I had an unusual and concerning encounter today and I’m not sure what to make of it. About two hours ago, a young woman knocked on my door. She claimed she had lost her iPhone and that Find My iPhone indicated it was in the neighborhood.
She asked if she could come inside to look around and listen for it ringing. I declined immediately, told her I hadn’t seen a phone, and shut the door.
She then walked down the driveway and signaled a car to move to the next house. She only knocked on two more doors (my next-door and across-the-street neighbors) before they left. I went outside to get the car’s license plate, but it was gone within five minutes. Given our neighborhood is large, it means they only knocked on the first few houses by the main road, including mine.
Her story seemed suspicious to me. I’m worried because I’ll be leaving my house unattended for a few hours this evening, even though I have three roommates. Additionally, we’re all going on a 10-day vacation soon, leaving the house completely unoccupied for a while.
We don’t have any cameras on the house, though I’m considering getting a Ring doorbell. The landlord snipped the doorbell wires before we moved in, so only wireless models would work.
Am I being paranoid, or is this something to be concerned about? Should I report this to the police non-emergency line? Would it be wise to install cameras? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Might be casing, might also be telling the truth with a request to enter (the audacity, right?). Another option is she is crazy, or being tested for an undercover role. One way or another, I recommend you tighten up security as if she was casing, and stay calm as if she had one of the other excuses (pick one ;).
Your experience does sound concerning. It’s good you were cautious and didn’t let her in. It’s not paranoid to consider your security installing a wireless camera or Ring doorbell is a smart move. Reporting the incident to the police non-emergency line is also a good idea for safety. Stay vigilant
It’s understandable to be concerned about this encounter, as it did seem suspicious. While it’s possible the woman was genuinely looking for her phone, the quick exit of the car and the targeted approach could indicate otherwise. Reporting the incident to the non-emergency police line is a prudent step, as it helps authorities be aware of potential suspicious activity in the area. Installing a Ring doorbell or another wireless camera system is a wise move for added security, especially given that you’ll be away on vacation. It’s also a good idea to ensure your house is secure, inform your roommates about the situation, and consider notifying neighbors to be extra vigilant.