Deciding if someone is in need or a crackpot / scammer

yeahimhere · 26-05-2014 11:44PM #1

At 5.30 this morning I was woken by knocking on my front door. Slightly groggy I looked out my bedroom window to see if I knew who it was, couldn't get a good look so went into another upstairs room for a better view.

It was a girl in her mid or so twenties, tried to get a rough gage of how she looked to see what might be up. Didn't look like she was dressed like she was coming from a night out - just flat runners, skinny jeans a jacket and over sized slightly tacky leopard print bag and either a cast or bandage around her left hand. She wasn't holding her bandaged hand so didn't seem like a recent injury. Assumed she wasn't driving i.e broke down and looking for help as she wouldn't be able to drive with the hand. She didn't look panicked, but had a little wobble - maybe had a few drinks or otherwise.

Now I live in the countryside, it's not a road you'd just randomly walk down to get from A to B. The house isn't the most inviting to walk into either - there's a large gate that was closed over which she had to open to get in. There's other houses on a row next to us that if I was looking for help, I'd try instead. Also if she was coming from the other direction, 200m before us she would have met houses there also. I was alone in the house so was deciding what to do when she let out two loud cries, not like she was sobbing, just wailing. It sounded attention seeking rather than a normal cry.

So, my gut instinct was not to engage with her as something just didn't seem right so I ignored the knocks and doorbell and let her walk on up the road again looking into her phone. The incident only lasted 5mins after I woke but after watching crimecall tonight it's on my mind if I did the right thing? I usually trust my gut instinct however it may be tainted somewhat by the fact that we've had an attempted break in a few months ago and interrupted some others "wandering" around in the past.

TL:DR; Someone knocking on your door, how do you judge if someone is genuinely in need of help versus completely regretting possibly letting a stranger into your house?

Un Croissant · 26-05-2014 11:47PM

Spooky OP.

That is all.

Mr. Incognito · 26-05-2014 11:51PM

Sounds like she was in shock.

I would have opened the door

Teagwee · 26-05-2014 11:51PM

yeahimhere wrote: »

TL:DR; Someone knocking on your door, how do you judge if someone is genuinely in need of help versus completely regretting possibly letting a stranger into your house?

The trouble is that you can't tell - since it was 5.30am and you were on your own, you did the right thing IMO. I certainly wouldn't have let her in. Best you could have done was speak to her out a window and offer to make a phonecall for her.

B.A._Baracus · 26-05-2014 11:53PM

You have to be careful opening the door to random strangers at night. it's a no brainer :pac: However, you can easily shout down from an upstairs window or safely behind the locked door to see whats going on.

So Op, whilst you were security conscious (a good thing) you were right by the fecking window. You easily could have shouted down. No one is saying invite her in (it is an old trick) but if she needed the guards all you do is "hold on love, stay there, i'll grab my mobile"

Also because knocking of someones house is also an old trick to see if someone is in before breaking in.

OldMrBrennan83 · 26-05-2014 11:54PM

This post has been deleted.

Sulla Felix · 26-05-2014 11:56PM

Probably droogs looking to indulge their taste for ultra-violence. Keep those doors locked OP.

dee_mc · 26-05-2014 11:57PM

At that time of the morning I wouldn't be surprised if she'd tried the other nearby houses and hadn't had a response as people were sleeping.
I'd have done my best to ascertain what was wrong I.e. asked if someone was following her. I can't imagine just ignoring someone in that state to be honest, although I wouldn't be welcoming them into the house with open arms.

The Backwards Man · 26-05-2014 11:57PM

Was the phone switched on? Be daylight at that time though, might be hard to tell if it was switched on I suppose.

yeahimhere · 27-05-2014 12:00AM

Teagwee wrote: »

The trouble is that you can't tell - since it was 5.30am and you were on your own, you did the right thing IMO. I certainly wouldn't have let her in. Best you could have done was speak to her out a window and offer to make a phonecall for her.

