Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Someone knocked on my front door very loudly about 6 minutes ago

41 replies

landregistry · 09/03/2019 00:49

what do I do?

About 10 minutes ago someone knocked at the front door with the letter box quite loudly. I didn’t go to look or open the front door as I was too scared, but have put lights on inside the house so they know people are in.

OP posts:

LosingLola · 09/03/2019 01:34

Thank you! You've just reminded me I've left the hot water on

ReanimatedSGB · 09/03/2019 01:40

It's far more likely to be someone who made a mistake than someone with nasty intentions. Food delivery is probably the most likely of the lot, with cabbie being the second. Next likeliest is 'confused drunk person' - thinks it's the address of a mate who will give them a bed for the night or something.
Try not to fret.

Original poster

landregistry · 09/03/2019 01:43

Thanks - yes I will try to relax.

A friend is coming to lodge with us for a couple of months from Monday, which I’m really glad about.

OP posts:

Birdsgottafly · 09/03/2019 06:32

I can't imagine not looking out of the window to see if help was needed.

I live in a rough bit of Liverpool.

Original poster

landregistry · 09/03/2019 07:07

At 12.38 am when everything was dark, you are the only adult there, and potentially being tricked into opening the door might mean endangering your children asleep in the house?

I was scared.

OP posts:

Teaandcrisps · 09/03/2019 07:11

How are you this morning land?
There's some really good alarm systems that are relatively cheap and easy to install - might be worth considering?

DeathMetalMum · 09/03/2019 07:15

We have a light by the front door that I can switch on from inside - which I would have done in this case. Usually spooks the person at the front door too as it's really bright. I'd be scared also though and would have sent dp to investigate. Even though we always have the front door locked and more often than not the security chain on as well.

Original poster

landregistry · 09/03/2019 07:17

Fine thank you - just really tired from lying awake half the night.

Yes should look into an alarm system. Also a spy hole for the door. One of the reasons I didn’t go downstairs is because I was whoever it was might already be trying though get in the house.

The only place to get a good view of anyone knocking is through the downstairs front room window - however once you look through that the person knocking has a full view of you and it is really exposing.

OP posts:

Original poster

landregistry · 09/03/2019 07:20

We have a light by the front door that I can switch on from inside

This is a good idea too - thanks.

When I was growing up my parents had a switch in their bedroom which turned on a light on the patio. Which did one night scare away burglars who had already got as far as removing panes of glass which they left on the grass before they scarpered.

My parents didn’t know if they were in the house or not until the police came.

OP posts:

Original poster

landregistry · 09/03/2019 07:22

Even though we always have the front door locked and more often than not the security chain on as well.

I think the frightening thing is that if someone wanted to get in enough, in two seconds they could smash a window and do it. Kicking the door in would also probably not be that difficult.

OP posts:

PositivelyPeach · 09/03/2019 07:30

We have a ring doorbell, it's amazing - but not cheap.

It records a 1 minute clip of any activity detected in your pre set zone, and you get notifications that something is there/doorbell has been pressed.
You can answer the doorbell from your phone, talking through the speaker if you want. If not you can just watch them without them knowing.
You can also check the live view at any point.

It's great peace of mind for us.

sweetcheeksmahoaney · 09/03/2019 07:30

i never answer my door unless i am expecting it. especially at night.

Earslaps · 09/03/2019 07:42

Another vote for the Ring doorbell. DH works away a lot so I'm alone with the DC and I wanted something for peace of mind.

It's also very interesting to see that the milkman delivers to our house at around 2am!!

GabrielleNelson · 09/03/2019 07:49

Glad you're OK, OP. Can I just remind people that there has to be a balance between making your house difficult to break into but also making it easy for the occupants to get out in the event of a fire. Sometimes I see houses with massive security grids over the front door and it worries me. In our last house the windows had all been replaced years a long time before with fixed panes of glass that couldn't open. I was much easier in my mind when we got opening windows in (that you could lock on the inside - we kept the key right next to the window).

Happynow001 · 09/03/2019 08:29

Hi OP. When I first bought my own home a police officer came round and checked where the weak points in my home security was. This was a service they offered generally but it was a while ago so doubt offered anymore. However they do offer advice online (see below) which may help you make you feel safer.
www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/

TheBrilloPad · 09/03/2019 10:09

I had a similar incident a while back - alone at home with 3young DC and had a knock at the back door (so he had come through my back Garden) and was banging repeatedly and loudly enough that it woke me. I went down and looked through the dining room window into the garden and yelled "go away - wrong house, I don't know you" and he just kept kicking the door and banging. Called the police who spoke to him and it was just a drunk at the wrong house, but it terrified me at the time. I got two Ring doorbells, front and back, and now if anyone is at the door (even if they don't knock etc, it sense motion), I can look who it is on my phone and can speak to them through the speaker. It's been such peace of mind. Would 100% recommend it to anyone.

Flip

1 2