Door to Door thieves?

[hyperboleRN]

I couldn't tell you if this was a scam or not, because so many folks are trying to make a buck by advertising their business (home improvement, etc) or doing door-to-door sales of things, nowadays. Nearly every day I have someone knock on my front door. I know if someone is knocking there it's someone I don't know, as I use my side entrance, not the front.

I recently had a near break-in after a knock at the door, however. I was downstairs doing laundry, and I heard the doorbell ring. Most of the time, it's UPS leaving a package. So I head upstairs, still mindful that it could be something else. Being a single woman with two kids in the house, I am more paranoid than most, I suspect. As I walked up my steps to investigate the doorbell (from the front door), I saw a man at my back door, trying to slide open the doorwall (which is near impossible). I was armed, so I was ready for him to try anything, but he ran.

There's been a ton of break-ins around my area. I truly think he was trying to see if anyone was home. I don't trust anyone who comes to the door, and I don't answer most of the time. If someone tried to rush the door, I am no match for most people at just over 5 feet tall. I'd rather be armed and waiting in the safe room.

Stay safe out there.

[tiecuando]

Originally Posted by solinvictus

.. also, you can get the simple "break the circuit" door alarms at Dollar Tree. They come with the alarm and two batteries and work pretty darned well.

That's useful info.

[Ghostrider]

Anyone coming to your door could be casing your home. Crooks do use those approaches frequently.

You will always have a mix of people coming to your door. Those with legitimate business and those with scandalous intentions. You can almost never tell which is which.

There is almost no way to absolutely burglar proof your home. To even try would be incredibly cost prohibitive.

If you can't have dogs, a good alarm system would be your next best bet. At some point you are going to have to leave your home unattended. If someone comes in while you're gone the best bet is to let them know that someone else knows they're in there (alarm system) so they'll hopefully split before they can do too much damage. Make sure it has a nice, loud siren to attract attention.

Getting to know your neighbors is always a good thing. Let them know it's OK (and that you encourage) for them to call the cops if they see someone they don't recognize around your place.

Most cops really don't mind checking suspicious person reports out. You'd be surprised how many times a neighbor noticed someone they didn't know around a house before a break-in but didn't call because they didn't want to offend anyone in case the person was really legit.

It's a good idea to call the cops when you encounter a solicitor. If they check out, everyone's happy and they go about their business. If they are up to no good, they know the cops are on to them and ID'd them so they probably aren't going to hang around and caper in that neighborhood.

[aramchek]

I just look out a window and practice a little demographic discrimination -- generally against males between the age of 15-50 or so. It's pretty easy to tell who's UPS, a mail carrier, boy scout / girl scout, newspaper people, etc. Luckily the Jehovah Witnesses aren't coming around these days, but they are easy to spot also -- dressed like business people peddling smoke & mirrors. The ones that concern me these days are the political people, claiming to represent some cause and wanting to collect signatures.

[HowardRoark]

In my neighborhood thieves have been posing as groups of Jehovah Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventists.

We have two "no soliciting" signs in the front of our property (an apartment complex) yet the real JW's still come in as if they belong. I started by politely asking them to leave and have now been forced to be less polite. Even then they are like herding cats. Sometimes I think they do more harm to their cause then good with their door-to-door trouble-making.

[hafcafdcaf]

I know, I'm a thread whore, but can you call the cops on somebody soliciting when you have a no soliciting sign? What about trespassing, just somebody walking up to your door for instance? So you law enforcement types, what are your feelings on responding to these kind of calls? I did read the post where the person said that LE doesn't mind answering these calls, but is that really the case.
One more thing, to all of you law enforcement people out there trying to keep the wolves at bay, thanks, I couldn't imagine our world without you in it. When you feel like you are not making a difference, or people accuse you of being parts of big conspiracies, screw em KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

Thanks,
Rob

[Brother Buck]

Originally Posted by splint

A simple "No Solicitors" sign would help. Real honest door-to-door salespeople will leave you alone.

Originally Posted by MikeK

I'd post a highly visible "no solicitors" sign. Real door to door sales people generally obey those. It's a way to tell who's genuine from who isn't.

That's some funny stuff there. A sign sift the wheat from the chaff does it..... the one that has hung inches above my door bell button for 20 years must be broken.
It has NEVER stopped a damn sole from trying to sell crap to me or preach.

