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Opinions on strange occurrance (NBR and long)
I'll try to make this short.
2-3 weeks ago, about 8:30 at night our doorbell rings. Our porch light was off but we answered the door anyway thinking a neighbor might need something. It was a kid (teenageish boy). He said he moved in 3 weeks ago and is just going around to meet people in the neighborhood (but he doesn't live in our block.) He said he's 14 and is in high school. I kind of got on to him for ringing on strangers' doorbells at night b/c it's dangerous, basically just said nice to meet you but get your butt home b/c it's dark. We thought it was really strange (and were afraid he was "scouting" the house for break ins.)
Last night, about 9, the doorbell rings again. When we don't answer it, it rings again. Thinking someone might need help or something we answer it. It's the kid again. This time, he tells me that he was going to offer to do work but since it's late could he have $1-5 for a game he wants to buy at a local pawn shop? (WTH?) I tell him the pawn shop is closed and we don't keep cash in the house. Then, I ask him what he's doing going to strangers' houses at 9:00 at night. His response, "Well, I already knew you so this is the only place I went." I again get on to him and tell him how much danger he's putting himself in, blah, blah. He asks if he can do work for us. I wanted to get some info from him so I asked where he lives, he can't remember his address. He then gave me his phone number but that took a lot of prodding.
When we took the dogs out later, our neighbors were outside and they said he's been to their house twice with the same story. Today, I'm going to the police station just to give them a head's up and see what they think about it. I want to believe that he's just a kid whose parents don't make him get home early but it makes me nervous. DH works late sometimes and I'm home alone. We have an alarm but still...
Thoughts on this odd situation?
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Re: Opinions on strange occurrance (NBR and long)
First of all, what high school kid can't "remember" his address?
That is really weird. I'd definitely be weirded out by it and think it was either a cry for help, or an attempt to rob your house or something. But I'm super paranoid...
probably just a stupid kid but I'd be nervous too. We get kids selling magazines all the time and I googled sometimes they are in a ring and working against their will. Regardless I'd be concerned. Tell the police it never hurts.
It makes me sad that we now live in a world where it isn't safe or acceptable to go door to door anymore... I used to do it all the time selling Girl Scout cookies or wrapping paper or collecting for jump rope for heart. But that was 20- 25 years ago.....
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WHHHOAAAAAA. I didn't even think about that!
get a fake video/surveillance camera and mount it outside your front door!
Exactly. I'd be VERY concerned. Ask the police to do some extra monitoring of your area.
After our break in, where guys rang our doorbell mid afternoon then started to bust through the door when I didn't answer, I think it's always better to be safe than sorry.
If you don't have an alarm, get one. We paid like $30/month and it was so worth it. If you can't do that, at least get a security sign for your front yard.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
That's a really good idea!
$hit! I'm more scared now than before.
But I really appreciate the comments. We do have an alarm but it stills scares me. I didn't even think about him trying to learn our schedule. At least I'll be home most of the time the next couple of weeks except when we're oot for Christmas. But, I think I'll tell our next door neighbors so they can keep an eye out for us since we know them.
I love the idea about the video camera, I'll hit up the local pawn shop or goodwill to see if I can find an old one to mount.
Rosie, how would you go about getting his pic? Just, open the door, snap it and slam it? (I'm just a big wuss but I want my house to be safe so maybe I can get some guts up to do that.)
Great idea - I'd do this and I'd also install a peep hole in my door and I wouldn't answer the door for him or any other stranger, ever. He could be casing your house/learning your schedule to give to someone else - knowing you would trust a young kid much more than an adult asking you for something similar.
Oh yeah, that's another thing. Our door has a huge, crystal cut out so you can see right in to the living room. We didn't install it and can't afford to replace it right now. I hate it and sometimes when DH isn't home, I hang a blanket over it so people can't see it. (Yes, I'm that klassy.
)
You could also just play dumb and ask you husband to come to the door and get a picture w/ him. And then be all, "Great! Now we have a picture of our new neighbor!"
Also, be sure you have the chime set on your alarm (the ones that beep when you open the door) so that he can hear that you have an alarm.
I hear tinfoil works great for fixing those
Or maybe get some stuff from Home Depot to frost over it?
