It was dusk when there was a knock at the door.
I peered through the front window and saw a rough scruffy looking man standing by the front door, hands in pockets.
I shouted for him to walk around to the kitchen wall and waited for him to catch up, wary at the stranger.
The man had an Irish accent and was overly friendly.
He asked if I needed any roofing doing.
I said I didn’t
He then asked me if I had any scrap metal going but was looking carefully at the new build behind the cottage as he did so.
I told him assertively that I hadn’t .
He stayed , standing at the wall for a little too long as Dorothy bounced into the kitchen doorway with a low woof
“ Ah that’s a good looking bulldog “ the stranger said clicking his fingers at her.
Dorothy didn’t move forward and I motioned her to stay where she was
“ What’s his name?” the man asked, suddenly interested all of a sudden.
Alarm bells started to ring
“Troy ” I said thinking quickly and as the man clicked his fingers again I called out “Don’t call him, he bites”
Dorothy watched all this with her most worried expression on, which thankfully, is a face that could be misconstrued as borderline annoyance if the wind was in the right direction and the man withdraw his fingers to behind the wall.
I was going to say something else to end the conversation but the man was already moving off back up the lane.
One cannot be too careful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like reconnaissance. Be careful.
ReplyDeleteIt felt like a chancer , just looking for scrap and someone to con I think
DeleteI would be more worried about Dorothy than anything else. It really seemed like he was checking her out. I'm sure you will ask your neighbors to keep an eye out for that guy looking to do bad in your area. Isn't it interesting that sometimes you can just have a feeling about a person that they are conniving.
DeleteWhen I have that feeling about anyone,it makes the hair at the back of my neck kind of stand up,and my arms feel tingly, not in a good way. If I have those feelings I get as far away as possible from the creep. Every time that has happened to me,I discovered later that those signs had been correct, but the problems ended up happening to someone else.
One time when I was out in the driveway playing with our kids when they were little. I had brought our tall,wide chested, big (110 lbs) loving sable and white Collie out with us. The kids and I were involved in our game and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Lance standing near the street, but still well in our driveway. He looked like he had inflated himself. Every hair on his body was standing on end and his expression was one I had never seen before,definitely not his usual Collie smile. He moved so that he was more between the man who was walking up the street and the kids and I. I have found (with my Collies, anyway), That if my Collie didn't like someone, there was some reason for it. The man definitely did look strange. I think if he would have stepped into our yard Lance would have attacked. The kids and I went into the house with Lance following along behind, his fur still fully inflated, especially on his back. He watched the man disappear over the hill. Lance was still sniffing the air. Finally his fur deflated back to normal, and he quit sniffing at the door. It was amazing to see him guarding his herd (me, and the kids) so seriously. I still wonder, 30 years later what evil about that man Lance either sensed or could smell. Lance never acted that way before that time or after, and he lived to be 15 years old.
He was a good dog, Sir Lancelot.
I think you are right, some dogs sense “ intent”
DeleteThat's upsetting John-I'm trembling just reading this-Some years ago and on the very day I had returned home with my lily from the dogs home 4 similar types stopped their large shiny car truck and were hanging out of their window overly friendly"that's a fine looking dog"etc etc-I was quite ignorant to them and walked into a neighbours driveway-They are everywhere-and will nick anything-and Well done Dorothy xx
ReplyDeleteJudgemental and shallow of you both
DeleteNo - You know nothing - I am not stupid however I may appear to you
DeleteAnon, I was being judgemental yes.
DeleteBut with due cause and I felt I read the situation right
We recieve warnings from local police,newspapers,park wardens etc when they are operating in the area describing the criminals x
DeleteI do agree with Anon on this. Your account is pretty harsh. What's got his attire and accent got to do with anything? And, in my experience, the Irish are VERY friendly. As am I. No one has set their dogs on me yet.
DeleteWhat intrigues me most in this little saga are the logistics of it. Why would you ask him to come to the kitchen wall?
U
I disagree ,
DeleteBut then I would
I have more experience with this sort of thing than you do , and I don’t apologise for being careful. I wasn’t rude or dismissive, just assertive in my tone
I don’t like over friendly people, especial ones selling a service
You were wise to be wary, John. Am glad Dorothy followed your command.
ReplyDeleteDo you suppose you should alert the local police to his presence in the village? Put a bucket of water over the door so anyone entering will get doused? You cannot be too careful.
Hugs!
There is a comment on the village what’s app group already about door knocking.
DeleteThat's a great story! Dorothy really earned her place in the family tonight. I wonder if all the copper pipes in the new build will be gone by morning---and also if the last time this fellow visited, bout this time last winter, if he didn't help himself to your firewood. Remember that? I don't understand why you don't call the police at least to report it, life is different in Wales, I gather.
