Door Knockers

[CCantu357]

Earlier this evening, my grandmother and I were trimming the family Christmas tree. It was around 11:30 or midnight as Craig Ferguson was on TV. Around that time there was a knock on the door. This was unusual for our family as we live in normally quiet city neighborhood. We did not open the door, and I went to put on my Combat Magnum, grabbed it first over the Glock - guess it true about muscle memory. My grandmother tried to talk to the fellow through the door, but he seemed to mumble a good bit and was holding a gas can. I was able to look at him and while he looked harmless, something seemed off about the deal. He then just took off before I was able to approach him. While I am not a church-going man, the Christian in me has me feeling down about not being able to help someone, but on the other hand everything about the situation felt off, especially with the amount of home invasions during the holiday season. Any of y'all have similar experiences?

 

[Maddog 521]

People don't need to be knocking on other people's doors at midnight.

 

[6518John]

knocking on doors at midnight

I can't imagine a better way to get to see a selection from the homeowners gun collection.

 

[Jim1392]

You did the right thing. Protecting your family should be your first and last thought. If he really needed help why run away??

 

[jmace57]

I think you did exactly the right thing. I think the fact that he took off is telling.

 

[jlrhiner]

Nothing to be sorry for or regret. Someone who needed help would have clearly let it be known through the door.

 

[Brian41]

I too think you did the right thing especially at that hour. Person not speaking clearly and the fact he had a gas can would set off alarm bells in me too. After all how many people actually do carry gas cans with them? I won't because of the fire hazard.
I won't open the door for a stranger after dark myself and use my peephole or window next to door to see who is there. I also run a security light on the garage and turn on several lights on my porch and garage when I answer the door. I also have a gun with me when I go to the door.
I think I avoided one possible home invasion by refusing entry and sending the guy on his way. He was suspicious to me as it was late on a cold winter night when he came peddling his wares out here in the country. Maybe I was just rude to an honest salesman as I don't know but like you I kept the home safe.

 

[brucev]

Re: OP. Understand your position. Understand your response. Don't try to second guess your decision. It's just not possible to know every single factor involved in every single decision you make. You just have to do the best you can at that time.

 

[ken158]

No good deed goes unpunished... call the cops - they know where all the late night gas stations are!

 

[regalsc]

A little while ago in Dearborn Mich. A suburb of Detroit early in the morning a young black girl was pounding on an older white mans door. He opened the inner door & shot & killed her through the screen door. Later it was determined the girl had wrecked her car & was drunk & high on marijuana. He was later convicted & given I believe 20 years. Don't open the door & call the police I guess to protect yourself.

 

[NYlakesider]

I live a 1/4 mile up a steep curvy driveway off a back road and just about ANY unknown visitor anytime gets my/our attention. That time at night my Mossie 12 gauge not a handgun would be with me as I approached the side of the door frame.

When I lived in the burbs I had a couple late callers. My MO in a situation like that is. Have pistol in hand, do not get behind door but off to one side and ask what you want.

Out of gas/car broke down OK fine give me a phone number and I will call for you, (home ,garage, LEOs ) YOU ARE NOT COMING INSIDE! IF I think it necessary I will call cops. In the burbs a LEO response would only be a couple minutes. Where I now live it easily could be a 1/2 hour or more. Obviously where I now live if it’s someone I know they will get better service.

 

[Pef]

If he was truly in need he would have stayed. He took off. Best result for all involved.

 

[Smoke]

Typing this out is getting old so I just cut and pasted it

Massad Ayoob "Don't Answer The Door!!!" - YouTube

I’ve seen this discussed on other forums and it seems to cause a lot of debate when it comes up.

I found this video by Massad Ayoob on youtube in which he explains how he deals with a stranger at his door and there’s not much I can add to it except maybe my personal experience.

I am convinced that I stopped an attempted robbery at the front door of my home several years ago by simply not opening the door.

A stranger showed up at my door around 9 pm saying that he wanted to give me a free Denver Post. This was back when I owned a home and I looked through the front window and he had no newspaper in his hands.

