What to do when someone, a stranger, knocks on your door

10 Things To Do When A Stranger Knocks On Your Door

Why would someone knock on my door late at night?

What to do if a stranger knocks on your door at night, or a stranger ringing your doorbell:

First I am going to talk about the “late at night” part of the question.

(jump to the 10 tips)

Late At Night: Should You Answer The Door?

DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!
Anyone who is ringing your doorbell or knocking on your door late at night or early morning hours is very likely up to no good. In fact their intentions may be very bad.

Although if it’s your trusted neighbor with an emergency, that’s okay!

Should you pretend not to be home?

NO! This might be just the thing they’re hoping for, and proceed to break in!

 
Who’s There?!

YELL THROUGH THE DOOR, “WHO’S THERE?!” or something like that. This indicates you’re home, and you’ve not opened the door (which sends the message that you’re not gullible).

There may be a ‘setup’ going on. One person at the door claiming to need some assistance while others are off to the side waiting for the door to open so they can burst in.

The Elderly are Vulnerable

NOTE: Elderly are particularly vulnerable. Sadly for some, dementia may be setting in, and potential poor judgement. Elderly may also be more vulnerable to opening the door. Perhaps gullible.

There’s nothing inside your home or assistance that you can provide a stranger who is knocking on your door at night claiming to need something. Nearly everyone today has a cell phone. If they truly need assistance, they could have called 911 for example. So don’t fall for “I need to use your phone!”. Or “I’m injured and need help!” What help could you possibly provide?

I’m Calling The Police!

Here’s what you do: YELL THROUGH THE DOOR, “I’M CALLING THE POLICE RIGHT NOW!”

If that person or persons actually need help, then they should be relieved at those words. However I suspect 99.9% will turn and take off.

 
Okay, check out the rest of my original article and 10 tips:

It happens to some of you, sometimes regularly depending on the neighborhood. That is, you hear an unexpected knock on your front door.

The question is, what should you do when a stranger knocks on your door?

TIPS:

1. OPEN THE DOOR??

NOT the best idea (without doing other things first).

Some people blindly open the door to see who it is or what they want. Don’t ‘automatically’ open the door. Obviously if you know – trust the person on the other side, that’s a different situation (which is the next point, look first!).

I tuck this security bar under the doorknob every night:
I HIGHLY recommend it.

>> BRINKS Door Security Bar
(view on amzn)

Door Security Bar manufactured by BRINKS
^^ Click Here to check price

(I reviewed it here)

2. LOOK OUT A WINDOW FIRST TO SEE WHO IS KNOCKING!

Don’t look out the door’s window (if it has one).

Instead look out from a different or adjacent window – away from the door (they won’t see you that way).

If you don’t recognize the person, you could ask through the door who they are and what they want.

The main thing is, it’s best to look first, before blindly opening the door!

3. INTERCOM DOORBELL | “WHO’S THERE?”

Preemptively install and use a push-to-talk intercom mounted at the outside of the front door.

2-way communication is an effective way to talk with the stranger at the door without actually opening the door!

>> Wireless easy-install Doorbell Intercom
(view on amzn)

Push to talk, doorbell intercom system
^^ Click Here to check price

4. VIDEO DOORBELL – SECURITY CAMERA

Preemptively install a Video Doorbell like this highly popular one:

>> Wi-Fi enabled “ring”
(view on amzn)

It lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet and PC. It also works with Alexa (not required).

You can see who is at the door, and it will deter a potential burglar who will also see it there!

Video doorbell by Ring
^^ Click Here to check price

Tip: A ‘dummy’ (fake) security camera is excellent burglar deterrence, even for solicitors!

A cheap but effective deterrent:

Fake security camera
^^ Click Here for price

5. IGNORE THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR?

You might simply ignore the knock and continue to go about your normal activities inside the home.

There’s no law saying that you have to answer the door!

However, be aware that if there actually is a burglar on the other side, this may be what they are hoping for (no one at home) and break in…

[ Read: 21 Things That Your Burglar Won’t Tell You… ]

6. ASK WHAT THEY WANT (THROUGH THE DOOR)

Ask who it is and what they want.

‘Interview’ the stranger through the door while you keep it closed. That’s perfectly reasonable.

If you have an additional ‘storm door’ (the kind with screens and/or plexiglass for winter), you might (slightly) open your primary door (set the chain-guard and ‘foot’ the door) to speak with the stranger while still being mostly secure inside. Be sure you keep your ‘storm door’ locked!

Foot at the bottom of the door – ready to secure it just in case.

7. SET THE DOOR CHAIN LOCK

If you have a strong and well mounted door chain lock, you could simply crack open the door to speak with the stranger through the gap. Keep your foot on the door. NEVER DO THIS AT NIGHT! DON’T OPEN THE DOOR!

Be sure that your door chain mounting bracket is attached well with LONG (~ 3 inch) screws into the door frame to help resist a ‘push in’. The standard screws that come with a door chain lock are often too short for a good secure grip.

Note that many ‘cheap’ door chain’s may break easily if the door is slammed with the body weight of an intruder. If you have one, you might consider an upgrade.

>> Extra-Thick Door Chain Lock
(view on amzn)

8. IF YOU’RE A WOMAN AT HOME ALONE…

Let’s face it. Most women are not as physically strong as men, and may be vulnerable in that regard.

Through the door, say that your husband (or father, brother, etc.) is fixing the bathroom faucet and can’t be bothered right now (or something similarly indicating that a man is at home). This will deter a potentially bad situation.

9. X-LARGE DOG BOWL AT THE FRONT DOOR

An Extra Large dog bowl outside the front door sends a strong message! (even if you don’t have a dog)

A barking dog will also deter a stranger or solicitor who may have bad intentions. But not always.

If the solicitor is a potential burglar ‘casing the place’, they will not want to deal with a dog and will move on to easier targets.

10. DEFENSIVE POSTURE

If you do not recognize and trust the person on the other side of the door, and especially if you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about the circumstance – just in case, why not arm yourself?

Certainly if your gut is telling you something’s wrong, DO NOT answer the door. Arming yourself will enable protection should that person actually be a burglar or home invader. ‘Stuff’ happens. Just saying…

SUMMARY – A STRANGER KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR

In today’s world, it’s always better to be on the safe side and NOT blindly open the door for just anyone. The few thoughts listed above are just a sampling of many options for you when a stranger knocks on your door.

The point is, think about your options BEFORE just opening the door, and be prepared with a plan of action.

Remember that people can be dressed to impress but they may have ulterior motives.

People may be wearing official looking uniforms while actually ‘casing the place’.

You are NOT obligated to let anyone into your home (except for police with a search warrant).

Use your head (think) and be cautious, suspicious. It may save your life or property.

[ Read: Buddy Bar Door Jammer (Review) ]

[ Read: THE Best Outdoor Motion Light for Home Security (Review) ]

195 Comments

  1. Good morning everyone!

    I have a dog… he barely barks! Unless the mailman steps up on the porch… he has something against the USPS! No issue’s with Amazon, UPS or FedEx, just the USPS! Plus, he’s about the size of a loaf of bread so he doesn’t strike a lot of fear into anyone!

    I have a peephole that is useless at night and my Ring doorbell is iffy at best. It does allow me to view the porch but the 2 way comms is useless.

    If someone knocks on my door at night, I’m armed immediately. Livin’ in the city has many challenges!

    1. I live in a very safe town. But I do keep a loaded revolver in my desk drawer that is right next to my front door. And I do look out my peephole before I answer the door. If at night, there is a motion detector light on the porch. If it is someone I don’t know, especially at night, I don’t answer.

      1. DaisyK,

        I do look out my peephole before I answer the door.

        Be aware that at night if your room has lights turned on, the person can look back through that peep hole, and while they cannot see your image, they can see the light being blocked and know your location near the center of the door. From my days teaching the NRA “Refuse to be a victim” classes, I recall a rather expensive dome shaped passive lens device that allows one to see outside the door, without this darkening being seen from the other side. Sometimes low tech is the better choice.

        If at night, there is a motion detector light on the porch. If it is someone I don’t know, especially at night, I don’t answer.

        That’s a very prudent way to do things.

        1. I recall reading smewhere abut a lady who looked out her peep hole and a bullet came through it.

          We don’t have a peephole. But they have to stand outside of a locked sun room to ring. We can see them from upstairs.

        1. Hi
          As a woman who is living alone in a condominium building that is open to all during the day and supposed to be secure by night I have been dealing w someone knocking on and off for weeks now. All different times and all different days. I have tried to look out the peep hole but didn’t see anyone. I never speak and never answer. It’s slowly driving me insane. Not to mention everything else that currently is !!!!

