Do you answer the door to uninvited strangers?

[WolfMansDad]

I do. Of course, my dog usually gets to the door first, and he has a deep, booming voice all out of proportion to his size. Mr. 9 frequently accompanies me as well, discretely, but I've never even felt close to needing his help. So far, all of the strangers who have showed up at my door have been nice folks with legitimate business.

I think it has to do with the kind of neighborhood you live in. My grandparents used to live in a nice neighborhood in Tennessee, and they got broken into several times. Last year, we visited some friends who lived in a big house outside of Phoenix, and there were strange, scruffy people out selling magazines or hawking various religions door to door. I think they were casing the neighborhood, but that's just my opinion. I think the more wealth you look like you have, the more of a target you are.

 

[Ryder]

I answer the door when I am the only one home. It's almost never for me though and that doesn't put me in a very good mood. Not that I'd mind it once in a while but a half dozen times gets tiresome.

Never had an invader. Hope there's a more than one of them. Wouldn't want the fun to be over too quick. Besides that I can use some some new cool memories, old ones are about used up.

 

[FrogClan]

Do you answer the door to uninvited strangers?

Yes. It is the only way to get the *&^% dog to shut up. If he sees it is someone he knows, he goes back about his business. If it is someone he doesn't know, he jumps up on the security door (like a wire mesh over decorative bars; a combo mosquito screen and security measure) and starts frothing at the mouth and barking with that "lemme at 'em" attitude until I call him off. Even then he'll growl now and then until they leave just to remind us he is there. If I want to keep the conversation short, I just let him keep barking; most solicitors give up real quick as they find it hard to both ignore him and talk over him (a lean, trim 100 lbs, and he looks them eye-to-eye when he has his front feet on the door up at shoulder height).

I'm always armed, even around the house. I keep the cell phone on a side table near the front door so it is at hand if needed.

He walked to the side of my house to take a peek down my driveway and then went back to his car and drove off.

I'm guilty of a variation on this.... checking to see if someone is there but maybe didn't hear the bell. If all the cars are home, I'll go back and knock loudly. Wouldn't do it at a stranger's house, of course.

 

[NevJohn]

We recently moved into this new house, which has a gated courtyard. The gate isnt much, just some wrought iron and a latch, mounted on the inside, but still can be opened from the roadside. I've had people coming here to give some estimates on landscaping, etc. I also have 2 signs mounted next to the gate; "Beware of Dog" and "No solicitors". Right above these signs, I mounted a Bell Button for my Wireless doorbell.

Now, I have 4 dogs; namely one Brittany and 3 Doxies. Yeah, I know, not much of a "killer dog" group, but they do let you know when that gate rattles, and they "beeline" it out thru the DogiDoor and into the courtyard.

I would say that 90% of these folks have just opened the gate and walked right in, paying no attention to the signs much less the doorbell. When the dogs hit the courtyard barking and snipping at their heels, they seem surprised!!

So, this is why I am going to have a new gate built, which has both a normal doorknob and also a deadbolt assembly on it, plus a full screen. Saw a neighbor down the street did that, and it looks good.

Oh, I also carry my little 638 or 642 in the pocket, even when answering any door. Crime rate here in the Vegas Valley is soaring, even though this is a "gated community", dont mean squat.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

even in dc

i answered the door as someone else mentioned i refuse to let bad guys rule me.
i;'d move before that happened
where i live now i don't even have keys

 

[vynx]

LeanWolf - I was being sarcastic. I figure The San Fernando Valley is at least as dangerous as most places, my neighborhood is safe, but with a car a BG can get anywhere. Heck, I always figured that most of the other places would be safer than LA.

My reaction was to some of the posts where it seems that the homeowner is expecting to be invaded. I do not answer the door in condition white but I wont be a prisoner in it either. I consider my entire yard mine and will go outside to stop something on my land. And, I do have two barking dogs that make a pretty good noise - they sound much meaner than they are.

My view is that there is not going to be a gang of hopped up drug dealers coming after me - I may live in LALA land but I don't believe what I see in the movies. So if someone is trying to break into my shed or garage or through my door I'm not hiding in the bedroom (I realize it is good sound advice if I want to be safe and I'll tell my wife to do it) but I'm going to stop them.

 

[Demolition]

Yes, I always answer the door after looking through the peephole. I've only had to deal with Jehovah's Witnesses, Girl Guides selling cookies, and trick-or-treaters (on Hallowe'en obviously).

I do have a can of bear spray by the door, though.

