Some one just tried to walk into my home. NO SOLICITOR Sign being ignored

[chezuki]

I had a very brief decisive encounter with a pizza delivery guy one night about 2:00am. My screen door was unlocked, my front door was unlocked and he was totally at the wrong house (don't know that I had ever forgot to lock it before or since). I had heard something strange at the door and as I approached it I noticed it unlocked, as I reached for it, he started opening the door. He ended up laying on my porch and I ended up apologizing for knocking him down (I did not point the gun at him and I did keep my finger off the trigger, so that's something). He was dressed like pizza guy, had uniform, pizza, car with sign on it, flashlight, etc. I believe him that he couldn't find the address and saw my lights on and tried knocking. I had my headphones on, so didn't hear him until he really started banging on the door. For the life of me I don't know why he tried opening the door. I know I would not try opening a stranger's door, especially at 2:00 am, especially in my neighborhood.

Now I do what I suggest you do, I lock my storm door. If someone is knocking on it, I can open my interior door if I l want to and talk to them through the storm, or not open my interior door. It's not hard to yank the locked storm door open, but it's loud and takes intent.

Wait... I can get a pizza delivered at 2am?!? From where?

 

[Cameramonkey]

I doubt most people even know what soliciting means and people collecting for charity probably figure that applies to sales people, not them.

Wife's friend follows it up on her handmade sign with... "If we dont know you, DONT KNOCK ON OUR DOOR!"

 

[MCgrease08]

I guess I'll say it. Boy you guys are all pretty jumpy. Being vigilant is one thing, but jumping to code Orange for a couple of little girls is another.

Look out the window. Access the situation. Jumping right to drawing the weapon might be a little excessive.

Remind me not to go door to door collecting signatures for a pro 2A petition in any of your neighborhoods.

 

[cyprant]

I guess I'll say it. Boy you guys are all pretty jumpy. Being vigilant is one thing, but jumping to code Orange for a couple of little girls is another.

Look out the window. Access the situation. Jumping right to drawing the weapon might be a little excessive.

Remind me not to go door to door collecting signatures for a pro 2A petition in any of your neighborhoods.

Ummm did you read the part where they opened my door???

I'd hope you wouldnt be so thick to go around opening up / attempting to open peoples doors looking to sign a petition ...

 

[churchmouse]

I guess I'll say it. Boy you guys are all pretty jumpy. Being vigilant is one thing, but jumping to code Orange for a couple of little girls is another.

Look out the window. Access the situation. Jumping right to drawing the weapon might be a little excessive.

Remind me not to go door to door collecting signatures for a pro 2A petition in any of your neighborhoods.

The Barbie movies always put me on edge....always.

Points to the OP for doing this (movie) with the daughter. Those movies are the worst but my G-daughter loves anything Barbie so I tough it out.

 

[Combsie]

I guess I'll say it. Boy you guys are all pretty jumpy. Being vigilant is one thing, but jumping to code Orange for a couple of little girls is another.

Look out the window. Access the situation. Jumping right to drawing the weapon might be a little excessive.

Remind me not to go door to door collecting signatures for a pro 2A petition in any of your neighborhoods.

Dusk outside, door knob jiggled and your not grabbing your best line of defense?

 

[Bennettjh]

I keep all doors locked at all times. Our front door has some decorative type glass in it so there are some places you can get a clear look at who it is. I'm not very "talkative" with salesman/solicitors, they don't stick around long.

OP; peep hole with the door locked.

 

[VUPDblue]

Marion County has an ordinance against soliciting so long as the property is conspicuously marked "at the entrance to the property" with "no soliciting" and/or "no handbills". If the property is properly marked then it's a ticketable offense.

 

[churchmouse]

I guess I'll say it. Boy you guys are all pretty jumpy. Being vigilant is one thing, but jumping to code Orange for a couple of little girls is another.

Look out the window. Access the situation. Jumping right to drawing the weapon might be a little excessive.

Remind me not to go door to door collecting signatures for a pro 2A petition in any of your neighborhoods.

Call me from the curb...PM me as it notifies....just being a SA....

 

[cyprant]

Marion County has an ordinance against soliciting so long as the property is conspicuously marked "at the entrance to the property" with "no soliciting" and/or "no handbills". If the property is properly marked then it's a ticketable offense.

Very cool.

 

[VUPDblue]

Very cool.

I may or may not have my property conspicuously marked and a ticket book next to the front door....

 

[churchmouse]

Can I get one of those ticket book thingy's..........

 

[cyprant]

Well I just looked up the Lake County ordinances and it reads that in order to solicit door to door, you need a permit to do so. Its also a $100 fine for soliciting at a residence that has a no soliciting sign. Other rules include only being allowed to go door to door between 9am -7pm weekdays and noon - 5pm Saturdays.

Interesting....

 

[churchmouse]

Well I just looked up the Lake County ordinances and it reads that in order to solicit door to door, you need a permit to do so. Its also a $100 fine for soliciting at a residence that has a no soliciting sign. Other rules include only being allowed to go door to door between 9am -7pm weekdays and noon - 5pm Saturdays.

Interesting....

Is it considered solicitation asking for charity??

Is odd they tried the door. That would put my hair up.

 

[Mgderf]

I have three (large) inside dogs.

Almost NOTHING sneaks up on my house.

If someone grabs the door-handle, there are "more-than-one" dogs inside barking to warn any potential intruders, "There's GOT to be an easier house!

 

[cyprant]

No its not. But there is some ass hat that has come pretty late trying to sell meat. He scared my wife one night pretty bad when I was in the house and she was on the porch...I now know what to do when he shows up again...

 

[freekforge]

I had a similar experience. I was in my garage running my lathe and the piece i was turning had a large OD so i had to run the lathe super slow so i pulled up a chair and leaned back. Me being an idiot i dozed off while my lathe was running . I was woke up by a giant hand grabbing my shoulder and neck area. I kicked the lathe stand, almost flipped over in the chair, grabbed my mosin and slammed the bolt forward and jumped up......it was a guy from down the road asking me if i did welding. boy did i feel like an idiot. I apologized for scaring him with the gun and he apologized for scaring the **** out of me and i thanked him for waking me up because my lathe was about to crash then we kinda just laughed it off. Needless to say he knocks now.

 

[GunSlinger]

I may or may not have my property conspicuously marked and a ticket book next to the front door....

I really like the way you think!

 

[jrogers]

Simple solution: Mount a camera with a good view of the area in front of the door. Run a cold water line to a shower head mounted nearly flush above the door frame and painted to match the wall. After a few soliciters you should have a great series for YouTube.

 

[STEEL CORE]

I know how you feel, think about what goes on around our homes when we are not there. Your reaction was natural. I too have a NO Soliciting sign on a post outside my door, and a guy came up the drive last weekend and knocked. I asked him WTF the No Sliciting sign ment to him ?!?

Oh didn't see it sorry...........was his reply....

Will have fun after the next hail storm I bet.