Why would someone come knock frantically on your door and then drive away?

Question

Just a minute ago a man came to my front door, knocked and rang the doorbell frantically, and then got in his truck and drove off. I was checking my email when I heard the knocking and all. I threw on my pants and shirt in a matter of a few seconds, and then ran to the window to see who it was. I saw a hispanic man getting into a truck with a lawnmower in the back. He drove off really quickly without stopping at any other houses.

The thing that weirded me out was how quickly and urgently the man had knocked, rang, and then got in his truck and drove off before I even had a chance to get to the door at running speed. The whole thing was over in a matter of about 20 or 30 seconds.

I thought it could be possible that he came to ask to mow our yard- but most of the grass in our yard is dead already, and he didn't stop to ask at any other houses.

Should I call the police or am I overreacting? There is a high crime rate where I live and I worry about weird things like that. So- what could have caused this man to do that? What should I do?

Answer 1

its best you did not answer he was probably on crack would have rushed you if you opened the door, then god knows what would have happened

Answer 2

i'm gonna agree with the drug run theory...he was definitely trying to run from some dire situation and your lazy 20 to 30 seconds was too long for him to wait.  

lock the doors and chill :D

-gabe

Answer 3

Door bell ditch. Duh.

Answer 4

Just kids being funny. I used to do it all the time, why was it so funny? i really dont know. i guess to just bother someone, taking something away such as time from someone is funny to some people.  

Answer 5

I would report it. Try and give the best description of his truck and what he looked like. Maybe he heard noise in the house and took off.  

Answer 6

He probably wanted to help correct your dead grass problem. I have had contracters come to my house also. Don't call the police.

If it were late at night I might be concerned. But I doubt it.

I wish someone would try to rob me. I would have to call the morgue. Not the police.

Answer 7

Three words: Ding Dong Ditch!

Answer 8

It might be a prank, or realized it wasn't the right house, or he didn't want to stick around to get help for some reason. It does sound spooky, but doesn't sound dangerous.  

Answer 9

maybe because he did not get a frantic response..i.e ..what is the normal response to frantic knocking...open the door verrrrrrrrrrrry quickly....fortunately this didnt happen and he ran off

Answer 10

Don't worry...he was just another n*gga knocker...that's what it's called.  You should sit by the window with a .357 loaded with teflons and see if it happens again.

Answer 11

Ding Dong Dash?

ha i have no idea why he would run off so frantically.

Answer 12

It's called N****r knocking. excuse my language.

Answer 13

It's a prank.He trying to scare you,this happens all the time!

Answer 14

I would wait around for a while, But make sure the doors are locked, Turn on the T.V or lights if it makes you feel more comfortable. Something along the lines of this has happened to me before. Don't call teh police unless something really starts to happen or if you are truely scared. I usually walk around my house to reasure myself. And turning on music or like I said a T.V Helps to make it feel like there is more going on and you are not all alone.

Answer 15

you can call the police and report it... there isn't any harm in doing that.  I doubt it was anything serious... guy probably was running late and wanted to use your phone or something weird.  

Answer 16

may be he had the wrong house

Answer 17

Well this happened to my friend but she didn't call the police, but if this guy does it again then you should call the police! i mean that is very freaky!

Answer 18

Maybe he's in some drug ring and was about to get killed so he knocked on the first door he saw and then saw the people coming for him so he decided to make a run for it. And then he got killed two blocks from your house, CALL THE COPS! YOU KILLED HIM. Juuust kidding. Your overreacting to the max.

Answer 19

prank call

Answer 20

You may want to call the police. A few years ago a "yard crew" stopped me in my driveway to ask me about mowing our lawn. They said they used to do the yard work for us a few years earlier and tried to give me their contact info and asked me get a pen and paper. I wasn't very trusting and had my phone on me so I offered to put their number in my cell phone. They all started acting really weird, said nevermind, and ran away. I later found out that the same company had done our yard ever since we moved there. They just wanted to get me into the house.

I would alert the police in case he does it to someone else and gets that person to open the door.

EDIT - I doubt a lawn guy would be pranking in the middle of the day with his lawnmower attached to his truck. And if he was going to offer services, I don't think he would frantically knock and ring the doorbell only to run away.

Answer 21

He probably knew that you were at home alone and wanted to get inside. You shouldn't call the police unless it happens again. Next time, you should try to write down the license plate number and what he had on.  

Answer 22

Wow.  That's crazy!  I would be freaked out, too.

I don't know what to tell you... I used to live in the city and I remember several occassions where a random stranger would buzz my apartment and wouldn't answer.  Probably thinking I would just let them in anyway, which I did NOT.  One time, it happened and someone in my building must have done just that because the next thing I know, they were knocking on my door.  I was TERRIFIED.  But I didn't answer and they went away.

People are just crazy.  I'm glad you looked out the window before you opened the door.  Not everyone is that smart, believe it or not.