 

[bg226]

Check post #33. Answering the door to uninvited strangers can prove dangerous.

Armed or not, unlocking a door to an uninvited stranger is high risk.

I would say you are more vulnerable with answering the door than if the perp were to break-in. That's a different thread.

 

[Atticus]

Depends on many things (including the time of day). I always study their appearance, demeaner, and position on the porch, before opening the door. I tend to trust my gut. I have noticed lately that most sales-people tend to stand as far from the door as they can, and have their hands in plain sight. I assume they are being trained to do so. I typically answer the door with my left shoulder braced against the door and my right hand slightly behind my hip, whether I'm armed or not. Most people take a step backward when I open the door lol.
BTW - I am the father of two of those evil Girls Scouts. I always walk with them and stand in sight of the door, but usually on the sidewalk. Fear on both sides of the door have nearly eliminated the door-to-door cookie selling though...darn shame to. We've become a nation of Henny Pennys.

 

[Hoppy590]

im considering a in house intercom system. it allows you to talk to some one easily and can be written off to the sheeple as a "convenience" over a "security" device. also thinking about one or two of those small cameras to see faces and backs. never know what they may be holding behind thier back. also iv come to find the awesome power of bright lights to let people know you can see them.

 

[mrtgbnkr]

Well, here's my most recent interaction with an uninvited guest. (and I know, I should be more careful)

This moron came up to my front door, OPENED the screen door and knocked. He then stood there with the screen door open and waited for me to answer the door. I bolted to the door because we had forgotten to lock the inner door (I know , I know..bad bad). I came thru the door with my Benchmade 630 in my right hand (although hidden behind my leg) quickly enough that he instantly took a quick step back. I caught the screen door and promptly told the jerk to get lost and that opening a door like that was a stupid idea.

Fast forward an hour and 15 minutes. The same dim-bulb is back, this time riding as a passenger in a van which he had stop directly behind my wife as she was backing out of the driveway to go to the gym. I didn't realize it was the same guy, but when I saw the van stop and the door start to open, I was bolting out the door again in case my wife was in danger. I just wish I had strapped my pistol on for the second encounter, but I didn't count on the guy coming back. The USP went in the paddle holster for the rest of the night.

BTW, this guy is an 'appointment' setter for a local home improvement company (with a less than stellar reputation). He was canvassing the neighborhood trying to sell people windows or something. An email to the company was met with....NOTHING, they don't care that their guy almost got gutted because he was WAY to close to just walking into my house.

 

[Ed Ames]

Question I have from reading through all of this:

Those of you who go armed in the house and/or to open the door... is it because you've identified specific threats in your life or based on general caution?

Most home invasions are not random. They are a result of domestic disputes or perps having identified you as a target... e.g. following you home from a shooting range because they saw your spread of nice guns, or spotting your kid (like that poor Iraqi girl who was apparently raped/murdered by a US marine). They involve people evaluating you and your security before they attack. I wasn't joking when I said that people calling you and hanging up (or claiming a wrong number) can be a warning that someone is planning a crime against you.... it is a common technique. Spotting and properly recognizing suspicious activity (like the OP described) can give you advanced warning that something might be emminent... but by the time they are checking your driveway and ringing your doorbell several times a day they've already IDed you as a good target and you should know (or be trying to figure out) how/why.

I'm always on the lookout for specific threats, and there just haven't been any (that I don't mitigate, e.g. breaks to prevent follow-homes after shooting and such) in my life for many many years... so I rarely have a handgun behind my back as I go to see who is outside my locked gate to decide whether I'm going to talk to them or not. But that changes. It is likely to change when my C&R FFL arrives for example... one of the costs of that license is a higher risk exposure... I thought long and hard about that before I sent the paperwork in. So what specific threats are you responding to?

 

[NMGlocker]

I have a camera that overlooks the front porch, if I recognize them I open up. If it's a stranger I'll answer with my S&W J frame in my pocket. If it's two or more strangers I don't answer.

 

[1911Tuner]

A Knock on the Door

Yep. At night, the Collie Brothers all go to the door with me. Nobody gets past'em unless I say so. The runt is 85 pounds. Tends to make folks peaceful and respectful.

PS Don't let the "Lassie" image fool ya. Raise a hand, and these three will take a man apart like a paper shredder.

 

[Spinner]

Tuner

From that photo they look like tri-colour Border Collies ... or are they the genuine Collies (like Lassie)?

Got a couple of Border Collies myself ... great dogs!

