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Original poster

For being terrified after visit from Nottingham Knockers?

159 replies

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:31

Was wfh today and expecting a parcel so when I heard a knock on the door I answered. A young man told me he was an ex con selling things door to door as part of a rehabilitation project and asked to show me what he was selling. Politely but firmly told him I wasn’t interested. Later told DP what had happened and we read about Nottingham Knockers. Planning to call 101 in the morning and the house is all locked up but quite worried as we don’t have a security system, it’s our first home and we moved in only three months ago. I’m going to see if I can get a ring doorbell sorted over the next couple of days but we are going away on Monday for Christmas and I’m terrified the house will be broken into. Does anyone have any advice / reassurance? We are young, in our 30s, and I was quite obviously wary in speaking to him, so I’m not sure we’d really be a target (apparently they target the elderly / vulnerable / anyone willing to hand over cash on the doorstep) but quite frightened.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 19/12/2024 00:13

WinterMorn · 18/12/2024 23:57

I have worked with numerous burglars over the years through the course of my job and not one of them was a Nottingham Knocker. ANYONE could be a potential burglar. Are you terrified of the gas man, or the door to door leaflet dropper?

Show quote history

Same here. Years of working in offender management and never met a burglar who did this.

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:13

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 19/12/2024 00:10

I've had something similar in London and found it a bit intimidating. Two young guys knocking very loudly and insistently on the door until I opened it, then reeling off a script. But they went away when I said no thanks and nothing else happened.

Thank you, that’s reassuring. I’m in London too.

OP posts:
Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:12

Crackbacking · 19/12/2024 00:11

Yeah that would shake me up as well, OP but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Still not a nice experience though.

I know it’s a MN stereotype but as a woman who lives alone in a flat I rarely answer my door unless someone has buzzed up through the video entry system and I’ve had a chance to ask /see who it is - or of course I’m expecting someone.

Thank you for saying that. I definitely did this when I lived in a flat - not used to living in a house!

OP posts:
Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:11

WinterMorn · 19/12/2024 00:02

OP, I'm not harsh at all, I just think that the paranoia on this site is way out of hand. There is absolutely no need to be terrified. You declined his offer and he left. That's it!

You obviously haven’t been reading my posts or the link I shared which explain that it’s a way for criminals to plan future burglaries. This is actually one of my first ever threads on this site, I’ll go back to lurking after this! People are so judgmental.

OP posts:
Crackbacking · 19/12/2024 00:11

Yeah that would shake me up as well, OP but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Still not a nice experience though.

I know it’s a MN stereotype but as a woman who lives alone in a flat I rarely answer my door unless someone has buzzed up through the video entry system and I’ve had a chance to ask /see who it is - or of course I’m expecting someone.

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 19/12/2024 00:10

I've had something similar in London and found it a bit intimidating. Two young guys knocking very loudly and insistently on the door until I opened it, then reeling off a script. But they went away when I said no thanks and nothing else happened.

MasterBeth · 19/12/2024 00:09

Bogginsthe3rd · 19/12/2024 00:07

I read about the Nottingham Knockers in Viz recently.

I am a bit reluctant to Google it.

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:09

Oreyt · 19/12/2024 00:06

Reminds me of the traveller that gave an ops grandchild £1 and she was worried he would come and break in because he took it.

I wonder happened?

What is this scheme? Ex cons knock on your door and tell you they are an ex con and ask if you want to buy anything?

I think it would make most people feel uneasy.

He told me he was trying to get back on his feet and that this was part of a rehabilitation scheme. He was very earnest and charming - obviously intending to make me feel sorry for him. According to police advice, they note down houses where people hand over cash as sites for potential burglaries. And thank you for understanding, it did.

OP posts:
Bogginsthe3rd · 19/12/2024 00:07

I read about the Nottingham Knockers in Viz recently.

MasterBeth · 19/12/2024 00:06

It's also not much of a scam:

"Hello, I am an ex-offender. Do you want to buy some J Cloths?"

"No, thanks."

"O.K."

It's not exactly Oceans Eleven.

Oreyt · 19/12/2024 00:06

Reminds me of the traveller that gave an ops grandchild £1 and she was worried he would come and break in because he took it.

I wonder happened?

What is this scheme? Ex cons knock on your door and tell you they are an ex con and ask if you want to buy anything?

I think it would make most people feel uneasy.

