Massad Ayoob Video "Don't Answer That Door"

[Trunk Monkey]

Massad Ayoob "Don't Answer The Door!!!" - YouTube

I’ve seen this discussed on other forums and it seems to cause a lot of debate when it comes up.

I found this video by Massad Ayoob on youtube in which he explains how he deals with a stranger at his door and there’s not much I can add to it except maybe my personal experience.

I am convinced that I stopped an attempted robbery at the front door of my home several years ago by simply not opening the door.

A stranger showed up at my door around 9 pm saying that he wanted to give me a free Denver Post. This was back when I owned a home and I looked through the front window and he had no newspaper in his hands.

He spent 10 minutes trying to get me to open that door; nothing else was going to do. I finally ended the conversation by telling him I was calling the police. I am aware that there are any number of things I could have done better but it was almost 10 years ago and I’ve learned some since then.

I believe it’s prudent not to open the door to a stranger if for no other reason than I don’t want to hear a pitch for meat or a vacuum cleaner or encyclopedias or magazines or an invitation to your church. By not opening the door for anyone I don’t know I automatically am never faced with a situation where I open the door to a criminal.

If it is a criminal I want every advantage I can have. Why put myself in a position where I have to fight them at the door when I can just not open the door and avoid the fight entirely?

 

[armoredman]

Letting down the drawbridge and opening the gates is an invitation.
We have a heavy steel security screen door - they cannot even get a good look at us if we open the door, and cannot reach us in any way. Still don't open the door if not needed, and unsolicited callers are turned away toot sweet.

 

[tepin]

Many home invasions start with multiple knocks or ringing of the doorbell. Its too bad some folks still answer the door when not expecting someone. My parents had the wherewithal early on to teach my brother and I to never answer the door.

These days, when someone rings the bell the first thing I do is grab the gun and wait to see what happens next.

 

[Schwing]

My sister opened the door for a stranger a couple of years ago and spent the next hour, after being beaten and tied to a chair, watching them ransack her house. Luckily, she was ok but it left scars that I don't think she will ever completely deal with.

 

[Godsgunman]

I preach to my wife to never answer the door when I'm not home. That being said I did have a knock on the door last night when it was just me at home. I was eating some left over mac n cheese so I did have a "tactical fork" in hand . I'm not a big guy and the guy at the door was even smaller than me. I'm a big proponent of reading body language and his body language was non threatening, he even backed off the porch and back onto the sidewalk as I answered the door. He was one of those sob story magazine guys. I was nice and let him give his schpeel all the while I was alert of his movements and mannerisms. All in all it was a pleasant interaction with him keeping plenty of distance. Honestly if he didn't create the space to begin with I would have not given him the time of day. I generally do have a gun on me when I answer the door when no one is expected though. Situational awareness is key and not letting yourself be distracted is paramount if you choose to answer the door.

 

[Cosmoline]

Big dittos. People spend tons of money on guns and dogs and security, then throw all of it right down the hole. I simply ignore knocks unless I know who's there. I don't even get in a discussion about it. If they kick the door in, then I'll know what they are and can respond accordingly. If they go away, great.

 

[TacticsWithPractice]

Big dittos. People spend tons of money on guns and dogs and security, then throw all of it right down the hole. I simply ignore knocks unless I know who's there. I don't even get in a discussion about it. If they kick the door in, then I'll know what they are and can respond accordingly. If they go away, great.

+1 for sure. Especially for the wiives and children.

Ignore a knock on the door each and everytime and be prepared. Home invasions ramp up before Christmas time as well so stay alert.

These days anybody who casually drops by, gets out of the car and knocks on your door is going to call you on the telephone, even more likeley if your vehicle is home as well.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I don't open the door for strangers. Over all the years I cannot thing of one example where a stranger at my door has been worth my time. Armed is a good general precaution. Theses days you can get intercoms with video for like $200 that work wirelessly so you can even answer the door without being at it. Also, I don't think its a good idea to completely stay quiet in the home. By doing that you run the risk of a thug thinking the home is empty and ripe for a break in.

 

[joeschmoe]

I don't even answer the phone unless I recognize the caller.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Massad mentions the CCTV/intercom in the video and if I could that would be the way I’d go but in an apartment I don’t have that option. I tried to talk my wife into just ignoring strangers at our door in our home for years but she just wouldn’t do it.

 

[TRX]

We're doing a long-term home remodel at the moment. One of the items on the list is to replace the front door. We're going to go with either a Dutch door, or have one built with an openable window.

Either the top of the door or the window can be opened to talk with someone or pass deliveries through, while still obstructing entry.

 

[Mainsail]

Just a reminder that NOT opening the door may not be the end of it.

Burglars often knock on the front door to determine whether or not anyone is home. If there's no answer, they slip around to the back where they have more privacy. We're seeing a lot of that during the day.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I recommend a "No Soliciting" plaque near the doorbell. Once I installed one about an inch below my front doorbell switch, solicitors went from about 1 or 2 per month to just about zero in the last 2 or 3 years. Also, I know that if I do hear a doorbell, it's either not a solicitor, or a solicitor who cannot read or who blatantly doesn't respect a homeowners rules. Either way, I don't want any of what they're selling!

My No Soliciting plaque even perfectly matches the paint color of the exterior house paint, so it's not an eye sore. It's a $5 solution to not having door-to-door sales people bother you ever again.

 

[Cosmoline]

Either the top of the door or the window can be opened to talk with someone or pass deliveries through, while still obstructing entry.

Can it obstruct entry of a bullet, or keep you from getting shoved back when the door is kicked in? I don't think it's a good idea to even stand behind your door with it closed. Just don't be there.

Burglars often knock on the front door to determine whether or not anyone is home. If there's no answer, they slip around to the back where they have more privacy. We're seeing a lot of that during the day.

