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AIBU?

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Original poster

Freaked out by 2am knock on the door

150 replies

PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:18

Can't stop thinking about this so hopefully someone will come along and give me some ideas as to what this person wanted!

We had a knock on the door and someone rang the doorbell last night, we have cctv on the front door so didn't answer but standing there was a lady around 65-70 with a walking stick chewing gum standing at the door. When we didn't answer she then went round to ours cars and started to look through the windows (maybe tried the handles)

I can't for the life of me think why she would be knocking on our door, she didn't look frightened / concerned about anything, in fact she seemed quite bolshy chewing gum standing at the door. She then walked back up the street slowly with her walking stick and didn't knock at anyone elses in the row.

We called the police and they said that they had a similar call from a neighbour and would send someone out.

What on earth could she have wanted? Seems strange that a lady with a walking stick would be trying to steal our cars whilst standing on a bright floor lit drive after knocking?

We live on a quiet street, keep ourselves to ourselves and you have to come a way in to our corner plot to come off the street

OP posts:
martiniwini · 14/08/2017 11:20

How bizarre! I have no clue sorry but would be interested to know.... have you seen her before? If so, try her door. Could have MH issues?

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:21

I have never seen her before, I can't think of anyone on the street that matches her description!

OP posts:
Anecdoche · 14/08/2017 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Decaffstilltastesweird · 14/08/2017 11:23

I would guess MH issues too. A woman in my home town used to look into all the car windows and also touched all the parts of the car, (she would touch more or less everything she came across actually; pavements, windows, benches). I think she was probably mentally ill.

AgentProvocateur · 14/08/2017 11:24

She could have been lost, she could have had Alzheimer's, she could have seen her dog go into your garden, she could have wanted to tell you your car as unlocked. There were two of you - why on earth didn't you answer? If I looked out and saw an old person, I'd presume they needed help.

BrieAndChilli · 14/08/2017 11:25

We once had a knock on our door quite late at night, it was a very elderly man who asked us to help him get into his house, so we went along the road and tried to open his door with his key but it wouldn't work, tried a few other doors in case he was confused.
We think he used to live there but had now moved and had gotten confused, he had no idea where he did live so we had to call the police as couldn't in good conscious let him continue to walk the streets

allegretto · 14/08/2017 11:26

I don't get why you would post on here the day after. Why didn't you just ask her at the time?

AlrightBabby · 14/08/2017 11:26

Clutching at straws here, but could it be someone looking for a lost pet? I know it's silly o'clock to be knocking on, but thinking about a couple of older people I know, they have little sense of reasonable when it comes to their animals.

MrsOverTheRoad · 14/08/2017 11:26

I'd assume she had Alheimers....why think the worst? Elderly person doing weird things...usually equals MH issues.

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:27

She didn't look worried concerned, there would be no way of a pet getting in to the garden with the fencing etc and she didn't attempt to look at the gates to the side of the house either

I didn't answer because it was 2am! who in their right mind opens their door to the public at that time of night when you have babies in bed

Also why wouldn't she knock on the other 20 houses in the street if she was in trouble?

OP posts:
demirose87 · 14/08/2017 11:27

Sounds weird but I would just try and put it out your mind for now unless it happens again. There's a possibility she has MH issues to be knocking on a stranger's door at that time, especially if police say they've had a similar complaint, or she may have the wrong door. Do you think you would feel able to open the door next time if she does it again?

Coconutspongexo · 14/08/2017 11:28

I'd also assume Alzheimer's, it's quite common those suffering with Alzheimer's wander away from their home even in the middle of the night.

NormaSmuff · 14/08/2017 11:28

i woudl say dementia or something Sad

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:29

MH is the only thing I can think of just strange that she only tried us and who ever else called the police.

Either that or she was going to ask for money or something and that's why she checked the cars

OP posts:
Lunde · 14/08/2017 11:31

Maybe she went to the wrong house

notevernotnevernotnohow · 14/08/2017 11:33

If you were that interested to know what she wanted you should have opened the door. I doubt the 70 year old lady with the walking stick would have proved terribly dangerous to you Hmm

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 14/08/2017 11:35

I would've assumed demetia too. I understand you not wanting to open the door, but were you not able to go and ask her what she wanted from a first floor window or something rather than ignore her?

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:37

yes in hindsight but it was 2am and we had just woken up confused and by the time we got the cctv up to see who it was she was leaving, we only know all the other details because we watched the recording back there and then

Also there have been some scary stories about people asking for help and then gangs of romany gypsies forcing their way in in the local area recently so that was obviously going through our mind at the time too

OP posts:
ShoesHaveSouls · 14/08/2017 11:37

I would assume dementia too - but I probably would have got DH to answer the door, while I grabbed the phone. We have a dog that would see anyone off though.

The only other explanation is too scary to think about - the chewing gum thing is weird. With a stick - was it definitely an old lady, or could it have been someone dressed as an old lady? Grin

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:38

To be honest we're not sure it was definitely a lady, definitely lady clothes but the face isn't clear and could well be a man

OP posts:
Coconutspongexo · 14/08/2017 11:41

I might be being stupid but how can you tell they were chewing gum but the face isn't clear? Sorry if I really am being dumb

Hygge · 14/08/2017 11:42

Next time (if there is one) and you don't want to open the door, could you shout out of the window to ask what she wants?

Original poster
PinglePongle · 14/08/2017 11:43

Sorry when i say not clear I mean it doesn't look like a man or a woman, its quite a haggard face and short curly hair I'm only saying woman because the clothes definitely are

OP posts:
Maudlinmaud · 14/08/2017 11:46

Perhaps speak to the police they might give you more info and help puto your mindividual at rest. Personally I would go with the theory that it was someone confused and lost.

Escargot82 · 14/08/2017 11:47

As Hygge said - call through the door "Who is it?" and "what do you need?"

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