Beggars knocking on front doors

Thingymebob · 21-09-2020 12:17pm #1

Twice in the past week we’ve had people knocking on our front door, asking for change. They’re not charity collectors, they’re asking for money for themselves. One did look like he might indulge regularly in a range of substances harmful to his health, the other a much older woman who was pushing one of those wheeled walkers. It’s not happened to us in a decade of being in Dublin, and it’s not like we’re in a city centre property (D9).

Is this a new approach or in the words of Himself, are they casing the joint?

begbysback · 21-09-2020 12:19pm

Hmm, I was always told beggars can’t be choosers

Gregor Samsa · 21-09-2020 12:22pm

It used to be common when I grew up in Dublin in the 70s and 80s (also D9), but I haven't experienced it in decades. Fashion is cyclical, though, so maybe it's making a comeback. Less people out walking the streets of the city centre since Covid 19 lockdown/restrictions, so the take is bound to be down for those begging on the streets. If the mountain won't come to Mohammed...

punisher5112 · 21-09-2020 12:22pm

Don't answer the door....

Roma gypsies at this all the time, they even have regulars they'll call on.

Get a ring or eufy doorbell cam, if it's a delivery then you'll know.

Montage of Feck · 21-09-2020 12:23pm

I never answer the door to the riffraff thats what the footman is for.

Thingymebob · 21-09-2020 12:35pm

Montage of Feck wrote: »

I never answer the door to the riffraff thats what the footman is for.

The butler is on furlough

Not Roma beggars, definitely Irish both times but certainly rough individuals

Already got CCTV, better to be safe than sorry

Aglomerado · 21-09-2020 12:36pm

My parents had one call on the house phone a few weeks ago, someone complaining that they were an OAP and they needed money, wasn't a prank from a friend either. First time I've heard of begging on the phone other than those "Microsoft" scammers, and wonder how the caller hoped it would work.

My mum responded "I'm an OAP too" and promptly hung up.

Trouser Snake · 21-09-2020 12:38pm

What's your location OP?

corner of hells · 21-09-2020 12:42pm

Montage of Feck wrote: »

I never answer the door to the riffraff thats what the footman is for.

Dont you have a gate house manned by a suitable rough type to stop unwanted visitors ?

Nigel Fairservice · 21-09-2020 12:42pm

I remember as a child people would call to the door at a certain time of the year looking for communion money. They were adults too. Haven't seen it in many years.

LollipopJimmy · 21-09-2020 12:45pm

With a smaller than normal footfall in the City Centre the 'tappers' have started to get a little entrepreneurial.

EmmetSpiceland · 21-09-2020 12:47pm

I make use of the ‘Ring’ doorbell so I don’t have to deal with any “time burglars”. The camera allows me to see if it’s in my “interest” to stop what I’m going and answer the door, itself.

I’ve no problem giving money to beggars, I’d take giving €2 to some poor unfortunate over having to listen to some lengthy “sales pitch” any day.

ThewhiteJesus · 21-09-2020 12:51pm

Any cold callers (beggars or sellers)or hawkers as they are called in Oz should be told to F off your home is your castle

KevRossi · 21-09-2020 12:51pm

Nigel Fairservice · 21-09-2020 12:55pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I make use of the ‘Ring’ doorbell so I don’t have to deal with any “time burglars”. The camera allows me to see if it’s in my “interest” to stop what I’m going and answer the door, itself.

I’ve no problem giving money to beggars, I’d take giving €2 to some poor unfortunate over having to listen to some lengthy “sales pitch” any day.

I do the same myself with the doorbell. I don't want to spend 10 minutes on the doorstep fending off someone from a marketing company trying to sign me up for electricity.

biko · 21-09-2020 12:58pm

Must be quite distressing for older vulnerable people.

CrankyHaus · 21-09-2020 1:09pm

biko wrote: »

Must be quite distressing for older vulnerable people.

Who may well be getting a more aggressive pitch when they open the door.