        2. Just read this, I sympathise with you, you must be feeling very worried and I do not blame you. I have an idea that has worked before, it is not expensive. About the size of a smoke detector and can be wired or battery operated. It is called a glass break alarm and can sound at 120 decibels which is very loud. About the noise of a jumbo jet racing down the runway. When fitted if your constant knocker ever decides to break in or you awake to hear an intruder, have a vase or glass jug close to you or in several places around your home. When you realise, or you are confronted by an intruder you just have to knock over, or throw a glass object and when it breaks and sounds the alarm your intruder will not stay he does not want to be caught. Sometimes they have a flashing red light if you get that type cover the light with tape so the intruder cannot detect where the sound is coming from. They will get a surprise. This may not stop the knocking but it will give you some confidence about your safety. Also perhaps you can sit at your door and as the person knocks you can set the alarm off this may deter them. Good luck, stay safe.

        3. Same here. Doesn’t help I was involved in a terrible home invasion several yrs ago. I’ve called police. Have cameras up , etc. they seem to dodge everything somehow!! I need peace.

        4. Amazonian –

          170 degree car backup cameras are $23 online. Duct tape one over your peephole; mystery solved.

        5. It depends. Sounds like you are all set. The guy down the street was an older dude. The robber got to his unsecured loaded gun first.

      2. Okay I had a knock on my door I said hello n my husband and no one said anything and no one was outside or what not what should we do we have same kids and no money for any of this stuff?

      3. Someone knocked and I ignored it, I heard heroin users and strangers come in and out all the time. I don’t want to open to the devil , I don’t know anyone here, people take advantage when they feel like it. I’m in charge of the door. No one dictates to me

    2. Quick update on the Ring Doorbell… evidently it was Operator Error! I guess it took me a while to figure out how to push the green button to talk!

      Dang new technology! It’s made for the young’uns!

      1. I’m just a kid and I was home alone when all of a sudden the doorbell rang. I thought it was my parents so I went up the stairs. Just as I did I heard an unfamiliar voice of a man and they tried to open the locked door. I remained quiet and texted my mom and she said look out the window. I did and found no one not even a car. Hopefully they won’t come back anytime soon😓

        1. Koolyn
          if you are home alone (or even not alone), and you feel there is a criminal outside the door (trying to get in), or such, please call the police emergency number. After the police arrive you can text parents, but chances are, parents are a ways away, and even if not, Police can offer more assistance.

      1. Since every single person in your life is, was a stranger at some point you must be a very lonely person.

        1. I meet people on my terms, not when I am most vulnerable. Thankfully I live in a condo which consists mostly of retired persons. Thus the general public has no access to our unit doors. I advise this sort of living for single older women and single women of any age, for safety. We do have many social clubs at the condo where neighbours interact.

        2. Good idea. If someone knocks on door that I don’t know or I am not expecting I do not answer. They need to make an appointment or leave a valid business card that properly identifies their business, contact info and name. Very good that your condo has no access to outsiders. Too dangerous, unfortunately, to be answering the door if one doesn’t know the person or someone who is not expected. If it’s someone you know they will have already let you know they are coming over or, if on the spur of the moment, send a quick text or phone call.

        3. Don’t be so condescending & insulting. There is nothing wrong with being cautious!

        4. Thank you for this post, I was home alone on the countryside and some dude on a bike whom I don’t know started driving by my house, stopping in front of it and making a strange noise. I didn’t go to the door, because even though I could only sneak a peak at him through a window, if it had been a friend of my parents he would have called or made himself known instead of driving by and singing and hissing creepily! I’m a woman and not very strong, and I don’t have a dog, so I made noise inside the house but didn’t go outside, and after a few minutes he went away. Why are some people so awkward at best and just bad at worst? Anyway, thank you for the post and to everyone who commented, to know that tere are other cautious people ou there gives me hope.

        1. Can’t say that I blame you. Our world is going to Hell in a hand basket. So many people are causing so much trouble. I use to be a people person, BUT NOT ANYMORE!!!!

        1. Yeah, me too. It happens all the time. Someone was knocking on my door at 6 pm. I didn’t answer and another person knocked on my door again an hour later. Both were two large strange men. They tried to turn my door handle. Thank God it was locked. I was scared so I didn’t answer. It was dark inside my home. I’m a single mother with two children. I would never think to say who is it? Great advice. This isn’t the first time. This also happened at one in the morning when I was sleeping and a few other times. It’s a scary world out there!

        2. Please call the police 👮‍♀️ ASAP next time! That happened to me the police came and the guy came back trying to open the door he was drunk and tried to push past the officer! It was horrific!

    3. Who’s a good boy? Good Doggy! … has major issues with USPS at work…

  2. Do NOT let people into your home that you would not trust your life with.

    Delivery personal, Repair-Men, Sales People, (even neighbors) or anyone you do not know WILL look around your home looking at all they can see, and even in places you don’t want them.

    Crooks, aka dishonest people, are everywhere, Home burglaries are ramped, and so are home invasions.

    Here is a fun stat for ya “3.7 million homes are broken into each year. That’s 7 homes every minute”
    SEVEN HOMES A MINUTE, and we wonder what the hell is wrong with people now-a-days……

    Couple of more quick stats;

    “The DOJ reported 1 million burglaries occurred with people in the home. 27% of them became victim of a violent crime”

    “Surprisingly, most burglaries occur between 10 AM and 3PM. Many homes are empty during this time while people are at work. Burglars know this and use it to their advantage.”

    “According to the FBI, you can expect 1 in every 36 homes to be robbed.”

    “The DOJ reported the use of weapons in a majority of robberies. 41% of robberies involved firearms and 7.8% included knives or other cutting devices”.

    1. NRP
      I think the word is getting out. I see more stories about homeowners and store owner/employees defending themselves. It is a tough decision to pull that trigger or swing that ax, but the alternative of being an injured victim or being dead are tougher (slight understatement).

      1. There was a news article the other day when a person shot and killed a home invader. He was saying this is the second time in 5 years that he shot at a home invader. This time it was fatal. Also the story about a woman that shot and killed an escaped convict that broke into her home.

    2. MRP,
      Keep in mind that your stats are an average that includes large cities like Chicago with strict gun control and rampant gun crime.

      While theft is not unheard of in my large rural neighborhood, our stats are significantly lower than those in urban and suburban areas, and nearly every adult I know, goes armed nearly everywhere all of the time.

    3. You should really get a ring doorbell or any kind of security stuff remember if someone is trying to get in PUT A LIGHT ON AND Maybe some kinda loud music to let them know that SOMEONES
      Inside .if u are really scared SOMEONES gonna break in then maybe u should get like a German Shepard or any other dog that will protect you golden retrievers are cute but unless you get like a really trained one they are nice to pretty much anyone

    4. You should really get a ring doorbell or any kind of security stuff remember if someone is trying to get in PUT A LIGHT ON AND Maybe some kinda loud music to let them know that SOMEONES
      Inside .if u are really scared SOMEONES gonna break in then maybe u should get like a German Shepard or any other dog that will protect you golden retrievers are cute but unless you get like a really trained one they are nice to pretty much anyone

    5. Someone was banging on my door and I heard something downstairs moving so I was petrified and it was just me and my sister home it was really scary and what made it worse was the fact that I faked being not home

  3. I peek out a window and if I do not know the person I do not answer the door. I am a female alone. At my front door I have a storm door that locks and then my interior door.

    In the past I have had someone knock on my door at like 10:30 at night, scared the crap out of me. By the time I looked out no one was on the porch nor any vehicle out there so obviously they were on foot. That’s when I get the shot gun out.

  4. I always have my sidearm at the ready but probably not the best coarse of action… if you do not know them or are not expecting a delivery guy, do not open the door is the best option. Why waste your time telling a solicitor no thanks… Most of the time the poor guy walks away looking pretty sad.

    If you see more than one guy certainly do not open the door. Also watch out for the desperate pretty female at night looking for help because her car “broke down” I see that scam home invasion pop up on the news feeds from time to time.

    1. Yup, even back in the day when Alas Babylon was written, a female trickster “rum dumb” was used to decoy the unsuspecting doctor.

    2. Be careful of delivery people, even the pizza guy. Keep your firearm concealed. You don’t want to invite them back to steal your guns while you are out. And don’t get the “we don’t call 911” signs with guns on them.