ReplyDeletelizzy x
Yes , I had forgotton all my firewood went missing. Years ago the Prof’s moterboke was stolen
DeletePS He could also be looking for purebred dogs to steal! I hope you have good locks? I can't imagine the girls in the dogfight rings.
ReplyDeleteLeave lights and TV on when out for a week or two?
His interest in Dorothy worried me , that’s why I changed her name . We have a few people, generally men , during the year pop up to offer services. Most , I think are up to no good
DeleteLizzy D's comment reminded me-When I was burgled I saw the man outside as he was waiting to get picked up-he left my ripped open birthday cards discarded on the stairs and stole my grandmam's silver Apostle spoons-and the following year there was a knock on the door and different person but same accent asked me for "directions"!for somewhere or other-Sneaky b******s x
ReplyDeleteHow awful for you
DeleteYou're right to be cautious. There's all types around, up to no good.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not nice to be suspicious but it’s pragmatic
DeleteJust reading your account has made me nervous for you all. There are some real scumbags about. Does Mrs Trellis have the dogs during the day still?
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
No , she never has, they go to trendy carol’s when I’m on day shifts
DeleteOh Trendy Carol not Mrs Trellis...Apologies to TC.
DeleteJo in Auckland
Lol
DeleteI don't like these people calling. I'm afraid they give their fellow countrymen an unwarranted bad name.
ReplyDeleteYes cro, that’s correct
DeleteHe sounds shady to me and it raises my heckles just reading this.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had a few visits like this , villages in the afternoon can be isolated places
DeleteOh, John, that's scary. I, too was worried for Dorothy, when you read about dognapping being on the rise. Spread the word around your village, so people are aware. Some vulnerable people may be taken in by him and his ilk. xx
ReplyDeleteThat was my immediate thought too. When we lived in Carms, itinerant travellers would romp through and nick everything by the road that wasn't nailed down, a neighbour's generator in an ancient caravan always being greatly desired. These days dogs are VERY much in demand.
DeleteI think he was just touting for work l Dorothy just turned up halfway through
DeleteI have had visits like this, offering to do the roof, any scrap metal and the two most aggressive were to do the driveway. I found one person in actually in the garden and another I had trouble getting rid of. It can feel very threatening and we are all now so wary of dog stealing. I wish there was some way to prevent it completely. I hope he doesn't return and the village can all look out for each other.
ReplyDeleteI suspect he’s mikes away by now
DeleteI've had two personal experiences like this. One, asking for scrap and then a theft the next day. The second was a lovely young man asking for gardening work. He went around the neighburs, found one house empty and stole building supplies, unaware that I was watching him from upstairs and phoning the police.
ReplyDeleteYou were spot on, and well done Dorothy.
I see paranoia is rife among your readership. What an innocent I am. I am amazed I have made through life so far, unscathed. Sure there are people who'll be casing the joint but, on the whole, they tend to be subtle, inconspicuous. Why are so many so suspicious of others? HA, stranger danger! Dear dog in heaven. It was probably just a guy banking on the kindness of a fellow human. You know, on the off chance.
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't he take an interest in a dog? People usually do. Easy conversation opener.
Would you like me tell you my closing line to this comment? I will. But only with your permission. I'll even come to the kitchen wall - Dorothy not withstanding.
U
You are being very naive here, Ursula. Perhaps it is to do with the type of property/ area you live in, but I can assure you that here in South West Wales, with proximity to the Irish ferries, it is a problem, and I can quite believe that rural North Wales has similar issues. It is not being Irish as such, more that it is very quick and easy for them to leave the country via the ferries. By the time the police are on to them, they are gone.
DeleteUsual excuses for calling are to offer gardening work, roofing, driveways (because they just happen to have a lorry load of tarmac around the corner), and so on. Our local papers regularly carry police warnings for the elderly against parting with money up front for jobs, many of which don't actually need doing.
If you have not had experience of this, be grateful, not accusatory.
I think I’ve had some scrapes with Irish travellers which seems a fairly common thing in rural communities such as the welsh coastal corridor
DeleteI doubt you have had similar experiences Ursula and therefore have the luxury of behaving in a more trusting way .
I suspected you would take the opposite view anyway, and knew what your response was going to be before I finished writing the blog
If you are asking for permission for a comment , I’m not playing that game
DeleteIndeed, she is the ideal build and look for a thief
DeleteI, too, would have found this creepy. Glad “Troy” was there.