Yeah I'm agreeing with this to be honest. I should have really talked to her out the window but in those few minutes I was weighing up the options and then she was gone.

Because of our earlier incidents, I think I was weighing up the worse case scenario's rather than what her issue may be and didn't do the simple thing.

yeahimhere · 27-05-2014 12:05AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Was the phone switched on? Be daylight at that time though, might be hard to tell if it was switched on I suppose.

T'was daylight, couldn't tell if it was on but she was pressing it - either battery died and trying to turn it on again or texting someone. Can't be sure.

The Backwards Man · 27-05-2014 12:09AM

dee_mc wrote: »

At that time of the morning I wouldn't be surprised if she'd tried the other nearby houses and hadn't had a response as people were sleeping.
I'd have done my best to ascertain what was wrong I.e. asked if someone was following her. I can't imagine just ignoring someone in that state to be honest, although I wouldn't be welcoming them into the house with open arms.

Depends on the circumstances too though, I know where I live if anyone came to my house in the middle of the night that I didn't know it's likely they weren't up to anything good.

Teagwee · 27-05-2014 12:09AM

yeahimhere wrote: »

Yeah I'm agreeing with this to be honest. I should have really talked to her out the window but in those few minutes I was weighing up the options and then she was gone.

Because of our earlier incidents, I think I was weighing up the worse case scenario's rather than what her issue may be and didn't do the simple thing.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself - it's easy to be wise after the event and with the break-in history and your isolation it was understandable. It's sad really that we can't afford to engage our humanitarian instincts at these times for fear of consequences

The Backwards Man · 27-05-2014 12:16AM

Teagwee wrote: »

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself - it's easy to be wise after the event and with the break-in history and your isolation it was understandable. It's sad really that we can't afford to engage our humanitarian instincts at these times for fear of consequences

Agree with that, all you can do really is follow your gut instinct.

yeahimhere · 27-05-2014 12:20AM

dee_mc wrote: »

At that time of the morning I wouldn't be surprised if she'd tried the other nearby houses and hadn't had a response as people were sleeping.
I'd have done my best to ascertain what was wrong I.e. asked if someone was following her. I can't imagine just ignoring someone in that state to be honest, although I wouldn't be welcoming them into the house with open arms.

She didn't seem like she was being followed anyway. She wasn't in anyway panicked and walked up the road in a calm manner. If someone was following me I wouldn't take the time to open a heavy gate (there's three things you need to do to open the gate) with an injured hand. I'd choose a house that didn't have an obstacle to get through.

As above, I acknowledge that I should have talked to her out the window to ascertain what was wrong but some things (albeit in my sleepy brain) didn't sit right so I didn't.

Zambia · 27-05-2014 12:20AM

In all cases you gauge all things considered including the obvious angle of can you handle yourself.

Little things like opening the door a crack with your foot securing it.

Telling them to step back if they get to close to you.

If she was in trouble your only obligation is to call 999.

However I know a lot of young people these days would be that distraught if the battery in their smart phones died.

discus · 27-05-2014 12:23AM

You have your own safety to worry about OP. I used to be a good samaritan, I've learned my lesson now though.

dee_mc · 27-05-2014 12:24AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Depends on the circumstances too though, I know where I live if anyone came to my house in the middle of the night that I didn't know it's likely they weren't up to anything good.

I live in the middle of nowhere too, it would be pretty unusual for someone to appear here in similar circumstances!
I'm a cautious softy: I'd still be for trying to find out what the story was, but I'd have the door locked nonetheless

kikidelvin · 27-05-2014 12:24AM

I think you done the right thing.I would not like it if I was woken op at 05-30.by a complete stranger .Anyhow what was she doing out at that time of the morning ?Very suss.

Zambia · 27-05-2014 12:30AM

Op buy a good door chain

Pat Mustard · 27-05-2014 12:32AM

yeahimhere wrote: »

TL:DR; Someone knocking on your door, how do you judge if someone is genuinely in need of help versus completely regretting possibly letting a stranger into your house?

