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.
 
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