Opinions wanted: Doorbell rang at 4:30am, house was not on fire, what would you do?

I keep a lump of wood beside my door, just in case. However the street on which I live is close to a nightclub and people on their way home often ring doorbells 'just for fun', so mostly it's ignored.
 

Without security cameras and system, the first thing I would do is pick up my cell phone, push 911 and then decide whether to complete the call. Definitely wouldn’t answer the door. We also have a non-emergency RCMP number. I can’t remember what it is and don’t want to be searching.

We have a security system now.

Years ago the doorbell rang repeatedly at 4:30 a.m. I told DH not to open the door but he did because he could see the reflection of the nearby house fire. We had to evacuate.
 
We have a camera which shows image on the phone and also a peep-hole on the door. And I can open door whilst security screen door still locked.
So I would get up, see who it was, open if I knew them or ring police, ambulance etc if they had an emergency without letting them in.

This has never happened to me though.
 

Glad your OK.
Lots of good advice has been offered herein.
Agree that you might ought to consider getting a camera(s).

We have a Ring Doorbell and we have 6 X Ring Cameras around the entire perimeter of our house and also facing the backyard and sheds; and we have one facing the back of the house from the sheds. We have almost a one acre yard - so big.
Cameras have motion detection lights that come on.
You can look at all the cameras from the phone and the phone will ding dong if it picks up movement. You can mute that feature if need be.

We also have lights on the sides of our house and our Flags our lit up 24 hours per day.
So lots of lights.

We also have Zombie Bars on all Windows.

Our Main entry Doors have Dead Bolts. Additionally, we had Custom made steel Storm Doors sat in Steel Frames put on our entry doors in addition to the main doors. All have Dead Bolts and the plates to strengthen the door jamb.

For the Zombies to defeat the Doors and Windows, it would require Tools and time and would create alot of noise. So much so that ms gamboolgal and I would have plenty of time to prepare to hold a Prayer Meeting with the Pilgrims should they be successful in actually entering our home.

Maybe a dog?

You should not go outside under no circumstances!

As to a weapon or firearm. That is a decision only you can make.
 
Owlivia said:
Thank you all for your good advice.

I didn't even consider calling the police, not sure why.

I do not have any type of camera outside. I imagine if I did it would be easy for the criminal to rip the camera off or cover it. I have thought of getting them, though.

I didn't want to open the curtains, as was said, the person would have seen me. I didn't want to call out to ask who it was, again, they would know I was a woman, alone.

I didn't put the inside lights on even when I got up at 5 to walk around the rooms. Just in case.

I don't have any guns and the only weapon I could come up with is a can of some type of spray to try and blind them temporarily. Probably not very useful though.

There was a gutter cover salesman who wouldn't take no for an answer, even though I had a sign on the door to not disturb. That was shortly after my husband died. He was relentless and finally I told him to leave.

That night I was fearful he was coming back and I went to bed with a can of air freshener. Laugh. I was very fragile at that time.

Around that same time I had been helped by a retired plumbing contractor working in Home Depot. Some how we got around to talking about our recently deceased spouses who both died at the same hospital.

I told the man I had a glass windchime on my kitchen door in case someone came in I would hear the chime. In his bluntness he said most burglars work in pairs and I would be helpless.

It's been a hard eleven months since my husband died. It's things like 430am doorbell ringing that gives me a reality check.

I can't reply individually, I am getting a bit teary. Think I will try and stay awake as long as I can.

Can't live in fear and can't control what other people will do.

Thank you all again, it's helped me.
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Sorry to read this @Owlivia I think anyone,especially if they were on their own, would have felt vulnerable.

I think you should talk to the police. We did when mum had a similar experience to you and they came round and advised on security measures. Mum has cameras higher up on her house so they cannot be tampered with.

Do you have a room with a lock on it? When someone attempted to break into a friend's house, the police told her to lock herself in (only the bathroom had a lock) and wait for them to arrive. The operator stayed on the line and the police arrived very quickly, in fact they caught the guy.

I think you should also look at personal alarms. The police might be able to give you details of a service in your area. The alarms are usually used for medical emergencies.

If you do not have a mobile phone, you should get one and keep it charged and within reach. If this happens again, lock yourself into a room and use your mobile to call the police.

