I had two come to my door about the same European Trip BS. One was fat and the other was skinny. They asked if any parents where home, I said no, and continued to play along. These guys were up to no good and i felt it necessary to alert them to the presence that my house was a house of marine friends and family. They just said thanks and left, and I shut the door and locked it. No need to be confronting of hoodlums.
Did this guy want to rob me or am I just paranoid?
- Thread starter skywalkrNCSU
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This happens every couple of months here, exactly the same pitch, college students yadda yadda, trip yadda yadda, I usually ask if they have a vendor permit (required to sell door to door) and they leave. I generally call police and report them and they are "asked" to leave town.
The strangest was a few months back, two guys show up at the door saying they are from the phone co. and are trying to upgrade services, THEN ask for my phone number? I said " you are the phone company, you already have it"
They leave immediately and do not go to another house.
Did I mention that when I am at home, or in the yard I OC my 1911
The strangest was a few months back, two guys show up at the door saying they are from the phone co. and are trying to upgrade services, THEN ask for my phone number? I said " you are the phone company, you already have it"
They leave immediately and do not go to another house.
Did I mention that when I am at home, or in the yard I OC my 1911
Ya gotta watch those buggas
I have heard in our bigger cities (Sydney, Melbourne) while one zombie keeps you busy at the front door, talkin' BS, the other one (s) try to get in the back door
for a snatch and run...... So, my advice is, if there is someone yackety yacking nonsense at your front door, say no thanks, close and lock the front door, then head straight for the back door and check there as well
And expect the 'unexpected' (Be alert, we need more lerts)
I have heard in our bigger cities (Sydney, Melbourne) while one zombie keeps you busy at the front door, talkin' BS, the other one (s) try to get in the back door
for a snatch and run...... So, my advice is, if there is someone yackety yacking nonsense at your front door, say no thanks, close and lock the front door, then head straight for the back door and check there as well And expect the 'unexpected' (Be alert, we need more lerts)
madmo44mag
New member
I live in a state with a Castle Law and also live in an area where I am always armed (CHL)
They seem to want to leave as soon as they see that gun on my hip or under my shoulder.
I had a very , very persistent magazine salesman one day and told him "No, not interested" and he kept on. So I told him he could ask Mr. Smith or Wesson if they were interested and he could not leave fast enough.
I expected the cops to show up next but they never did.
I hate door to door sales people.
They seem to want to leave as soon as they see that gun on my hip or under my shoulder.
I had a very , very persistent magazine salesman one day and told him "No, not interested" and he kept on. So I told him he could ask Mr. Smith or Wesson if they were interested and he could not leave fast enough.
I expected the cops to show up next but they never did.
I hate door to door sales people.
I tend to give everyone the benefit of doubt when it is reasonably possible, but if I had been Skywalker, . . . about 30 seconds into his "presentation" he would have been given a terse, . . . straight forward, . . . "No thanks, I am not interested", . . . period.
And, yeah, . . . the door would have closed. In our area, . . . door to door folks are generally clean, . . . no hoodies, . . . pleasant, . . . and just more or less "Would you like to buy,......................................" is their sales pitch.
Anything else, . . . especially the hoodie, . . . would be very much suspect in my neck of the woods.
Just my $.02
May God bless,
Dwight
And, yeah, . . . the door would have closed. In our area, . . . door to door folks are generally clean, . . . no hoodies, . . . pleasant, . . . and just more or less "Would you like to buy,......................................" is their sales pitch.
Anything else, . . . especially the hoodie, . . . would be very much suspect in my neck of the woods.