ReplyDeleteTroy
DeleteI had to laugh
It’s a ploy similar to what my elderly widowed grandmother used to employ, when there was a knock on the door she would shout out to an empty house , in full hearing by the visitior
“ Ron I will get the door”
Well done Dorothy - its amazing just how many people think bulldogs are nasty whereas they are some of the nicest natured dogs in my experience. We do occsdionally get people round here obviously having a look round shall we say. My son has fixed me a chain on the door, which is a comfort.
ReplyDeleteBetter letting him think she was a killer
DeleteWhen my Mum was in her mid 90s a man knocked on the door and asked to borrow a pencil. My lovely Mum duly went to the back of the house to get him one. Luckily Tom, a plumber, was in the kitchen at the back and realised what was going on. He listened in behind the door until he heard the man saying to Mum that he could hear her cage birds ( Zebra finches) tweeting. Obviously the next move would have been to come in and see them, but Tom chose that moment to appear behind Mum, and the man suddenly had no more to say and dashed off! The incident was reported and a policewoman came later to talk to Mum about keeping safe. She was so lucky that Tom was there.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a creepy story
DeleteOh no,that's awful.I do hope you and the dogs will be ok.xx
ReplyDeleteIt’s no big deal lee, don’t worry
DeleteThat's horrible John. It sounds as if he was casing yours and neighbouring properties for anything he could lay his hands on - including the dogs. Hope your doors etc are very secure and you've got a camera or other security deterrents. I've had run-ins with these types before. One was particularly useful as the previous owner of my house had left behind an old car engine - unbelievably hidden under a large mound of grass clippings. A 'nefarious type' turned up in his battered white van, poking around my large front garden, and then when I challenged him, asked if I had any scrap metal. I was quite glad to give him the engine - which was incredibly heavy, but the brute and myself just about managed to put it in the back of his van. Not too long after my neighbour was burgled by a 'rough looking man' in a 'scruffy white van' - who was discovered in the act by my female neighbour whom he knocked to the ground. I've wondered if the two incidents are related. I live in a rural area and these 'types' are often around. Quite how anyone can live as they do is beyond me. I once put in a funding bid for a training company I briefly worked for, for some work around criminality in a nearby city. Interestingly the police informed me that the 'community' responsible for the most crime was one in which criminality was endemic in that community - parents and grandparents were also involved, so perhaps there's the answer, but tackling it is another matter altogether. C'est la vie.
ReplyDeleteI’m not making a drama out of it too much
DeleteI felt he was off and I suspect he was
I was polite and assertive and pretended Dorothy was a tough little bulldog and that’s it
We run into such characters everyday and I’m not particularly bothered if I was totally mistaken
It's bad enough when they call in full daylight with a pick-up truck and a couple of mates behind them... but alone at dusk - that's a little unsettling. You will have to sign up for karate lessons.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had things stolen from the field before . And farmers I know have had numerous outbuildings raided .
DeleteThere are a lot of strange folk doing the rounds. My elderly Aunt got a knock at the door at 11.00pm last week. She shouted out 'who is it' and they replied your neighbour Trevor from across the road. When she opened the door the person asked for £5.00 for the electric meter. It wasn't Trevor but he kept insisting that he was. He was wearing a mask so that hid part of his face. She told him that she knew Trevor and he was not Trevor! He eventually backed off and walk off down the street.
ReplyDeleteThe Bullying of elderly people is unforgivable
DeleteDear John,
ReplyDeleteI totally can identify with this scenario. You are being VERY sharp and RIGHT about this situation. Here's a link to my local newspaper about just ONE incident 'The Sligo Champion.ie' (and this is widespread in my homeland) at the moment. This is our lovely neighbour Tom's situation (Tom Niland). These IMMORAL people are not just interested in Dogs, they have other interests too!!!. It is UNBEARABLE at the moment in Ireland. Do take care. Sending you lots of Luurrrrvvve & stay SAFE.
A few years ago, I caught someone trying to lift William over the garden wall
DeleteI have learned to listen to my inner knowing; if something feels off, it IS OFF! Most of us here in our subdivision have the "Ring" doorbells, with cameras that have sound as well. Many would-be thieves and thugs have been deterred by these devices. There is a "share" part of the app so any suspicious activity can be sent to anyone in the area. If this sort of thing hadn't been happening all over and so often, then maybe we might be able to think more kindly of the random knock on our doors. I don't think any of us are paranoid - we are smart and cautious - a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteKarla
DeleteI so agree. Social pressure ,often dampens your innate ability to read non verbal cues that tell you someone is false and a possible risk
A few years ago there was a reported white van seen in various areas acting suspiciously-I've spoken to people who encountered them-and description of the individuals-they were approaching people walking with their dogs and asking lots of questions- one lady was that frightened after a close encounter with them she was crying and said she would never visit there again and an elderly boxer man thumped one in the face x
ReplyDeleteDuring lockdown the number of pedigree dogs stolen soared
DeleteMine was an unwanted dog in Ireland where she is from-a lurcher with scars who I was told by the dogs home"was probably not fast enough"-and the men in a truck were still eyeing her up x
DeleteLol
DeleteThey were 4 large men with no reason to stop alongside me abruptly in their black shiny Mitsubishi? in my road to speak to a woman(me) in my late 50s then and drive away(it wasn't even the driver who stopped to call out to me but his front passenger who must have eyed my lily first) and around that time those types were responsible for hanging 2 lurchers like my lily the papers reported-I was terrified x
DeleteBeware, be careful.
