many years ago, I was on a 1st time house cleaning job in rural southwest Arkansas, USA. The husband was an old friend who had gotten married recently and he was the one who had hired me.
I was told where a key would be hidden, given the security code and directions; I arrived in my work car which had big signs across the sides advertising my cleaning business. I found the key, went inside, punched in security code and starting cleaning the house.
Out of the corner of my eye, while cleaning, I thought I saw someone in the yard. When I looked again, there was no one. There were no other homes around for a long distance. I was a little nervous but thought maybe it had been a utility man reading meters.
Within a few minutes the doorbell rang. I generally do not answer phones or doors when I am working at a home, But the intruder rang the bell persistently so I opened the door a crack.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open and a man in what looked like a gray mechanic's outfit pushed open the door, shoved a magnum 45 in my face and yelled, "Put your hands up sister". I complied.
By nature I am a fighter and began a brain search for an escape. About that time another man dressed in similar attire walked in and searching the house for others.
I had an apron on, duster sticking out my jeans pocket and a car with business signs. They began asking me what I was doing there and I explained. Apparently, the wife had forgot to set the alarm so it would not go off silently. The men were from the Sheriff's office which I finally noticed on their shirts. They never identified themselves as they should have done.
They held me at gunpoint until I was able to reach the owner and he could verify I was legitimately there on a job.
Have you had any harrowing experiences? held at gunpoint? What is the scariest experience you have had?
19 people like this
14 responses
@dorianna (509)
• United States
30 Nov 15
Indeed it was, I was badly shaken most of the day. I did call the Sheriff's office and gave him hell that they did not identify themselves. I was getting ready to make a run for it. I could have been killed. Initially, I thought they were burglars.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
4 Dec 15
No, fortunately, I've never been held at gunpoint for trying to do my job! But then as technical support, I have been on the receiving end of some serious threats.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
5 Dec 15
@dorianna My colleague was worse! He had someone threatening to come down n B up the building.. Oh the joy!
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
5 Dec 15
@Drosophila That can get a little scary with all the nuts walking into business for mass shootings.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
4 Dec 15
@Drosophila I can just imagine some colorful words being fired at you..Fortunately, they cannot reach you ^_~
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
5 Dec 15
wow! What an horrible experience you had while trying to do your job. Did you keep the cleaning job there, or did you quit?
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
5 Dec 15
I didn't have to quit..it was a one time only for a special occasion. However, I would probably have kept it..I have had clients forget their alarms before but usually not silently giving me ample warning to leave and call them at work. Never with such dangerous circumstances before. Those back woods sheriff's weren't too bright or just don't care.
@dorianna (509)
• United States
1 Dec 15
You sure don't have much time to think. I am just glad I didn't try to escape..in my mind I was already trying to think of a way out thinking that they were burglars until I saw the name tags on their shirts. They should have identified themselves. They reminded me of the backwoods Sheriff's in movies that sort of make their own rules.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
2 Dec 15
Oh my! What a terrifying experience. Thank goodness it was all straightened out.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
2 Dec 15
@cindiowens That is what had me shaken up the most, the near probability of being shot because the idiots didn't identify themselves. I've always had good luck in sticky situations. Hope it stays that way.
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
2 Dec 15
@dorianna You might have been shot had you run. I am glad it is in the past, and you are okay.
1 person likes this
@3876745Ok (174)
• Guangzhou, China
1 Dec 15
Oh,my God,If you are pointing at me,I'm sure I'll get dizzy
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
Happily, I live in a country which doesn't have an obsession with lethal weapons. The most harrowing experience I've had is knowing that if the wind changed, my house would be destroyed in a bushfire.
1 person likes this
@birjudanak (14320)
• India
2 Dec 15
its really scary experience and at that time the person suffering from it only know that what is fear,sometimes in this situation we dont know what to do and even cant speak properly.
1 person likes this