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Original poster

Knocking on the back door at 9.30pm

64 replies

Slightyamusedandsilly · 21/11/2025 21:36

I live alone in a terraced house. Back yard rather than garden, with a back lane.

Someone just knocked, twice, at my back door. Dark in the back lane. It's a minute walk round to the front, where I MIGHT have answered (might not now it's dark tho). Creepy as fuck.

Would you have answered the door? I found it very odd that someone would go to the back door (even in daytime). There's no reason to. My car isn't there. My bins aren't out. I have nothing in the lane itself.

I ignored it. After they'd gone I checked the doors were locked (they were).

OP posts:
keeponwishing · 23/11/2025 02:39

Propagandalf · 21/11/2025 22:43

I would only answer in the late evening if I have ordered a Just-Eat or if Amazon was running late on their deliveries. I wouldn't answer it otherwise.

What a strange answer 😂. Does it really need stating that it you’ve ordered a takeaway you’ll open the door to accept the delivery?

Pryceosh1987 · 23/11/2025 02:34

I agree. I would be done the same, before i go to bed i make sure all exits are locked and secured.

PollyBell · 23/11/2025 02:05

JudgeBread · 23/11/2025 01:57

I require 3-5 business days to prepare for backdoor entry

Have you warned your partner

JudgeBread · 23/11/2025 01:57

I require 3-5 business days to prepare for backdoor entry

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 23/11/2025 01:34

HingedBroccoli · 22/11/2025 13:57

I said 101. 🙄

Show quote history

Yes, which is the police. 🙄

SleafordSods · 22/11/2025 14:05

I used to live in a similar home @Slightyamusedandsillyand this would have unsettled me too.

What deterrents do you have in place?

HingedBroccoli · 22/11/2025 13:57

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 22/11/2025 12:23

Can you honestly imagine calling the police to tell them somebody had just knocked on your back door? Where do you think they would ‘log’ it? 🙄

Show quote history

I said 101. 🙄

Banaghergirl · 22/11/2025 13:50

I would not have answered the door and I would have been very frightened. I have a sign on my back gate clearly displaying a photo of two large Rottweilers and a warning that they are roaming free. In reality I had a very elderly, extremely friendly, chocolate lab. I also kept his food and water bowl visible from the back door. We had a series of break ins locally and when the police visited to ask if I'd seen anything, they saw my lab and said that's the best deterrant to an intruder that you can have.

ContinuewithGoogle · 22/11/2025 13:40

StruggleFlourish · 22/11/2025 11:34

I've lived alone for over 7 years (same house for over 30, pretty good neighborhood) but I NEVER answer the door once it's dark out, period.
(Unless I have a message from a friend telling me they'll be by at a particular time)
I have cameras on the property too but no.

fair enough, but not sure why you think it's magically safer when it's not dark.

Cherrysoup · 22/11/2025 13:16

No lockable gate on the back yard?

ChasbutnotDave · 22/11/2025 13:03

Although I wouldn't want to answer the door, I'd want to know who it was and why they were knocking otherwise I wouldn't sleep because of worrying.
Hopefully it was a drunk person at the wrong door rather than someone up to no good.

CurlewKate · 22/11/2025 12:52

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 22/11/2025 12:23

Can you honestly imagine calling the police to tell them somebody had just knocked on your back door? Where do you think they would ‘log’ it? 🙄

Show quote history

They’d log it in the “Oh shit, another Mumsnetter” book…..

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 22/11/2025 12:23

HingedBroccoli · 21/11/2025 21:44

My first thought was I'd answer it abruptly with a carving knife in fight mode.

The reality is, if I was alone and absolutely not expecting it, I'd freeze to the spot with fear!

Would it be worth giving 101 a call to log?

Hope you're feeling okay. It must have quite worrying.

Can you honestly imagine calling the police to tell them somebody had just knocked on your back door? Where do you think they would ‘log’ it? 🙄

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/11/2025 11:37

No. Would also install high fence and security light.

StruggleFlourish · 22/11/2025 11:34

I've lived alone for over 7 years (same house for over 30, pretty good neighborhood) but I NEVER answer the door once it's dark out, period.
(Unless I have a message from a friend telling me they'll be by at a particular time)
I have cameras on the property too but no.

LakieLady · 22/11/2025 11:30

I’ve only ever had someone knock on the door late at night once (we live in the middle of nowhere) and that was the people staying in the holiday let next door had locked themselves out and wanted us to magically do something about it.

Are you my neighbour? 😀

I had exactly that happen when the people opposite first started letting their "garden building" on airbnb. Two drunk women knocked on my door shortly before midnight and seemed incapable of understanding that I didn't have a spare key to my neighbour's outbuilding. They then knocked on loads of other doors in the road asking the same thing.

After that, the owners got a lock with a keypad fitted and they text the code to people staying there now.

RosesAndHellebores · 22/11/2025 11:17

@Slightyamusedandsilly have you ordered the security lights yet? It would have totally freaked me out if.I were you.

maudelovesharold · 22/11/2025 11:10

WTF would anyone go around the back if they didnt need to?- only dodgy reasons I can think of

Tbf it was probably an Evri delivery person looking for someone else’s porch.

HelloCharming · 22/11/2025 09:57

Drug delivery to wrong address.

HelloCharming · 22/11/2025 09:57

I had that, lived alone, bloke knocking on the door convinced it was the house he was staying in for the weekend. Pissed as a fart, we live in a touristy place and think he’d got off the bus, gone straight to the pub and then tried to find where he was staying. Had to call the police as he just wouldn’t go. He was quite polite but bladdered.

colapepsi · 22/11/2025 07:52

No, I would not answer. If people want to speak to me so urgently, they can use the front door just like everyone else, it is well lit and has a ring doorbell.

WTF would anyone go around the back if they didnt need to?- only dodgy reasons I can think of

Itsaknockout235 · 22/11/2025 07:49

Was the house dark at the back. Could be a burglar doing pre-burglary checks.

ContinuewithGoogle · 21/11/2025 22:59

If you had a window that side, I would have answered through it or call through the door. I'd rather show there's someone in the house.

Nutmuncher · 21/11/2025 22:55

First of all get a lock on the back gate, then get a light in the yard and a camera. That would freak me out.

BinNightTonight · 21/11/2025 22:51

I live alone with my baby in a similar set up to you. I absolutely would not have answered the door. I would more than likely (absolutely, definitely) ring my dad to come and check and probably take me back to my parents for the night!!

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