Just my $.02
May God bless,
Dwight
Actually the firms that do this type sales pitch are known to do very little to hire anything but the nefarious. Some go so far as to recruit ex-cons. I once watched a crime documentary of one such salesman who ended up barging on an elderly woman, murdering her and stealing her money/credit cards and car. Had her daughter not panicked at missing her routine call, and called the police he may have gotten away with it. I think he may have gotten on a bus and had they not tracked it down he would have ended up in NYC where finding him would have been very tuff! Some links to substantiate the threat from these types...
http://www.wowzio.com/pulse/501241_traveling-salesman
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/scam_alert__door-to-door.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/31/BA71151S66.DTL
http://www.news12.com/Login/home_login?id=170583
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/orange-park-fl/TFCPQLEH957AHABH7
http://www.kbmt12.com/news/state/42271357.html
This is all from the first page on google following a search for "magazine salesman kills woman" So I am sure there are more cases.
Don't let anyone blow smoke up yer butt saying "it was just a magazine salesman... no worries..."
Brent
http://www.wowzio.com/pulse/501241_traveling-salesman
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/scam_alert__door-to-door.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/31/BA71151S66.DTL
http://www.news12.com/Login/home_login?id=170583
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/orange-park-fl/TFCPQLEH957AHABH7
http://www.kbmt12.com/news/state/42271357.html
This is all from the first page on google following a search for "magazine salesman kills woman" So I am sure there are more cases.
Don't let anyone blow smoke up yer butt saying "it was just a magazine salesman... no worries..."
Brent
Mike in VA
New member
I find that when I answer the door with my 1911 or H&K on my hip they all take the first "no, thank you-", regardless of whatever they're pitching.
The only problem I had was back in VA when there was a new Mormon church in the neighborhood and it seemed like every other week a fresh bunch of 'missionaries' would come thru, some very persistent. I finally got fed up and called the church and had a chat with the head elder. I introduced myself (name & address) and explained that although I respect their right to proselytize, I seriously resented the fact that I had to be rude to uninvited people on my own doorstep because they didn't respect my wishes, i.e. 'no, thanks, not interested . . . ',and taht I really just wanted to be left alone. I asked him if he could take care of it - put me on a "do not call" list or whatever, or did I need to get my lawyer and the police involved, as I would have the next pair that showed up and didn't leave after the first 'no thankyew' arrested for treaspassing. He said he'd handle it and we weren't bothered again.
The only problem I had was back in VA when there was a new Mormon church in the neighborhood and it seemed like every other week a fresh bunch of 'missionaries' would come thru, some very persistent. I finally got fed up and called the church and had a chat with the head elder. I introduced myself (name & address) and explained that although I respect their right to proselytize, I seriously resented the fact that I had to be rude to uninvited people on my own doorstep because they didn't respect my wishes, i.e. 'no, thanks, not interested . . . ',and taht I really just wanted to be left alone. I asked him if he could take care of it - put me on a "do not call" list or whatever, or did I need to get my lawyer and the police involved, as I would have the next pair that showed up and didn't leave after the first 'no thankyew' arrested for treaspassing. He said he'd handle it and we weren't bothered again.
skywalkrNCSU
Inactive
I don't really know how I feel about answering the door with a gun on my hip. I don't really want anyone knowing I have guns in my place because then it could become a target for a thief for when I am gone.
Granted that might scare them away, but it also might make them think if they scout it out then they can score some guns when I am at work
Granted that might scare them away, but it also might make them think if they scout it out then they can score some guns when I am at work
I agree. When you're answering his questions, he's in charge---not you. It's called being "interviewed", "sized up", or use your own term.
Criminals do it, used car salesmen do it, panhandlers, etc. All people who want something from you.
Interesting that so many assume that he was a magazine seller just because he said he was. Or that, even if he was, that's all he was.
Most outfits hire clean cut kids, not dingy looking "ghetto types".
I remember an episode of Dale Hinman's show, (Body of Evidence) Court TV, in which a man with a long criminal record signed on with a magazine subscription company just to gain access to women's homes. The rape and murder he committed after casually walking thru the neighborhood, and TALKING his way in, was the subject of the episode.
Magazine subscription selling gives people a good opportunity to case your place and check you out in case he/she/they want to do a burg sometime when you aren't (or maybe are) home.
