Feeling odd and a bit paranoid.

[jojo]

There's some builders that have just arrived to do some work two houses to my right. as I work evening, I'm natuarally asleep in the mornings and let the missus get up and take the little one to school etc.

But around 840ish this morning, my doorbell went off, and the missus opened the door to see one of the builders standing there, and he asked for a light for his cigarette!

Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill here, but is it normal for people to go round other people's houses asking for a light?

 

[Ads]

No.

So did she give him a light?

 

[CHRIS555]

Be aware - they are totally innocent but a popular "distraction" technique by burglars and theives is to send someone to the door to ask for a light or a jug of water knowing that the chances of them having it on them is nil - therefore the house occupier will go off to the kitchen for example leaving the stranger stood there witht he door open - can you imagine if you have a Porsche and your keys are next to the door??!! This happended to my friend at Christmas........

 

[CHRIS555]

Sorry just to requote myself - "they are probably totally innocent" but I would have thought that they would have had a light between them or in the car / van?

 

[crazy88]

Sounds a bit fishy really...either burgling you, or fancies your missus. Either way...punishable by death penalty I think.

My mate who's a policeman told me the other day that one of the town's most prolific burglars has just got a job measuring up for double glazing. I can't really think of a better job to scope out a house, as they generally offer a 'free, no obligation' quote.

 

[a3_dan]

Thats very dodgy!

I had a pikey knock at my door the other day, asking if my dads old work van was for sale and his 740 BMW, They are both sat on my drive and havnt been used in a while as he drives his work horse car most of the time now.... But it got me wondering, how long have they been looking at my drive to know that they havnt moved for a while??!! And that the van no longer has tax....I hate the thought that they must have been walking around my drive and checking out the cars... Grghhhhh I just hope for there own health there not standing on my drive scoping the cars when i ever pull up to the driveway!

 

[CHRIS555]

Jojo - I think if he comes round again you'll have to do a Dukey / Dell Boy and do some growling and woofing in the background so he thinks you have a big dog!.......

PS. Maybe he thought your missis was home alone and in need of some..........

 

[jojo]

Sorry just to requote myself - "they are probably totally innocent" but I would have thought that they would have had a light between them or in the car / van?

This was precisely what I was thinking!? And no, she didn't give him a light, as neither of us smoke - thankfully.

I'm paranoid, as I have most of my cars parked outside, and 840am is a bit early for anyone to knock on the door!

 

[CHRIS555]

What I sometime do is have a steering wheel lock / bar which I keep the key seperate to so when I'm somewhere I don't feel comfortable (etc) I can keep the key away from the car keys - that way should I get mugged for the keys they ain't going to get far as the steering will be locked and the key will be placed "secretly" elsewhere

 

[sub39h]

What I sometime do is have a steering wheel lock / bar which I keep the key seperate to so when I'm somewhere I don't feel comfortable (etc) I can keep the key away from the car keys - that way should I get mugged for the keys they ain't going to get far as the steering will be locked and the key will be placed "secretly" elsewhere

there's two trains of throught on this sort of tactic - what if he then pulls a knife/gun on you or a loved one? if they want to steal it badly enough they will, so why risk it? it's just a car - that's what insurance is for

 

[crazy88]

I agree sub39h. I often lay at night worrying that my house will get broken into...and the two things I am worried about are my wife and daughter. I would be devastated if I got burgled, but I will throw my keys at them if I fear for my wife or daughter. Sad world isn't it!!

And Jo...how many cars do you have?

.....
I'm paranoid, as I have MOST of my cars parked outside, and 840am is a bit early for anyone to knock on the door!

I have most of my cars parked outside too, all 1 of them, ha!!

 

[jojo]

And Jo...how many cars do you have?

eeerm, 1 in the garage and 4 outside, they are all over 10yrs old! lol

 

[S3RYE]

Sounds a bit fishy really...either burgling you, or fancies your missus. Either way...punishable by death penalty I think.

My mate who's a policeman told me the other day that one of the town's most prolific burglars has just got a job measuring up for double glazing. I can't really think of a better job to scope out a house, as they generally offer a 'free, no obligation' quote.

i work in double glazing and let me just tell you, IF i was a burglar it would be the perfect job for scoping.. luckily im not! im in peoples house all week giving free quotes, tbh i went on a lead last night (a break in) and the guy was funny with me....

 

[Nilz]

Were they in a van, just get the number plates and if you can get some sneaky pics as well of them at the same time....just in case.