    3. Yea, watch out for the “damsel in distress”. In USA, everybody and their brother have smart phones. “Poor” people usually have the nicest phones.

  5. Ha
    I peek out the window, whether they knock or the dogs let me.know someone is here.

    Seldom strangers. Mostly friends/family. But peeking first, makes me think…

    Do I really want them to know I am home? Nahh

    (And the doors are always locked. So no self invites.)

    1. Joe c
      I discourage self-invites as well but have been surprised a few times when working in the garden or shop. An outside bell tied to property sensors may be my spring project.

      1. Joe c

        I discourage self-invites as well but have been surprised a few times when working in the garden or shop. An outside bell tied to property sensors may be my spring project.

        We have numerous motion sensors with remote alarms around the property and in some of the outbuildings. We used the Bunker Hill Security “Wireless Security Alert System” purchased from Harbor Freight. With their coupon, you can get them for $10.00. They consist of a sensor and a remote alarm. Both components are battery powered and the remote alarm is small enough to carry in your pocket. They have several model numbers so you can match units. We use one set of units for the driveway and perimeter with several remote alarms around the house. We use another model for intrusion detection in our outbuildings with those remote alarm units also in the house; but, indicating someone in with the machinery, instead of just the driveway.

        Note that the sensor / alarms are pairs, and units of the same model will interoperate, while different model numbers will not interoperate with the others, so you can have several zones around the property for a very small outlay in cash.

        These units operate at distances of more than 250 feet here on the property.

        1. @Joe C, The Ohio Prepper,
          There are lots (lots) of so called perimeter alarms. Driveway alarms. They operate with varying methodologies, frequencies, etc.. Many of them are absolute garbage. Junk. You get what you pay for… Just saying.

          Depending on your location, (and distances involved) some of these may not be practical.

          For example where I live there are numerous animal species that would be setting these things off at a alarming rate (pun intended). So I’ve had to resort to other methods and/or technologies other than “motion” (IR beam or Laser) on my private road. Which will be a topic for another article one day (though I believe I have a few on the site somewhere).

          Additionally, many of these will spec distances that are entirely ridiculously false, while others are actually pretty good (but you pay more for it). But I digress…

        2. Ive always been disappointed with the common motion sensing hardware, i worked doing a bunch of industrial control work back in the 80s and we used a bunch of different industrial grade hard wired sensors, its like comparing apples and dog poop

        3. Ken, Hermitus & Ohio Prepper

          I have those same alarms OP talks of. And they would come in handy for Hermit’s ordeal.

          They do not work for me. Three units, three different frequencies. Same alarm same length of signal alarm and light.

          So I labeled each unit and placed them together in an open area of the house for a quick visual.

          Apparently a quick visual should be made within a three second alarm once motion sensor is triggered …….is not enough.

          Sensor picks up blowing branches to birds and butterflies.

          Other than that…… they’re ok.

  6. Sorry all, but I still like my way of welcoming uninvited but well intentioned religious “Door Bangers”. :-) :-)

    An image they don’t quickly get out of their heads hehehehe

    I’m going to hell for sure ya know? :-(

    1. NRP
      There are some religious sects around here that send out little old ladies to invite new blood to their meetings. Your presentation in your tighty whities may be just the male virility they are looking for. :)

    2. We used to be courteous when the religious door bangers showed up by answering and talking to them for a ‘few’ minutes. After partaking in this exercise in futility for many years, we just don’t answer the door for them anymore. We know they can hear us inside but we just don’t care. It is like those telemarketers, if you answer once they will keep calling and calling thereafter.

    3. Speaking of religious door bangers. My wife was home alone a few months ago, a car pulls up our 400 foot drive. A man gets out of the car, she decides not to answer the front door. After a while she thinks he is leaving, but no, he actually goes into our attached garage and starts to knock, rattle the door knob and to look through the door window. He only left after she threatened to turn 90 pounds of our pissed german shepard loose on him. He did leave a pamphlet. Before we have a bunch of replies. Yes, leaving the garage door up was a major blunder. Was he for real? We will probably never know.

      1. country,

        Does the pamphlet have a name, address, or phone number of the organization, or is it just a generic? Even the most aggressive proselytizers wouldn’t condone what you observed. Contact them if possible, and your local law enforcement. Could be they were using the religious angle as cover for more nefarious acts. Law enforcement would appreciate you making them aware of someone working the area using this tactic.

        1. Dennis
          The pamphlet was generic. I have talked to the sheriffs department, they haven’t had any other reports of anything similar. We are taking this as a reminder to be more aware. Perhaps this will turn into a good thing.

        2. Tommyboy,

          Put out signs that say “Smile, your on candid camera!”

          My hand made sign has gotten old and needs to be repaired; but, it stated: “You are not lost, you are not welcome, you ARE trespassing, and you are in range”
          These words are on a piece of plywood with target rings in the background. Repair is a summer project.

        3. Be careful with signs that you put up. If there were to be “an event”, the lawyers might have a field day with that. Better to stay ‘gray’ in my opinion.

          Similarly, I have no bumper stickers or decals on my truck. None.

        4. “…Similarly, I have no bumper stickers or decals on my truck. None….” (quote from Ken)

          Smart.

          Clothing such as camo patterns, or ball caps and t-shirts with logos/branding/political messages also fall into this category.

          And lest your tongue give you away, being super discreet when talking with anyone who is not part of your household is another thing to mind.

        5. Tommy, I disagree on one point. Most of my cameras are ‘candid’. But the one in the alcove, in front of my entrance, is big, dome shaped, old school and glows in the dark. Can’t miss it.

      2. Once when I was working 2nd shift and home while my wife was at work a solicitor from well-known group knocked on the door and it was a young lady in short, short, shorts so tight she would have to have a razor blade to remove them. I wondered what her real business was.

    4. Oh, I love it!! I hate to tell you, you are not going to Hell. Self protection is not a sin!

  7. We have dogs. Big outside dogs, and little but noisy inside dogs. Folks can’t even be at the driveway gate 1/3 mile away without being announced! Works great.

  8. I’ve got five dogs (all were abandoned by scum who didn’t deserve them) and they bark at anything and everyone, even my dad and sister whom they see regularly. I also live at the end of a 1300′ driveway and about 300 feet from my gate, so no one can just drive up to my house without me knowing. I also regularly carry a .22 pistol for rattlesnakes!

  9. Way out in the sticks here a couple houses up from the end of a winding hilly dead end road. By now I know everyone who has legitimate business down here. Really only see strangers during hunting season. Neighbors across and one up from me have dogs that bark at everyone so always know if someone’s on the road. Belligerent substance-abusing neighbors are the main problem. Locking the driveway gate takes care of most of it. Putting up the Video Surveillance Cameras In Use sign seems to have stopped their incursions altogether.

  10. Daytime knockers can be dangerous. I had a guy come to the door using a cane. I opened the door and saw that he had his cane situated so that he could’ve easily slipped it in between door and jamb and forced his way in. I was bigger than him, and not a woman, so he left.

    1. Even when I make service calls and I am expected by the client and I arrive at the predetermined time… I always make sure to ring the door bell and then move back at least 12 feet from the front door so the client is able to see me through the window. I also let them know im on the way by making a phone call first before I leave. Just common sense. They appreciate the heads up for their own personal security too.
      No I am not a male jigalow ;P

      1. White Cracker. You are doing the right thing. I am a 5’2″ senior citizen. When I worked for the Census, I always rang once and then backed up so whoever was inside could see who I was. I wore my badge around my neck. I can only think of a couple of times when someone inside refused to open the door. Once it was a child under orders from parents not to open the door to anyone; the other time it was an elderly lady who only spoke Arapahoe. We couldn’t speak each other’s languages so she wouldn’t open. I left a note on the door and later one of her relatives contacted me.

        1. DaisyK,

          I remember back when I was a suburban dweller the US Census began bugging the crap out of me to return the American Community Survey. They called me from multiple numbers repeatedly. Finally 2 of them, both little snarky looking dudes, showed up at my door.

          I answered the door wearing my Ruger GP100 .357 magnum in a shoulder rig, fishing shirt and compression shorts underwear. They immediately jumped into the Community Survey and why I hadn’t sent it back and they would help me fill it out.

          I calmly picked my phone up from a table near the door and told them if they didn’t leave IMMEDIATELY, I would call 911 to report that 2 individuals had attempted to break into my house and fearing for my life, I defended myself so they should send an ambulance and a coroner.

          The little snarly bitches left pretty dang quick.

          Living out in the country has eliminated the uninvited guest completely.

