Can we cut your grass?

[tolduonce]

First post, great forum. Right off the bat, let me say I'm in the process of getting a CPL, so I can't carry outside of the home. I do carry inside the house about 50% of the time. Only started doing this recently after crime rate took a big uptick in my fairly safe neighborhood.

Here's my story. One day around noon there was a knock on the door, thinking it was my neighbor whom I just got off the phone with, I opened it without looking out first. Two guys, late teens, one with backpack, one smoking a cigarette were standing on porch; storm door was closed, but not locked. Immediately that sixth sense thing kicked in saying something ain't right. Door was opened maybe 6-8 inches and the hinges are on the left. So I stick my left foot behind the door to block it and pretended I was reaching for "something" with my right hand. Did not let them see what I pretended to pick up. The smoker says, "Me and my friend want to know if you want your grass cut". While saying this, I visibly noticed their affect change slightly from that teen-age testosterone poisoning/ready for whatever attitude to an uh oh posture. I told them NO and they walked down the drive and down the street, but they weren't going door to door. These guys sauntered on down to the cross street and took a left. Not once did they look back to see if I was watching them. Then I noticed something. There was a pizza delivery coupon rubber-banded to my doorknob. Probably been there since the day before. No other house had coupons on their doors. As things began to sink in the adrenaline trickle turned in to an adrenaline dump. Still, I didn't think to call the cops (who are very responsive and usually 2 minutes away). About a week later, I get an e-mail from news service saying two kids were picked up after being stopped two streets over. One had backpack with burglary tools. I've since made the following changes. I carry indoors 100% of the time. I've put a No Solicitors sign on the front door and am amazed at how well it works to cut down on fliers and leaflets on door/porch. I guess when you'r job is to leaflet; you don't want to walk any further than you have too. I've called the alarm company to ask for replacement window stickers. Seriously thinking of an intercom to talk to doorbell ringers without opening the door. The other advantage is a voice on a speaker doesn't give potential BGs a peek inside and a chance to size things up. Still bothered by the scenario and how things coulda turned out much differently and not in a good way.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Guest1]

great first post,remember"Creepers Creep".

[WHEC724]

Welcome from SC.

Most of us have had our 'wake up' calls. I'm glad you didn't get hurt during yours.

[MrBuckwheat]

I can come over and mow for you! Welcome.

[accessbob]

Welcome and a great post which, I'm sure, a lot of us can learn from. Hearing about these experiences helps me to think over how I might, or might not, be prepared for something that might happen. It isn't that we have to be paranoid, but we should take all reasonable precautions and let the sharks feed on the sheeple who don't prepare for any eventuality.

[barstoolguru]

Welcome and I too have a big NO TRESSPASSING/NO SOLSITATION sign right next to my front door. For the ones that choose to ignore it I take a camera outside and get there pic of them with the sign in the background and the co if they work for one then I threatens to call the cops and their job.

Here in Texas it is a 750.00 fine for tresspassing and you can take them to small claims court and sue them for violating your right to privacy and ignoring the sign. It works as good as a gun buster sign

[goldshellback]

Welcome Aboard from northern Asia!

I'd call the police and let'em know what happened to you WRT those two. The 'paper trail' might help one day.
Glad their 'interview' of you was unsuccessful!

[grav]

Good post and welcome from Northern MI.

[paaiyan]

Welcome, and that story sounds similar to a previous neighbor of mine. She was just getting out of the shower when someone knocked on her door. She got on a robe or something, and as she got to the door and started to open it the doorknob jiggled. She opened it fast (stupidly) and there was a stunned black male standing there and he stuttered about mowing her yard. She promptly told him off and he went his way. We watched this happen and were about to go over when he stood on the porch too long. She came over and told us what happened, so we called the cops.

This was at about 9:30 at night.

TRESSPASSING/NO SOLSITATION

Go find 10 teenagers and ask them what solicitation means. I dare you.

[WHEC724]

Go find 10 teenagers and ask them what solicitation means. I dare you.

