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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:
Bogginsthe3rd · 19/12/2024 00:07

I read about the Nottingham Knockers in Viz recently.

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:
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.

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.

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.

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:
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 00:13

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:
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.

Delphiniumandlupins · 19/12/2024 00:15

I can't see why your interaction with this cold caller would make you a target for a burglary. If he was casing the joint you're probably safer now - you are young, healthy, with a partner, don't obviously have cash in the house, likely to have cameras and security etc

Manxexile · 19/12/2024 00:16

Bogginsthe3rd · 19/12/2024 00:07

I read about the Nottingham Knockers in Viz recently.

Are they a different type of "Knockers"?

Whiskeyandkittens · 19/12/2024 00:17

You haven't given any reason to suggest you're particularly burglable (is that a word?) So I wouldn't worry.

Also no point calling the police after so long - if you called while he and potentially others were still in the area they may have sent an officer to see if they could catch up with them and have a word but it's a bit late for that now unless they had a vehicle you managed to get the number plate for, or any other line of enquiry.

Edingril · 19/12/2024 00:17

Do you usually get terrified over small things?

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:17

Delphiniumandlupins · 19/12/2024 00:15

I can't see why your interaction with this cold caller would make you a target for a burglary. If he was casing the joint you're probably safer now - you are young, healthy, with a partner, don't obviously have cash in the house, likely to have cameras and security etc

Thank you, the problem is we don’t have cameras or any sort of security system, and I would have appeared to be a lone female. Beating myself up for not having sorted a security system yet; we bought the house only 3 months ago. Feeling stupid now.

OP posts:
Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:18

Whiskeyandkittens · 19/12/2024 00:17

You haven't given any reason to suggest you're particularly burglable (is that a word?) So I wouldn't worry.

Also no point calling the police after so long - if you called while he and potentially others were still in the area they may have sent an officer to see if they could catch up with them and have a word but it's a bit late for that now unless they had a vehicle you managed to get the number plate for, or any other line of enquiry.

Edited

Thanks, that’s a good point. I wish I’d called earlier!

OP posts:
Polyp0 · 19/12/2024 00:18

What, do he's not actually from Nottingham?

Why have you called him a Nottingham knocker?

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

Edingril · 19/12/2024 00:17

Do you usually get terrified over small things?

🙄

OP posts:
Kitkatcatflap · 19/12/2024 00:19

30's isn't young.

Original poster
thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:20

Kitkatcatflap · 19/12/2024 00:19

30's isn't young.

I meant in the context of not being elderly and vulnerable, but this is quite uncalled for 😂

OP posts:
Friendofdennis · 19/12/2024 00:22

sorry you are terrified. It’s annoying that people are telling you that you shouldn’t be terrified when that is how you feel

FlickeringFairyLight · 19/12/2024 00:22

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 19/12/2024 00:22

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:17

Thank you, the problem is we don’t have cameras or any sort of security system, and I would have appeared to be a lone female. Beating myself up for not having sorted a security system yet; we bought the house only 3 months ago. Feeling stupid now.

Show quote history

There's nothing stupid about your response, but since this guy got under your skin, perhaps you would feel safer with a security system. Especially if you're used to being in a flat with a door buzzer system. Some people in London houses call out of an upstairs window if they aren't expecting a visitor, but I wouldn't do that because I hate other people doing it to me!

Whiskeyandkittens · 19/12/2024 00:23

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 19/12/2024 00:17

Thank you, the problem is we don’t have cameras or any sort of security system, and I would have appeared to be a lone female. Beating myself up for not having sorted a security system yet; we bought the house only 3 months ago. Feeling stupid now.

Show quote history

It's not stupid, we only got cameras AFTER DH had his car stolen from outside our house! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

At least this has made you think more about security before anything actually happens (and will be a deterrent to prevent anything happening also!)

QueenCamilla · 19/12/2024 00:23

thesecondmrsdewinter20 · 18/12/2024 23:59

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.

Show quote history

I was sexually assaulted by a gas man, so I wouldn't rush to be lulled into a false sense of security there...

Getting a door camera and not answering to random male visitors is the most sensible course of action.

samarrange · 19/12/2024 00:23

YANBU to feel nervous about crime for a while after being reminded first-hand that it exists. But your risk of being burgled is probably no different after this visit to what it was a week ago. 🙏