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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Somebody rung my doorbell at 6.30am! Why??

129 replies

ThatsSoFetch · 24/12/2018 07:27

I live on my own with my 2 children - 4 and 9 - and not in the nicest neighbourhood but honestly we have never had any problems. This morning though at 6.30am somebody rung my doorbell!

I went downstairs, peeped through the peephole and saw there was a person stood there but couldn't make out a face as it was dark. I asked through the door several times 'Who is it?' Very loudly I might add! And got no reply.

So I ran upstairs to get my phone - in case I needed to call the police - ran back to front door and proceeded to ask who they were again. Still no answer. So ran to my living room (3 storey house so this is upstairs) to look out the window to watch someone leaving but nobody left so they must have left the front door before I physically had eyes on it - window is locked so took a few seconds longer to locate the key.

I don't need to ask the question of if any of you would have opened the door as I'm fairly sure you would have all not opened it either but - I thought should I ring the police anyway on the non urgent line just to mention it? Bearing in mind I couldn't tell them anything about who it was.

Equally pretty worried about the house - we have motorbikes in the garage and it's that time of year isn't it!!!!

OP posts:
trinity0097 · 24/12/2018 07:29

I would have opened the door.

I did once at 5.30am - and neighbour had fallen and his frail tiny wife couldn’t lift him up and she needed help.

Loveweekends10 · 24/12/2018 07:29

Well done for not opening door. If they are a genuine caller they will recontact you.

IndianaMoleWoman · 24/12/2018 07:31

I don’t think you need to call the police because someone rang your doorbell, no.

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 24/12/2018 07:31

Please don't ring the police because somebody rang your doorbell.
They have a job to do.

easyandy101 · 24/12/2018 07:32

I came home drunk one morning and spent about 10 minutes trying to get into the flat downstairs, couldn't understand why my key didn't work

But if someone had been calling ay me from the other side I probably would have realised

If you feel insecure then report, ringing a bell/knocking a door to check if a house is empty is pretty common

AgentProvocateur · 24/12/2018 07:32

I’d have opened it too. 6.30am is more likely to be someone wanting help than anything nefarious.

ScreamingBadSanta · 24/12/2018 07:33

You did the right thing.

It might have been someone who'd got the wrong house, or a chancer who was begging, or someone who was out of it on drink or drugs and didn't know what they were doing.

The only genuine caller you'd be likely to get at that time would be the police, and they'd have announced themselves.

spidey66 · 24/12/2018 07:33

Do you get milk/papers delivered? Maybe it was whoever delivers wishing you happy Christmas (translates as 'where's my tip '.)

IJustLostTheGame · 24/12/2018 07:33

My turkey arrived this morning at half 6.
I was not amused but I would have screwed Christmas dinner for 8 others had I ignored it and gone back to sleep.

Autumnchill · 24/12/2018 07:34

I had to knock on one if my neighbours doors at 6.30am as I was leaving for work as his car was in the middle of the road. Turned out he had been broken into and they had moved the 'cheap' car and left it in the road, to get to the expensive Audi.

WhenLifeGivesYouLemonsx · 24/12/2018 07:35

I would've literally shit myself if I was you! That's scary. To the PP who said you should've opened the door... are you put your mind?!

Thankfully my flat is secured. They have to ring my buzzer before they can enter and I can see on the screen who it is. I've had all sorts! Jehovah witnesses, police Shock, a couple of men claiming they live here... and it seems like it is always my door they ring lol. Where I live isn't a great area either!

I hope you are OK! I wouldn't ring the Police as nothing happened.

WhenLifeGivesYouLemonsx · 24/12/2018 07:35

And the person would've answered you and say who he/she was, except they didn't so that makes it even more suspicious.

ILovePierceBrosnan · 24/12/2018 07:36

Delivery drivers and postmen are up and at it in our area this early at Christmas

I guess it depends how secure you feel, whether you like opening the door in the dark (regardless of time of day)

It’s not a police matter however, just unsettling for you.

veggiepigsinpastryblankets · 24/12/2018 07:36

Back when I had an outside front door I'd probably have opened it on the chain rather than shouting through it and possibly not being heard.

I suspect if someone was there to steal your motorbikes they wouldn't begin by alerting you to their presence.

If you ring the police what do you suppose they'll be able to do with the information?

easyandy101 · 24/12/2018 07:38

I suspect if someone was there to steal your motorbikes they wouldn't begin by alerting you to their presence.

Most burglars don't want to break into an occupied house

Amanduh · 24/12/2018 07:39

Please don’t ring the police ffs.
‘Someone rang my doorbell’ 🙄🙄

easyandy101 · 24/12/2018 07:40

If you ring the police what do you suppose they'll be able to do with the information?

Match it to the slew of calls they've had from the same street?

Keep it on record for if there is a break in on the street and they have to evidence collect?

GottaGoGottaGo · 24/12/2018 07:41

Have you opened the door now to check if a delivery driver has left a Christmas parcel for you on the doorstep? They might genuinely not have heard you. I have to say, I would have opened the door at 6.30am, most burglars are back in bed by then as a lot of people are up and about by then or at least beginning to rouse.

Ifangyow · 24/12/2018 07:42

No don't ring the police. They have enough to do.
It was probably a delivery or a neighbour. Nothing sinister, after all a burglar is hardly going to ring your doorbell and announce his/ her intentions are they.
I once had a neighbour knock on my door at around 6 in the morning to tell me that my garden she'd had been broken into.
To be fair, it's a wonder that the burglar didn't knock on my door to complain as the shed was totally empty and awaiting demolition Grin

GaryBaldbiscuit · 24/12/2018 07:42

odd that they didnt reply, could you hear you?

Crimson72 · 24/12/2018 07:42

You called out “who is it” and no one replied - obviously suspicious. You did the right thing OP, but I wouldn’t call the police about it.

PurpleFlower1983 · 24/12/2018 07:43

I wouldn’t have opened the door if I was alone unless I could ascertain who it was first. I’ve had the post man here at that time before and my neighbour though. It’s not a police matter.

floribunda18 · 24/12/2018 07:46

Stop telling the OP to ignore her instincts. If people don't want to open the door that's fine. Better to be on the safe side if she felt something wasn't right.

Obviously if you are expecting a visit or a delivery it's completely different! Xmas Confused

Kahlua4me · 24/12/2018 07:47

We have had a few of these near us and police have said to ring and report so they can build a picture of what is happening.

Flowerpot2005 · 24/12/2018 07:47

I agree with you not opening the door. The person wouldn't answer you & you're on your own with 2 young children.

If it happens again, then I'd report it just in awe. I once didn't ring the police about something until a few hours later, they told me in no uncertain terms to let them be the judge of it it's important or not as what I'd witnessed could have been part of an ongoing situation & of help to them.

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