He spent 10 minutes trying to get me to open that door; nothing else was going to do. I finally ended the conversation by telling him I was calling the police. I am aware that there are any number of things I could have done better but it was almost 10 years ago and I’ve learned some since then.

I believe it’s prudent not to open the door to a stranger if for no other reason than I don’t want to hear a pitch for meat or a vacuum cleaner or encyclopedias or magazines or an invitation to your church. By not opening the door for anyone I don’t know I automatically am never faced with a situation where I open the door to a criminal.

If it is a criminal I want every advantage I can have. Why put myself in a position where I have to fight them at the door when I can just not open the door and avoid the fight entirely?

ETA When I say don’t answer I don’t mean “ignore” because that might entice a criminal to think you aren’t home and try to kick the door in.

I went to put on my Combat Magnum, grabbed it first over the Glock - guess it true about muscle memory.

The only thing I would add is if the guy kicked in the door instead of knocking you wouldn't have had time to do that. That's one of the reasons I own a pocket gun, it stays in my pocket at all times .

 

[CO_Kid]

Any news this morning of someone found frozen to death in a car that was out of gas?

If not, it all worked out for the guy.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I retired from law enforcement over 19 years ago. Even back then a very simple and effective MO was used by residential burglars and thieves; knock on the door, if someone answers have some excuse (car trouble, need directions, etc), if nobody answers it is time to get to work. I've seen this again and again, in cities and rural areas, during daylight hours and at night.

Burglars and thieves are one breed of cat; they will usually take off rather than engage in confrontation. Gang bangers and desperate dopers can be another breed of cat, frequently dangerous.

I agree with others. Circumstances like this require police intervention.

 

[gdnagle]

Carrying a gas can eithers means the guy runs out of gas a lot, maybe he should keep a eye on his gas gauge, my gauge doesn't work on the ranger and hasn't for over ten years but I rest my trip odometer each fill up and now how far I can go till it's fill up time, and have never run out of gas.

Or like you suspicions he was up to no good. I also help others when I can and feel bad when I don't especially MC drivers, use to drive myself. Heck I can't count the times I've walked down my long driveway for a accident or vehicle in the trees, it's about a 1-2 happening a week. Around here Sherriff response isn't fast, they have a large area to cover.

When it hit's 11:00pm then that time to be leery, ya'll did the right thing and like others said a suspicious person call to LE would have helped him or sent him on his way.

I never leave my house to help without carrying and I don't live close enough to the road that anyone would come up and ask for help. Knock on my door and it gets answered with whatever I have near it.

You did right, be safe not sorry. Besides everyone carries a cell phone now so they shouldn't be in danger and if they were they should state so through the door.

 

[Krogen]

You did exactly the right thing. Pay attention to your Spidey Sense! When it goes off, there's probably a good reason.

We do not answer the door unless we're expecting someone. Unknowns folks like repairmen have appointments. Friends usually call first. If they don't, it's simple enough to see if there's a familiar face outside.

Unknown and unexpected? Don't open the door.

 

[Culina]

Sounds suspicious to me. Who has extra gas at their house at midnight. He should be looking for a gas station not going door to door.

So he was either playing the sympathy card and trying to get money handouts so he could "buy" some gas or he was casing your place. I have been approached by people more than once with some *** story about how they can't get home and need some money for gas. I think the last time was at church, the guy wouldn't go away either, he needed gas money to get from southern California to some state in the south, and he had his whole family waiting in the car. No one saw the car or the family of course.

 

[gwpercle]

People who are only looking for help, don't take off running when they notice a Good Samaritan will be able to defend himself.

Gut instincts are generally correct. Don't feel bad , he was just looking for the upper hand.
Similar experience, yes. I was shot in the face for the $3.00 in my pocket. All he had to do was ask, I am a very generous person and always try to help those less fortunate. But some less fortunate have decided that a persons life is worth less than whatever piddling amount of money is in their pocket and have no reservations killing.
You did the exact right thing...have no remorse.
Gary

 

[Engine49guy]

He said "Door knockers" he he ; )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTw1lzxTAis