Community Chat

[addymarie]

Very scary @hoosieroriginal.

I'm glad you're okay.

[Mj12]

Thank God you are ok and your instincts kicked in. Reminds me, our town has asked residents to report to them people going door to door selling stuff. You may want to call the non-emergency line as an FYI.

[TeezNu]

@hoosieroriginal

Thank you so much for sharing this experience, and I'm so glad that no harm was done.

This year, I put this sign at my front door, and it has made a huge difference.  On camera, I have seen strangers come to my door, read the sign, then turn and leave.  It also eliminates most flyers left at the door, too - GREAT for when I'm out of town.

[ROMARY]

Lots of people around here answer/open their doors to door-to-door solicitors/whatevers.   It's hard to believe that they still open their doors with all of the warnings we get from our local authorities, news, etc., etc.  Shocking, in fact.  Many people seem to be extremely trusting, no matter what they hear about on the news, warnings, whatever else.  Our 'walking- around- a couple- of blocks- with older dogs- group' sees people (mostly women, young and older) opening their doors on an almost daily basis.   Just be careful, everyone.

[qualitygal]

I'm glad it all worked out to your good. I don't think everyone who crosses my path is trouble in disguise. Yes, be safely cautious, especially now a days.

[Carmie]

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@hoosieroriginal wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

It happens.  Forgive yourself.

My DH who works with very high security/criminal issues got scammed by two young men in a pick-up truck.

They said they just coated a neighbor's concrete drive way and and had a bunch of finishing material left.  They offered to do our double drive way for only $250.  My husband agreed.

HAlf way through the project, DH came into our home and went to get cash from our bedroom and I caught him.  I was not comfortable and told him so.  The guys finished our driveway and my DH asked for ID before he would pay them.  Neither fellow could produce ID.  

My DH got their license number from the truck. They argued heavily with us because they wanted paid ASAP.  We didn't budge.

They left and said they would return with ID.  They never did.

My DH spent the next day washing a ton on sand out of our driveway.  They spread sand and water with a big brush.  It did look good until it dried.  LOL

DH reported them to our local PD and they got caught.  They had scammed quite a few people out of money.

I spoke to the young men while they were " working"  and they seeemd very nice.  One of the fellows was telling me about his children.  They seemed honest.  

My DH was embarassed that he, of all people fell for a scam. It can happen to anyone.

Now we have a rule.  We do not let anyone get too far with even talking about home repair or maintance issues,  If we need their help, we call them. They can leave materials at the door. I only talk to people through a locked screen/storm door.

We all learn by our mistakes.  Thanks for sharing.  You gave us all a wake up call.

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@Carmie - I have heard of this before around Indy.  Only when you come outside to talk to them about working on your driveway, someone is sneaking in the back door to take your purse or wallet.  They work in groups. I'm so thankful nothing happened.   

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That had happened here in PA too.  I keep all of my doors locked all of the time.. even the screen doors, even when I am home or working in the yard. My purse is never where anyone could find it, but no money is in it anyway. They might get $10 at the most. We have a safe hidden in the house.

My adult children all have keys and have to unlock the garage door and the door to the kitchen all with deadbolts to get in.  It's like Fort Knox here.

[hoosieroriginal]

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@ROMARY wrote:

Lots of people around here answer/open their doors to door-to-door solicitors/whatevers.   It's hard to believe that they still open their doors with all of the warnings we get from our local authorities, news, etc., etc.  Shocking, in fact.  Many people seem to be extremely trusting, no matter what they hear about on the news, warnings, whatever else.  Our 'walking- around- a couple- of blocks- with older dogs- group' sees people (mostly women, young and older) opening their doors on an almost daily basis.   Just be careful, everyone.

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@ROMARY - I'm usually smarter than that - that's why I posted here, just a reminder not to do as I did. 

[ROMARY]

Hoosier:  I didn't mean to sound sarcastic; I'm very sorry if I did.  Sometmes the way I write does sound sarcastic;  but, in person, I'm probably one of the least sarcastic people in the scheme of things, now-a-days, lol.    On a side note: Our group, just this very morning, was talking to a man walking his dog, and he stopped to chat and was saying/wondering why he's been seeing folks opening their doors so often........our conversations lasted about a half hour or so; but the dogs weren't too happy, waiting and waiting.   .............. p.s.  And thank you for alerting and reminding us.   I've done similar things, too.

[ValuSkr]

I'm glad you're okay.  I think we all do things from time-to-time that in retrospect seem ill-advised.  It's scary!

[chickenbutt]

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@hoosieroriginal wrote:

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@Carmie - I have heard of this before around Indy.  Only when you come outside to talk to them about working on your driveway, someone is sneaking in the back door to take your purse or wallet.  They work in groups. I'm so thankful nothing happened.   

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Yeah, this is why you keep ALL doors and windows locked at all times.  I'm sure somebody will come along and call me paranoid.  But it's more that I'm a reality-based thinker who never felt safe as a child, so I do what is necessary to feel safe now that I can be in control.  

Another thing I do, if I do answer the front door, is that I don't unlock and open the storm door  so at least there is one lock between me and the person on my porch.  Until I feel safe about it, or see that it's somebody I know (incl the mailman, UPS driver, etc), I don't unlock/open that storm door.  I also look out to the sides before I open it even if I'm just getting my mail.   Somebody could be hiding to the side, waiting for you to open the door and before you know it, you're skrewed.