Hopefully there was an innocent reason why someone knocked on your door so early. We once had a delivery guy knock on the door at 5 am, wanting to know if we would take in a parcel for someone else! Regardless, you did the right thing not to answer. I hope this doesn't happen again to you but, in the meantime, ask the police for some security advice.
 
According to multiple news outlets, Ms. Guthrie had all kinds of security cameras outside and inside her house. A security camera will not do anything to prevent a determined break-in. It may alert you and give you time to take defensive measures.

Turning on outside lights may discourage a break-in if burglaring is the intent. I read somewhere that most people will turn on the lights, look outside, see nothing, turn them off and go back to bed. Supposedly, bad guys know this and will wait a while to make a second attempt because most people will then ignore whatever alerted them if it happens again. So turn on those lights and leave them on. Or turn them on, check, turn them off, wait five minutes, then on again.

Most importantly, have a plan or two as to what you will do if an invasion does occur. If they come in through one door, can you get out through another quickly? Most burglars will head to the master bedroom first because that is where most people keep their valuables. I disagree with locking yourself into a bathroom or any other room because interior doors are very easily kicked in. A locked door is like a signal, "I'm in here!" You are cornered and you leave yourself no way to escape.

Police may take at least five minutes to arrive. A lot can happen in five minutes. If you know someone has entered, do not start searching for them. Can you get out through a window, if not a door?

Have a plan for different scenarios and practice using that plan.
 
Owlivia said:
I do not have any type of camera outside. I imagine if I did it would be easy for the criminal to rip the camera off or cover it. I have thought of getting them, though.
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But some cameras, mine included, record everything up to that point, so images would be captured prior to the camera being ripped off or covered. Those images are not stored in the camera itself, but in the hard drive on my monitor. Certainly it's true what others have posted, that cameras don't "protect you," nor is that my intent in having them, but once the event is over, whatever is on your saved storage may be useful to police - just as we now are hearing on the news in the Guthrie case.
 
GoodEnuff said:
According to multiple news outlets, Ms. Guthrie had all kinds of security cameras outside and inside her house. A security camera will not do anything to prevent a determined break-in. It may alert you and give you time to take defensive measures.

Turning on outside lights may discourage a break-in if burglaring is the intent. I read somewhere that most people will turn on the lights, look outside, see nothing, turn them off and go back to bed. Supposedly, bad guys know this and will wait a while to make a second attempt because most people will then ignore whatever alerted them if it happens again. So turn on those lights and leave them on. Or turn them on, check, turn them off, wait five minutes, then on again.

Most importantly, have a plan or two as to what you will do if an invasion does occur. If they come in through one door, can you get out through another quickly? Most burglars will head to the master bedroom first because that is where most people keep their valuables. I disagree with locking yourself into a bathroom or any other room because interior doors are very easily kicked in. A locked door is like a signal, "I'm in here!" You are cornered and you leave yourself no way to escape.

Police may take at least five minutes to arrive. A lot can happen in five minutes. If you know someone has entered, do not start searching for them. Can you get out through a window, if not a door?

Have a plan for different scenarios and practice using that plan.
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You have a good point. My friend is not very mobile so, I guess, the police advised her to do that to buy time until they got there. Thankfully it worked for her but, I agree with you, it is best to have an escape plan, if that's possible. (y)
 
1. Leave a pair of mens boots by the front door (The bigger the size, the better)

2. Get a sign:
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3. Play this real loud:

 
I was scared to open the door after the doorbell rang after 9:00 pm this last Monday but figured it must be a neighbor, so I barely opened the door and said hello and the person said he had a delivery for me. I asked what the deliver was and he named a few items. It was from my grocery store and was a mix up on the delivery time.

I felt like he was telling the truth and he did hold up his phone for me to see. It turned out to be a very nice young man and he was sorry about the wrong time. He was standing outside my screened in porch but still he could have had a gun, if he was a criminal.

I am glad you didn't open the door and it could have been a mistake with your address. I hope it doesn't happen again.
 
No matter the security procedures that I had I don’t feel safe in a home by myself. Once I was alone, I sold the house and bought a condo in a secure building.

If someone tried to break into my condo, my neighbors would certainly hear it since we are all in an enclosed hallway. Even though the outside doors are locked, somebody can slip in with the resident. I also bought on the third floor, so no one could break in from the outside.

I’ve been here five years and we have 150 condos between two buildings and nothing has happened to anyone. I would know since I’m on the HOA board.
 