        2. anonymous

          Thanks for noticing!

          …And I do believe I sense that you have a bit of the green monster of envy lurking in your post!

          Stick around and I’ll teach, preach, make you laugh, make you cry and make the ladies swoon and the little inadequate males will be jealous with envy!

          I will admit that I am NOT the most interesting Man in the World…maybe top 10! (HA!!! some of you guys crack me up!)

          PS, thanks Antique Collector! That experience did make me smile. My wife just shook her head though!

        3. I used to live on a dead end gravel road out in the country. We had a solid black German shepherd that never bit anyone that I know of but she would make a believer out of you. Two religious solicitors pulled in our driveway and I grabbed the dogs collar. When they tried to give me their pamphlet I let the dog drag me toward them as she was barking and growling. They dropped their pamphlet and never returned.

  11. Unknown Knockers are rare where we live now. We did have one last year that we think was a “probe”. It was the “Can I use your phone” skit, and throughout the encounter, our dogs were trying to tear the door down. This made the 20-something, questionable looking Unknown Knocker act even more nervous! Then he spied the .45 on my hip while I was explaining that we have five German Shepherd/Mastiff mix dogs that don’t like people – LOL! Unbeknownst to him, my wife was inside prepared to engage if things started going sideways.
    Haven’t seen him since.

    Whether you are a great big SOG vet, or a 95 pound grandma- be aware that there are people who will prey upon the good nature of good folks in order to commit crimes against them! My car broke down, fake medical emergencies, fake religious proselytizers, etc. all either scoping you and your place out or in the process of an attempt to commit the crime(s) will give you as little warning as possible. Yes, there are service people who pass on information to their friends about what they see in the various homes they enter.

    Using peepholes, adjacent windows, and security cameras if available, are simply the prudent thing to do. Should you see ANYONE else hanging around, do NOT open that door, not even a little! If you do decide the situation warrants opening the door then have a means of defending yourself handy. Not in another room, but on your person! Use your foot to brace the door as the moment it is opened is usually when they are going to hit it with everything they’ve got if they mean you harm.

    DO NOT invite strangers into your home!!! If they are genuine and in need of assistance, deal with it outside. Use your mobile phone or cordless phone to summon their help. If possible, quickly text someone to let them know that you are dealing with a stranger at the door before you engage with the stranger in person.

    I am not advising that you be a cold and callous person unwilling to help your fellow person; just that you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones when confronted with the unknown variable of a stranger on your doorstep.

    1. Very well said restoringBrad….

      Not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but if you have kids or teens or elderly or anyone else living with you please have this topic of conversation with them.

      This post caused me to have refresher conversation with my teens….

      Not letting someone see you in the window is a good idea… also I liked the idea of a big dog bowl or other props to allude to big dog on premises….

      We have a jet black cat with huge round yellow eyes and to be honest is the police cat of our family! She just walked across my keyboard and now sits statuesquely near me on duty….

      Beware, the CAT! :)

      1. Props?
        That gave me an idea,
        Piles of spent cases strewn around and fake blood!

        Too much?
        Yea, i thought so

    2. Years ago we had a person come to our house and asked to use the phone. They said it was an emergency. We took the phone outside for them to use where they used the phone and had someone pick them up. All the while we were keeping an eye on them. The whole thing was a little fishy since our town is so small but they never saw inside the house and never saw them again.

    3. The way my front door is situated I have a 2X4 cut that fits against a wall and allows the front door to open 6 inches. It would take some effort to open the door. Pluss I am always armed when I open my door. Anchorage has turned to a cess pool.

    4. restoringBrad,
      We used to get those occasional people who need to use the phone. We have a cordless and will dial the number for them and relay through the door. With cell phones now pretty much ubiquitous, that hasn’t happened in years.

    5. Same with L.E.O.’s. If they need to talk to you, step outside, close and lock the door behind you. Or keep your gate shut and locked.

      1. S.Lynn, Why do you advise this? If the cops are there to take you in, you’re going; locked door or not. I’ve had all sorts of LEO visit my house because of one individual. I always invite them inside. They seem to be housebroken and generally well behaved.

  12. As others have noted, how you answer a knock on your door varies according to where you live. In my circumstances, a knock on the door is rare, as in almost never, but it does happen.

    We rarely lock our doors when we are home (exception when wife or daughter are alone). If a salesman shows up, that in of itself is a sign of desperation on his part (just kidding, it never happens). Same with door to door religious sects. If we get a knock, it’s either a neighbor, a friend, an expected delivery person like Fed Ex, UPS, post person, someone lost, or a potential burglar/bad guy. The last one predicates some of my prep practices.

    I am always armed. Always. Not with a huge, tricked out chunk of state of the art iron, but with an easily accessible sub compact, capable, concealed handgun. I don’t do this to be macho or project an image. I practice this religiously for one reason. My years in law enforcement drilled home, time after time, most deadly encounters come with little or no warning.

    (As I was writing this post, believe it or not, I got a knock on my door. Answered the door as Fed Ex driver was going back to his truck after leaving a package on the porch)

    As I was saying, when you are at home, in most localities, there is no reason (or excuse?) not to have a force multiplier on your person, especially when anti-social behavior by more and more folks becomes the reality of our times. We keep a claw hammer by each door. Does it appear anti-social/aggressive for a home owner to answer the door to their home with a hammer held casually in their hand? Benign visitors would think nothing of it. Someone with nefarious intent might think better of their choice of target.

    Not answering a knock on the door is a tough decision. If the intent of the knocker is to do a quick, kick the door in, smash and grab burglary, you better be prepared for a quick response on your part. If they do in fact just walk away, don’t assume you are not still being targeted. Burglars, especially those that have continued their education in jail, will scout a target. They will knock on several doors a day. If no answer, will back off and observe, noting time before someone comes home, establishing your behavior patterns. If you step out a few minutes after they’ve left your property, you have put doubt in their minds.

    Lastly, I must touch on home invasions. Scary, but becoming more prevalent. Most are not random. The victim is usually targeted as high value commensurate with the risk involved for the perpetrator. Don’t paint yourself as a target. This bunch here are probably not in the illegal drug game, so it’s highly unlikely you will be a target (this most certainly will change after a societal breakdown). Don’t go around bragging about your gun collection or wife’s jewelry collection, or your stash of emergency cash. Random home invasions rarely, rarely, happen.

    1. Not a huge tricked out state of the art iron.
      You mean you don’t always carry the 45 with scope, laser, flashlight, and extended gajillion round magazine? Hehe

      1. INPrepper,

        Tried one of them. Man, it was pretty, but made me walk lopsided. :-)

    2. Dennis ,

      Like you I carry all of the time for pretty much the same reasons. I’ve been teaching firearms for nearly 30 years and self defense for more than 40, so situational awareness is very important. Current SecDef General James “Mad Dog Mattis hit the nail on the head when he was addressing a group and stated: “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet”

      This is not macho, just prudence.

      I also find that new people I’ve trained for the CHL (Concealed Handgun Licence) are often a bit awkward when first carrying, so I recommend that they carry as often as they can, just to get used to the weight and feel of the firearm. They should also practice drawing and engagement until they can do it in the dark while blindfolded.
      Skills take repetition to develop.

      1. The Ohio Prepper,

        Absolutely. Carrying of a weapon should be as natural as carrying your wallet. Drawing and presenting it should be as seamless and natural as brushing your teeth, requiring no conscious thinking about the process. The conscious thought process should be reserved for the decision of the need to present the weapon, which in turn should be predicated on the knowledge that deadly force is not only justified, but no other option is reasonably available.

        I describe the learning process like this. When you first learn to drive a standard shift, coordinating the release of the clutch with the increase in throttle, is at first, rough and jerky, with many failures to get it right. As you practice, it becomes smoother and easier. Before long, it requires no thought at all, to the point you have no memory of performing the process as you are driving. When asked how fast I can draw, I respond that I really don’t know. Every time I’ve had to, I honestly can say that when I’ve needed to draw, the gun was suddenly in my hand, with the proper grip, without me remembering going for it, much less the steps required to complete the process. This only comes with practice.

  13. Since home invasions are up in our area we no longer open the door unless we are expecting them. When we have had service people come, we are given the persons name by the company and that service person will text or call just before they arrive at your house with ID in hand.

  14. I fix cars for a living so I have people knock on my door all the time. I always answer the door. I am ALWAYS armed. I also have a pit bull that lets me know if any one is there and lets them know that she is there. If it is someone I don’t know I will go out to talk to them instead of inviting them inside. If any one knocks after the lights are out they better have a good reason to be there.

