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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for calling the police but not opening the door at 3am?

86 replies

Cantrememberoldusername · 09/05/2026 12:41

Important information-

i am a single parent to 3 children with special needs and a teenage girl ( she’s more work that the others at the moment)

at 3am today I was woken up by a woman screaming for help and banging on my door asking me to let her in. There was a man with her, I could hear him telling her to calm down. She was screaming and banging then ran off down the street, the man followed her.

i didn’t open the door I called the police.

my friends are split on whether I did the right thing or if I should have let her in.

OP posts:
Uptightmumma · 09/05/2026 13:03

100% right thing: there was a case in Liverpool Olivia korbel where the mum opened the door when there was shouting in the street, one man ran in her house and someone shot at him and hit Olivia instead and killed her 💔. You never know what is happening and who’s got weapons etc

Wynter25 · 09/05/2026 12:58

You did the right thing

BillieWiper · 09/05/2026 12:55

Well no don't let her in because the man might've burst in too and then they're fighting in your house.

They could've both done something distressing in front of or to you or your kids.

Calling the police was the right thing to do.

PurpleNightingale · 09/05/2026 12:53

We had the same scenario once but it was a man being chased by other men, he had some kind of injury on his head.

i felt a bit frozen but my Mum (whose house we were in at the time) didn't hesitate to get him inside and lock the door. I think he saw the light on and had made a beeline for our house.

The poor guy was genuine and really shook up and sat on our sofa with a cup of tea while we waited for the police and medical care to arrive. The guys outside left quickly.

We had young kids asleep upstairs and we were only women in the house. I'm not sure if I'd have done the same but my Mum was ballsy in the moment and I was grateful she had. We made a huge difference to the man who called.

It is so hard to know what to do.

Anewuser · 09/05/2026 12:53

Even if you were by yourself (without children), you did the right thing by phoning police and not opening the door. You have no idea what had just happened.

swapsicles · 09/05/2026 12:51

I'm a single woman and wouldn't have let them in, more trouble than it's worth unless you could reasonably fight off the man should it turn ugly.
Phoning the police was the right thing, getting her help when she needs it plus alerting them if it's repeated behaviour.
Also late on a Friday night they could both just be very pissed!

peonysinthesun · 09/05/2026 12:51

You 100% did the right thing and I would have done the same.

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 09/05/2026 12:46

Why do some of your friends think you should let some random woman with a man into your house?

mynameiscalypso · 09/05/2026 12:45

I’d have done exactly the same. No way I’d have opened the door especially with children in the house.

toomuchfaff · 09/05/2026 12:45

YANBU

You've got to consoder your own safety and that of yoyr children. She didnt have to run off, if she was in danger she could have stayed at your door until the police arrived with you as witness, you've already rang the police.

Jellybunny98 · 09/05/2026 12:44

You did the right thing. I wouldn’t have opened the door either.