Spinner

 

[Lupinus]

answer the door naked as a jay bird with a beer in one hand a rifle slung over your shoulder and ask what they want

Ok not totaly naked, a cowboy hat adds nice effect

 

[FrogClan]

Question I have from reading through all of this:

Those of you who go armed in the house and/or to open the door... is it because you've identified specific threats in your life or based on general caution?

Excellent question, and touches on something I've wondered about myself when reading about the carry-weapon choices people make.

In my case, going around the house armed is a result of general caution based on analysis of specific threats. As the realtors say, location, location, location. It's about 20 miles away, but I can see Mexico from here. While I'm not directly astride a smuggling route, they aren't that far away.

That said, it's a rural setting with small towns and most of the crime around here involves burglars breaking into parked cars or vacant homes. There are exceptions, of course, and there has been at least one home invasion that I have knowledge of.

It started with a teenaged male going door to door in the neighborhood, knocking on the door and asking for so-and-so, or for directions, and in one case he even asked for the time! After this very cursory "casing" he came back with his buds, knocked on the door of their selected victims' house, broke in and held the 60ish YOA occupants at gun point while they ransacked the house. While "most" home invasions may not be random, this one seems to have been pretty close to it.

 

[XLMiguel]

I'll answer the door after looking thru the peep hole, but I'l either have a gun in hand or in my waistband behind my right hip. Amazing how a 1911 helps the proseletizers and solicitors accept the first "no thank you", no questions asked.

I used to work from home, alone, when my wife was working at a coporate gig. What got me back into guns was when a couple of hopped-up hispanics tried to push their way in after asking to use the phone 'cuz they had 'car trouble'. Fortunately, I saw them pull up, pop the hood, and walk directly to the door, didn't even look at the engine, so I knew something wasup. However, I was dumb enough to open the door enough to tell them I wouldn't let them in, but I would be happy to call someone for them. The one closest insisted he needed to use the phone and tried to push in, so I slammed the door on his arm and told them [thru the closed door] I'd call the cops and that they'd help them, fer sure. They promptly drove off. Pretty stupid, I know, but then again, the bigger of the two was maybe 5'7"/170# vs me 6'3/250+ . . . gross tonnage prevailed, but I bought a SIG 228 the next weekend.

 

[oops!]

No! I won't open the door for my wife, she's got her own keys!

I'm a grouch, a good one. I don't invite anyone over, I don't buy from anyone at the door, don't need anyone's religion, I donate to the charities I want to and I do it directly.

I have 2 businesses to run, my off time is limited and I'm not to be bothered.

That said, I spend about 70 % of my time in the Houston area. All you need to do is listen to the evening news for a few days to figure out how bad the home invasions are in this area. Opening a door in Harris County is playing Russian roulette.

 

[50caliber123]

just like comcast cable internet, I'm "Always Armed, Always Protected."

 

[Mandirigma]

Sometimes. Depends mainly on mood and time.

 

[Bubbles]

Those of you who go armed in the house and/or to open the door... is it because you've identified specific threats in your life or based on general caution?

Neighbors in old townhouse 'hood were MS-13 and dealt drugs. Occasionally their customers would get the address wrong and show up on our doorstep.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Well we must live in some idyllic enclave or something. I am almost 48 years old, and while I have had many annoying people come to my door or my parent's door when I was still a child at home, no one has ever come with ill intent. Or, as I have said to many friends of mine, someone may have come with ill intent and changed their mind once they arrived.

I own a business and run it from a separate building on the same property as our home. There is a sign on the shop, and I get a lot of people stop by. I am also somewhat well known in my industry, and people who are traveling through our area will often call and ask to stop by and say hello. The parking is around that building, about 100 ft from the house. No one gets into the parking space without our large golden/lab mix or our small backup Shih Tzu/poodle mix going nuts. From there I can decide if I want to speak to them or get more in the way of reinforcements first. The girls have instructions not to go outside or answer the door if I am not home. They also practice with and know how to use the Highway Patrolman which is the main house gun.

I think it helps that I am a very big guy, and not marshmallowy. I also have a very deep loud voice, and people tell me I intimidate them just standing around minding my own business. So maybe the bad guys have been here in the past, but for whatever reason, they changed their minds and moved on to easier pickings. But just in case, my S&W 386 PD is always close by.

 

[1911Tuner]

Stranger at the Door

Post a sign that reads:

I don't dial 911 until the dogs have finished eating. The sound of a siren upsets'em.

 

[FrogClan]

... our small backup Shih Tzu/poodle mix ...

A whole new layer of concept in dogs!