  15. When I was little, we never locked our doors unless we were going to be out camping for a week or so. If we were only going out for a day or two, ehhh no need to lock the door since it was only for a short time.

    In our area back then, everyone pretty much looked out for one another. Even when the door was locked, the door was pretty useless for security as someone could just push really hard and the door would open.

    After coming back home from being out for a day or two we saw that a few things were missing inside the house. It was not ransacked or anything because the things missing from drawers were closed. After that we made the property more secure with new doors and other things.

    One of the things that appear cosmetic was installing a large picture window. Now we can see people coming up the driveway and at the door without coming close to the door.

    As a result, there is a large buffer zone inside the house to get to the door where phones and defense items may be retrieved if the issue arises. Plus, he area around the door is well lit so people can be identified fairly easy at night.

  16. We live in the country. On the two occasions that the Sheriff had to be called, it took 45 minutes one time and an hour the other time. Everyone who knows us knows to call BEFORE they start driving our way. Doors are always locked, Staffordshire terrier is trained to be docile towards people but hogs are attacked with ferocity. Firearms are loaded and close at hand. If there is a knock at the door, we automatically know it is no one we know (since there was no call). Usually just look out a window to observe.

    1. On call tonight for my County. Takes me 40 minutes to reach our second most populated town. If I go over 100 mph in the dark…

      Best to keep your defenses ready so your family will have a good chance of staying safe.

      1. Cry Havoc & Keeper,
        You both point out the reason for the maxim we teach in our classes about relying on 911 and others to help.
        “When seconds count, help is only minutes (sometimes a lot of them: away”

      2. Keeper, Thank you for what you do. Drive safe, Remember although it is your job to go into harms way for others your number 1 priority is number 1. You can’t help anybody if you hit a deer or an antelope in the dark at a 100 mph. It’s a physics kind of thing. Everything you hit hits back. Hitting a deer at 35 mph and the impact expressed in foot pounds is much less than hitting the same deer at 65. Being stuck in a rolled over vehicle and possibly injured will really delay your response time.

  17. Guess you all have heard of the Travelers. Families all with the last name of Smith. They will leave certain marks on post, poles and whatever that other Travelers will recognize. For instance easy target or not just for one. Many live in North Carolina. Plain white trucks, vans, cars. very much gray people. This maybe more of an Eastern US problem. Look for marks on mailboxes too. At this point in time I have my very own Marine to open the door and he ain’t the friendly type!

    1. I’ve heard of the travelers before. The was a TV story on them several years ago. I didn’t know about their marks on poles. Must be something like the hobo’s did years ago when traveling to a new place where the symbols would give an indication of if the town law was friendly or not or if there was a place to get food and such. My grandfather used to ride the rails when he was young. The stories he told were something.

    2. Mrs. USMCBG,
      While I think the travelers are generally a southern (warm weather) phenomenon, they have been known to come north in summer in caravans and offer to repave driveways, paint barns & houses, etc.
      This is generally either a scam or substandard work for cash. The local news quite often has stories and warnings about these folks.

  18. Give it a rest
    In my 55 years the only times i had dealings with LEO was a DWI when i was 22 that i deserved and a couple times when i called them, they were always decent folks, always, ive never seen cops violate anyones rights unless they deserved it.
    You sound like your sour because your a loser druggie or a criminal, so take a hike

  19. Yep, if it wasn’t for them darn cops decent folks could clean up they’s neighborhood by killin’ them dopers and dealers on sight. Folks wunt have to tolerate all them theevin’ addiks stealin’ an a robbin’ all the time. Better yet, we’uns could eliminate them thar folks that aggervate us with’n their mouthin’ ana buttin’ into they’s conversations. Darn cops keepin’ us from havin’ fun takin’ care of bidness. We’s wid ya bro’.

    1. Ya, that anti-LEO thinking is working great in gun free zones of Chicago and Baltimore – not. It is like a spreading disease against law and order. Soon no one will want to work for the protection of our population and it will be increasingly up to each of us to protect our own.

      1. hermit,

        Amazingly, the inner-city communities, that supposedly hate the police, call for police service at a 10 to 1 ratio,, or greater, per capita, than any other areas of a big city. Those anti-cop anarchist types, pushing their survival of the fittest narrative, are usually the least fit to survive of all. But, it makes them feel tough, running their heads, especially from anonymity. Sad, but they are good for a laugh.

        1. Dennis,

          But, it makes them feel tough, running their heads, especially from anonymity. Sad, but they are good for a laugh.

          If you know your history, they are also good for getting wealthy as they run their organizations pimping poverty. Yes, I’m talking about the Rever Und Al & Jesse and of course young Jesse who made the transition from congress to a 30 month stint in federal prison. Sometimes we do get justice.

        2. The Ohio Prepper,
          Yep. Few remember how Al got his start with the fraudulent, fabricated, gang rape by a fictitious gang of racist cops of Tawana Brawley. The hoax paralyzed the nation and precipitated a months long intensive investigation trying to locate and crucify these phantom perpetrators, only the for the victim to later confess it was a totally made up hoax, the brainchild of Al Sharpton.

          History is repeating itself with the numerous examples hoax hate crimes proliferating the last couple of years, like racist graffiti, lynch ropes, and arson fires of black churches, widely reported only to be later determined to have been perpetrated by black activists. Yet, the false premise of a prevalent white on black racism is bolstered by these racist activist and the media in the minds of young people. Sad, how propaganda is allowed to go on with no repudiation or real punishment of these actors and the media.

      2. hermit us, Soon no one will want to work for the protection of the population.

        So true. I can’t help but feel that maybe the departments are having to dumb down their acceptance rates to get folks onboard. I’ve know numerous LEOs over the years from working in the ER, The vast majority great people but a very few not so great.

        I remember getting a speeding ticket from a cop on Oahu . The guy was so nice I actually wanted to get another ticket from him.

        Guy in my PTSD group with numerous deployments in the national guard gets shot while doing a traffic stop, He survived but no longer wants to serve and protect. Sad as he is a definite asset to the community and his department.

        Then there was the ex-husband of a nurse friend, Poor lady couldn’t go anywhere without being ticketed by is buddies after she divorced him. He wound up doing a year in the county lockup for ripping off his neighbors Vicodin and stealing his Glock.

        It is definitely getting harder for the departments to get good people.

      1. Shitcago!!! My brother was killed there. Got thrown into the side of a freight train. Ladder on one of the cars took most of his head off. No charges filed. Police report . accident. Selective enforcement. I dunno. He had just turned 21. But hey! On the bright side…… We donated all his organs. 2 blind people can see now. A couple people don’t have to do dialysis. Someone got his heart. Even his skin was saved for skin grafts for burn victims. So the moral of this post. BE AN ORGAN DONOR!…….And stay away from Shitcago!!!

        1. Livin
          Selective enforcement is corruption that starts at the top – Look at what crappy President came from there and who the Mayor is that worked for this crappy President. There must be something good about Chicago but I’m not aware of any – never been there and never will go.

        2. I avoid Chicago unless absolutely necessary. When I do go there, I get as much done as possible so I don’t have to go back anytime soon. I never go there alone. The crazy part is the law doesn’t allow me to carry to protect myself or my friends and family in an obviously dangerous place.

        3. There are only 4 things I like about Chicago:
          1. Museum of Science and Industry
          2. Field museum (my personal favorite)
          3. Aquarium
          4. Adler Planetarium

          Other than that, the rest of the city can sink into Lake Michigan for all I care.

        4. Agree. I miss going to these museums, especially the Field museum which always has new exhibits but there’s too much gun violence going on today.

        5. INPrepper,
          Oh NO! you would not pollute lake Michigan like that.!..would you?

        6. hermit us,

          There must be something good about Chicago but I’m not aware of any – never been there and never will go.

          We’ve been there twice. Once on company time for a conference 30 years ago, and once on Vacation, since it was the closest city to the off Broadway production of “Wicked” and was a Christmas gift to my then 17 year old daughter. We also saw the shedd aquarium and field museum and took a trip to the top of the Sears Tower, where my 2 meter radio hit more repeaters than I could count.
          That observation floor comes close to being an aeronautical mobile.

        7. @Livin’ in the Woods,

          I’m sorry to hear about your brother. That’s just terrible. It is an example of the dangers of living in nearly any high population density regions. Though some of the regions are far more dangerous than others.