 

[jcs356]

eeerm, 1 in the garage and 4 outside, they are all over 10yrs old! lol

Hmm, you've beaten me! I've got 1 in the garage and only 3 outside... They're also all over 10.

Had some p**eys offer to buy the wheels of my S3 one time I was outside cleaning my car. Then he tried to sell me some power tools! Managed to get a picture of his van without him noticing, then rang the police.

Having already had a car stolen off my drive I'm absolutely paranoid. The scrotes that got my car got caught eventually but they were using a similar approach - knock on a house door where there is a car they fancy. If someone answers, ask a stupid question e.g. 'Where's the station / post office/ nearest petrol station etc'. If no one answers break in round the back and nick the keys. They were identified when they did that to a house where someone was in, he was suspicious of their behaviour, noted the reg of the car they got into & rang the coppers. It was my car they were using!

I now have a monitored alarm (which costs me nearly £30 a month - ouch), and keep all keys locked in a safe when not needed. Even then, if someone got into the house and threatened me they could have the keys. As folks have said, that is what insurance is for and not worth serious injury or even death for.

Back onto your original question Joe - I think 8am is a little early for that trick - people still going to work etc.

 

[jojo]

Were they in a van, just get the number plates and if you can get some sneaky pics as well of them at the same time....just in case.

no idea mate, I was still in bed, heard the door bell, that was it! Missus told me when she got back.

 

[Nilz]

8am is a good time really, people are panicking/stressing, half asleep and getting read for work/school run etc, and not wanting the hassle with this would either go 2 ways, p1ss off, im too busy, or yea 1 sec, just to get them out of the way....that 1 sec, will then end up costing them dearly in some cases unfortunately!!

 

[Sarah's A3]

Not good Joe. But that time of morning, alot would be either at work or on the school run so as already said, either eyeing the cars or your wife. Just make sure you have the MK2 well locked!!!!!

Every thought of cctv? or a dog? Both good deterants, less hassle to go somewhere easier for them!

We dont keep our keys by the door, used to, not now. Heard of thiefs managing to get them via the letter box using wire.

 

[CHRIS555]

And fishing rods!

 

[jojo]

Just make sure you have the MK2 well locked!!!!!

.

I LOL'd at this, as the mk2 battery is dead as a dodo, so it isn't going anywhere! Add to the fact that due to the flat battery, I have left it unlocked! There's nothing to steal in it, if they robbed the cassette player, they'd be doing me a favour!

I told the missus to be a bit more vigilant at that time of day, or wake me up, so I can open up the door...

Apart from the S3, there's no real value in anything I park outside, and even the S3 is a 155k miler!

Main concern is the missus and little one!

 

[Sarah's A3]

Ah so thats your secret security eh! Dead battery!

Always a worry for loved ones, shouldnt be like this, sign of the times!

 

[crazy88]

Ah so thats your secret security eh! Dead battery!

Always a worry for loved ones, shouldnt be like this, sign of the times!

Agree completely. The only thing that bothers me is that the wifey and daughter won't be safe. My mates dad used to ALWAYS remove a HT lead from his old sierra's as security. No matter where he went he always removed the lead.

 

[Nilz]

A few years ago I used to work in quite a rough area in Brum, and I remember seeing a guy literally remove his battery from his RS Turbo everyday without fail!!!

 

[crazy88]

I hope he parked his car close to where he was going! Imagine carrying a battery around with you all day.

 

[Dazmo]

There was actually a gang going around recently who would break or force their way into your house.

I think they mainly targetted couples.

They would torture one with boiling water why holding the other and forcing them to give up the keys/belongings.

Ive said it once and i will say it again, you attack me or my family in my own house or on my own property i will kill you without a second thought and i will die trying.

There are viscious, evil people out their with no consideration or respect for the law and unfortuantly should something like this happen to you, you have to throw all morals out of the window.

Maybe im overreacting, but im a very paranoid person, at the same time i think that this helps as i watch everyone and everything and im always on defence.

I cant get out of my car without scanning my surroundings for potential car jackers, even at tescos.

Crazy is the new sane!

 

[sub39h]

Ive said it once and i will say it again, you attack me or my family in my own house or on my own property i will kill you without a second thought and i will die trying

+1

 

[sidibear]

I am with Dazmo, why the hell should I just give up my hard earn't to some scumbag ?

Oh, and you will need your keys to claim the insurance on your car, check your policy

 

[Welly]

I am with Dazmo, why the hell should I just give up my hard earn't to some scumbag ?

