cautiously answering a door knock

[Wise_A]

I understand why we are discussing this, but the number of random knocks at a door by persons unknown to the occupants who have a nefarious intent is similar to the number of little leaguers in your town who will one day play in the World Series. Of course, there are many psycho little league and high school baseball parents who believe otherwise . . .

Added: My count for both remains at zero . . .

Depends where you live. Super-rural, probly pretty low. Suburbs and denser? Higher than you'd think.

Not everyone nefarious is going to do something right then. Most of the time, they're using the door-knock to case prospective targets. They want to know who's home, how many people, what the response is like, good stuff visible, etc.

Hitting the house right then makes no sense, because if somebody's home, they'll have been seen. But casing that way goes pretty much unnoticed.

 

[misswired]

My elderly Mom has owned a florist almost as long she's owned me.
Myself having idle hands at the time, was asked to do her flower delivery(Moms know idle hands/potential trouble).
So yes, I have a legit reason to be at your door.
1: if she is concerned, don't answer the door I'll leave the flowers on the porch.
2: If you turn the sprinklers on, that's funny. We'll laugh together. (Flowers like water)
3: If you answer the door armed,that's good, we're both armed.(double the fun)
4: If you turn the dogs out, (not funny)
Then you get to see me run, hide or fight.
5: If you see a creepy looking stranger slowly cruising your hood, feel free to stop me. Maybe you can help find the unmarked address.
6: If you're held up behind the slow moving delivery van that's looking for an unknown address, I'm not amused when you recklessly pass honking and finger flipping.
7: Even though your lady didn't personally order the flowers, the driver found your house,fought the bees, ran thru the sprinklers,growled back at the dogs, stood in the weather while you looked thru the peephole/window and in a timely manner delivered your flowers in good shape.
PLEASE... Give him a small gratuity tip, l promise he doesn't make a lot of money and may have a gun addiction to support!

 

[Farmer17]

One of my friends recently bought a little door bell, button assembly off the internet and asked me to install it. You just remove the existing doorbell button and attach two wires to the new one and screw it to the house, it took about five minutes to install. The new doorbell has a fish eye camera in it that syncs to your cell phone and any time someone pushes the doorbell it calls your phone and puts them on video whether you are home or away. She said it cost around $150 and so far works great and it's really interesting to see who all comes to your front door when you're not home. I believe you can also save the video on your phone to use as later proof if needed for the police.

 

[cavnamvet]

Really bad idea. First you're essentially looking for the fight. Second you've given up the protection of your home to go out and meet the enemy on their terms.

To begin with I take exception to your remarks.. I posted what I do, not what I recommend.. for you to suggest I am looking for a fight may apply to someone with your level of experience and
Expertise.

However, a 40 yr. career law enforcement law enforcement officer who rose from patrolman to police chief
with more than 2000 felony arrests and now active LE Management Consultant with 50yrs combined experience,
It doesn't go for me..



When I was on terminal leave I spent 2 weeks working for one of those shady companies that sells meat off a truck.

Rule number one was ignore those signs. I worked with one guy who made a point of knocking on doors with those signs. He said the only people who put them up were weak people who couldn't say "No."

Now you suggest anyone who has a no solicitor sign is weak,
Based on your experience selling meat! Perhaps you resent
Police officers and Vietnam Nam (1st Air Cav) combat Veterans
Who are now Disabled Veterans as a a result of their service,
Like yours truly..

 

[Muss Muggins]

Would I be correct, based on this statement, that you have the same
attitude regarding those of us who carry a handgun regularly? Do you think
we are living "in constant fear?" After all, the odds of having to actually
use our weapon are pretty low.

Do you have a spare tire in your daily driver?

I carry a gun probably more than most of the forum members. I mow the grass with a gun in my pocket. My attitude is that I'm not gonna hide from the world behind locked doors, surveillance cameras, dogs, moats, razor wire, etc. That's living in fear . . .

