Strange Knocks at the Door.

[Molon Labe]

Some relevant background info: We live on 15 acres in the middle of nowhere. Our gravel driveway is .2 miles long, and we can't see the road or neighbors from the house. We have three young children. My wife is a stay-at-home mom. Our home is very isolated... you could stand on the porch and scream your lungs out, and it's very likely no one would hear or see you.

At dinner tonight, my wife mentioned in a matter-of-fact way that someone knocked on the door at 10:30 AM on Friday morning. (I was at work.) She said it was a light knock, and then heard the screen door close. When she came downstairs and checked the door, no one was there. She said she didn't see or hear any vehicle, either.

She said the exact same thing happened today at 9:15 AM. When she came downstairs and checked the door, no one was there. She said she didn't see or hear any vehicle, either.

This really has me spooked.

I can't stay home from work tomorrow.

She has a Taurus .357 snubnose and a Bushmaster AR-15. But she is not proficient with them. (She has only shot the AR once.) I am now kicking myself for not teaching her how to shoot it. :banghead:

I'll make sure she's armed. But I don't feel good about it, seeing that she's not well trained.

 

[trueblue1776]

Why do you assume it was somebody that meant you harm? Could have just been somebody with a flat, especially out in the sticks.

I'm all about being prepared, not paranoid.

 

[ACORN]

Sounds fishy to me. Two incidents, two days in a row. If it were car trouble, where did they go? Whats the odds of two people having car trouble, two days in a row, and them not sticking around to see if there is anyone home? It sounds as though you're being "probed". I may be wrong but if it were me, I'd rather err on the side of caution. Do you have anyone that could stay with her when your not home? A large dog would be a good idea, I think. Their sensitive hearing could tip off your wife before they get near the house, and she could then be on the look-out. Just my .02.

 

[TallPine]

Could have just been somebody with a flat, especially out in the sticks.

Two flats...? Twenty three hours apart on the same road...?

You sure it was knocking and not the wind or something???

You might call the local LE and see if they are looking for anyone around your neighborhood. There was a manhunt around here a while back and the sheriff didn't bother to inform all the residents. The guy pulled a gun on a couple that let him in their house, and stole their pickup. He didn't get caught for a couple weeks, until he had a wreck down in TX.

Or it could just be a ghost or space aliens or something ...

 

[frayluisfan]

Sounds fishy

I have to disagree (tentatively) with trueblue1776. One random knock....Ok, could be just someone with a flat. But two consecutive business days in a row? Sounds fishy to me.

Molon labe, do you have a dog? That might help.

Of course, trueblue may be right. It could be nothing. But if it was me, I'd have my wife be a little extra alert, and maybe have the cell phone on her person during the day. Would your wife be comfortable loading the Taurus with light .38s and having it on her person during the day? If that's inconvenient (we have 3 little ones too), perhaps she would feel comfortable hiding it somewhere close (bookshelf, cabinet, etc.) and staying semi-near it during the day.

I sincerely hope it all turns out to be nothing!

 

[Alphazulu6]

Why do you assume it was somebody that meant you harm? Could have just been somebody with a flat, especially out in the sticks.

I'm all about being prepared, not paranoid.

Ok +1 vote for not being paranoid. Good to keep eyes open and "just in case" common sense. Honestly with that firearm your wife needs a phone with her as well. Cordless is nice but cell phone is better.

 

[buck00]

She said the exact same thing happened today at 9:15 AM. When she came downstairs and checked the door, no one was there. She said she didn't see or hear any vehicle, either.

If you are on 15 acres and isolated, someone is coming to the house for a reason. We can rule out a Bible salesman or a broken down motorist- they would linger around for someone to answer.

The way she/you described it, it sounds like somone knocked, then ran off to hide.

There really are only two possibilites:

1. Kids from the next house over (or beyond). Sounds dumb, but some kids think its funny to ring door bells or knock and run. Might be a boring summer and they decided to mess around on their walk to the local creek.

2. Stalker/looney. Not to alarm you, but you have to consider this. He is knocking then rushing back to the woods to see who answers. In this case, keep her armed, doors locked. Maybe even put in a non-emergency call to the police. Sure they'll do nothing, but if it turns out a strange homeless guy has been wandering the area- the report suddenly means much more.

Get her to the range this weekend! Good luck!

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I'm with buck00 on his first comment. Sounds like kids to me, maybe even your own.