          I have been to Chicago numerous times giving training seminars. Probably have spent about 1 month total time there. That said, there are some aspects I really enjoyed (and did the typical site seeing tourist things). Had some great food too,

          But I knew generally where NOT to go, to stay away from. But even with that bit of caution, the fact there are SO MANY PEOPLE is inherently more dangerous than otherwise…

    2. What is worse are the LEO’s put their life in danger to apprehend a theevin addic deeler and a few years later are in the same life threatening situation with the same person. Kind of like a long term ground hog day.

      Whear arr dem deare lynch mobs? Hehe

      I had an issue with a LEO many moon ago. For some reason he didn’t like my family. Well, he got busted when undercover. Something about some missing money. Other than that one person, I have had nothing but good encounters from LEO. They were respectful even when I got caught breaking the law (speeding). They enforce the laws passed by our entrusted politicians (sarcasm intended). Whether a law is right or wrong is not the LEO’s choice to decide to enforce said law. That is why we have courts where laws can be challenged. Or is my interpretation of things wrong?

      1. INPrepper:
        I have been in all those places you mentioned in Chicago. Were you in the building that has the airplanes hanging from the ceiling? Really cool. Was a long time ago for me. Also, do they still have those defense missiles stationed along the lake?

  20. Lots of people still leave their homes unlocked around here, but things are slowly changing. Still very common for people to invite visitors into their unlocked homes by just saying “come in”. People leave their cars running while they go into stores all winter. I still have not had an a theft of a vehicle since I started working for the County.

    I wonder how much longer this will last…

    1. We used to leave our cars running when we went in to pay for gas in the winter. That changed when my sister had her running car stolen at a gas station. Then the car made the news because it was involved in a high-speed chase over to another state. Now-a-days, when we go in at the gas station, car is turned off and is locked.

  21. Johnny, it’d be pretty hard sale the “hate cop” thing here. I suggest you take Tommyboy’s advice seriously about ‘taking a hike’.

    Others: This type of poster is a ‘seminar’ poster, they are paid to do this and don’t believe in the statements they make, it is a script. They are of course an annoying distraction but on the other hand quite amusing for the ridiculous things they say.

    In this case Johnny is attempting to incite a response that would fit their story. The hoped for anti-cop posts would then be quoted in an article about how survival nuts hate cops and want to kill them.

    1. Those nut jobs don’t need to see posts from people to make a fake article. They don’t let the truth get in the way of a story.

      1. True, but they could also use posted material as a means of shutting down “hate speech” that they attempt to inspire.

    2. I can sum up all that Old Chevy is saying with 4 words:
      “Don’t feed the trolls”

  22. In 20 years we have had maybe 3 people come by and they were lost. We can’t even get anyone around here to sign up to be a census taker as so many people come out with rifles raised saying get out.

  23. We live in a small town and know each other. Strangers are very unusual for us. Before an out of the area salesperson can make it to my door, I get a phone call from a neighbor saying something along the lines of “young man trying to sell vacuums with another friend in the car..he doesn’t belong here”. I may answer the door, but my extremely protective border collie is ahead of me growling and expressing her displeasure with her fur raised. This usually prompts the question of is she friendly. I say “no and if you make a move towards me, she will tear into you..and that will piss off the bigger dog who will wake up and join in”. I don’t like anyone to think they can come back at another time and get in because no one is protecting the home. I prefer to keep my secondary weapons hidden from their view and the storm door, which opens outward, is between the dog and the person with me behind Trixie. I also let them know do not come back.

    People do notice what vehicles you have and when they are home or not so additional security measures are helpful.

    1. Yes, vehicles. Those people casing neighborhoods look for those things. When I was living in Texas, they were having big problems in the area with people just backing up to an open garage door and removing things from the garage. This happened to one of my old bosses. He was at work, his wife was in the back yard garden with the garage door open and she never knew it happened until after. The neighbors saw the vehicle pull in and everything. The thieves had everything squared away and looked like they were supposed to be there. It was a snatch and grab but in an organized and methodical calm manner.

  24. Timely article. Since we have lived in our home (BOL) full time in the last 15 years, we have had unexpected visitors twice. The first time was 2 years ago and it was the County Sheriff. The second time was tonight. We heard the Sheriff and saw his flashlight before we heard the knock and him announcing who it was at 3 am. My husband checked the peephole before opening the door and we were both armed with me standing out of sight but on my husbands 6. It turned out that our landline fax machine was dialing 911. This just didn’t make sense to me but when I called Verizon they verified that it did indeed happen but they weren’t sure why. This happened once more and we terminated the fax line service.

    Tonight’s visit was a little unnerving for me. I was working in my hobby room which is 3 sided window walls and heard a tapping on the door window. It was dark outside and I had been working in a very well lit area therefore I could not see where the tapping was coming from. I then heard my name being called and knew it was my one and only neighbor within 1000 yards. This is an elderly disabled woman who I could not see making it to our home on a sunny summer day and this was a 20 degree 4 inches. of snow winter night. This poor woman had gone outside to get something from her garage in her nightgown and the door to the house closed and was locked.

    She did not have her phone but luckily had her rolling walker. I got her inside wrapped her in a blanket and handed her the phone to call her son. We got her back home and all was well.

    The unnerving part of this is how surprised and vulnerable I felt in the moments before I heard her call my name. I may need to rethink those windows in that room and keep my gun within reach.

      1. My parents have a motion light on the garage. Thing is going off and on all night every night because of the outside cats or the occasional raccoon or possum. Can it act as a deterrent to would be intruders?? The jury is still out but it doesn’t hurt.

  25. If you don’t answer the knock, they might think you are not home and proceed to “B & E”, so please be aware of that.

    If you are alone, before you answer the door you could call out “I got the door!” to an imaginary housemate- if it turns sketchy, you can call out “get the gun!”🙀

    And don’t think that just because a knocker has on a reflective safety vest that he is legit and must be with some work crew nearby…

    1. DB Dannio,

      And don’t think that just because a knocker has on a reflective safety vest that he is legit and must be with some work crew nearby…

      Or dressed in a uniform means they are really with UPS or FedEx or for that matter, just the opposite. We often have nondescript cargo vans or even passenger cars and pickup trucks stop by to deliver packages, as what I think is part of the Uber / Lyft / Amazon effect.
      In any case, check their credentials.

  26. The family only uses one door in the house for entrance and exiting. The front door is not one of them… Anyone visiting will go to the front door, so it’s an automatic posturing when the doorbell or a knock is heard from the front door.

    Follow the rules:

    Only adults answer the door… Anyone who isn’t friendly that is knocking on your door is most likely casing or mentally documenting reactions to see if your home would be a good target. Children are targets as well.

    Wait a moment… Anyone with any decency will not attempt to snoop / let a little time pass before opening the door and observe… Does he or she try to look into a side window or move to a peak into a primary window.. These are threats…

    Knock Knock… Even people we know must enter and exit the front door.. Anyone close enough to us will respect our privacy and use the common entrance. We teach them a special knock for our door so when they do knock (and not use our doorbell), we know he/she is a friendly… Working both ways, if someone we know (who’s been taught the knock) gives a regular knock or uses the doorbell, he/she is in duress and is giving you a silent warning that something is up..

    These are just a few things to consider…. Just for your own front door….
    Respectfully, The Breakaway Homesteader

  27. Doth protest too much, methinks.

    Lived on the East Coast for a while decades ago. Huge multi-agency crackdown on drug smugglers moving product up I-95. Didn’t take long for the LEOs to realize that major criminals also do not pay attention to the laws that only come with a warning. They began to stop folks for small infractions like not wearing seatbelts and not signaling a lane change. Those stops often resulted in uncovering serious criminal activity. We always cheered when we heard about the idiots getting arrested.

  28. It was 9 PM, a little old man knocked on my apartment door. I looked through the peephole to see who was there. All I could see was a little old man who was standing in front of the door so I opened it. Mind you, I had a model 629 44 magnum with 240 grain hydroshocks in it behind my back so as not to scare anybody. I then became aware of a 6′ 7″ 300 pound bodyguard the little old man had with him. He said he wanted to talk about religion. I told him politely I was a Christian and was not interested in his religion. He then stuck his foot in my door as I was closing it. I said remove your foot from my door sir and I won’t ask again. The bodyguard started to smile until he saw my 2 friends, Smith & Wesson, he grabbed the little old man and pulled him out the door. Never saw them again imagine that. LOL

    1. Wow! For someone to do that, stick their foot in the door, is incredibly assertive. That could have been a bad situation. Good thing you had your friends with you…

      1. Ken, quoting the Beatles. “I get by with a little help from my friends”

        Quoting Clint Eastwood, “Get off my lawn”

        LOL

    2. For someone to stick a foot in the door and not get that foot broken in the door, showed at least a little bit of restraint; but, having friends accompany you to the door is always a good idea

    3. I learned my lesson and don’t open doors for anyone unless I know them. Many years ago I had an incident with a lady selling Comcast. I stupidly opened the door and told her I wasn’t interested but then she stuck her foot in the door. I slammed the door on her ankle and she had a hard time getting it out. Lucky for me that she wasn’t dangerous but unlucky for her because she got a sore ankle.