Originally Posted by HowardRoark

In my neighborhood thieves have been posing as groups of Jehovah Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventists.

Get an American flag and tell them that when they salute it you'll listen to their BS and not until.
Works better than answering the door naked covered in goat blood and waving a satanic bible.

We have fences, gates, alarms, and a huge rhodesian ridgeback akita mix who hates the doorbell.
You get past that..... pray I am not home. My only conundrum once you gain entry is if I wanna re-enact the dental scenes from Marathon Man or the nail through the scrode scene in Serpent and the Rainbow.
Is it safe?

[mud]

This scheme was very popular this summer in my neighborhood and other parts of the city. In broad daylight, one crook would knock up front and occupy the resident while two crooks (with gloves) opened the back door and quietly swiped stuff for a couple minutes.

It was a truly haunting threat because there's no pattern to predict when or where they would go next.

[almac]

drill out your door viewer and install a wireless camera.
X10 makes some interesting cameras and home accessories.
if you hook it up right, you can even install a recorder, so you have a record of who comes by in case there is a break in.
police love video.

peace
al

[infinityshock]

This happened a couple of days ago near where i live. individuals knocked on the womans door and when she didnt answer they attempted a burglary/robbery.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21677559/detail.html

[East Coast Woods]

One they use a lot here is to go to a home with a for sale sign in the yard. The owner is approached, and of course wanting to get rid of their home allow the "buyers" in. The owner doesn't take the time to call their agent, or tell the buyer to call their listing agent to run a prequal on the buyers to make sure they are real. Once inside the invasion occurs.

[partygirl]

In our area, we have an occasional problem with guys going door-to-door selling meat out of a white cargo van. I don't have a problem with honest vendors, but these guys deal in intimidation. The first time they came, I was home alone. When I answered the door, the first guy rushed past me to set up his display on the kitchen table while the second one proceeded to cart more supplies out of the van. I quickly and assertively stated I WAS NOT INTERESTED... When they rudely ignored me, I grabbed the phone and started to dial 9-1-1. They left in a hurry mentioning something about me being a... well, never mind! Too bad I didn't own something more "convincing" than a telephone at the time, but I guarantee that won't be a problem if they come back!!!

[kitty cat]

I live in a rural area near a bicycle path one mile outside the city limits of a university town . Sheriff response time is 20 minutes and the town police will not respond. Whatever happens I am on my own for those 20 minutes. Although crime is low in the area I do take precautions. Let me share several inexpensive ideas you can take to prevent would be criminals from preying upon you. 1)Obtain from your local burglar alarm company its window decal or yard sign and post it in a conspicuous place, even if you do not have an alarm system. At my residence, in addition to the decal, I have a sign posted in the window that states "Fully Insured by the 12 gauge Insurance Company". As to the decal I have heard but am unable to confirm that you will reduce your chance of a break in by 25 percent to those without any such notice. 2)Post a "No Solicitors" sign. 3)Keep your doors locked. If someone needs help, ask what they need and make the necessary telephone call without opening the door. Don't let your compassion be your downfall.

[omusoya]

I had a similar experience but it happened around 3am. I heard a loud continous knock on our front door. With gun in hand I asked who is it. There was a woman screaming she needs help, blah, blah. I told her I'll call 911 for her, she just took off sprinting. The next day apparently some of my neighbors had the same knock. One neighbor called the cops and apparently that group has been using the same technique for home invasions.

[ZZ7]

Originally Posted by brizbane

BTW, the man had actually entered my property coordinates into a GPS unit when he was initially parked in my driveway. It is amazing, our borders are wide open with criminals, guns and drugs entering unimpeded and I am the one on their list. Go figure.

Maybe it's b/c he works for the Census Bureau and not INS, Border Patrol, etc. and have nothing to do with those things that you're complaining about.

[Backwoods860]

Originally Posted by oktx

Or in my case, guy knocks on door, hears loud vicious barking dogs going crazy and decides to pick an easier target.

The pizza guy HATES to deliver to my house...............LOL

[desert wanderer]

In my opinion, a good, well-trained dog or two is an effective deterrent for most thieves. I have 2, one being a huge german shepard, the other half pit bull. In the daytime they stay outside. Not one "salesman" has entered my yard. I pity the scumbag that tries to enter our home at night!!
Dogs are also great burglar alarms, they let you know when someone is poking around the property. They are also the best of friends. They're well worth the money!