I have a 'No Solicitation' engraved onto a stone plaque, embedded in the wall next to my doorbell. I've even pointed it out to folks when they're standing there trying to sell me something, and they always ask what it means. You are correct, the masses (not just teenagers) are illiterate.

[smolck]

I always let my GSD answer the door. He cut's down on the would be sales people. Good doggie!

[txron]

Good post. We always enter the house through the garage. It can be days before I notice anything on the porch or a flier on the front door. Will make more of an effort to gather that stuff up.

[tolduonce]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and well wishes. Something happened after sending that post and I wonder if anyone else has been there. Here's what I'm talking about. I should say I'm thankful that no one got hurt, none of my temporal stuff was taken and that the two yutes were picked up. But, and there's always a but, I'm saddened in a way too. Not Stockholm syndrome sad or bleeding heart sad. But saddened in my spirit if I can go there, here. Here's what I'm saying and I'm guessing those of us of a certain age can relate.
There was a time not so long ago that when a kid rang your bell wanting to mow your lawn, he meant it. He, she too had the old beat up, hope it'll start mower, the rusting gas can and the mosquito bitten arms to back up that desire. Kids were willing to put in the work and even if you said no to them, they'd be right back next week. They had hope. There was a time when you saw a guy with a backpack he was either on his way to or from somebody's school. He had a degree of hope. I used to smile at schoolboys walking the respectful 25 yards behind schoolgirls, both groups pretending not to see the other. My concern is that those days are gone never to return. Those two men/children didn't get inside my house to take some of my stuff, but they got inside my head and took some of my spirit. Now I can't even pass a kid with a book-bag over his shoulder without wondering what's up. Don't get it wrong. It's not time for therapy. And if someone wants to get all froggy, I WILL get snaky. Just wish there were a lot fewer frogs out there.

[WHEC724]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and well wishes. Something happened after sending that post and I wonder if anyone else has been there. Here's what I'm talking about. I should say I'm thankful that no one got hurt, none of my temporal stuff was taken and that the two yutes were picked up. But, and there's always a but, I'm saddened in a way too. Not Stockholm syndrome sad or bleeding heart sad. But saddened in my spirit if I can go there, here. Here's what I'm saying and I'm guessing those of us of a certain age can relate.
There was a time not so long ago that when a kid rang your bell wanting to mow your lawn, he meant it. He, she too had the old beat up, hope it'll start mower, the rusting gas can and the mosquito bitten arms to back up that desire. Kids were willing to put in the work and even if you said no to them, they'd be right back next week. They had hope. There was a time when you saw a guy with a backpack he was either on his way to or from somebody's school. He had a degree of hope. I used to smile at schoolboys walking the respectful 25 yards behind schoolgirls, both groups pretending not to see the other. My concern is that those days are gone never to return. Those two men/children didn't get inside my house to take some of my stuff, but they got inside my head and took some of my spirit. Now I can't even pass a kid with a book-bag over his shoulder without wondering what's up. Don't get it wrong. It's not time for therapy. And if someone wants to get all froggy, I WILL get snaky. Just wish there were a lot fewer frogs out there.

I'd say feeling sad regarding your observations is an appropriate response. I fear you are correct, and that those days are long gone. However, I've managed to purchase an extension of those days by sending my son to a private school that has the values that I was brought up with and cherish the most. On that campus, you'll swear you've gone back in time, with the polite and genuine way the kids and teachers treat one another. As I type this, he's at a summer camp with those same school friends, having the time of their life canoeing, fishing, jumping off of cliffs into the water, etc..

I often remind my son that the world that he lives in is artificial and does not represent the 'real world' out there. I'll point out news articles of what other kids his age are doing, and remind him that the day will come that he will live among them. I've taught him to fight and to shoot (the latter part has become expensive, as he's a bigger gun nut than me now). But for now, I'm giving him the best childhood that I can.

[tolduonce]

Snappy comeback: Are you the kid from the escort service? Come on in. We're all waiting for you. You got the cuffs right?
I only claimed snappy. Sometimes snappy is stupid too.