 

[BE Mike]

I understand why we are discussing this, but the number of random knocks at a door by persons unknown to the occupants who have a nefarious intent is similar to the number of little leaguers in your town who will one day play in the World Series. Of course, there are many psycho little league and high school baseball parents who believe otherwise . . .

Added: My count for both remains at zero . . .

The odds of having an armed robbery getaway car parked in front of my house (I live in a very nice neighborhood) is extremely low. But, It happened! The more elderly I get, the more of a target I, my wife, and my home make. I don't believe in gambling, especially when it comes to me and mine.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Friends, neighbors, UPS and FedEx drivers, Girls Scouts and middle school kids selling cookies and candies and discount booklets, preacher... these are the doorbell ringers around here. When I hear the doorbell I don't launch into DEFCON 1. Never had anyone come around at 2AM like in the video but I think the approach in the video would be the right way to handle it.

As far as carrying all the time... I do. The closest I ever got to using my carry gun was on a dog at the park. Never had a dog ring the doorbell.

 

[vytoland]

if there are unknowns at the door....i DO NOT open the door....but i do have a S&W revolver in my left hand and a phone, with police speed dial, in my right.....

 

[GeoJelly]

When I hear the doorbell I don't launch into DEFCON 1.

Well said sir! And, no intention on my part to criticize other posters about having something in a pocket when they answer the doorbell. I still think the potential for danger is still largely location dependent - although there will always be exceptions to the rule. And, if a miscreant is planning to engage you thru the door anyway - then the wisdom I have been able to glean from this thread is ... just don't open the door if something isn't right ...

Edited to add: One benefit of this thread - I just ordered a Ring doorbell. The reviews on Amazon were pretty positive, and it'll be nice to have video access to the front door. We prolly average one ring per week but a new gadget in the house (well, on the house) is always good ...

Edited again: Rubber Ramada - too funny!!

 

[Watchdog]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared to any eventuality. We all know that and make those preparations according to our own feelings and views of how the world is today. I'm no different.

I think there's a point where common sense and practicality regarding home defense/self defense cross over into false bravado, paranoia, and outright fear. I think some people have gone past that point.

Hope I never reach the point where I'm too scared to open my front door just because a stranger's there. And if I ever start yelling at folks through a locked door, or start sneaking out the side door with a gun so I can come up from behind on someone at the door, that's the day some folks will come haul me off to the Rubber Ramada and hook me up to the jumper cables or something.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

My general rule of thumb is to never answer the door. Anyone who's coming over knows who I am, and will text me when they are here. I'll open it for you when I see you are there.
If I don't know you, I'm not answering the door; I'm not talking to you thru the door, or even letting you know I'm home. I don't want to buy anything, and there's nothing in my little apartment worth dying for.

I don't order delivery foods either! So if any of you send me a pizza or some Chineese food, let me know ahead of time!

 

[Goblin]

I have a peep hole, an LCP in my pocket and enough cats to give any unwelcomed guest a severe case of static cling.

Keep in mind there could be a 12 gauge breaching choke pressed under that peephole with someone waiting for it to darken.

 

[Watchdog]

Keep in mind there could be a 12 gauge breaching choke pressed under that peephole with someone waiting for it to darken.

Yeah, or a quarter-pound of C4 with a remote detonator.

Or a couple of big guys with a battering ram, maybe Vikings wearing horned helmets and stuff.

Or who knows what all.

Best bet is to just stay away from the door.

To be really safe, though, why not just brick up the front entrance.

Really. I mean, who still uses the front door to enter their home? They're mostly for show, anyway.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Keep in mind there could be a 12 gauge breaching choke pressed under that peephole with someone waiting for it to darken.