Yes, I know, I'm paranoid in my later years. I live in a semi-rural area and don't approach the door without a pistol real close, and don't answer strangers' questions.
Of course, I can be a sucker for Girl Scout cookies, or helping school kids raise money for a good cause.
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why is he only doing one of two things? Good entrepreneurs multitask. Yes he could have a crappy job selling door to door, and he could be scoping out places where little old ladies live with lots of jewelry, to pass the info along to an interested friend.
BUT based on your story, I say he definitely has a side business of selling pot. Ive learned when strangers bring up drugs (or sex) out of the blue, they are looking for visual cues of interest so they can offer a deal. An instant scowl or look of disgust saves them from getting in trouble.
BUT based on your story, I say he definitely has a side business of selling pot. Ive learned when strangers bring up drugs (or sex) out of the blue, they are looking for visual cues of interest so they can offer a deal. An instant scowl or look of disgust saves them from getting in trouble.
snevensmores
New member
Odd that others have a similar story as mine...
I had just bought my first handgun, and was sitting right beside the front door cleaning it. I'd called my friend (who lived down the street) for him to come look at it. Five minutes later, as I'm holding the gun, there's a knock at my door. I open it, expecting none other than my friend.
... and there stood two hot Jehovah's Witnesses.
They were brief with their spiel, I apologised, took their pamphlet, and they beat feet out of there.
I had just bought my first handgun, and was sitting right beside the front door cleaning it. I'd called my friend (who lived down the street) for him to come look at it. Five minutes later, as I'm holding the gun, there's a knock at my door. I open it, expecting none other than my friend.
... and there stood two hot Jehovah's Witnesses.
They were brief with their spiel, I apologised, took their pamphlet, and they beat feet out of there.
bullspotter
New member
Hard to say what he was up to. I dont trust anyone i dont know at my door, EVER and i never awnser the door with out my 9 freinds handy. Had one of those guys show up at my moms one day while i was their, I couldnt see them at the door but i could hear them, things got serious pretty fast when i herd my mom say let go of the door..........
Carryabigstick
New member
The other thing you may have to consider is that he was not intending on robbing an occupied home. Home-Theft is most common in daylight. He may have only been ringing to see if you were home. If you hadn't answered he may have proceeded to break in your door.
I don't know you and you come to my door,it get's closed very quickly.
You try to keep it open and tyou r toes or fingers will be hurting.
My door,my property,I don't know you,goodbye.
The gun is always close just in case too.
Rush my door and get six 38 rounds in your eyeball.
You try to keep it open and tyou r toes or fingers will be hurting.
My door,my property,I don't know you,goodbye.
The gun is always close just in case too.
Rush my door and get six 38 rounds in your eyeball.
Nice way to treat someone who just wants to let you know that a car knocked over your mail box, or your dog was last seen running down the street, or lots of other things.
Perhaps you could be slightly less hasty in assuming that if you don't know some one they have no business knocking on your door.
Don't care for your tactics any more than your manners. If you put six slugs thru Bubba's eyeball, you'd be unloaded when his bros come in right behind him.
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Beetmagnet
New member
I hate to say it...because I believe in being courteous as the old scout law says...but if someone shows up to my door unannounced, and I don't know them I act like a real horses a$$ to them on purpose. I just don't like the idea of somebody I don't know feeling comfortable about being at my house.
But seriously the one thing that I found that works well is a small note posted inside your front door that says: Third Shift worker, sleeps during the day, Do Not Disturb". It doesn't matter if you are a third shift worker...most people respect that sign and don't bother knocking. It's much more effective than you might think
But seriously the one thing that I found that works well is a small note posted inside your front door that says: Third Shift worker, sleeps during the day, Do Not Disturb". It doesn't matter if you are a third shift worker...most people respect that sign and don't bother knocking. It's much more effective than you might think
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