Then the ambiguity is gone. And you'll know what's happening so you can call 911 and secure yourself in a redoubt. Any surprise will be at the criminal's expense, not yours. You shouldn't be giving information to potential criminals. You should have all of the knowledge, they should have none. It's very fundamental to any tactical engagement. If they don't know you're there, but you do and you know what they're doing, you have all the cards and can act from a position of strength. Shouting for them to go away from behind a closed door lets them know you're in. Maybe that will drive them off, maybe it will just prompt them to come back when you're not there.

And to be clear, I'm not suggesting you go confront them. I'm suggesting when you hear a knock, then breaking glass in the back, you can arm and secure yourself while getting the cops in. If he is armed and confronts you, you'll have your long gun out and aimed and can make the fight as short and one-sided as possible. If he's unarmed and runs off, that's fine. Let him go.

 

[Hangingrock]

Not every person that comes to your door is a criminal nor with criminal intent. we reside in an area that in the past had spotty cell phone coverage. Late at night a person came to the door seeking assistance. They were suffering from physical injuries suffered in a vehicle incident. There was a more seriously injured person incapacitated unable to remove themselves from the wrecked vehicle. We contacted the Sheriffs office then went to where the wreck occurred. I guess we could have ignored the person seeking assistance and by ignoring that person the other individual could have possibly died.

 

[Al Thompson]

Can it obstruct entry of a bullet, or keep you from getting shoved back when the door is kicked in? I don't think it's a good idea to even stand behind your door with it closed.

Excellent point. When I lived in Atlanta, one M.O. was to ring the doorbell, wait until the peephole was obscured by someone inside peering out, then violently kicking the door open. Sort of a "two-fer".

 

[SconnieGirl]

I'm fortunate that Monday to Friday I live in a tall building with secure access at the ground level and 9 floors of condos between me and the street. Anyone who comes to my door is there for me specifically and I have a peephole.

The weekends are less secure at my lake cabin, but I have a locking metal gate on my cabin door in lieu of a screen door...

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Not every person that comes to your door is a criminal nor with criminal intent.

No one ever said they were although in my case I can't imagine a MVA victim coming into my building, climbing 2 flights of stairs and walking past several other apartments to select mine to knock on the door of.

So I feel fairly safe in ruling that option out

 

[TonyDedo]

Wish I could convince my wife, but we live in an idyllic neighborhood in an idyllic town with lots of people knocking on the door (neighbors, neighborhood kids, members of the community, etc). She loves it. I guess I do too, but I'm more cautious than she is. I wish there was some way to convince her that be more cautious, that bad things happen even in good places, without trying to scare her (which I doubt would work anyway).

 

[two gun charlie]

A stranger can actually walk up to your front door !!!
In my case a stranger can only get as far as my courtyard gate , where he will be met by three very noisy and aggressive terriers. Any attempt to harm the dogs will result in the owner bursting out of the (always standing wide open) front door with his guns blazing

the reason I always leave the front door open is because from where I sit watching tv I can see the courtyard gate and you touch that gate even when I happen to be looking away and the dogs are programmed to go absolutely nuts.

Even an armed intruder will take at least 10 seconds to solve the problem of the dogs ....and you know what a man does when you kill his dogs

 

[MasterSergeantA]

My dogs are noisy as well. But at 225 and 160 respectively, the noise that I hear is likely to be the screams of the person who has ignored the "Beware of Dog" signs and come on in anyway. If Rogue knows you, there won't be a problem. Otherwise, you are advised to wait until the barking gets my attention and I come out.

 

[Cosmoline]

That may work in SA, but in most of the US there are people who are permitted to come onto your property, from postmen to meter readers. They have a legal right to be there for that purpose. It's the front door that's the critical legal and physical barrier. Not the front gate. Someone coming into the yard to read the meter who gets bitten by dogs may well have a claim against you. And if you shoot them down it's off to prison for about 40 years. But if they come busting though a locked front door, they aren't there to read the meter.

That front door, with a shattered lock and busted hinges, is of absolutely critical legal importance. That's one reason to keep it shut and bolted. Even if you go out to talk to cops, it's a good idea to shut and lock it behind you. The lock has legal implications for search and seizure.

 

[two gun charlie]

That may work in SA, but in most of the US there are people who are permitted to come onto your property

note I said courtyard gate , it's not the front gate, there are people constantly walking in and out of my yard but the courtyard is off limits , I don't care who it is, all meters are outside the courtyard , you go past that courtyard gate without my permission and you will suffer severe consequences. behind the courtyard gate the world's laws end and the law of Charles.D Esquire begins , may the Lord have mercy on your soul

 

[Cosmoline]

You mean a patio? I think your laws and customs may be a bit different. If it's got a solid lock on it that's the main thing.

 

[two gun charlie]

cosmo I have a yard that is 5000 sqm in which anyone can come and go as they please , read meters and exercise their civil rights all they want , then I have a courtyard that is a smaller yard inside the main yard and that surrounds the front part of my house , the back part is completely inaccessible (razor wire and all kinds of thorny bushes plus there is no door and the windows are covered by steel bars that would take days to cut through (if the snakes don't get you first)
the courtyard is where I keep my dogs so they don't run around in the main yard where I also keep birds etc. so by the time you reach the courtyard gate you have already walked a good 20 meters into my yard the water meter is at the main gate (not that anybody ever reads it anyway , they just geuss what they would like to charge you this month :banghead
and my electricity meter is prepaid so nobody needs to read it , it's inside my house . So in other words my home was designed for open access to all who need it and a separate area where no one needs to enter unless they be my friends or family, anyone else has no business in the courtyard area, other than looking for trouble and that is exactly what they will find. they will never even get to the door that I can promise you , south africa or not