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:05

GoldsolesLugs · 19/12/2024 00:03

I think you may have anxiety issues if you were terrified and on the verge of calling 111 about a door to door salesman.

111 is the NHS advice line. 101, which I referred to, is the number for non urgent police inquiries, which the police themselves suggest people use to report this sort of activity.

OP posts:
Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:04

MasterBeth · 19/12/2024 00:02

Yes, some people try a doorstep selling scam. Don't buy anything from them. But they are no more able to case the joint than anyone else at your front door. And they are not going to break into your house because you're sensible enough not to pay a tenner for a J Cloth.

(I live in Nottingham. I resent your phraseology, btw. )

Show quote history

Obviously no offence intended to anyone from Nottingham - it’s where my family is from in fact. I’ve used the term purely because it seems to be the most widely known descriptor for these scammers.

OP posts:
GoldsolesLugs · 19/12/2024 00:03

I think you may have anxiety issues if you were terrified and on the verge of calling 111 about a door to door salesman.

WinterMorn · 19/12/2024 00:02

OP, I'm not harsh at all, I just think that the paranoia on this site is way out of hand. There is absolutely no need to be terrified. You declined his offer and he left. That's it!

MasterBeth · 19/12/2024 00:02

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:53

Being terrified of being broken into, given this is a known scam criminals use to case houses to burgle.

Show quote history

Yes, some people try a doorstep selling scam. Don't buy anything from them. But they are no more able to case the joint than anyone else at your front door. And they are not going to break into your house because you're sensible enough not to pay a tenner for a J Cloth.

(I live in Nottingham. I resent your phraseology, btw. )

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 19/12/2024 00:01

I think most of these people are just selling stuff, it really is normal to get them. I've had them four or five times over the years, easily could appear as a lone female, never any issue.

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:00

HealthRobinsonCrusoe · 18/12/2024 23:59

They're sinister. I thought our last one would've murdered me if he could when I said no. They go round absolutely miles in a day, though, so you'll be long forgotten.

Why do they think the prison story makes people want to get their purses out??

I know, it immediately put me on my guard!

OP posts:
HealthRobinsonCrusoe · 18/12/2024 23:59

They're sinister. I thought our last one would've murdered me if he could when I said no. They go round absolutely miles in a day, though, so you'll be long forgotten.

Why do they think the prison story makes people want to get their purses out??

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:59

WinterMorn · 18/12/2024 23:57

I have worked with numerous burglars over the years through the course of my job and not one of them was a Nottingham Knocker. ANYONE could be a potential burglar. Are you terrified of the gas man, or the door to door leaflet dropper?

Show quote history

I mean, I’m reassured that you don’t think it’s an issue but I do think you’re being a bit harsh! The police haven’t issued warnings about the gas man or the door to door leaflet dropper.

OP posts:
DrFosterWentToGloucester23 · 18/12/2024 23:58

My FIL once bought a load of kitchen cloths from one of these men and …

Absolutely nothing happened.

WinterMorn · 18/12/2024 23:57

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:53

Being terrified of being broken into, given this is a known scam criminals use to case houses to burgle.

Show quote history

I have worked with numerous burglars over the years through the course of my job and not one of them was a Nottingham Knocker. ANYONE could be a potential burglar. Are you terrified of the gas man, or the door to door leaflet dropper?

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:54

sommerjade · 18/12/2024 23:53

Thanks for the link @thesecondmrsdewinter20 I sent it to my dad as he had a young man call round selling stuff who had a card saying he was 'deaf & dumb' luckily he didn't buy anything but he felt bad as he's deaf himself.
Plus he's 77 & assumed the man was genuine.
I told him it was probably a scam!

Oh bless him. It makes me so angry that people go to these lengths to scam others! So glad your dad didn’t buy anything and that he’s ok <3

OP posts:
Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:53

WinterMorn · 18/12/2024 23:51

You are seriously overthinking this. It's really not a big deal. As for being "terrified"...why?

Being terrified of being broken into, given this is a known scam criminals use to case houses to burgle.

OP posts:
sommerjade · 18/12/2024 23:53

Thanks for the link @thesecondmrsdewinter20 I sent it to my dad as he had a young man call round selling stuff who had a card saying he was 'deaf & dumb' luckily he didn't buy anything but he felt bad as he's deaf himself.
Plus he's 77 & assumed the man was genuine.
I told him it was probably a scam!

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