Oh, and you will need your keys to claim the insurance on your car, check your policy

Agreeement here as well, I'd do my best to make sure that they weren't getting away with my car.

The insurance would pay out maybe, but they would pay out market value £4500, which isn't a great deal for an S3 with 145 K on it. However, I've piled thousands and thousands of pounds into it, which would be what would **** me off the most.

Fortunately I have a very big (10 stone) Rottweiler at home. Tends to put people off.... :thumbsup:

 

[S3RYE]

Agreeement here as well, I'd do my best to make sure that they weren't getting away with my car.

The insurance would pay out maybe, but they would pay out market value £4500, which isn't a great deal for an S3 with 145 K on it. However, I've piled thousands and thousands of pounds into it, which would be what would **** me off the most.

Fortunately I have a very big (10 stone) Rottweiler at home. Tends to put people off.... :thumbsup:[/QUO

this is the only way to really put people off burgling all together...

i have just been round to another house than got broken into, one of my best customers last year & they smashed the glass in his back door and took everything bar his cars as he was using them at the time, lucky cause he just told me him n his son bought two rolexes last week but fortunately were wearing them!!

 

[jojo]

Well, there's two window fitter vans outside doing work on the neighbours home. I kind have a feeling they was maybe trying to sell some double glazed windows, but the missus can look scary in the morning, so the guy asked for a light instead! lol

And on the subject of door to door window sales. Why do I still get people knocking on my door, when it's pretty obvious I have double glazed windows allround, along with a nice PVC door!?

 

[Welly]

Well, there's two window fitter vans outside doing work on the neighbours home. I kind have a feeling they was maybe trying to sell some double glazed windows, but the missus can look scary in the morning, so the guy asked for a light instead! lol

And on the subject of door to door window sales. Why do I still get people knocking on my door, when it's pretty obvious I have double glazed windows allround, along with a nice PVC door!?

My approach:

Open the door. Let them say their bit. Fake a heart attack. Slowly close door (whilst led on the floor). They won't come back.

 

[ScottD3]

Exorcist style vomite or stand there in your bed clothes and pee your self but at the same time have a really happy smily face making happy huming sound.

Not proper Pee, apple juice or something easy to clean up and wont stain.

 

[Nilz]

Or open the door with your pj's on ensuring that your morning glory is clearly on display and just invite them straight in saying, ive been waiting for you!!!

That should scare them off......unless its aythree!!

 

[Ads]

Or open the door with your pj's on ensuring that your morning glory is clearly on display and just invite them straight in saying, ive been waiting for you!!!

That should scare them off......unless its aythree!!

If I stood there with my morning glory on display they'd think I was brandishing a twelve gauge shotgun!

 

[S3RYE]

If I stood there with my morning glory on display they'd think I was brandishing a twelve gauge shotgun!

hopefully not double barreled otherwise theyre really f***ed! LMFAO

 

[Ads]

hopefully not double barreled otherwise theyre really f***ed! LMFAO

Pump action too!!

 

[Dane]

Not quite the same but I keep a loaded airsoft mag near my bed along with my m4, It looks real as hell and it fires bbs at 350 feet a second, it hurts, especially when its up close and personal.

 

[L1 HCS]

Lol I needed a good laugh!... being a single parent when people knock the door I tend to ignore it... but there's all sorts of worry going through my mind, like what if they jump over the wall in the garden etc...

 

[Nilz]

Being a parent, the guns are a no no for now!!!

But im all for the pump action

 

[johnnythepie]

Or open the door with your pj's on ensuring that your morning glory is clearly on display and just invite them straight in saying, ive been waiting for you!!!

That should scare them off......unless its aythree!!

thats what i do when the jehovahs come round.but no pj's..havent been round for ages.wonder why.I also have an adolf hitler mask.That was a mistake as they saw me a a challenge!So starkers 19stones of blubber it is.They aint happy cos they always bring a kid with them!!
jo, id be suspicious mate, as stated previously, it could have been a test to see if you were in.If not, a possible burglary, if answered, a stupid question like 'is bill in'.840am is quite a good time actually,school run means youre out for at least half hour, or if at work probability is that you wont be home till 5.
These scum hunt in packs and are so smacked up that there are no morals involved.In fact theres been a shift from 'asking' for the keys to just belting you first.If you are intent on taking one or more down with you, please make yourselves aware of the law regarding self defense and reasonable force.I personally have a few ' little friends' dotted around the house if needed, and one for them.Trust NO ONE who knocks on your door.Even the postie :busted_cop::busted_cop::busted_cop: