Had a scare today...

[JAshley73]

The back-story first. I was mowing the lawn earlier on the day, and left the attached-garage's door open as I came in to shower before leaving home. I knew I was going to be running out soon, so I payed no thought to leaving the garage Dior up. Also, we live in a cul-du-sac, so traffic is slim to none.

On to the incident. We have a broom closet near our entry door from the garage to the house. I was gearing up to walk out the door (shoes, belt and the like) when I hear the screen door open, the wooden door move and then a knock. Needless to say I was completely surprised, and my first reaction was to put my hand on the door and lean my weight against it, to keep it from opening, and to send a strong non-verbal message saying, "you are not welcome to enter..."

"Who's there?" I asked, in a rather strong (and hopefully un-inviting) tone. At thus point the adrenaline is flowing, and I'm hoping it's one of our friendly neighbors, otherwise I'm fearing things could go - um - not well.

"Fed-Ex," Replies the guy.

I opened the door, and all is well from this point. Time elapsed: 3 seconds max...

----------------------------------

What's worth discussing though, is that while my reaction to put my weight against the door was good, it wouldn't have been good enough. I leaned in with my strong hand, leaving my weak hand left to improvise as my knife was on my strong side. Had I been carrying a gun strong side, same problem.

And then the more obvious problems, such as, I shouldn't have left the garage door up, and should have probably locked the garage/house door as well. In short, take nothing for granted...

What I didn't appreciate from the driver was that he came inside my garage to knock on the house door. He may have been absent-minded and well-meaning, but I can't think of a single reason for him to not come to the front door first. Had he been scoping things out for a later date, he now knows what kind of cars we drive, what's inside my garage, and if he's really paying attention, knows a little about how to get inside.

But, the burden of responsibility falls on me, and I think this is clear evidence that I need to step up my game... Thoughts?

 

[mcdonl]

I guess maybe it depends on where you live... In my "neck of the woods" when a garage is wide open, and a doorway to the house is visible it is the first place we would go... not the front door. No one uses the front door in my neighborhood, we all go through the garage/mud room.

So the FedEx guy coming the way he did is common around here.

Your door was locked, someone knocked you answered. Seems like a pretty good outcome. What did you get? Gun parts?

 

[gtd]

He said "Fed-Ex," and you assumed that an unknown person on the other side of the door was telling the truth. You could have gone to another door and checked from there to ensure there was a Fed-Ex truck in the driveway.

 

[Fremmer]

Think michael slicing through the screen door with his knife. Cue the theme song ....

 

[Ringolevio]

gtd wrote:

He said "Fed-Ex," and you assumed that an unknown person on the other side of the door was telling the truth. You could have gone to another door and checked from there to ensure there was a Fed-Ex truck in the driveway.

Exactly what I was thinking! 'Reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live gag (back in the days when it was funny!) about the "Land Shark" who rings the bell and says "Candygram!"

 

[JAshley73]

I suppose that was a possibility, but I was expecting a couple packages, and the timing was consistent with their normal delivery times. However, that is a good point, and you are correct, I could have looked. Unfortunately, my immediate reaction was subject to the circumstance. Call it tunnel vision or not, my primary concern was, "someone is trying to come through that door, and I need to stop them now!" Like I said, I was expecting multiple packages, so the likelyhood of him actually being a delivery driver were high.

Had I heard a knock on the front door as usual, it would have been standard to peep out first. Like I said the timing fit, the knock inside the garage, was very unusual.

And as I see it, the garage is essentially no different than one's home. Unless I know the person, know that they are present in the garage, and know that I am welcome, I would never enter their open garage, just as I would never enter their open or closed home. I don't think the two spaces are any different. I have a perfectly passable driveway and sidewalk that you are welcome to use to get to my front door. Unless I know you personally, anything else is unwelcome, to me at least. That was the most upsetting part of the whole thing, although I didn't express it to him. I probably should have, as I certianly hope this Guy doesn't make it a habit to go walking into stranger's garages. Perhaps I should have spoke up about it, instead of someone far less friendly than I, down the road sometime...

Anyway, just my take on it. I just wanted to share a reminder with you all, as it appears I needed one too.

Oh, and tools, and car parts for those wondering.

 

[Ryanxia]

FedEx knocked on the door.. You answered it.. Sounds like it went well.

I would suggest having a gun on you next time though instead of just a knife.

Or if it IS a knife make sure it's a big one. "That's not a knife <draws bowie knife> THAT'S a knife."

 

[ForumSurfer]

This is one reason I carry everywhere, assuming I'm wearing enough clothes to mount a holster. And if not...it's within arms reach.

I honestly would have stepped back away from the door. Ever been hit with a door after a large fellow kicked it? You'll be momentarily off balance and unable to draw anything.

The fedex guy should be knocking and not opening screen doors IMHO. I never open screen doors unless it is mine. If it was a truly unexpected entrance, I would have given myself room to draw and stepped left or right of the door and with a firm tone yelled "STOP! Who's there?" That isn't out of line. Two options from there...1) They stop and announce who they are or 2) they escalate and I'm now in a position to draw before they can enter and see me (as opposed to hitting me with the door or seeing me if I'm directly in front of the door).

It is possible I'm overly paranoid and it would explain why friends/family call before coming over...or maybe I just like to be prepared and hope one day all that preparedness was for nothing.

 

[tepin]

When I lived in N. CA, FedEx or UPS (can't recall - female driver) actually tried to open my front door to leave a package - no sig. required and door was locked. It bothered me for some time but maybe just what they do.

 

[Glockedout17]

Where I live, someone coming into my garage would be considered a burglary attempt. Garage doors aren't left open around here though and I suggest you leave yours closed from now on too, consider it your first line of defense. Don't make it so easy for the bad guy.

 

[mortablunt]

Where I live, the driver coming up and knocking on your door is pretty much routine. IMO, your actions come across as paranoid. They just come up to the door, knock on it, and announce a package.

 

[foghornl]

We COULD start a whole thing about garage doors open/closed, but here is my thinking..

I do NOT leave the garage door open at any time. I used to leave it open when I was mowing or doing other outside things, but not since 9-11-01. I have a 'postage-stamp' size yard, but back yard is larger.

Just this past February, family next door and family next to them both had snow-blowers and other things stolen from their open garages, between 7:00 and 9:00 PM. They now keep their grage doors closed. Closed garage also gives you another layer between you and the 'outside world'