  29. I recall reading smewhere abut a lady who looked out her peep hole and a bullet came through it.

    We don’t have a peephole. But they have to stand outside of a locked sun room to ring. We can see them from upstairs.

    Okay Ken can we a only reply once per session now? The earlier reply keeps popping up when I try and make another reply to a different thread.

    country, We have a game camera that photographs all license plates as they come up the driveway.

    1. @me, thanks for the heads up about your issue with the reply to comment. I’m tweaking some additional ‘caching’ software – which is a pain in the you-know-what. Based on your report, the page is not refreshing the cache when you make a new comment. I’ll look further into it.

  30. @The Ohio Prepper,

    Although it may be laughable for some, the fact is that LOTS of people have these door chain locks by default. It is a very good reminder to use them in such a situation. Especially those who live suburban, urban.

    Note the caveat listed above:
    Be sure that your door chain mounting bracket is attached well with LONG (~ 3 inch) screws into the door frame to help resist a ‘push in’. The standard screws that come with a door chain lock are often too short for a good secure grip.

    Here are a few more ideas for securing an ordinary door:

    Door Security Bar Review & What I Like Most About It

    BuddyBar ( Buddy Bar ) Door Jammer Review

    1. @The Ohio Prepper,

      The ‘just’ of the post is not about securing one’s door in the best way possible. It’s about various ways to handle an apparent stranger knocking at the door. For those who have one of these chain locks I would advise securing it first before opening the door to speak with the stranger (if one even chooses to open the door itself). That’s all I’m saying.

      Certainly, if I were to write an article advising of options for a secure closed door, it would NOT include the traditional wimpy chain.

      That said, when force is applied to a chained door as such, the force required to “break in” comparing 3/4″ screws to 3″ screws would be quite substantially different in my estimation. It would effectively, likely, require sufficient force to break the chain itself rather than force to pull out (3″) screws. But that’s just an estimation on my part.

  31. @The Ohio Prepper,

    Quote, “I’m new to this site; but, still have a hard time believing the low regard many here seem to have of the public at large.”

    I’m not sure where you got that from… It’s a broad sweeping statement, and apparently you derived this from the telemarketer reference in the article?

    1. Ken,
      The way people treat telemarketers was the last one; but; handling intruders by dragging them behind a vehicle with a cable, etc. kind of showed me the instincts of at least some of the folks posting here. I’m not a pushover; but, some of the comments I’ve seen here seem to be a bit over the top, with people thinking that past SHTF it will be all WROL and they get to play vigilante with no repercussions.

      1. The Ohio Prepper,

        The comments on a blog will certainly tend to vary in opinion, personalities, etc.. Commenters also come and go. Over the years I’ve seen quite a variety. That said, currently, most of the ‘regulars’ here are quite helpful, constructive, and provide great addition to a given article’s content.

        1. Ken, The Ohio Prepper;
          ALL except that NRP dude, he’s wayyyyyyy over the edge of crazy, him and his 600 rolls of TP, Makes ya feel sorry for Ole Blue a little don’t it? HAHAHAHA

          PS; Trying to lighten the mood a little…. OHHHH BTW, I’m originally from Ohio, did my 10 year prison term in CA, (GOD I’m happy to be out of there) and now live on a rock in the land of Sand, Sun, Cactus and Rocks :-)

  32. We live in the country and have strangers come to the door during the day about once a year and I’m convinced they are checking to see if anyone is home. Most robberies occur during the day. My wife stays home so she has to deal with this. One year it was some guy offering to clean a room of carpet. He had a beat up car and two others waiting in the car. Pretty sure they weren’t carpet cleaner. We have a storm door that is always locked so she’ll talk thought that. We also have a 40 cal in cabinet by the door but the absolute best deterrent is the German Shepard standing next to her.

  33. Late to the party, but I want to add something. If someone is claiming they have a delivery (out of uniform) and aren’t throwing it in your face so they can get to the next one, they are already suspicious. Delivery dudes do not hang around and chat lol

  34. I am quite a friendly person even in today’s world. In general I will answer the door to people during the hours of daylight, but because today people become increasingly conniving and untrustworthy, I will always check through a window, (even in the day) to see what the person looks like.

    If they are a complete stranger, I do not answer it, after all there is no reason too. If I am expecting a delivery as such from a reputable online order supplier or a visit, of course I answer.

    I have windows fortunately that allow me to see a good portion of my front yard leading up to the door. I have not had too many suspicious people come to my door, with the exception of one time when a group of men were outside with a large red van that rang the door bell. They certainly were not expected and did not appear to be up to any good.

    As such, shouldn’t three grown men be at work or something in the middle of the day? Besides all this after ringing the doorbell maybe twice, they did not appear to go away yet, and so that was when I said out loud I was getting my gun.

    After coming back to the door, they appeared to have left. Never saw them again after that, as well my house was the only one they seemed to ring the door bell at.

    At night, I do not answer the door to anyone. The only people who would be expected then would be either close relations or friends who of course would be greeted differently.

    I also have a dog that barks when anyone comes to the door. This is always helpful and a good deterrent for home burgles. As well, it alerts me to be able to grab my gun witch often is next to my bed when I sleep.

    As well, If someone ever crosses that line, I have no mercy for a home invader as such I treat all home invasion as a threat, and personal malicious intent, and will have no problem using such a person as a plinking target in which I will rapidly fire at until they drop where they stand and maybe a few more to ensure they are a threat no more.

    Home invaders need to know they do it at their own risk with not many on their side with the exception of maybe others who do it, and some people detest the idea and have a zero tolerance for that kind of act and will viciously and quickly end their life.

  35. I have just updated this article and re-posted. I know that many of your regulars have already commented on it previously. I simply added more specifics about the “at night” aspect because many people were landing here from search engines based on that…

    Bottom line: Don’t open the door for strangers at night (or ever)!

  36. Ken
    Thank you for posting the intercom door bell system. I thought those had gone by the way side when the doorbell with visual camera came into popularity.

    We will take the old fashion system, I will not have ‘A’ in our home or any other system that hears, sees and records our life patterns. It is hard living in a cave but you do with what you have. lol

    1. @Antique Collector, just so you know, ‘ring’ does not require Alexa (which I too would not have in my home because of privacy concerns). Anyway, yes the intercom door bell is practical.

      1. Ken J
        Thanks, thought it had to have the A in order to use such an item.

  37. Ken, good reminders. —- I have a small window in door up at my eye level, and I do open/talk through that. However, I can understand why that is a bad idea (especially) at night.

    As times get tougher, I think there will be more and more up to no good/criminal activity.

    Another thing i would suggest, is NO, you/your DH should NOT go outside and look around to see if they can “see”anyone…As in HUH, you dont know who/what is out there.

    —I have to admit, when we were younger DH may well have done this, when i heard “something”. Not a good idea. You have no idea at all if they have weapons etc.

    What i suggest (now) is turn on all outside lights (if not motion activated). Check secruity cameras (if you have). Turn on some lights inside. Maybe turn on t.v. radio to make it sound like more folks are in house. Give a few shouts to George, Tom, Dick to bring their extra guns/rifles.

    Yes, have a big dog bowl/huge dog bones outside door (front and back). But do something to them to make them looked used / chewed on / dirty. (You dont actually want to leave a dog bowl with food in it outside as this has been known to attravct cougars/bears/skunks. Maybe glue some clay in that looks like food.

  38. Haven’t been commenting for a few days, but just read an article (very short, didn’t give many details) about a break-in that occurred this morning in the town I was born and raised in. Fits this topic.

    Woman home alone, a man knocking on her front door wakes her from bed (9:30 AM, sleeping in, also when burglars expect to find an unoccupied house). Did not recognize the man, so she ignored him. Subject went to back door and began trying to break in. She retreats to closet and calls 911. He gains entrance, confronts her in closet, she shoots him graveyard dead while on the phone with sheriff’s department.

