I think a burglar just cased my house.

[Rick Lee]

For some reason I felt compelled to answer a knock at the door tonight while watching Law & Order reruns. I normally never answer my door for unexpected company. Monday nights are when everyone puts garbage out and I enjoy catching up with a neighbor who always seems to be out doing it when I am. Because of this, Mrs. Lee leaves her garage door open when she gets home from work.

Anyway, I answerd the knock at the door and there was normal looking woman, whom I'd never seen before, holding a medium sized garbage can. A young girl, maybe 6-7 yrs old. stood about 20' behind her. The woman said, "Did you know your garage door is open?" I said of course and I was about to take garbage out, thanked her and said goodbye. I didn't think anything of it until 30 min. later. I recognize most of the women in the neighborhood and I can't imagine any of them knocking on my door and not introducing themselves. And why the hell would someone carry a garbage can with them and then tell someone their garage door is open? Not much I can do now, but what should I have done then? Take a photo and post here to compare to Lubemaster's roofing girl?

[Nostril Cheese]

And I had a knife pulled on me tonight in my front yard.

No joke.

I now have a new knife.

[LeeH]

I've thought about putting one of these on our garage door. It's very rare that we forget to close it, but all it take is one time around here to lose a lot of stuff.

[Rick Lee]

I like keeping my garage door open. I hate having it cycle so much. So if I'm not going anywhere all day, I don't close it after Mrs. Lee goes to work, only after she's back home. There's nothing my garage anyone can steal with ease and, since I'm always home when the garage door is open, I'd be out there instantly if I heard a noise.

[bell]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

And I had a knife pulled on me tonight in my front yard.

No joke.

I now have a new knife.

Quote of the day right there.....

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

And I had a knife pulled on me tonight in my front yard.

No joke.

I now have a new knife.

Full story or it didn't happen. Start a thread, even.

[WolfeMacleod]

Vuja 'de

[VaSteve]

Do you have a neihhborhood watch? Telling people their garage was open was something George Zimmerman would do.

[Chocaholic]

Or...maybe it was just a neighbor making what she thought was a nice gesture while out with her daughter.

Too much CSI perhaps!

[recycled sixtie]

I don't think I would have answered the door to a woman holding a garbage can!
This is really quite funny. Is she exhibiting normal behavior? I would think not.
When somebody knocks on the door I look through a side window to see who it is.
Usually if somebody wants to see us they phone first. Bible thumpers, sales people,
garbage can people, no. Pelican parts package - yes.Yes you have right to be concerned. There are some strange people out there too.

[sc_rufctr]

Grab some paper and write down everything you remember about her.
Draw a simple sketch if you can noting her height and weight.

You probably won't need it but any details can help the cops if you get ripped off.

Also... I doubt anyone would take their kid to case a house.

[billybek]

I thought that an open garage door was a sign that the occupants were swingers...

Ya baby! (my best Austin Powers impersonation...)

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sounds like trouble - next thing you know they'll be proving themselves as the menaces to society they undoubtedly are and double-parking at the gym. I think you should have plugged both of them right then and there just to be sure.

[tabs]

If I were casing a joint to knock over I sure wouldn't be knockin on no doors to be introducin my self..just sayin ...

[Dantilla]

Upon the rare occasion somebody unknown to me knocks on the door, I instantly take a picture of their face with the camera function of my phone.

Makes them nervous.

Last girl selling something couldn't leave fast enough. Tossed me the busines card af a tree trimming service and left.

[Rick Lee]

I've heard it's pretty common these days for burglars to knock on doors to see if someone is home first and check for dogs. I ignored this one's first knock, but then she knocked again, so I figured it might be the neighbor. Sometimes his kid's toys fly over the fence and land in my yard and he and I usually chat on garbage nights. I did want to catch up with him about another neighbor's house for sale. I'll tell him about this when I see him next.

[Jim Richards]

Are you sure there's a real problem to be so worried about, RL?

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I doubt anyone would take their kid to case a house.

I think you are 100% wrong on this.
A woman, with a kid in tow, is the ultimate in presenting a "non-threatening" image. How effective is it? Well, recently I saw a guy write, "I doubt anyone would take their kid to case a house."

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Are you sure there's a real problem to be so worried about, RL?

I'm not at all sure there's a problem. But I am sure this lady's behavior makes no sense.

If she was on an after-dinner walk around the neighborhood, why carry a garbage can with her? There's no loose trash around here. Why knock on a total stranger's door to tell him something so obvious and minor? We have two cars and my bike in the garage, so it's not like the house looked empty or like we had left and forgotten to close the door. If she was a neighbor and wanted to meet me, she should have introduced herself, which she did not. None of it makes any sense.

[vash]

you didnt ask her what she was doing with the can?