 

[igpoobah]

Light knock= probable kids.

 

[Molon Labe]

I sincerely hope it all turns out to be nothing!

Me too.

Could have just been somebody with a flat, especially out in the sticks.

No way. You can't even see our house from the road. Unlike us, our next door neighbor is right on the road. Anyone w/ car trouble would simply go to them.

Do you have anyone that could stay with her when your not home?

Not on such short notice.

A large dog would be a good idea, I think.

No dog, unfortunately.

You sure it was knocking and not the wind or something???

Doubt it. She said it was a light but very distinct knock.

have the cell phone on her person during the day

Good advice.

Would your wife be comfortable loading the Taurus with light .38s and having it on her person during the day?

She doesn't have a holster.

perhaps she would feel comfortable hiding it somewhere close (bookshelf, cabinet, etc.) and staying semi-near it during the day.

Yea, that's what we did... we hid the .38/.357 in a kitchen cabinet. The AR is up here in the bedroom. So both levels are covered.

The way she/you described it, it sounds like someone knocked, then ran off to hide.

Yea, sort of.

There really are only two possibilities:

1. Kids from the next house over (or beyond). Sounds dumb, but some kids think its funny to ring door bells or knock and run. Might be a boring summer and they decided to mess around on their walk to the local creek.

Other than ours, there are no kids living around here that I'm aware of.

2. Stalker/looney. Not to alarm you, but you have to consider this. He is knocking then rushing back to the woods to see who answers. In this case, keep her armed, doors locked. Maybe even put in a non-emergency call to the police. Sure they'll do nothing, but if it turns out a strange homeless guy has been wandering the area- the report suddenly means much more.

Yea, this what I'm dreading. The front of our house does not face the road... it faces a woods we own.

If you are on 15 acres and isolated, someone is coming to the house for a reason. We can rule out a Bible salesman or a broken down motorist- they would linger around for someone to answer.

Yea, see, that's the thing. Very rarely does a stranger drive up to our house. In the 7 years we've lived here, I can only remember one instance... and they were from a church group. You have to see it to appreciate it, but there's absolutely no reason why anyone would want to drive up our (very long and very secluded) driveway.

Sounds like kids to me, maybe even your own.

Not a chance. The wife and kids have been sleeping in late over summer break. Everyone was in bed at the time of the knocks. (Our bedroom is upstairs. The children's bedroom is downstairs.)

 

[748]

It sounds as though you're being "probed".
I say you are, being probed.
My moms house is the same way, .2mi drive, can hardly see the house next door, gun shots day/night hardly ever bring the cops out.
After I left to go to Japan they would have people call all different times and some times show up and leave.
My mom and step dad have a bar at the house, it was well stocked. Some how some of the teenage low lifes from town found out about the bar (maybe because my sister has a big mouth). They would break in when no one was home and steal alcohol.

 

[h0ss]

Do you have a video camera? Maybe you could set it up on a tripod facing a window near the door or something (maybe in a way where it can record the front porch) and turn it on before you leave for work early in the morning, that way if someone comes and knocks again, you will see who it is and have it on tape if it turns out to be an unwanted visitor.

 

[Alphazulu6]

Do you have a video camera? Maybe you could set it up on a tripod facing a window near the door or something (maybe in a way where it can record the front porch) and turn it on before you leave for work early in the morning, that way if someone comes and knocks again, you will see who it is and have it on tape if it turns out to be an unwanted visitor.

This is a great idea. Sams Club sells one for $75 that screws into your porch light socket and the remote device is wireless that you just hook to your TV. Its the best thing in survellience since... well... microfilm? haha check it out as you could hook it to a tv that your wife could monitor/record during the day

Good Luck!

 

[glockman19]

Perhaps you should call in sick tomorrow. Switch hours with someone else.

 

[Bezoar]

sounds like one of thos einstances where shooting off a roudn or two when the knocking starts out a window or a blank inside the house may be a good curative for the probing.
whos gonna rob a place with a nutjob shooting a gun off inside?

seriously, this is probing, having someone come around to watch is good idea. hey have a hunting buddy practice his camo routine watching the dors and aproach, never know might be a real ugly deer or a real ugly criminal.

 

[sefus]

I scared the absolute bejeezes out of my self one late night when I heard two LOUD knocks on my door. It was the neighbor dog's wagging tail as he took him self for a walk. Weird stuff happens man, best you can do is have the wife be confident in the protection of your family when you arent around, oh and maybe a dog or two, but get their tails docked!

-Sefus

 

[theken206]

sounds like a probe to me as well but who knows. Another vote for a well placed camera and to turn up the ol deafcon level a bit {maybe or maybe not, obviously use your own judement bet hey like the saying goes "an ounce of prevention" and all} for a little while as you see fit and think is needed.

 

[ACORN]

The video camera is a great idea.

She doesn't have a holster.

Get your arse to the shop and buy her/you one. Even if its just a Fobus if money is tight. She could cover it with a light shirt so as not to scare the kids.

 

[Kentak]

I'm thinking no need to panic, but certainly extra alertness and preparedness is warranted.

Keep the kids close and in sight.
Keep the cell phone on her person at all times.
No holster? Keep the wheel gun in a jeans pocket. If you're worried about AD, have an empty chamber on the first trigger pull so that it takes two pulls to reach the first shot.

Doors and windows locked, frequent glances out the window.

Perhaps you could call the local LE agency and explain the situation. Ask them if they would just pay your place a visit, maybe talk to the wife. If someone is watching your place, seeing the cops checking in could be a big discouragement for them.

BTW, I would keep the AR locked away. Now is not the time to have her do a potential SD with a gun she is not intimately familiar with.

Good luck.

 

[eltorrente]

Maybe it's a ghost.

 

[bobehud]

Knocks at the door

Hi all from the murder capital ST.L Mo...Got that title in 06'.We live in a very urban area,nice area but still its in the city.WE get the once in awhile knock from someone wanting something.ALWAYS before i answer the door i ask clearly who are you and what do you want..?WHY?Well in one of our nicer areas A father and his two brothers were beaten almost to death by a guy with a hammer in his hand when they opened the door.No they didnt believe in guns.
The guy who opened the door died after suffering massive trauma to the skull with the claw end of the hammer the other two were badly injured.Now i answer the door when i dont know who it is with my G36 behind my back.
Dont want to scare power,cable,gas guy.But wont have some crack head push his way in either.It happens,everyday.
Chance favors a prepared mind.

 

[TallPine]

We can rule out a Bible salesman

Not necessarily ... it could be a one-eyed Bible salesman

 

[W.E.G.]

Nothing converts adrenaline into endorphin better than a Kalashnikov mag-dump.

 

[CWL]

You live on 15 acres, do you have at least one dog? Even a yappy chihuahua would be a good intruder-alert device. I'd prefer something larger with full-run of the house.

Are those the only 2 guns in the house when you are out? I don't think the snubbie to be a good 'home defense' gun. Perhaps you should upgrade to a longer-barreled pistol; or get your wife up to par on the workings of the AR.

 

[Molon Labe]

Update

It happened again. This is the third day in a row.

I received this email from my wife while I was at work today:

There was this strange knock again at our door a few minutes ago. This time I saw a very young, tall and slim guy with dark blonde hair, in striped polo-shirt and short pants, carrying a small black bag on his shoulder. I guess he was probably in his 20's. He was driving a small white car. Since I didn't have my glasses on and he drove away very quickly, I could only see his vehicle license plate with something LG465...... on it. I could not figure out the make and model of his car. It was just a very old, cheap car = probably Ford or Chevrolet.

I did hear him rumbling on the front porch this time before he knocked. I thought it was one of our kids getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Strangely enough, this guy knocked on the door and left so fast without even waiting to see if there was anybody answering the door. By the time when I reached downstairs with my rifle looking out the window, he was already getting into his car and drove off. Since his car was small, it hardly made any noise. You could not hear it coming up on our driveway with our front door closed.

I suspect this mystery guy will come back again tomorrow at about the same time. I wonder if he was trying to sell local newspapers or having a question to ask us. He didn't leave any note on the door.

One difference this time... she saw a car. I now suspect that the mystery guy has always driven up in a car, and she simply didn't see/hear the car during the first two instances.

The fact that he drives up to our house - instead of walks up - makes me feel a bit less suspicious.

But still... what could he want? We have never had a salesman stop by our place. Why is he so persistent? And what's with the small, black bag? And why does he leave so quickly after knocking? :confused

Do you think he might be trying to serve a subpoena? (I have never been served one, so I have no idea what to expect.)

I plan on staying home tomorrow morning to confront this guy.