Massad Ayoob "Don't Answer The Door!!!" - YouTube I’ve seen this discussed on other forums and it seems to cause a lot of debate when it comes up. I found this video by Massad Ayoob on youtube in which he explains how he deals with a stranger at his door and there’s not much I can add to it except maybe my personal experience. I am convinced that I stopped an attempted robbery at the front door of my home several years ago by simply not opening the door. A stranger showed up at my door around 9 pm saying that he wanted to give me a free Denver Post. This was back when I owned a home and I looked through the front window and he had no newspaper in his hands. He spent 10 minutes trying to get me to open that door; nothing else was going to do. I finally ended the conversation by telling him I was calling the police. I am aware that there are any number of things I could have done better but it was almost 10 years ago and I’ve learned some since then. I believe it’s prudent not to open the door to a stranger if for no other reason than I don’t want to hear a pitch for meat or a vacuum cleaner or encyclopedias or magazines or an invitation to your church. By not opening the door for anyone I don’t know I automatically am never faced with a situation where I open the door to a criminal. If it is a criminal I want every advantage I can have. Why put myself in a position where I have to fight them at the door when I can just not open the door and avoid the fight entirely? When I say don’t answer I don’t mean “ignore” because that might entice a criminal to think you aren’t home and try to kick the door in.
I don't let anyone I don't know in. Just the other day I had a fridge delivered. Had them leave it out side. I brought the 360lb 35 deep, 6'2'' tall, 38'' wide fridge in by my self. Had to take the door off the hinges. I don't know who they are, they could go tell their buddies they saw this or that while in my house.
I don't get visitors. I'm pretty much a loner, the neighbors I do have , for some reason, I think, fear me enough not to want to come to my door. I've lived here over 10 years and have only had one person make it to my door close enough to knock on it before I caught them beforehand , if I was home. After coming home to a few church pamphlets stuck in the door ,I left a few things laying around to give the impression I wasn't the type they were wanting in their church. I'm not a church hater, I'll go when I feel the need, not when they think I need to be there, and be judged for not being there. That being said, the 1st thing that guy saw when I opened the door was my 26 inch barreled pump 12 gauge. It was a short conversation.
I'm thinking sacrificial lamb on an alter, here. Seriously, I agree, @SB21 . Maybe you could drop the guy who was dumb enough to bring a knife to a gun fight. But, why let it get that far, when you can avoid a confrontation all together. @Unique Good topic.
I understand your point on , why let it get that far, but the way I look at it, and want them to realize is, I will take it that far, my question is , do they really want to ? Do they think it's worth it to them ? I'm no badass, I'm just not a pushover .
Just answer the door with a big rubber strap-on hanging free, beer in hand and a big grin on your face. Seriously though, I like the "not answering idea" while telling the stranger from the other side of the door to take a hike.
Wouldn't that give the impression that you may be away on vacation or something. They say when going on holiday to have your neighbors pick up your paper or stop delivery while you are gone. That was 10 minutes to many. He could have had a buddy trying to break into the back of the house while you were arguing with him in the front. He needed to leave immediately. As soon as he knocked, you said you were not interested and for him to leave, anything after that you do not have to be polite. You should have called the cops and taken a picture of the creep. Chances are he was up to no good elsewhere also.
First, we never open a door for any stranger. And, if it is dark outside then I immediately grab the pistol (Glock 19) that sits on top the fridge before even speaking or asking who it is. We don't play games with this as we live rural and if anyone wanted to come in and harm us - well - no one will know. So, Glock on fridge and Colt AR sits by bed - at all times. Recently, a couple of elderly ladies came to the house while I wasn't home but the wife was; they were from some religious group, not sure which one. The wife opened the door and spoke with them even though she didn't know them...we had a serious talk about this but it was daytime and she could see they were harmless nevertheless it is not a good habit to get into.
Living out here where we do, having a reputation of "Shooting First, and asking Questions, later" comes in very handy.... Anyone who knows me, knows that it isn't true, but it does keep the "Rif-RAF" from coming around... Our Front Door is ALWAYS Open.... and the Winchester 1300 Stainless, lives just above the Door Jam, on Pegs.... Bodies (Not necessarily Human ones) disappear as Crab Bait, around here, all the time.... We haven't had a Home Invasion around here, EVER.... and if some Yahoo tried to pull that off, the questions would be, where the Heck did he come from, and where the Heck would he go, after his Nefarious Deed...
@BTPost I would never go visit your area because it seems very unfriendly and is a no no to outsiders. Last Alaskans I met were wonderful people. They were from 100+ miles N of Valdez. The guy was gruff and gave me a hard time but his wife was huggable sweet. Lovely people who encouraged an Alaskan trip.
I stop my mail if I leave for more than 2 days. Then I have lights on timers so it's not the same all the time. And I move vehicles and a tractor around often. And I have a few cameras around. If they get it while I'm here, they're going to earn it, if they get it while I'm gone, then hopefully the cameras will get a close enough shot were ill know what they look like, then I'll be looking for them. The church pamphlets were left during the day, they were removed when I got home.