Strange, alright. I'd have asked what she wanted anyway. She'd want to have had a good excuse to call at that hour, though.

yeahimhere · 27-05-2014 12:38AM

Zambia wrote: »

Op buy a good door chain

Anyone we know comes to the back door, normal country style living :P So anyone who rings the door bell is automatically an unusual guest treated with suspicion!

Sir Arthur Daley · 27-05-2014 12:39AM

I would have the .223 pointed at them.

Pat Mustard · 27-05-2014 12:42AM

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

I would have the .223 pointed at them.

Or you could stay in bed.

foggy_lad · 27-05-2014 12:44AM

Smithers, RELEASE THE HOUNDS!

Sir Arthur Daley · 27-05-2014 12:45AM

The Mustard wrote: »

Or you could stay in bed.

If I were to stay in bed they would be greeted with husqy t536i.

cerastes · 27-05-2014 12:54AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

You have to be careful opening the door to random strangers at night. it's a no brainer :pac: However, you can easily shout down from an upstairs window or safely behind the locked door to see whats going on.

So Op, whilst you were security conscious (a good thing) you were right by the fecking window. You easily could have shouted down. No one is saying invite her in (it is an old trick) but if she needed the guards all you do is "hold on love, stay there, i'll grab my mobile"

Also because knocking of someones house is also an old trick to see if someone is in before breaking in.

Get a bit of that suspect callers selling stuff at times people might not be around, Id be wary its more a cover for sussing out places and the side benefit of selling a bit of tat. Why I dont like seeing people leave their hand me downs for charity on the side of the road to be collected, encourages people to come around looking.
I used to ignore callers at the door, but from time to time I just look out the window to see who it is, be seen and ignore them.

Zambia wrote: »

In all cases you gauge all things considered including the obvious angle of can you handle yourself.

Little things like opening the door a crack with your foot securing it.

Telling them to step back if they get to close to you.

If she was in trouble your only obligation is to call 999.

However I know a lot of young people these days would be that distraught if the battery in their smart phones died.

I wouldnt be opening the door to some honey trap at that hour if I was in the middle of nowhere, assuming its not some scam and the door isnt kicked in by someone else,leaving yourself open to other problems too.

Zambia wrote: »

Op buy a good door chain

Those yokes are useless id say, chain might be ok, but whats it secured to or by? best figure it out from the window and call the emergency services if they need assistance.
Id be inclined to find out what was up/make it known someone was present.

gctest50 · 27-05-2014 01:04AM

this is the door chain you need

one of these :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KRYPTONITE-KryptoFlex-410-Double-Loop-Cable-120cm-x-10mm-4-x-3-8-210818-/151268667392?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233850b000

bolt it to the opening side of the door frame/wall

put some sort of hook on the hinge side of the frame to hook it to before you open the door

Aongus Von Bismarck · 27-05-2014 01:05AM

I am really curious what she wanted. I'll be thinking about this for ages.

Sir Arthur Daley · 27-05-2014 01:07AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I am really curious what she wanted. I'll be thinking about this for ages.

Maybe she was not a she?

yeahimhere · 27-05-2014 01:29AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I am really curious what she wanted. I'll be thinking about this for ages.

I'm caught between a few reasons;

Honest;

- she was at a house party, couldn't afford a taxi / thrown out by a taxi and battery died / just wandering. Wanted to ring someone / kip somewhere

- Argument with a boyfriend, no way home

- mental issues, went wandering waaaay out of town and looking for help.

Dishonest;

- Try to get in the house to call someone. That someone was a van with a few lads and she'd faint or something as they came so they'd "have" to come inside to help her out. Ensue issue robbing us

- Non threatening female. Checking out the house to see what was inside for a later robbing.

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Maybe she was not a she?

While not definitely, most probably a she.

Deciding if someone is in need or a crackpot / scammer

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