Owlivia said:
This morning at 4:30 someone rang the doorbell. I hadn't been asleep for more than a few hours, making the mistake of watching a serial that was on from 1-3 am. I shut the tv off just after 2am, felt too tired to watch the full show.

So, I lay there in bed, took a security check from bed- was there someone in the house, was there the sound of a window breaking, and so on.

I waited for them to ring again or knock. Nothing. However, the car running outside either in my driveway or the street was heard for about half an hour. Just after 5am I got the courage to get up and walk through the house. Then I went back to bed.

I did ask for protection and security from God and I'm still here.

In the daylight, I wondered if I should have gotten up and turned on the lights and the outside lights, just to let whoever it was know that the house was occupied. This is a neighborhood of single family houses, most are dark at that time of the night, but a few may have lights on inside.

I wasn't going to open the door, or pull the curtains open to see who was there. If there wasn't 14 inches of snow on the ground, I possibly could have snuck out the back to see if I could take a photo of the car, but no way did I want to confront anyone.

What would you have done?
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Around a week ago my dog started barking, and he's not a big barker. No doorbell heard by me, but I was sleeping. It was midnight and I go to be really early and get up early. I told him to be quiet and he didn't listen, so I knew something was going on.

I threw on my sweatpants and a flannel shirt and opened the front door. There was a car running and a few people, talked to a woman through my screen door and she apologized for bothering me. They were looking for someone's house who also has a dog. I told her no problem, have a good night.

All was well. Most people are good, I don't immediately think something bad is happening. Of course, if someone broke in and was in my house, it would be a different story.

A while back same thing with the dog in the middle of the night. Turns out there were cop cars outside and one walking up and down my driveway. They got a call about smelling something burning in the area, and they were checking things out. Well, many of my neighbors have wood stove or use their fireplaces in winter. Nothing smelled unusual to me, I did go outside and talked to a couple of them, then came back in before they decided to shoot me. ;)

My opinion is I would get up and see what was going on. I never had a camera or security system, but I do have security doors and bars on the windows.
 
Owlivia
Owlivia said:
I don't have any guns and the only weapon I could come up with is a can of some type of spray to try and blind them temporarily. Probably not very useful though.
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You really should have a self defense weapon in your home, it doesn't necessarily have to be a gun but it needs to be something you can use at a distance. A can of bear/pepper spray may work for you, that's good for twenty five feet or so. There are also C02 style guns that shoot tear gas pellets or rubber bullets.

Personally I have a firearm close at all times, and when I'm out on the mower or tractor I keep a firearm on my person.
 
Thank you all, more helpful new posts, so appreciated.

I will definitely look into some kind of personal spray. A can of Febreeze is too big to carry.

Maybe the dog warning sign is something to consider, I see that sign on people's lawns down the street.

Will do some reading on the cameras, I try to do as little gadget electronics as possible, but maybe there is a simple one.
 
While cameras and signs and security alarms can give you some peace of mind they will not save your life once an intruder is in your home, or frankly even in your yard. The police are great but won't be there in seconds, that's why I think you need something at hand to defend yourself, even when in the back yard tending the flowers.

I'm not trying to scare you, rather trying to impress upon you the importance of self defense. Whatever home defense tool you decide on will probably never be used, but can save your life if needed.
 
I haven't heard a single answer to do with a person in trouble, car accident' husband or wife injured, etc. Over the many years that I've lived in this home (I was born here) we have had people in dire need pushing the bell, knocking, shouting, etc.
So we should have ignored these people, shot them, or called the police. If this is the thinking of the average citizen today, I;m almost glad that I'm "reaching the end of the trail".

I have yet to turn my back on folks similar to myself - -finding themselves in dire emergecies and no one gives a s - -t.
 
Dog signs, dog recordings, cameras, auto lights are all helpful. Crooks like to take the easiest target and these things make your house look like a tougher mark. My guess is that if that surprise visitor heard some large dog barking behind the door, they would be gone in a hurry. You can also get an inexpensive fake camera. And if guns are not for you, at least have some pepper spray.

While staying in Tijuana at my friend’s mother-in-law’s home, all the homes had high 8+ ft security fences. But her’s was a bit higher, with a Doberman left in the courtyard overnight for good measure. She never had a break-in.
 

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