Random caller to door about a car???

stesaurus

We just had a guy knock in to our house asking about a car parked outside. It was one of our friends' cars who was visiting. We could see him looking into the car just beforehand. He seemed to have just drove up onto the road randomly and got out of his car to have a look.
When we answered the door he explained he was inquiring about buying the car for his brother. His brother seemingly had the same car previously but his had died a death recently so was on the lookout for a replacement.
The car didn't have any for sale sign and is just a standard enough 99 Corolla. Nothing really on show either in the car.
Not that this matters but in case I get asked the man did sound like he was a member of the travelling community. Although he didn't offer to sell any carpet
I just thought it was very odd but I'm struggling to find what his angle was if he was up to no good. Maybe he was genuine and it just was a weird situation. I've never heard of it before.

Kevin!

It's common enough for members of the travelling community to offer to purchase cars that look disused in your driveway, I've had it happen on multiple occasions with an old volvo.

If your not interested in selling, they move on to the next car simple as

Stone Deaf 4evr

not to put the frighteners on you, but that sounds just like an excuse for being around your house to have a snoop for anything worth stealing, he might have knocked on the door if he felt he had been seen outside. I've often had guys popping in around the farm and when you challenge them, the excuse would be 'looking for a dog' or some other nonsense.

stesaurus

Yeah seems the most likely either he was genuine or trying to get info about the house etc. I'm really not sure which though now.

We have our own car in the driveway. It's only new and he started asking questions about it. That's normal enough as it's an EV so people are usually asking us all sorts about it. Just seems weird though and has my wife on edge now.

mickdw

s.welstead wrote: »

Yeah seems the most likely either he was genuine or trying to get info about the house etc. I'm really not sure which though now.

We have our own car in the driveway. It's only new and he started asking questions about it. That's normal enough as it's an EV so people are usually asking us all sorts about it. Just seems weird though and has my wife on edge now.

He will have the EV off down the road tonight on tow behind the old 99 car.
Just think of all the batteries and copper wire he could get from the electric car.

AMGer

Kevin! wrote: »

It's common enough for members of the travelling community to offer to purchase cars that look disused in your driveway, I've had it happen on multiple occasions with an old volvo.

had this a few years ago with a 97 Fiesta aswell, thing was bet on the driveway, they were quick enough to move on after a no or two

rubberdiddies

I've always presumed they come to the door to see if you leave the house/car key in the back of the door or near the door so a little bit of fishing can be done later

stesaurus

rubberdiddies wrote: »

I've always presumed they come to the door to see if you leave the house/car key in the back of the door or near the door so a little bit of fishing can be done later

Only thing hanging by the door is the dogs smelly harnesses. They're welcome to fish for them.

Markcheese

Probably was just enquiring about buying the corolla -
Wouldn't worry - (but wouldn't leave keys on hall table either )

JBokeh

I bought my old land rover of a guy who's house I used pass on my commute, noticed it wasn't moving and one day I called in, fair enough I was on my way home from work, so was dressed alright, and he was also an enthusiast. Told me the story behind it, and I bought it 3 days later.

I'd be slow to deal with someone that calls to the house asking about a car that is only there a few hours, and I'd also be blocking in my own for the coming few days

Toyotafanboi

Markcheese wrote: »

Probably was just enquiring about buying the corolla -
Wouldn't worry - (but wouldn't leave keys on hall table either )

I agree, every tinker and young fella in the country gravitate to those corollas, the more mundane looking the corolla, the better.

It all stems from those kind of individuals and their shrewdness. Those corolla clean can be worth a tasty bit and these boyos are hoping you don't know what you have with it, so they can hit you with a lowball price and then tell a great yarn that they picked up a mint, unabused corolla on the side of the road for peanuts off of some chunp who didn't know what he had.

This actually happens.

Has happened at my place on occasion. Old corollas genuine are a twat magnet.

nxbyveromdwjpg

They do this, they're just looking for the car.

Although I had a mate who had them call about his car 3 or 4 times, he didn't want to sell. Then one morning the car was gone.

stefanovich

It's a bit ****ty to presume he was casing the house.

Special Circumstances

stefanovich wrote: »

It's a bit ****ty to presume he was casing the house.

I hear these random door to door caller's roofing and tarring jobs are masterpieces and it would be *****ty for anyone to imply otherwise.

Wibbs

stefanovich wrote: »

It's a bit ****ty to presume he was casing the house.

More than a bit shítty yes S, but sadly all too prudent, if my and collective experience is anything to go by. The too large and too criminally active minority make it hard to not be suspicious and make it incredibly hard for those who are ordinary folks. Chances are this chap was just enquiring about the car. As Toyotafanboi notes a Corolla can be a right sleeper in the market.

stesaurus

stefanovich wrote: »

It's a bit ****ty to presume he was casing the house.

I'm not presuming because of his background if that's what you're getting at. Just found it weird. Has he never heard of donedeal like?

Wife is on edge now tonight. I'll be sent to investigate every bloody noise now.

delly

s.welstead wrote: »

I'm not presuming because of his background if that's what you're getting at. Just found it weird. Has he never heard of donedeal like?

Wife is on edge now tonight. I'll be sent to investigate every bloody noise now.

Best thing is to say you've asked on boards, and this is the done thing for people trying to buy a car at a low price, nothing abnormal. It will hopefully keep her calm, but in the meantime be on alert for any late night disturbances, just don't tell her that.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I'll Put it bluntly, if you hadnt answer the door he would have gone around the back and knocked on your back door, if there was still no answer he'd have kicked it in and robbed you. Asking about the car is an excuse.

deandean

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I'll Put it bluntly, if you hadnt answer the door he would have gone around the back and knocked on your back door, if there was still no answer he'd have kicked it in and robbed you. Asking about the car is an excuse.

Funny that. About 5 years ago I challenged one in my back garden. He had opened the side gate and let himself in. He started asking about...the car in the driveway.

B00MSTICK

A good few years ago I was dropping a mate to college in Shannon and had the car packed to the gills with all his junk. It didn't stop a lad from offering to buy it off me as we stopped to get petrol. It was a 98 Almera.

Special Circumstances

deandean wrote: »

Funny that. About 5 years ago I challenged one in my back garden. He had opened the side gate and let himself in. He started asking about...the car in the driveway.

Our local cultural embassy (related to those implicated in breakin associated with the death of the elderly man in limerick recently) used to send the kids out asking to be let into people's back yards looking for an imaginary ball.

I never saw them play with a ball in my life, only firing stones around the place.

HandsomeDan

They are casing you. It happens all the time.

Round them up and dump them in the sea, I say.