Stranger in the house

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Stranger in the house
7
Tue, 05-27-2008 - 9:44am
A man stopped by on Sunday while I was working in the front yard - asked it I needed help for $$ to feed family. I said no thanks, I had an old guy in the house who was coming out to help. Later he rang the front door and DH went out to talk with him. Next thing I know, DH has promised to pay him to come wash and wax his car today. Now, DH is almost paranoid about people seeing thru blinds at night and me putting all my ratty garden tools away for fear someone will steel stuff. But - you can be sure this stranger is going to need to use the bathroom, get a drink etc. and this doesn't seem to phase DH! Me - I just don't want a stranger in the house. Plus we never wash the cars in our gravel drive because it turns into a mud pit. Grrrr. I have put my foot down and said no way, but DH thinks the guy will be put out and might get ticked off, plus DH doesn't want to "lose face" . BTW - I would feel the same about a stranger no matter his color or race. I just have this gut feeling that this is not a good idea. We don't need a handyman yet and I don't want to be the lady of the house handing out lemonade thru the screen door and telling him to go up the street to potty, etc. I am just fuming.
Avatar for eldersis
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 3:07am

I AM VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT MEN WHO JUST WANDER NEIGHBORHOODS "LOOKING FOR WORK. "

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-19-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 7:21am
i have to agree with you jacquie.i dont open my doors for anyone anymore. i even put a no solicitation sign on the mail box..in the city here we have many people coming to the door,asking for donations etc. i just dont open,especially at nite.its a sad state of affairs with all the crime going on,that you just cant trust anyone.today they bring a gun and before you know it,your shot and then robbed!hugs mindy

    

                      

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 7:28am

Jacquie,


I don't blame you for being upset. One can't really be too careful these days. If you are lucky this guy will be a no show. Be careful if he does and let us know how it all works out.


 


SweetBears.gif picture by nananmommy

Community Leader
Registered: 07-25-2000
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 8:50am

Jaquie, I know how you feel! I would not be happy about it either. A couple of years ago my DH agreed to let someone like that trim one of our trees. It turned out all right -- the guy never came into the house and managed trimming the tree without injury, but I was on pins and needles. Of course he wouldn't have any kind of insurance and I could see him suing us if he fell and hurt himself!


I hope all goes well for you.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 11:51am
Mindy, we have people walking through
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 12:53pm

I had that happen when we first moved to this smaller city and lived in an older neighborhood. My eldest DS was napping, I was on the sofa watching TV when I saw the door handle turning. I rolled down on the floor in a flash, crawled over to put on the deadbolt, then crawled to the other 2 doors to get them locked, went to the bedrooms to check the windows. What a creepy feeling that was.

What the would-be criminals don't know about this old pair is that we are probably better shots than they are. But - we never put on NRA bumper stickers, etc to advertise what we have. We did see a sign that was tempting "Forget the dog, beware of the owners".

Now when I go out to work in the yard I lock the door and take my car keys with car alarm pad on it. DH knows to wear his hearing aid at all times, so if he hears that sound, he should come running.

Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 05-28-2008 - 12:58pm

Jacquie, I am a city girl, and believe me, nobody should hire as they come around like that.

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