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Very scary CF Parking Incident

88 replies

2018SoFarSoGreat · 10/02/2020 17:34

The same car has blocked my driveway two nights in a row. Today is garbage day, and the CD car was blocking the only spot where my bins can go on the kerb for pickup. We hemmed and hawed what to do, and finally decided to report it. Looked out an hour or so later (10 30 pm ish), CF car is gone. Good. DH put the bins out.

At 4:00 my Ring doorbell went off, then again. We jumped up in a panic, not quite sure what was happening, I instinctively ran to the hallway and put the light on. DH told me to come back in the bedroom, while he looked at the ring camera on his phone. A young man was standing there, alternately pounding on the glass and ringing the bell. The ringing continued, and loud banging on the glass panels in the door. I called the police emergency line, and they said they’d send someone. I was on that phone for 11 minutes – the longest 11 minutes in my life. The guy kept banging, louder and louder. Ringing and ringing. He was not going away. I can only assume his car was towed – but it was not in my house!

I swear, I thought my heart would leap out of my chest. I locked the bedroom door. Then went into the en suite and locked that door. All the while my DH was watching on the camera. The dispatcher at one point asked if I needed medical help (!) – no, just someone to come make this stop! She asked did we have any weapons in the house. For the first time in my life I wished the answer was yes. I thought this is how it would all end for us. So frightening.

The police arrived and it all went quiet. I reviewed the footage, and did not see the guy walk away, so assume he was arrested. Will follow up with the police department today. He knows where we live! He could come back. I swear I am ready to flee the country.

Just had to tell someone.

OP posts:
ChristmasCarcass · 10/02/2020 18:28

I think it depends so much on where you live. We live on a main road in Brixton, and we have had this plenty of times (we literally don’t have a doorbell now as a result, and neither do any of our neighbours). The difference is a) I can stick my head out of the upstairs window and see it is some drunk twat looking for a taxi home, b) they aren’t armed, c) we’re on the second floor so even if they get through the front door they aren’t getting into our flat, and d) it’s busy enough out on the street even at 4am that I don’t feel isolated.

If it was my DM’s house in rural Sussex, with no innocent reason for anyone to be wandering around at 4am, miles from the nearest neighbour, and not particularly high security doors and windows, I’d feel very differently. Add guns and I’d be terrified.

TildaKauskumholm · 10/02/2020 18:29

OP your opening post did not say 4AM, so I and others no doubt assumed PM.

catwithnohat · 10/02/2020 18:29

Would be very careful of answering the door if someone was hammering on it at 4am (and we live in a naice part of a UK town).

People's aggression seems to get easily out of hand these days.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 10/02/2020 18:30

@Elephantonascooter neither my DH nor I could figure out how to make it let us talk to him. I was so freaked I could not remember my phone number, and had to look at it on my phone to tell the dispatcher.

OP posts:
wheresmymojo · 10/02/2020 18:32

I don't think it's anti-American sentiment. It's context.

In the UK this wouldn't be as scary (though definitely unsettling).

In the UK I'd probably speak via the Ring doorbell and ask WTF they wanted.

However - in the US, with guns, I'd be much more tempted to lock myself away and call the police.

It also makes more sense as I was assuming it was in the UK and thinking - 'As if the police would come out for this...' - I probably wouldn't call the police in the UK as there's no way they'd come out without a bit more info (like have you asked what they want through the door).

Obviously you don't have the same police resourcing issues in the US.

When can you call to find out what happened?

I would definitely want an update...

VettiyaIruken · 10/02/2020 18:33

No bloody way would I open the door to a visibly furious bloke I didn't know from Adam hammering on it at 4 am and bollocks would any sensible person!

I hope he doesn't come back, op. Perfectly understandable to be frightened particularly since like you say, it's the USA and a gun is a genuine possibility.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 10/02/2020 18:33

@TildaKauskumholm you are right. I didn't specify, that was my mistake. If it had been in the middle of the afternoon I would have had no problem just going to the door. There are always neighbors about, and it is a nice area, so would not expect anything untoward. Never had anything like this before.

