Predatory door knockers?

[MargaretR]

To all elderly persons living alone - beware.

Yesterday a group of three girls aged between 10 and 13 knocked on my door.

I opened it on the chain and peered through the gap.

The eldest said "I've walked a long way. Can I have a drink of water?"
I said I was ill and so I couldn't, and shut the door.

Today, I mentioned this to a neighbour who said they had knocked on his door too with the excuse 'looking for somebody'.

Today two feral looking youths sat in the stairwell for 20 minutes eating, then left their food wrappers when they left.

Such incidents make us oldies feel unsafe.
I have parked my axe by the front door again.

Get a door chain and use it.

PS - perhaps what we need is a door entry system for these flats.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Isn't it sad to read stuff like this. That older people should be afraid of children asking for a drink of water. And Margaret, don't get me wrong, I am not having a dig at you because I think you did entirely the right thing.
when I was that age, if I was alone, lost or afraid, I was told that an adult would help me.
Now we tell children to avoid strangers. And children are seen as something to be feared by the elderly. What a warped world we live in.

[MargaretR]

The fact that those girls did not use the same excuse at two nearby doors, shows that their intentions were suspect.

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

The fact that those girls did not use the same excuse at two nearby doors, shows that their intentions were suspect.

Proud of you Margaret , you will never know what their intentions were.

[MargaretR]

Well none of them looked faint from dehydration

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Well none of them looked faint from dehydration

Best bet chuck a bucket of water over them.

[wallop79]

Hope you phoned the police Margaret, granted they wouldn't turn up for about 3 days but best to let them know.

[MargaretR]

There was no crime but only the potential for crime, so I have emailed Crimestoppers with the details.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

To all elderly persons living alone - beware.

Yesterday a group of three girls aged between 10 and 13 knocked on my door.

I opened it on the chain and peered through the gap.

The eldest said "I've walked a long way. Can I have a drink of water?"
I said I was ill and so I couldn't, and shut the door.

Today, I mentioned this to a neighbour who said they had knocked on his door too with the excuse 'looking for somebody'.

Today two feral looking youths sat in the stairwell for 20 minutes eating, then left their food wrappers when they left.

Such incidents make us oldies feel unsafe.
I have parked my axe by the front door again.

Get a door chain and use it.

PS - perhaps what we need is a door entry system for these flats.

I fitted my own Margaret, it cost me less than £100 and has been worth every penny, I might still be 6' tall and weigh 15 stone but I would be useless if I opened my door to anybody these days and it saves me walking to the door, if I don't know who they are they don't come in simple, if they want to show me identification they can always flash it at my front window, which I know isn't possible in your case, but they could put it through your letter box, I have certainly felt much safer since I had it fitted 18 months ago.

[shillelagh]

i always thought that pensioners flats had entry door systems. i know in haslingden the flats in the centre the doors are open till 4pm .. after that its shut and you have to press a button for whichever flat your visiting and they give you access ....

[MargaretR]

It was a struggle to persuade Hyndburn Homes that we needed locks, let alone a 'door entry system'

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...sed-58705.html

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

It was a struggle to persuade Hyndburn Homes that we needed locks, let alone a 'door entry system'

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...sed-58705.html

And they've even cocked that up