I knew an old lady who in her final years got rushed at the door and burgled when she opened it. A friend moved in after she passed and a man called to the door one night "looking to fix the house alarm". Obviously a dirtbag scoping the place who'd been told of a vulnerable house. I let him get a good look at the bunch of youngfellas drinking cans inside before telling him the alarm was fine and he scuttled off to his taxi.

iwillhtfu · 21-09-2020 1:10pm

It used to be very common in the 80's you'd get the usual suspects knockin round asking for a suppa milk for the babby..

These days sales men get the short sharp from most doors I'd imagine beggars don't even get an acknowledgment.

the purple tin · 21-09-2020 1:35pm

Begging on the street is one thing but calling to someones door to do it should be against the law.
It is alright us talking but imagine some vulnerable elderly person living alone and a nasty piece of work calling to the door looking for money. If they got something off them you can bet your life that the scummer would be back there on a regular basis looking for more.

Rodney Bathgate · 21-09-2020 1:41pm

A bucket of ice cold water out a first floor window on top of them would learn them.

Sardonicat · 21-09-2020 1:56pm

I haven't experienced that since the early 80s. It was common enough then. Usually woman with a child. About 15 years ago a Roma woman tried it at my front door. Same modus operandi; looking for money for nappies and milk.

Strumms · 21-09-2020 2:58pm

I live in a decent area but there have been one or more two burglaries, certainly a couple more than you be used to hearing about word gets around via the residents association Facebook and WhatsApp ... one thing too that’s been noticed is the regularity of vans that seem to be of the habit of driving around the estate, early evening, at relatively slow speed... occupants seemingly casually casing houses and cars....

The beggars are often doing this too. Getting an up close and personal appreciation of who is around, who might be vulnerable by calling to your front door, it’s been happening too with reasonable regularity.

A car in the cul de sac was attempted to be stolen last week, window smashed but the lads got away without taking the car.. due to a quick thinking neighbor who disturbed them.

The van, a green Toyota hiace according to the witnesses is linked to a criminal gang.

punisher5112 · 21-09-2020 3:10pm

Sardonicat wrote: »

I haven't experienced that since the early 80s. It was common enough then. Usually woman with a child. About 15 years ago a Romania woman tried it at my front door. Same modus operandi; looking for money for nappies and milk.

Roma, the Romanian hate them with a passion....

Sardonicat · 21-09-2020 3:17pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Roma, the Romanian hate them with a passion....

Oh, I meant to type Roma but my phone autocorrected. I'll fix that now.

Church on Tuesday · 21-09-2020 3:21pm

Sometime in the 50s my grandfather opened the door to a tramp who begged for money and was being fairly smart about it, my grandfather replied with "wait a minute" and went back inside to bring out his Lee Enfield from his time in the IRA during the Tan war, cocked it and then let out a volley of shots over the tramps head, reckoned he never say a man run as fast in his life before.

I miss my grandad.

Riesen_Meal · 21-09-2020 3:23pm

Thingymebob wrote: »

Twice in the past week we’ve had people knocking on our front door, asking for change. They’re not charity collectors, they’re asking for money for themselves. One did look like he might indulge regularly in a range of substances harmful to his health, the other a much older woman who was pushing one of those wheeled walkers. It’s not happened to us in a decade of being in Dublin, and it’s not like we’re in a city centre property (D9).

Is this a new approach or in the words of Himself, are they casing the joint?

I am in D9 also...

Was she wearing a green jacket by any chance?

A local junkie to me who I grew up with I see going around with a pram/buggy and does be with a rather disheveled looking chap go around calling into houses looking for odds and ends...

Feisar · 21-09-2020 3:26pm

Had them at Xmas, hard selling carol songs.

Being full of beer cheer I threw them a fiver.

padd b1975 · 21-09-2020 3:27pm

A polite but firm "I can barely afford to feed myself!" is usually sufficient.

Beggars are like stray cats, give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

Thingymebob · 21-09-2020 3:29pm

Strumms wrote: »

I live in a decent area but there have been one or more two burglaries, certainly a couple more than you be used to hearing about word gets around via the residents association Facebook and WhatsApp ... one thing too that’s been noticed is the regularity of vans that seem to be of the habit of driving around the estate, early evening, at relatively slow speed... occupants seemingly casually casing houses and cars....

The beggars are often doing this too. Getting an up close and personal appreciation of who is around, who might be vulnerable by calling to your front door, it’s been happening too with reasonable regularity.

I checked the local estate Facebook group, and there were a few mentions of dodgy behaviour in the area in the last two weeks. None matched the description of the OAP, but possibly matched the description of the lad. The neighbours had a home invasion about four years ago (no logical reason, they’re Joe Average healthcare workers) so we got CCTV installed then.

circadian · 21-09-2020 3:33pm

Also in D9. Noticed people stopping outside my house on their bike to have a smoke at the same time every day. Same bike, sometimes different people.

Haven't seen them since my neighbour who is a Garda returned from his shift in uniform when one of them was sat there.

endacl · 21-09-2020 3:35pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I do the same myself with the doorbell. I don't want to spend 10 minutes on the doorstep fending off someone from a marketing company trying to sign me up for electricity.

How does it take you 10 minutes to say 'fcuk off'?!?

IK09 · 21-09-2020 3:51pm

Its strange that this thread has popped up.

The council bought a house on our row and moved an "undesirable" in about a month ago.

She has called 3 times now.

The first time was for butter...no problem...heres some butter on a plate, even though the shop is open literally less than 100 yards away from her door.

The second time was for a cigarette. No I dont have any.

The third time was for a lighter...at 10.45pm last night while my kid was alseep. She rang the doorbell and then when I didnt answer she started knocking loudly on the door.

I think its time to move.

Dempo1 · 21-09-2020 3:52pm

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

It used to be common when I grew up in Dublin in the 70s and 80s (also D9), but I haven't experienced it in decades. Fashion is cyclical, though, so maybe it's making a comeback. Less people out walking the streets of the city centre since Covid 19 lockdown/restrictions, so the take is bound to be down for those begging on the streets. If the mountain won't come to Mohammed...

Gosh, just dawned on me we had an itinerant family (as they were once known) called regularly, the mother mainly and there was always something for her, foodstuffs, clothing etc. I lived in the Dun Laoghaire area back in the 70"s/80"s, I've not seen or heard of such an occurance since then.

Pkiernan · 21-09-2020 3:53pm

We give non perishables to a traveller family every Saturday.

I wouldn't give cash to Roma beggars though, unless they were using them for a 1 way ticket home.

Pkiernan · 21-09-2020 3:55pm

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

Sometime in the 50s my grandfather opened the door to a tramp who begged for money and was being fairly smart about it, my grandfather replied with "wait a minute" and went back inside to bring out his Lee Enfield from his time in the IRA during the Tan war, cocked it and then let out a volley of shots over the tramps head, reckoned he never say a man run as fast in his life before.

I miss my grandad.

He sounds like a good Christian!

Rhyme · 21-09-2020 4:01pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

Gosh, just dawned on me we had an itinerant family (as they were once known) called regularly, the mother mainly and there was always something for her, foodstuffs, clothing etc. I lived in the Dun Laoghaire area back in the 70"s/80"s, I've not seen or heard of such an occurance since then.

We had two families call to my door in the late 90's/early 2000's. They were better dressed than us but there would always be some small bit of clothing, cans of food spare so whoever answered the door would give them out. It didn't take long before they became aggressive and demanded money and we'd find the cans of food thrown back in our garden or the clothes in a tree nearby. A few confrontations and a word to the rest of the houses on the street and they got the message.

We had a guy who would call to the house once week in the late 90's who would literally 'sing for his supper' and the train fare back home. Had a battered violin and a great voice.

jamesbondings · 21-09-2020 4:03pm

I have lived all over and never experienced it. I am over in the other halfs mams a fair bit and it happens her loads.
I stayed there for xmas a couple of times. Christmas day 11am, presents getting opened, knock on the door. Any money. I didnt open the door, if I had they would have been very swiftly told where to go on Xmas day of all days. They were lucky they got the mother in law, she gave them a tin of roses!

It has happened twice in the mils since lockdown.

evad_lhorg · 21-09-2020 4:07pm

Only people who have ever called to the door are travellers in my experience.

Gregor Samsa · 21-09-2020 4:16pm

evad_lhorg wrote: »

Only people who have ever called to the door are travellers in my experience.

Which stands to reason, as anyone visiting you who isn't travelling is already in your house.

topper75 · 21-09-2020 4:22pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

He sounds like a good Christian!

I would say. Teaching that other poor sinner soul not to covet his neighbour's goods. Lights up Heaven, that sort of ministry.

Church on Tuesday · 21-09-2020 4:24pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

He sounds like a good Christian!

He'd give you the shirt off his back as long as you weren't a cheeky prick.

evad_lhorg · 21-09-2020 4:30pm

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Which stands to reason, as anyone visiting you who isn't travelling is already in your house.

Don't make me use other terms

Strumms · 21-09-2020 4:38pm

Thingymebob wrote: »

I checked the local estate Facebook group, and there were a few mentions of dodgy behaviour in the area in the last two weeks. None matched the description of the OAP, but possibly matched the description of the lad. The neighbours had a home invasion about four years ago (no logical reason, they’re Joe Average healthcare workers) so we got CCTV installed then.

Ordered cctv here too... not as expensive as I thought all be it courtesy of a company a family member works for but still great value... HD quality and viewable from tv, phone, tablets both at home and remotely....

Be a real peace of mind giver with everything going on.

trellheim · 21-09-2020 4:45pm

Nothing wrong with going door to door selling sky/leccy/broadband thats how a lot of people switch, and if you say "happy with what I have, thx bye" thats all you need to do.

antix80 · 21-09-2020 4:47pm

Shoot them.

21-09-2020 4:54pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

We give non perishables to a traveller family every Saturday.

A tin of beans in a sports sock?

Pkiernan · 21-09-2020 4:54pm

Strumms wrote: »

Ordered cctv here too... not as expensive as I thought all be it courtesy of a company a family member works for but still great value... HD quality and viewable from tv, phone, tablets both at home and remotely....

Be a real peace of mind giver with everything going on.

Why do you think CCTV adds security?
It doesn't.

Feisar · 21-09-2020 5:04pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

Why do you think CCTV adds security?
It doesn't.

Same reasoning applies to locking the door. It’s the illusion of security.

kenmc · 21-09-2020 5:04pm

trellheim wrote: »

Nothing wrong with going door to door selling sky/leccy/broadband thats how a lot of people switch, and if you say "happy with what I have, thx bye" thats all you need to do.

BS. Why do they think it's ok to knock on someone's door to try sell them something they haven't requested? The person could be sick in bed, sleeping after a night shift, just after settling a baby for a nap or what not. If anyone wants to switch provider, there's several ways to do so at their convenience - internet of course primarily, but also stands in shopping centre, advertising etc not to mention junk mail.

There's absolutely no excuse for disturbing people in their own home. You don't see them providing their own home address or personal phone number to allow prospective customers to call over to their place whenever the notion takes them.

Shower of cnuts.

Edgware · 21-09-2020 5:10pm

kenmc wrote: »

BS. Why do they think it's ok to knock on someone's door to try sell them something they haven't requested? The person could be sick in bed, sleeping after a night shift, just after settling a baby for a nap or what not. If anyone wants to switch provider, there's several ways to do so at their convenience - internet of course primarily, but also stands in shopping centre, advertising etc not to mention junk mail.

There's absolutely no excuse for disturbing people in their own home. You don't see them providing their own home address or personal phone number to allow prospective customers to call over to their place whenever the notion takes them.

Shower of cnuts.

I'd never knock at a door except at election time when I have to canvass the great unwashed for their vote. Then I have to pretend that I am interested in their "problems" and make sure that I don't call during Corrie or what ever ****e these people find entertaining.

Rodney Bathgate · 21-09-2020 5:17pm

evad_lhorg wrote: »

Don't make me use other terms

Just say Travellers rather than travellers.

Beggars knocking on front doors

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