Stranger at the door

[74novaman]

Heard a knock on the door yesterday afternoon. Looked through the peephole, saw a 20 somethings man standing there with a clipboard and a little plastic badge on a lanyard. So I open the door and stand in the crack where he can't see into the house. He goes into a spiel about how he's from Suddenlink, and shows me his little badge. I ask what he's here for, and he asks if we're satisfied with our cable. I say we are. Asks if we'd like to add any movie channels. I say no, thanks, we're fine and close the door.

2 hours later leaving for dinner with the missus and see the same young man and an older gentleman driving around the neighborhood in a beat up mid 90s minivan, with no signs identifying they are from suddenlink. hmm. So we call Suddenlink, ask if they have salesmen checking up on customers in our neighborhood, and they say no. Great. Now I'm wondering if the guy was just trying to solicit credit card information (good luck because I don't use them) or if he was casing places to rob later. Give the PD a call and explain the situation to them, describe the guys and the car, etc. They said they'd send a car out, and I didn't hear any more of it. When we got back to the house, everything was fine.

Lessons learned:

If I don't recognize someone, I'm just going to stop answering the door altogether.

Just because someone has an official looking badge with a picture id and the company logo does NOT mean they're legit.

I'm glad I didn't let him see inside, we have a fairly nice new tv that might have looked appealing to come back for.

I SHOULD have mentioned to him we were thinking about dropping our phone line (which we don't have). If he had been legitimately from Suddenlink, he should have known we don't have phone service. That could have tipped me off the guy wasn't legit. Of course, I only thought about that after we saw them again later.

I had thought about going back and getting a License plate number when they weren't in a Suddenlink car. I should have.



Just a heads up to everyone else, whether they were just trying to steal credit card info or were looking for soft targets to rob, be very careful giving out any information to anyone who comes to your door.

[roberts]

If I don't recognize someone, I'm just going to stop answering the door altogether.

Using an intercom is better than not answering at all. At least they won't think the house is empty and easy target.

[dicion]

If I don't recognize someone, I'm just going to stop answering the door altogether.

Using an intercom is better than not answering at all. At least they won't think the house is empty and easy target.

I've considered getting one of those for that exact purpose. Also, I'm lazy and sometimes don't want to be bothered to get up

[74novaman]

If I don't recognize someone, I'm just going to stop answering the door altogether.

Using an intercom is better than not answering at all. At least they won't think the house is empty and easy target.

Add it to the list of things I'll do when I'm not renting.....

There was a full driveway of cars, so they knew people were home at least.

Would anyone have done anything differently?

[C-dub]

Well, I haven't done it yet, but I'd bet there's at least one of you that would answer the door with your weapon on your hip unconcealed for all to see.

[dicion]

Well, I haven't done it yet, but I'd bet there's at least one of you that would answer the door with your weapon on your hip unconcealed for all to see.

... Or with an AR in your hand....

What.. I was in the middle of putting the Free Floating hand-guard rails on, and they weren't tight yet, so I opened the door, and tightened it as I talked to the guy.
I knew he was coming though, he was my exterminator. He then came inside and did his job ;)

Also.. turns out the guy I had install my new AC system last year was a CHL as well. I had a Colt handgun box in my garage, and he saw it, and we got talking about guns ;)

[74novaman]

Well, I haven't done it yet, but I'd bet there's at least one of you that would answer the door with your weapon on your hip unconcealed for all to see.

Wouldn't do this just because I don't want anyone breaking in to steal my guns, either when I'm there or gone.

Though I have answered the door naked for a Mormon one time. They never came by again after that.

[MasterofFajitas]

It's stories like this that give me the creeps.

We have people coming through all the time going door to door that causes me worry for the older people in my neighborhood.

[TexasGal]

A couple months back, I had two guys a day apart come to our door saying they were doing a project for their psychology class at a college several miles away. Both tried to allay my suspicions by saying they lived on nearby streets. I happen to know the people in my neighborhood. They were lying and I told both to leave. Then later on the same day the second guy came, I had another guy show up with a clipboard and fake looking ID badge on his shirt. He said he was with some company doing research and asked if I was Mrs. X. I said no. He asked if this was X street. I said no (the sign with my street name is clearly visible from my door). I asked where his car was. He looked nervous and said it was parked in my other driveway (the one I can't see from my front door. Now why not park in my circle drive right there at the front door? In this last case, I had opened the door slightly and stood with my pistol held in my hand behind my back and my german shepherd looking at him like she was hungry. I was staring hard at him and he started to say something else. Suddenly, I saw his eyes dart to my arm that was behind my back this whole time and I knew that he knew I had a gun. I just continued to stare at him with a "yep, and I know how to shoot it too" look. It did not take two seconds for him to say he was sorry to bother me and he disappeared around my house. From a window, I watched him quickly get into a car that had no identifying signs for any kind of company. Where I live, it is very rare for anyone to do any of this stuff and this rash of people at my door over a two day period was really odd. I am guessing they were casing the area for robbery. I must have been X'd off the list because it has been really quiet ever since

[Mando'a]

It's stories like this that give me the creeps.

We have people coming through all the time going door to door that causes me worry for the older people in my neighborhood.

No kidding.

About two weeks ago, someone knocked rather loudly on our door at about 9:30pm. Come on! You really want to knock on someone's door that late at night to solicit?!?!

I got my gun, looked out the window, didn't see anything. Just assumed it was one of the neighbor kids playing a prank. Went outside, it was pitch black, didn't see anyone.

I've started turning on my porch lights now. (always left 'em off to save money)

[USA1]

I've started turning on my porch lights now. (always left 'em off to save money)

I use those new fangled twisty bulbs. They use less energy and require less changing.

[Mando'a]

I've started turning on my porch lights now. (always left 'em off to save money)

I use those new fangled twisty bulbs. They use less energy and require less changing.

Got a couple of those about... just need to buy a ladder so I can change them out

[5thGenTexan]

Got all of mine including the floods changed out to CFL's. When PD makes their nightly tours through the neighborhood at night they have a nice clear view rear of house is lit and the only way into the neighborhood is comming off a hill with a view of my back of the house unobstructed and front is the same way. Neighbors on he next street over all kill their lights at 10:00 I've run people on foot off several times from around their houses and called their plates in to PD when they broke & ran upon seeing me come out the front door of my house, when their car is parked on a third street that has no houses it's a pretty good bet they are casing the dark houses.

Unregistered soliciters are a pretty good bet to be casing as often as not. Learned that the hard way lost a brand new weedeater to a couple when I took a break to get a glass of water and watched them hightail it accross my yard grab & dive in the back tailgate of their ride as he slowed down.

[Tireshred]

I haven't answered the door in 20 years without a gun on me, usually in my hand. Just a few weeks ago an aquaintence answered his at 8AM and was stabbed and robbed, he lived but now answers his with his new revolver. Even if it's a kid standing there, you never know who's in the bushes, and we all have bushes/blindspots. JMO.

[Mando'a]

I haven't answered the door in 20 years without a gun on me, usually in my hand. Just a few weeks ago an aquaintence answered his at 8AM and was stabbed and robbed, he lived but now answers his with his new revolver. Even if it's a kid standing there, you never know who's in the bushes, and we all have bushes/blindspots. JMO.

I'm also one of those people who don't answer the door. My friends know to call ahead of time, if they decide to come over.

I've heard the new trend is where they knock, and if no one answers, they kick your door in. That was why I got my gun and went outside to investigate. (Nothing like that in my neighborhood, but it is pretty dark around here)

I'm going to add a "No Soliciting" sign soon. I also thought about a "Protected by Glock," but don't want to let any BG's know I have a gun to steal... or invite trouble.