someone knocked on our door VERY loudly at half past midnight...

[hatwoman]

...and when dh answered no-one was there. The only explanation I can think of is that someone was checking to see if we were in or not. The downstairs curtains were all open - we'd been out all evening - and one of our bedroom curtains was open. the knock was SO loud - we have a big brass knocker - I jumped out of my skin, ran like a quivering wreck (I was on here, dh was asleep) to rouse dh - but not a soul in sight. I really do think it was someone up to no good who;d seen the curtains and thought we might be away. dh thinks it was drunks - but there was no shouts or drunken laughs or drunken "whispers". and it was just too loud for anyone who was stumbling. what do you reckon? am I being paranoid?

Ooh a bit frightening at that time of night isn't it. I agree with you and think it was someone checking if anyone at home.

I am nowhere near you I am in Australia. Definitely would not answer it though. In Melbourne the other night a fellow answered a knock on the door at midnight and was shot dead. The neighbour reported a knock on her door ten mins earlier but was too scared to open it. Lucky for her I think.

I know - I told him not to answer - but I think he could see no-one was there

Horrible, hate that sort of thing.

Police maybe? Otherwise you may be right.

Reminds me of when dp and i were staying in a motel on the edge of san francisco, serously loud knock at the door at 2am and someone shouting "POLICE! OPEN UP". Opened the door to blinding light in my face, and presumably police with guns trained on me asking if I'd heard gunshots nearby. My shocked answer was "f**k no!".

And then they were gone, with me left adrenaline pumping, and unable to get back to sleep for a good while!