Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Strange man ringing doorbell at this time of night

111 replies

HouseIsOnFire · 18/02/2023 00:32

My doorbell just went off and someone was hammering the door, by the time I was out of bed it went again but when I got downstairs he was getting in car and driving off. Definitely don't know them, did get the reg and make of car.
AIBU To be freaking out???

YANBU normal response!
YABU surely just had wrong address

OP posts:
TheCatterall · 18/02/2023 04:14

I’ve had it before with next doors adult kids ordering takeaways at 1am and the driver braying on my door by mistake. Not overly impressed.

I’ve heard of them on local Facebook groups knocking on wrong numbers/streets and towns.

my chaps village for instance is often linked to the nearest big town. It also has the same street name in it. So we have many a delivery sent their instead of to his. :/

KimberleyClark · 18/02/2023 05:56

Are you on NextDoor or local group on Facebook where you could ask if anyone else has experienced something similar?

Xol · 18/02/2023 06:12

DixonD · 18/02/2023 00:57

This happened to someone a few roads away from us. The young lady opened the door and three people burst in (one a woman) and they burgled her at knifepoint.

This is why we have door chains.

shrunkenhead · 18/02/2023 06:19

Maybe he needed help. Wasn't there a thread on here recently about a woman not opening her door when her neighbour needed help...?

IndiaDreamer · 18/02/2023 06:22

DixonD · 18/02/2023 00:57

This happened to someone a few roads away from us. The young lady opened the door and three people burst in (one a woman) and they burgled her at knifepoint.

How is that the same as OP, the person left in a car ages ago.

KimberleyClark · 18/02/2023 06:22

shrunkenhead · 18/02/2023 06:19

Maybe he needed help. Wasn't there a thread on here recently about a woman not opening her door when her neighbour needed help...?

My bedroom window overlooks my front door. I’d open it and ask what they wanted before opening the door.

RedHelenB · 18/02/2023 06:24

MoserRothOrangeandAlmond · 18/02/2023 01:44

I would let the police know. Just incase anything is happening in the area it might be a missing piece of a jigsaw.

How? OP hasn't even got a description of the man.

Sally090807 · 18/02/2023 06:25

How on earth did you manage to get his reg plate?

Prettypennies · 18/02/2023 06:27

Report it to the police. Might be other crime/criminal associated with the car and this is what they need.

Aposterhasnoname · 18/02/2023 06:33

Never understand why people piss about going downstairs to look out of the window when this happens. Don’t they have windows in their upstairs. Just open the bedroom window and ask them what they want. Job done, while remaining safe.

FabFitFifties · 18/02/2023 06:45

Food delivery? YANBU to be scared - especially living on your own. I would report the reg online (so not blocking phone lines for others) to local police - just incase it's something sinister. Do you have neighbours? Hope you got some sleep.

EllieRosesMammy · 18/02/2023 06:46

HouseIsOnFire · 18/02/2023 01:17

Also, I feel like curry isn't a midnight snack? Or is that just me?

Show quote history

It was a Friday night, a curry is definetely a midnight snack I'd you've had a drink 👀😂

rainbowstardrops · 18/02/2023 06:47

I don't blame you for being a bit shaken up, especially as you live alone.
I imagine it was a food delivery driver with the wrong address.

78Summer · 18/02/2023 07:17

I never open the door unless I recognise the person.

Whydidimarryhim · 18/02/2023 07:20

Do not open the door. I’d open a window and shout down.
Hope you got some sleep.

MsCarriePooter · 18/02/2023 07:26

Never ever ever open the door or even go downstairs. NEVER.

Open an upstairs window, shine a strong torch powerfully on them and say,

'Stop knocking. You are going to waken the whole house.'

If it is a wrong food delivery, they can tell you but even if they tell you that someone has been run over outside your front door, don't open yours. Let them go to a neighbour.

Bigpinktrain · 18/02/2023 07:27

In NE London, there is a scam that is well talked about amongst neighbours, that involves someone knocking your front door really late at night, usually a lady, asking for money, telling you an awful story about how they are victims of domestic violence and want to get back to south London to be with their family, then as soon as you turn your back, two-three men come running in and take bikes, car keys, whatever they can get their hands on that’s near the front door.
It happened on our road twice, so we moved. 😞

I would get the ring doorbell and maybe a porch light and even an extra chain on your front door, you can get them fairly cheap in locksmiths/DIY stores.

Bigpinktrain · 18/02/2023 07:28

If you have a street WhatsApp group, mention it in there? At worst you are alerting your neighbours to something suspicious, at best you find out it was a misplaced takeaway order 🤷🏻‍♀️

MaryJean87 · 18/02/2023 07:31

Someone came kicking my door at 4.30 in the morning when I was living alone with 2 kids and heavily pregnant. He was looking to get drugs off someone and had the wrong address, as I went down and spoke to him through the letterbox. He moved on but I was very shook up so you are are not definitely not being unreasonable.

Fuckitydoodah · 18/02/2023 07:36

cassiatwenty · 18/02/2023 01:42

Cameron Diaz isn't acting anymore though. Must be some of that late night curry in Surrey 🤑

She's filming her comeback film in the UK at the moment, alongside Jamie Foxx. 😁

LikeTearsInRain · 18/02/2023 07:36

Dognappers hun xxx

KimberleyClark · 18/02/2023 07:40

MsCarriePooter · 18/02/2023 07:26

Never ever ever open the door or even go downstairs. NEVER.

Open an upstairs window, shine a strong torch powerfully on them and say,

'Stop knocking. You are going to waken the whole house.'

If it is a wrong food delivery, they can tell you but even if they tell you that someone has been run over outside your front door, don't open yours. Let them go to a neighbour.

And if they insist they need to use your phone, say you’ll call whoever they need for them.

JollyJolene · 18/02/2023 07:52

I was woken a few nights ago by banging on a door and shouting. At first I thought it was my front door but when I looked out my window I saw it was a lad at a neighbours house. I didn’t recognise him but went to get my glasses for a proper look and when I got back to the window he had gone. I saw him entering a house a few doors down, so he’d obviously got the wrong address. Was still scary for my neighbour though.

Do you have a ring doorbell? Might be worth investing in one. Please don’t open the door if this happens again.

Mybumlooksbig · 18/02/2023 07:56

Taxi or take away to the wrong address?

SpringIsSpringing23 · 18/02/2023 07:56

Why are we all so scared these days? If somebody was banging on my door my first thought would be somebody was in trouble and needed help.

Swipe left for the next trending thread