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s a sad lesion but a salient one
DeleteI've been looking at photos of Japanese Akita dogs recently. I don't think you could get a scarier one.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a lover of them , I fear Russian terriers the most , after being attacked by one a few years ago
DeleteI've heard thieves are scoping out neighborhoods. They watch the comings and goings of people. Target an individual or home and strike when they believe it is beneficial to them. (A few years ago, a friend was weeding her garden and a man entered her home from a back window. Jewelry and cash were taken. My friend came in to the house and the man escaped out the same window. The police investigated to no avail.) We all need to take caution.
ReplyDeleteThe village has been targeted by such people, my friend Bridget walked in on a thief in her kitchen
DeleteTrust your gut.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot be be said for following that little inner voice
DeleteI agree with Ms. Moon. It isn't race, creed or colour. It's your gut instinct and you acted appropriately and responsibly. I hope I'd do the same.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY , I described him as he was, not in any “ racist” way
DeleteEeek! Ms. Moon is right. Trust your gut.
ReplyDeleteI do and will
DeleteI wonder if your shifts confused him. They are unpredictable and your schedule is varied. I'd advise the neighbors and form sort of a neighborhood watch, if you can, where each of you look out for the others being mindful of vehicles that do not belong.
ReplyDeleteNo, Debby, I suspect he was just trolling the neighbourhood for a job and whatever else he either could nab or chance
DeleteHmmmm...definitely sounds dicey. It's good for him to suspect you have a biting dog.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad Mary was fast asleep and missed the drama
DeleteMe again-I wish to warn people of their downright brazeness-I was once sitting in the car in a nice Dorset Market Town and suddenly the car door opened and a middle aged lady with a strong accent sat in the seat alongside me-Then her large daughter opened the back door and sat in the back as bold as brass - my dogs were behind a dog guard- I was frightened for us all but I dare not scream - she took my hand to read my palm-She asked for a few pounds and helped herself to a fag -and asked for a light and left x
ReplyDeleteThat must have been very intimidating, flis. Even if they meant no harm, it must have still been scary. xx
DeleteIndeed x
DeleteI've been told to lock my car doors when out and about but I've not felt the need to do so. Fils, your experience supports "locking the doors." What a scary experience! I'm glad you came out okay.
DeleteI think we are al getting paranoid
DeleteI am Irish we are friendly but not that friendly we don't randomly knock on strangers doors to have a chat. We have had a huge problem with a group within the country stealing dogs(and other things too) you are not making a drama out of nothing there are people in rural Ireland living in fear of these people Watch the dogs carefully for the next days.
ReplyDeleteThere is an element of the traveller community that I am referring to
DeleteDear John take care.You are right to be cautious.Whilst we don't want to live in fear we must be careful and protect our homes and pets X Good girl Dorothy she will never let you down.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you all.
Jo in Coventry.x
She always does what she’s told x
DeleteBad people. Good to be on guard
ReplyDeleteAs always
DeleteGood to spread the word to neighbors and be careful.
ReplyDeleteDone already
DeleteAnd that's pretty much how women feel talking to men, all the time.
ReplyDeleteAs a woman I beg to differ. I don’t feel that way talking to men all the time, occasionally perhaps but certainly not all the time. Generalisations like this aren’t helpful to anyone.
DeleteBite me
Delete@Pixie,
DeleteMaybe on your side of the pond women are afraid of men on a constant basis. Here in the UK though, we don't automatically suspect that every male is out to harm us!
As for your 'bite me' comment, there was absolutely no need to be so damned rude.
I await the insults from you!
I believe Pixie has her valid reasons-and as for the bite me it made me chuckle-said in jest I thought x
DeleteCheck for any markings around the house, fence, stoop, door, walkway, mailbox etc. If you were being checked out..sometimes a sort of mark or stone or something is placed so the house would recognized for the visitor or the rest of his pals should they return to empty your home of dogs or valuables.
ReplyDelete