Does your neighborhood association or homeowner's association have a list serve? I would definitely post it on there, if so. I think the PPs all have great ideas. I work at home, and when DH isn't here I won't answer the door. We have a dog that barks like crazy whenever anyone knocks, so that helps too. Keep us posted! That is crazy.
ETA: I just remembered--at our old house, we got a rice paper roller shade from Target for like $12 to cover the crystal cut out in our front door. Maybe an option?
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I have this in the huge window (or something just like it) by my front door and it has been wonderful.
I'm glad you're going to talk to the police about this. While you're there, inquire about a "close patrol" or "security check" for while you're OOT. Some departments do this as a courtesy, where they will check on your house for you while you're OOT. I work for a much smaller dept that does this, so I'm not sure if a larger agency like APD would do it or not. But it doesn't hurt to ask, and definitely have your neighbors keep a look out. But at the very least, giving the police your description and all the details of your interactions with this guy is the best thing to do right now. You can even ask for extra patrols on your street in general, before you go OOT (to look for this kid, not necessarily just because you'll be OOT).
In the meantime, there are 2 schools of thought on answering the door when he knocks/rings the bell. I know that people are nervous to answer the door for strangers. However, if you don't, you very well could have a situation like Milf had, where the person thought no one was home, and proceeded to try to break in right then. If you don't want to answer, make sure your alarm is set, you're in a safe place, and you have 911 at the ready on your phone. If you have a weapon in the house, have it easily accessible, just in case.
I personally would answer and let them know you are home, you are vigilant, and in my case (and yours if you are, or maybe even if you're not) are armed. Believe it or not, especially at this time of year, most burglars don't want to break into a house when they know that someone is home. Burglars are only looking for property that they can sell for money, they want nothing to do with you personally. (robbers/rapists are a different story but I won't go into that unless you want me to!) That's why I say - let them know you're home. Even if it's just shouting at him thru the door and telling him to go away and never come back.
Also - my opinion is - he's a kid. It IS possible (although not very probable) that he is developmentally or socially challenged, or just doesn't realize that his behavior is socially unacceptable. If he's that new to the neighborhood, and he's that neglected at home, he very well may not know his address yet. Again, not probable, but it is shocking the number of teenagers I've dealt with in my career that really, honestly couldn't tell me their address. Let him know that you find his behavior odd and have already alerted the police. Ask for his parents' names, and let him know you're concerned that they don't know where he is, etc. You can even tell him in no uncertain terms to NEVER come back, or you will have him arrested for trespassing. Whether he is just ignorant/challenged, or he's working for someone casing the neighborhood or casing it himself, all of these things are more likely to cause him to give up on your house/neighborhood than to do something more drastic than try to break into your house and steal your stuff.
When 3 Became 4
Well great. THANKS A LOT, SarahPLiz! I'm already freaked out about being home alone w/ the boys during the day and I usually don't answer the door (keep it locked, along with the screen door too), but never thought about *that* circumstance.
How freaking creepy! I'd definitely be telling the police, that kid could be casing the joint or working for someone or just a jerk.
This is true too. Before my younger sister's OCD was properly managed, she used to go to the neighbor's house, invite herself in, and attempt to school them on the Bible and why they were all going to hell, including herself. She was 10. My mother was horrified when she found out. (BTW, her just going to the neighbor's was NBD and that wouldn't have worried my mom at all)
We had a similar experience, a man in his late 20s early 30s came by and asked if he could mow our lawn for money, my husband felt bad for him and let him do it. Then the guy kept coming back asking for work or favors at all hours of the day (rang the bell at 7 AM once). My plan the next time he came was to open the blinds of the front door holding a shotgun and ask him what he wanted (not aiming at him, just holding it, you know, all casual like, all, oh I was just strolling through my house with this shotgun when you rang). My husband told me I was nuts (um, in retrospect he had a point, aslo, we don't have a shotgun) but the next time he did come by my hubs chased him down and had a stern talk with the guy about how he had been nice to him once but he wasn't welcome anymore and how he never wanted to see the guy around our house again. And we didn't.
I talked to my dad about it who was a psychologist for the county jail, he laughed for a long time at my gun idea, but said that my hubs handled it perfectly. Sometimes these individuals ARE casing your house but other times they just have issues, which can manifest as judgement issues (ringing at inappropriate times with inappropriate requests), and you need to not mix messages by being kinda nice, be stern, tell them they are not to return, and call the police if they return so they get the message.