    Sheriff declined to identify the woman (common practice in Texas). Reporters interviewed neighbors who praised the woman’s for having the foresight in having a gun, her courage and ability to use it to protect herself.

    She will face no criminal prosecution in Texas, I’m sure, but most likely will face a civil suit. Not because she should, but because there’s more lawyers than ticks in Texas (one and the same?). Most assuredly, they will center their case on her failure to make the intruder aware of the fact she was at home. Not saying she should have, just saying this is what ticks….errr….ah…..lawyers do.

  39. Ken
    Good reminder article. We all can become lax. Some time ago I related an incident with a supposed Jehovahs witness. Glad we had the large German shephard not just the bowl. Needless to say the other half keeps the garage door down.

  40. Fedex delivered a large box of ammo about 3 weeks before Christmas one year. About 2 weeks later I got a call from the same Fed Ex driver who had a Christmas delivery at about 9:00 PM. He said that he just wanted to let me know that he was coming and to not shoot him. I thought that showed VERY good sense on his part.

    1. Yeah, that just means your address is red flagged internally. But don’t worry about the company formerly known as Federal Express; I’m pretty sure they don’t exchange information like they used to back in the old AS-400 days.

  41. I was told that some felons living about 500 yards from my house would take by force,
    from me, if they wanted something and got all doped up or drunk. That really got my
    attention.

    Does anybody know about the NRA firearm use insurance? Or another provider?
    I hear civil court lawsuits can really drain bank accounts.

    1. G Dog you might check out US Law Shield. It meets my needs much better. They don’t just cover guns and shootings either. They cover any legal weapon.
      I also talk to them before I travel on personal trips and they help clarify any stupid laws like kolorado.
      The last time I asked a question they had the lawyer from that state call me to answer. He even gave me his info in case I had any issues. That’s pretty impressive service.

  42. We’ve had a total of 2 “uninvited” guests that I can remember. A number of years ago, I was driving down by the creek and saw a stray Pitbull roaming on my property so I took out my .45 to rid the world of the cur when 2 young boys came crashing out of the woods calling for their lost dog.

    Of course the damn dog comes up to me wagging her tail like I was her best friend…Ooops! Put the .45 back in the holster and gave the little urchins and their dog a ride home.

    I guess the Pikes at the front gate are doing their job…

  43. In response to Tommyboy regarding spent brass and fake blood on the front stoop:

    I have made friends with a neighborhood cat that brings us “gifts” of mice which he dismembers on my front stoop. On occasion, I will run the brass tumbler on the front stoop.

    The combination of the blood and body parts of rodents topped off with a running brass tumbler made my wife shake her head and proclaim me as the Burt Gummer of the neighborhood. ( in reference to the movie “Tremors”).

    We do not see many religious pamphlets or business cards of gardening services left on our front stoop these days.

  44. If you have a huge, loud barking dog will they just go away or should I confront the person through the door??

    1. Confrontation is in my view, a last resort. If you know it’s a stranger (having looked out a side window) and if that barking dog doesn’t deter or scare off, and if your door handle starts turning – then you know there’s a bad situation about to unfold…

      That said, I believe you’re referring to speaking through the door. That’s probably a good idea. It would indicate someone’s home, AND you have a big barking dog.

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  46. Someone I don’t know comes breaks in my house at any time of day or night, will get lead right through their head no questions asked, I love living in Texas, I have no problem taking the life of a lowlife breaking in my house . When it comes down to having to protect my son and myself , without hesitation will I stand my ground and put a pos out of his misery. If that’s the chance a thief wants to take then that’s a chance he’s also playing w his life. I will always automatically fear for my life if a stranger ever uses force to break in my home. Hell im liable of shooting him if he hadn’t even made it inside my house and would take any sentence with honor and pride for protecting mine.

  47. I’m one of Jehovah’s witnesses and reading this makes me sad, though I’m aware of the truth and reality of these comments.
    So. This is what we’re taught to do in these circumstances while we’re out door to door, or even returning when someone gives us permission to personally return (we call such ones “Return Visits.”).

    First, let’s do bottom to top. We do not personally return without permission. Yes, we ask or say something like “I’ll like to come back and continue our discussion about…” If the answer is yes we then try to set up an agreed upon day, date and time. If the answer is no, then guess what? We don’t. Simple as that.

    Now some here may object to what I’ve said about the agreed upon time and that’s quite understandable. Why? Because they see us knocking/ringing doorbells anyway, and that’s because we have a God mandated commission to do so. The Bible says that we are to “Go therefore and make disciples…preaching and teaching…” (Matthew’s 28:19, 20). Such mandate is from Jesus.
    But even then, while we MUST do so, we do so with caution and respect for our neighbors. For example, at times we invite people to special events with printed invites. Those not home get them too, but we are very careful to put them where they’re not seen by people outside of the home. Why? Because that will attract attention that the householder isnt home. When we can’t because of various reasons we simply don’t leave the invites. So yes, we’re very careful to make sure they’re out of sight to a fault.

    When we’re in door to door we don’t simply announce “I’m one of Jehovah’s witnesses.” We introduce ourselves by name, and then say we’re Jehovah’s witnesses. Why? Again for security measures for our neighbors, because let’s face it: anyone can say the words “I’m one of Jehovah’s witnesses.” And that leads me to add this point to the last sentence.

    One day in the witnessing work my partner and I were working a building. The police were casing that building obviously as we didn’t know it initially. So when they saw us they wanted to know who we were. No problem. We told them that we are Jehovah’s witnesses. They said “yeah? Show me the Watchtower magazine.” Now while I’m taking one out my bag my partner said “anyone can have a Watchtowe magazine, but what you need to ask for is the No Blood Transfusion card, for only Jehovah’s witnesses have one.” And she was right. So. Why am I adding that here?

    If at any time you still feel uncomfortable about if a man or a woman or a child say they’re Jehovah’s witnesses while knocking on your door or ringing your bell, and you wonder if it’s true, yes you can ask to see their No Blood Transfusion document. Jehovah’s witnesses are the only ones who carry it that’s from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Corporation.

    I wish you safety.

  48. I have been having a lot of break ins as of late. Twice I was home. I barricade a lock door & the barricade works better than a lock. Had my lock changed recently. Nice & sturdy. There are a few people, in my life, that know they are being reported. I went out & brought a stun gun & two containers of pepper spray. On Wed. 1/29/20, at 9:45 A.M. a middle size man was knocking on my door. He came in a white medium size truck. He was dressed in drab colors. The truck had two words on the back end, that equaled six letters. He banged hard & waited for a few minutes & then left. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I just stayed quite. I am a night owl & he came 50 mins after I went to bed. I’m also wearing a life protection. One press of a button, they will pick up & find out what is wrong & the police will be out in a few minutes. I don’t know what is going on, but I can not be left alone. I use to be a people person, but not anymore. I have my own select friends & keep it at that. People come here a lot, but invited. I’m going to put a sign, on the door, “Put your hand, on this door, the police will be out shortly.” I’m literally sick of people.

  49. I always asked who’s there and what do they want if anyone comes to my front door. I live in a small town crime is rare but I have seen crime happen before. I dont answer the door to anyone unless I know them personally or I am expecting mail like parcels that are to big to fit in my letter box. I always call out from my bedroom window see who is at my front door if I am not expecting anyone then the front door doesnt get opened. I have a security light at my porch

    1. i have security camera’s and lights and for delivery a box so they put it in and it will come through and if they dont know about it i open my see camera but they cant see me i can i tell them what to do if they say open the door idc i call 999

  50. if someone bangs on your door DO NOT open it if they make noises call 999 and if they are at the front your house go to the back and if they are at the back go to the front but not outside so they dont hear u call anyone close all the back windows if open and call 999 tell them what happened and they will come for you

    if that person throws glass at your window go the further away and ask 999 or 911 when that happens

    if that person is in go to a room and hid dont shut the door that will be more suspicious i have a hiding place bruh most burgulars come and read these comments

  51. L would Not Go out l would call the Cops very fast and l will look at the window and l would Not be happy

  52. So on Monday earlier this week, me, my mom and our 2 dogs were the only ones at our house, until suddenly, this strange guy was wearing a purple jacket, and today, he was wearing a grey jacket. I’m not so sure if they are tracking her down with facebook or not, but this is starting to creep me out a bit, and I am usually calm. Just a few minutes ago, my mom told our neighbors to take a picture of his silver car because he came back again today, and I’m guessing they took a picture of it, and while they were, my mom said that he was in his car. I’m starting to think that he MIGHT come back on Friday, because I’m starting to see a bit of a pattern here.

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