OP posts:
InfiniteSheldon · 10/02/2020 18:37

4am and American are fairly important tbf 4 pm and a sleepy UK village is totally different scenario Flowers. The biggest clue for me was that the police came they'd just laugh and put the phone down here.

lollybee1 · 10/02/2020 18:38

Why didn't you just answer and see what he wanted. If it was towed then you tell him it wasn't you. Calling the police for someone chapping on your door (desperately or not) is a bit much IMO.

WelcometoCranford · 10/02/2020 18:41

How frightening. I'm not sure that I'd open the door at 4am in the UK (I live in outer London, in a reasonably nice area). I certainly wouldn't open the door at 4am in the USA, perhaps I'm paranoid but there you go.

I hope that you feel better soon, OP.

littlealexhorne · 10/02/2020 18:41

I'm in the UK and I'd be terrified OP, hope he doesn't come near you again.

BaolFan · 10/02/2020 18:42

Calling the police for someone chapping on your door (desperately or not) is a bit much IMO.

He wasn't chapping - he was banging and angry. Plus the OP is in the USA; would you fancy poking your head out at 4am not knowing if angry man had a gun?

Fairenuff · 10/02/2020 18:42

The biggest clue for me was that the police came they'd just laugh and put the phone down here.

That's not true, they came out to me here in the UK.

No way would I open the door to an angry man.

mbosnz · 10/02/2020 18:43

I'm from NZ, and in the UK, and in either place I'd have been needing a fresh change of underwear, a bottle of wine, and a straw.

You don't need guns for an entitled arsehole with an anger management problem to become seriously threatening, abusive, with high potential for physical violence.

Fairenuff · 10/02/2020 18:44

When will you hear back from the police OP?

KurriKurri · 10/02/2020 18:44

I think if someone rings your doorbell in the early hours of the morning, you shold actually be very wary of asking them what they want.
I'm in the UK - and have had this happen to me a couple of months ago, I did ask the guy what he wanted and he kept poking his hand through my letterbox and asking for money - he was off his face.
my grown up kids were annoyed with me (I live alone) and said I should have just rung the police and not got into conversation with the guy. No one should really be hammering on your door at that time.
I was quite frightened by the incident.

You must have been very frightened OP - I've lived in US and just about everyone on my street had a gun, police chases and raids were often heard at night and a woman was attacked in her home - and this was a pretty upmarket neighbourhood. It's a very different place to the UK. Hopefully your door banger has been dealt with and warned off by the police.

I thought from your OP it was pretty obvious that you meant 4 am as you had mentioned it being 10.30pm when your DH put the bins out, but on MN unless you underreact to everything and exist in a state of complete torpor, you are considered to be hysterical.

dayowl · 10/02/2020 18:46

I’d be terrified OP

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 10/02/2020 18:52

I too thought it was obvious that OP was talking about 4 in the morning. I would have been scared too and I’m in the UK.

Cherrysoup · 10/02/2020 18:54

I think I’d have had a heart attack! Be careful going out and about. Have you heard back from the police?

kennyjenny · 10/02/2020 18:56

How scary op. Did you get the car towed away? Who did you report it too. Hope you get some answers today from the police.

kennyjenny · 10/02/2020 18:56

*to

jessycake · 10/02/2020 18:57

I would be terrified too

CottonSock · 10/02/2020 18:57

I'd be terrified in any country. Sounds horrible

bugbhaer · 10/02/2020 18:59

I've been around quite a long time, and know there is so much ant-American sentiment, but FFS I didn't think it would come into play here.

I think it's more anti-gun-owning than anti-American tbh.

bugbhaer · 10/02/2020 19:00

You could tell it wasn't in the UK by this bit, finally decided to report it. Looked out an hour or so later (10 30 pm ish), CF car is gone Grin