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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

ErinSophia · 14/08/2017 16:48

Dementia is very likely, individuals with Dementia can wander about at night as they sometimes get mixed up between day and night time (I study mental health). A couple of years ago I left the back door unlocked by accident and an old lady with Dementia came into the house, her friend used to live there 40 years ago and she thought she was coming to visit her thankfully she was 1 of my mum's service users so she took her home and she was safe. Try not to be scared I know it's frightening but if she does have Dementia she might not have been aware of how late it was and could have thought a relative or friend lived in your house xx

Madbengalmum · 14/08/2017 16:50

These kind of distraction burglars are not urban myth. They are legitimate information from the police website and our local constabulary.

notevernotnevernotnohow · 14/08/2017 16:52

Burglars knocking on your door to see if you are in, showing you their face: myth.

Tiredtomybones · 14/08/2017 17:17

I wouldn't have answered either OP.

Madbengalmum · 14/08/2017 17:22

Notevernotever, so you clearly know more than the police in my area do you?!?! You must be soooo clever.

I am 100% sure that they would not put false information relating to distraction burglary on the official police website!

lynmilne65 · 14/08/2017 17:27

Altzeimers and dementia are different.

loopylou6 · 14/08/2017 17:30

I wouldn't of opened the door, but I would have shouted down

Kursk · 14/08/2017 17:38

We always answer the door,

At that time of night DH would have been sent downstairs, he would be armed in case if was someone dodgy.

Normally our big 3 barking dogs is enough to deter any criminals

notreallythere · 14/08/2017 17:39

Oh it's a myth is it? Best tell my next door neighbour to stop lying about the time someone did exactly that then

Regalparade · 14/08/2017 17:39

I wouldn't have opened the door. I'm sure if it was an emergency she would have frantically rang the doorbell but she didn't.

It's a stranger. Just because she's old doesn't mean anything.

She didn't try any other doors in your row. It wasn't an emergency.

You did right by not answering the door and contacting the police. If there was any safety concerns for this woman then the police would take that on board. It's not your problem to go chasing strangers down the street who knocked on your door at silly o'clock when you have a family and probably work the next day. She wasn't in serious harm so you don't need to feel bad.

adviceadviceasvice · 14/08/2017 17:53

I would be freaked out too. At 2am in the morning i would not have answered the door. Sounds odd. Could have been someone dressed as an old woman or could even have other people with them or it could just be completely innocent

PeggySueOooOo · 14/08/2017 18:16

I wouldn't have answered at 2am. The OP said they looked around 65, that isn't elderly. Plus they were carrying a walking stick which could be used as a weapon. If I was at home with my family my first priority is their safety.

WinnieTheMe · 14/08/2017 18:22

This whole thread is sort of horribly fascinating in a way. Anyone else thinking about the Kitty Genovese story?

differenteverytime · 14/08/2017 19:31

By all accounts, poor Kitty Genovese screamed in the street, alerting the attention of a couple of dozen people. It's a different scenario entirely.

I'm one of the people who (from experience) would call police without opening the door. But I have run outside in my bare feet in response to screams in the road. (It was two girls being chased by a loose dog.) You can't compare the two things at all.

NormaSmuff · 14/08/2017 20:40

i am reminded of this

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1228604/Neighbours-ignored-death-cries-man-trapped-drain-thinking-drunken-prank.html,

apolgoies for daily fail

LinkPlease · 14/08/2017 20:50

I am reminded of this

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/595122/cctv-images-released-after-two-women-were-attacked-with-noxious-substance-by-bogus-gas-men-at-their-home-in-edinburgh/

People are free to open or not open their door at any time of day or night. Can only assume those who would throw their doors open to randoms in the middle of the night live in some sort of crime free utopia.

PetalMettle · 14/08/2017 20:50

What are your cars like? Wondering if it was a steal to order attempted job

AllToadsLeadToHome · 14/08/2017 21:02

And if you call out of the window, how do you know whether the reply you get is the truth? Do you go and answer the door based on the answer, once again letting someone unwanted in?

I will use the peephole or look out, no way am I going to engage with someone that is randomly wandering the streets, just call the Police because they are better equipped to deal with whatever it is about.

If you get leaflets from the Police, visits about home safety and given Smartwater to use, that is an indication to me that it is not wise to open the door to some random person in the middle of the night, especially if they are looking to steal from your car.

AgentProvocateur · 14/08/2017 21:17

Yes, I live in the crime-free utopia of Glasgow

Pouffealouffe · 14/08/2017 21:43

God, no way would I have answered the door and yes, you have every right to be freaked out and to start a thread about it...!

ForeverLivingMyArse · 14/08/2017 21:48

I would not have answered either. I might have shouted out the window but not answered.

flutterby12 · 14/08/2017 22:12

I wouldn't have answered either. Why is it 'fucked up' that OP didn't answer it? I never answer the door to people I don't know / not expecting. The elderly lady could well have been a disguise and used the walking stick to clobber them! And the fact they didn't knock on anyone else's door is a massive red flag. OP, you did the right thing. Hopefully it was innocent.

Dianag111 · 14/08/2017 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stoptherideiwannagetoff · 14/08/2017 22:25

Oh God i knew a lady that did that - early onset on alzheimers. Toddled up the surgery at 4 am then knocked on a neighbours door at 4am giggling about the surgery being locked and had no idea why! Hopefully the police will keep an eye out and find out who she is and let relatives know

millymae · 14/08/2017 22:47

I wouldn't have opened the door either, but then I live in an area where there has been a run of crimes recently that involve seemingly 'vulnerable' people knocking on a door and then when the door is opened others pushing their way in.
This lady could well have been genuine, but there was no way of you knowing without putting yourself at risk.
I would have phoned the Police.

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