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Original poster

Someone knocking on door...

44 replies

littlewoollypervert · 15/08/2019 00:35

I know it sounds like nothing but someone was tapping on my front door at midnight.
I live in a small village, terraced house in small estate. Neighbours all have my mobile no so if one of them were locked out I would expect them to text, and also to call thru the letterbox.
Not a chance it's a friend or family member - they are all at least 20 miles away.
After the first tap (which I initially thought was next door) I went downstairs - thinking it was prob a takeaway for next door or a friend of the 20 something calling to her on the way home from the pub.
But had a look and realised my sliding porch door was open - and I had closed it when I came in round 9pm.
10 mins later they tapped again 4 or 5 times. No way I'm opening the door this time of night! I live on my own (well with 2 cats who are hiding under the bed) so I am just posting till I stop being freaked out and can go asleep. Seems to be all quiet now...

OP posts:
Spacerader · 15/08/2019 00:37

I’d turn some lights on so if anyone is about they know you are in and awake

Smelborp · 15/08/2019 00:38

Same as spacerader and I would not answer. Hope you’re OK OP.

Progress2019 · 15/08/2019 00:38

How horrible. Could it have been your 20 year old who’d popped out, and didn’t want to go round the back?

Apologies if it wasn’t your 20yo!

Bookworm4 · 15/08/2019 00:39

Agree, get lights on,tv on, it’s a common thing for your door to be knocked to see if house if empty before breaking in. If lights are on and it’s someone genuine they’ll knock again, dodgy person will go away. Check doors/windows are locked.

Pipandmum · 15/08/2019 00:41

Could you look out from upstairs window and see who it is and if brave enough ask what they want?

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 15/08/2019 00:43

What @Bookworm4 said.

Also make sure your security is tight the next few nights, locks, lights etc .

They may well be testing to see if light noise rouses you in preparation for a break in .

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 15/08/2019 00:43

Nooooo @Pipandmum !!!

RosaWaiting · 15/08/2019 00:49

OP they’re probably looking for empty properties.

I’d lock your porch door, isn’t that an extra bit of security?

StudentHelp · 15/08/2019 00:54

Turn a light on!
Could you look out of a window and see the door?

Original poster
littlewoollypervert · 15/08/2019 01:01

Porch doesn't lock, but ive chain and bolt on the front door. Have hall light on timer so it's on. All gone quiet now. Think I'll change the timer so it goes off and on several times tomorrow night. The neighbour's dogs all barked when whoever it was walked down the path.
Also I'm at the front of the house and have the small window on the vent so can hear everything outside - absolutely no conversation or noise from whoever it was, noise carries well this time of night.

OP posts:
areukiddingme · 15/08/2019 01:03

You won the post code lottery

Skittlesandbeer · 15/08/2019 01:03

I usually call out ‘Steve, can you get the door? It’ll probably be Dave.’ in a loud voice. I live alone.

It probably achieves nothing, but it makes me feel better!

Original poster
littlewoollypervert · 15/08/2019 01:03

My 20 something is working 30 miles away and texted me - Not her! Meant it might be someone for the 20 something next door.

OP posts:
BeTheHokeyMan · 15/08/2019 01:06

Your porch door doesn't lock Confused well I'd get that sorted pretty sharpish if I were you

flatulencebythebucket · 15/08/2019 01:08

Don't you have an upstairs window that you can see the door from? I'd be waiting with my phone to take a video.

A few months ago i had a guy walk into my house at 1am asking "where donna was" so i kicked him out & called the police.

My dog was very pleased to see him despite barking at pretty much everything.

Original poster
littlewoollypervert · 15/08/2019 01:12

Did a wander round house. Put lights on and have the timer on the hall light going on and off every hr for next couple of hours. When I was downstairs heard a thump upstairs - cat jumping off bed, nearly pooed myself before I realised!

OP posts:
RosaWaiting · 15/08/2019 01:20

Good that next door’s dogs are on to it!

If I had a house I would have a camera doorbell.

Mum’s neighbour has an intermittent light that is programmed for random times every night.

Original poster
littlewoollypervert · 15/08/2019 01:22

Seems to be all quiet now. I'll text the neighbours in the morning and see if they heard anything. Now to try and sleep - I'm up at 6.15!

OP posts:
Frownette · 15/08/2019 01:23

Spooky, I wouldn't like that at all.

Definitely second getting porch door fixed. Do you feel a bit calmer now?

Littleheart5 · 15/08/2019 01:26

I feel for you so much- I’ve had this happen before. It turned out to be a drunken (at 10pm) man who was looking for house number 5 a whole street away.

Try to get your porch door fixed for your own peace of mind, Maybe leave the tv on downstairs for a night so it flickers through the curtains. Also consider getting a rescue dog yourself? Hand hold anyway

Horehound · 15/08/2019 01:33

Hang on. I had this and it turned out to be a breeze making the letter box move which resulted in a tapping noise..sounds plausible thats what's happening here

WorriedSENMum · 15/08/2019 01:35

Get a ring doorbell OP. They are brilliant!

tolerable · 15/08/2019 01:52

call police.irrational fear is still real

LollyBmummy3 · 15/08/2019 02:02

I agree with tolerable, call police. Hope you’re ok.

TheSandman · 15/08/2019 02:12

Once - many years ago when I had first moved into a house which, before I bought it to convert, used to be a hall, used for all sorts of functions - I woke up in the morning to find a man in an RAF uniform standing at the end of my bed.

He looked a bit nonplussed to find people sleeping in the place he thought he (and a truck full of other blokes) was booked into as part of some training exercise.

Turned out he wanted the NEW village hall down the road.

He was very hunky... but I think my (then) wife would have objected.

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