What would you do?

dragonflyveb · ‎04-05-2014

At 8:15 tonight, a man knocked on my back window. He said his house was being broken into. He was wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts, with bare feet. I didn't recognize him. He gave me his address which is about a block away from my house, through the back yards. I called 911 and gave him the phone. He asked if I could let him in, he was freezing.

I told him I couldn't do that. I live alone and I was afraid to let him in. The cops had to check his house out before they would come get him. I gave him a jacket, socks, a pair of garden shoes, and a cup of coffee.

I feel bad that he was cold, but I was leery of how far he came to my house (no closer neighbors?), but I just don't let people into my house unless I know them. My neighborhood is pretty safe, but we've had some random "door knockers" lately.

What would you do?

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

@dragonflyveb

I think you did the right thing, There are too many crazies out there trying any ruse to get in your home. Better safe than sorry.

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

@dragonflyvebwrote:
At 8:15 tonight, a man knocked on my back window. He said his house was being broken into. He was wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts, with bare feet. I didn't recognize him. He gave me his address which is about a block away from my house, through the back yards. I called 911 and gave him the phone. He asked if I could let him in, he was freezing.

I told him I couldn't do that. I live alone and I was afraid to let him in. The cops had to check his house out before they would come get him. I gave him a jacket, socks, a pair of garden shoes, and a cup of coffee.

I feel bad that he was cold, but I was leery of how far he came to my house (no closer neighbors?), but I just don't let people into my house unless I know them. My neighborhood is pretty safe, but we've had some random "door knockers" lately.

What would you do?

I think you did all you could, and you weren't foolish.

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Jaspersmom · ‎06-08-2011

Just what you did. I'd never let a stranger into my house regardless of the circumstances. He should have understood that. All of this sounds very strange anyway. Did he leave his house when it was broken into? Why didn't he call 911 if that was the case? Who runs a block away?

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

@dragonflyveb-

How did you give him all those things without opening your door?

Or did you open the door while he was standing there?

I wouldn't have even done that.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

dragonflyveb · ‎04-05-2014

@Jaspersmom

He said he heard someone break the front door and he ran out the garage door through the back yards. He didn't have a phone on him.

It was block away that worried me. Most everyone is home in the evening.

@on the bay

I gave him the phone by raising the screen on my window. I gave him the coat, etc while he was talking to 911. Even that scared me.

YorkieonmyPillow · ‎01-13-2013

If you live alone and a strange man knocks on your door, you shouldn't even open the door.

If you opened the door to hand him the phone, he could've pushed into your home right there.

If you had to do SOMETHING, you could've called 911 and given them his address & told them what he said, that his home was being broken into.

Protect yourself at all times IMHO.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@on the baywrote:
@dragonflyveb-
How did you give him all those things without opening your door?
Or did you open the door while he was standing there?
I wouldn't have even done that.

I agree! I would be afraid he would overpower me and push his way in.....that he didn't really need the socks, shoes, etc.., he just wanted an 'in'. You're very lucky it was his house being broken into, and him not breaking into yours. It's a shame if it's true that his house was broken into. From now on, just be very wary, especially if there have been breakins in your neighborhood.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@dragonflyvebwrote:
@Jaspersmom

He said he heard someone break the front door and he ran out the garage door through the back yards. He didn't have a phone on him.

It was block away that worried me. Most everyone is home in the evening.

@on the bay

I gave him the phone by raising the screen on my window. I gave him the coat, etc while he was talking to 911. Even that scared me.

That was nice of you to help him. Especially calling 911 and then the outerwear. Maybe he saw you through your window, if he knocked on it?

No matter, as I said in my previous post, how awful his house was broken into. But with that aside, I hope he comes back to you to thank you and perhaps even apologize for frightening you. That would be a very kind thing to do. Maybe keep an eye out for you now, since you did help him when he was most vunerable.

Just make sure your curtains/shades are drawn at dusk and you have your doors locked.

september · ‎03-09-2010

@dragonflyvebwrote:
@Jaspersmom

He said he heard someone break the front door and he ran out the garage door through the back yards. He didn't have a phone on him.

It was block away that worried me. Most everyone is home in the evening.

@on the bay

I gave him the phone by raising the screen on my window. I gave him the coat, etc while he was talking to 911. Even that scared me.

You were being cautious while trying to assist. Good for you for your caring attitude. But it still scares me, that this might have been someone who was trying to pull a home invasion type of robbery.