 

[Toyman]

We had 4 1/2 acres 2 miles outside of a small town. Beside the house there was a 80X32 foot pole building with my office and warehouse. People would pull into yard follow the drive and go to the house, my advantage as I left the building I was behind. Most were trying to preach religion but did have 2 young men come into drive very fast and one went to rear door other started around the house.
I challenged them by yelling HALT, with a full size Ruger 1911 45 ACP
behind my back.
They started yammering about being under contract to County assessor. They walked toward me slowly and showed me hang tags with their ID. I ordered them off the property and called he sheriff and advised him. He was unaware that the assessor was doing this and when she called he chewed her pretty good.
The 2 returned and completed their task and the assessor out and announcement on local radio station.

 

[Smoke]

I agree. At the moment, I'm typing in my living room. The front door is standing open and the storm door isn't locked. The garage door is up, and the door from there to the service porch isn't locked. The sliding door leading to the back porch is unlocked, and the gate for the privacy fence is held open. My brother-in-law walked in the back way unannounced a couple hours ago, and didn't get shot.

How hard is that?

It's the difference between living in constant fear and just living . . .

I carry a gun probably more than most of the forum members. I mow the grass with a gun in my pocket. My attitude is that I'm not gonna hide from the world behind locked doors, surveillance cameras, dogs, moats, razor wire, etc. That's living in fear . . .

You're trying to conflate the mere act of locking a door with living in fear behind razor wire and moats (I also have dogs but no one is hiding behind them)

Do you remember the guy who used to post here about the dirty, drunk, filthy, vagrant who walked right past the no trespassing sign and through his front door? Do you remember telling the guy that he needed to lock his door? What's the difference?

I lock my front door and I don't answer it for random people I don't know. I don't see that as "living in fear?" When people knock on my door I don't get fearful I get annoyed because I don't want to be bothered.

In 51 years I've only had the one time that someone who I really believe had malicious intent knocked on my door and that one time made all my efforts worthwhile.

 

[Smoke]

Now you suggest anyone who has a no solicitor sign is weak,
Based on your experience selling meat! Perhaps you resent
Police officers and Vietnam Nam (1st Air Cav) combat Veterans
Who are now Disabled Veterans as a a result of their service,
Like yours truly..

I suggested no such thing I explicitly stated that I was told to ignore those signs and that the guy I worked with said only weak people used them.

I have no problem with cops or Vietnam vets I do however have issues with people who can't be bothered to actually read what was written

To begin with I take exception to your remarks.. I posted what I do, not what I recommend.. for you to suggest I am looking for a fight may apply to someone with your level of experience and
Expertise.

However, a 40 yr. career law enforcement law enforcement officer who rose from patrolman to police chief
with more than 2000 felony arrests and now active LE Management Consultant with 50yrs combined experience,
It doesn't go for me..

Do you want to go ahead and lay them in the dirt and measure them?

 

[Watchdog]

What reason could there possibly be to open the door to a stranger?

To find out who they are and what they want?

 

[SuperGoat]

A couple of folks wrote responses that make me think that they have their doors unlocked. Shameful. Doors should only be unlocked when passing through them. Heck, mine is locked behind me when I am taking out the trash. For those of you who say "we don't have a problem" - that will be true, until it isn't. I'm just over 100 miles from Seattle, and there have been Seattle based criminals arrested here for burglaries and the like.

I lock my door when I go check the mail or bring the trash cans back. Who knows, some criminals wait for such moments and sneak into the house or stop you from closing the door when you go back in. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Muss Muggins]

You're trying to conflate the mere act of locking a door with living in fear behind razor wire and moats (I also have dogs but no one is hiding behind them)

Do you remember the guy who used to post here about the dirty, drunk, filthy, vagrant who walked right past the no trespassing sign and through his front door? Do you remember telling the guy that he needed to lock his door? What's the difference?

I lock my front door and I don't answer it for random people I don't know. I don't see that as "living in fear?" When people knock on my door I don't get fearful I get annoyed because I don't want to be bothered.

In 51 years I've only had the one time that someone who I really believe had malicious intent knocked on my door and that one time made all my efforts worthwhile.

All I'm saying, which you have confirmed for me, is that nearly all of the knocks at the door are innocent. If you are prepared appropriately, you don't have to act like every knock is the zombie apocalypse . . .