I called the cops, would you have

[DVCisME]

A about 20 minutes ago, I was sitting in my living room and I heard someone run up on my front porch. They slammed their body against the door a few times. My living room is straight in front of the door a few feet and there are windows about eye level to where you can see through the door. I got up and looked to see who was there. It was a child about 8/9 yelling to let her in and kept slamming her body into the door. She then started jumping up to see inside the window. To the right of the door we have rocking chair that you cannot see from looking out the door. I wasn't sure if someone was there or not, and was getting nervous. The girl started to yell to her mother that I would not let her in. I saw no mother.

So, I called the cops and explained the situation. While I was on the phone the girl ran across the street to a neighbors. We recently moved in, so I told the cops she ran across the street but did not know the house number. The police pull up and a car comes out of that driveway and stops to talk to the police. They explain that the child just got the houses mixed up and meant to go to the house next door to mine.
The police come to my door and explain that the 10 yr old girl just got mixed up. The houses do not look that much alike. I have light lighting up my whole driveway and th eporch and the other house was dark. The police kind of seemed annoyed. I had no idea what was going on and was honestly scare for myself and my children.

Do you think I over reacted? Would you have done the same? I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am my door was locked.

 

[focusondisney]

A about 20 minutes ago, I was sitting in my living room and I heard someone run up on my front porch. They slammed their body against the door a few times. My living room is straight in front of the door a few feet and there are windows about eye level to where you can see through the door. I got up and looked to see who was there. It was a child about 8/9 yelling to let her in and kept slamming her body into the door. She then started jumping up to see inside the window. To the right of the door we have rocking chair that you cannot see from looking out the door. I wasn't sure if someone was there or not, and was getting nervous. The girl started to yell to her mother that I would not let her in. I saw no mother.

So, I called the cops and explained the situation. While I was on the phone the girl ran across the street to a neighbors. We recently moved in, so I told the cops she ran across the street but did not know the house number. The police pull up and a car comes out of that driveway and stops to talk to the police. They explain that the child just got the houses mixed up and meant to go to the house next door to mine.
The police come to my door and explain that the 10 yr old girl just got mixed up. The houses do not look that much alike. I have light lighting up my whole driveway and th eporch and the other house was dark. The police kind of seemed annoyed. I had no idea what was going on and was honestly scare for myself and my children.

Do you think I over reacted? Would you have done the same? I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am my door was locked.

I think you did the right thing. What if that child was in danger? You did what you had to do. Hopefully nothing else "interesting" will happen in your new neighborhood!

 

[themilesfamily]

If I were home alone and someone was trying to enter the house, I might very well call the police. If the kid was literally throwing herself against the door, I'd be wondering if the kid was in danger of some kind -- was someone else out there, etc.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Nope, I would have called to. Specially if it was dark. There are some not right in the head parents that teach and make there kids do things the assist them in crimes. Who knows if that could have been what was happening.

 

[C.Ann]

If I were home alone and someone was trying to enter the house, I might very well call the police. If the kid was literally throwing herself against the door, I'd be wondering if the kid was in danger of some kind -- was someone else out there, etc.

I agree.. Better safe than sorry..

Good job!

 

[DVCisME]

Thank you so much for the input. I was really scared. The cop made me feel like I was ridiculous because the girl was only 10.

 

[mecllap]

You did the right thing. Odd that she ran across the street if she was supposedly going to the house next to yours. Might be good to get briefly acquainted with the neighbors, so you can might be able to identify who belongs where.

 

[DVCisME]

The 2 neighbors are reaaly good friends and the child wasn't one of their's. So in hindsight I can kind of understand where she was going. I do not understand her slamming into the door and everything though.

 

[DaParkers]

My first thought would be to help her if I could. I would've just asked the girl what she wanted and if she was in any trouble before I called the cops. I would hate for anything to happen to her while the police are in route. I am a man, though. I assume you're a woman and don't think you did anything wrong.

 

[*Meagan*]

I would have called too! That is what they are there for. If you feel un safe or un comfortable..call them!

With people today.. you really can not trust anyone. For all you know an adult could have been using the child.. to get you to get the door open. Its happened.

My mother always sayss, "its better to be safe than sorry"..just sayin'

 

[tvguy]

You absolutely did the right thing.

You made what is known in police and fire jargon as a "good intent" call.

Any police officer who made you feel like you annoyed them needs to go back to the Police Academy.

 

[2Kds2K9]

My thought was that if she was yelling back to someone who wasn't there, then it could have been a ploy to get you to open the door.

You did the right thing. I would have called as well.

 

[ImagineerM]

I agree...that is scary! Why was a young kid out alone in the dark like that??

You shouldn't feel bad!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

You did the right thing!!!!!!!!!
If she wanted in why didn't she just knock or ring the doorbell. It just sounds fishy. Neighbors can be thieves to, one of mine is.

 

[okeydokey]

Honestly, if there was a little girl throwing herself at my door i would probably have opened the door to be sure she was all right. My first thought would have been that she was fleeing from somebody.

 

[momof1princess]

you absolutely did the right thing! i would have called too! NO WAY would i have opened the door and put my family in danger. glad everything is okay there, OP!

 

[lynxstch]

Not long ago in our area..a man 'kidnapped' a little girl in his van (had his 5 year son in a car seat in same van), drove her just a little ways from us, dragged her down to a dry creek bed, tried to molest her..then hit her in the head with a rock,till he thought she was dead, and he ran and then drove away..the little girl somehow got herself up..walked to a nearby house (this is in the country and there were not many houses where she was) and banged on the door till a man opened it..she was able to describe the man, the little boy, and the van (what a presence of mind that kid had under those circumstances!)..the man saw her, saw that she needed help, immediately called the police, and within a half hour, she was at the hospital being treated and her family was reunited with her..the kidnapper eluded the police search for I think 2 weeks, but they had identified him and were searching for him the same day..he was spotted on video camera's at a convenience store buying cigarettes and soda..and had a lot of relatives andfriends in the area..but they had his girlfriends phone tapped, he finally called her and they got him and he's in jail awaiting trial..no bond/no bail..first he said he 'was sorry for what he did to the little girl and her family"..then he said he wasn't guilty
What if the little girl on your porch last nite was in the same situation?..of course you should have called the police!!!! Who knows, you could have saved her life, as the man near us did for that little girl!

 

[MIGrandma]

Honestly, if there was a little girl throwing herself at my door i would probably have opened the door to be sure she was all right. My first thought would have been that she was fleeing from somebody.

That was my first thought as well.

At the very least, before I called the cops, I would have opened a window so I could talk to her and ask her WHY she was flinging herself at the door. If she was in trouble it could have gotten so much worse waiting for cops to come.

 

[shortbun]

I would have spoken to her through the door right away to determine if she was in danger. Then I would have called the police if necessary.

 

[kristilew]

I've called the police twice with stuff that in retrospect could be seen as overreacting. Both times, the deputies that answered the call (we're in the county, so it's sheriff's deputies) told me emphatically that they were glad I'd called and that they would rather check out every possible thing than have something small turn into something big down the road.

They also pointed out that just because nothing bad actually happened doesn't meant that someone with bad intent isn't watching to see how seriously citizens and the sheriff's dept. take potential threats and storing that information away for future reference.

You did the right thing.