Scary thing happened today....

[Blueyes]

I would be upset, too! So many people take advantage of the elderly. The guy may have been looking to see what they had in the house that he could steal. Maybe you should notify the police so they can at least keep an eye on the neighborhood.

I know they are glad to have you watching out for them

[judy]

How awful!!! What terrible people there are to take advantage of older people. Thank goodness nothing happened!

Maybe you should notify the police, and meet them there so that you take pressure off your aunt.

[DIANE W]

Thank you Betsi and Judy for your replies. I have checked on them today and they are fine, so i feel a lot better, i will be reminding them though about it everyday....

I rang the Police just to get some advice, and they took down details and i asked that if they are going to visit, that they ring me first to be present, but i dont think they will call, i gave them as much information as my Aunt or Uncle could - they would not have been able to give a very good description themselves.

They agreed they need to be vigilant about opening the door to people, i told my Aunt that i had called the Police (they have never had any dealings with the police so this made it very serious - which i am glad about), so they will hopefully remember for the future.

I think it just really shocked me that they would be so silly - again.

Thanks for the advice, i hardley ever post about things, and it was nice of you to reply.

[DianaB]

That's scary! I can't believe the things that people will do to get what you have!! Stealing from the elderly. I'm so glad that your Uncle decided to move into the other room.....no telling what might have happened!!! I'm glad that you talked to the police about keeping an eye on the house!! I hope your Aunt is more cautious about letting people in the house.

[Shada]

How scary!! I hope you got thru to them to never invite a stranger into their home. Last summer, my elderly neighbor got a knock on her door from whom she was told was a cable TV salesman who asked her to come out of her house to show him her property line. She did this, and while she was outside with him, another person went into her home and robbed her. She had no idea until they were gone! We live in a dangerous world now sadly. Can't trust those we do not know. Never ever open your door and invite a stranger into your home!
Thank God this turned out ok for them.. the next time might not.
Thank you for watching out for them, and alerting the police was the right thing to do.

[Gina]

That is very scary. A similar story happened to my mom. Many years ago a woman rang my moms door bell and asked for some information my mom told her to come in. The woman asked for some water and as my mom went into the kitchen she ventured into my parents bedroom , luckily my dad was coming out of room and he yelled out at her and she got scared and ran out..

Men are not the only ones not to be trusted , remind your aunt not to open the door to anyone, they are very lucky he didn't harm them...

[Janet]

This happens way to frequently. You were right to contact the police, maybe they can beef up patrols around the area for awhile. It's nice that your aunt and uncle are so trusting....good people, but it can also be deadly. The world around us just isn't safe anymore....very sad.

[DIANE W]

Originally Posted by Shada

How scary!! I hope you got thru to them to never invite a stranger into their home. Last summer, my elderly neighbor got a knock on her door from whom she was told was a cable TV salesman who asked her to come out of her house to show him her property line. She did this, and while she was outside with him, another person went into her home and robbed her. She had no idea until they were gone! We live in a dangerous world now sadly. Can't trust those we do not know. Never ever open your door and invite a stranger into your home!
Thank God this turned out ok for them.. the next time might not.
Thank you for watching out for them, and alerting the police was the right thing to do.

Yes that is what we though...that maybe someone else would go around the back and try to get in and steal, i think it is called distraction burglary, I really did stress the seriousness of what she did. The trouble is these people are so believable - i mean even jumping over the fence to give the impression he did belong at the next door property. And as i have already said they just trust people and think they are genuine - hopefully not anymore though.
Your right it was ok this time.... I told them that next time they may not be that lucky.

[DIANE W]

Thanks for the advice everyone and it is awful to read other similar tales.

I have rang her today and they are fine, she said again to me that in a way it has done her a favour - because now she will be extra careful (hope this determination lasts though), so we will just have to see, hopefully he saw enough that they are not wealthy and although they live comfortably, they dont have expensive material things.

I too keep thinking how different it could have been, thankfully they were ok, it is me that is more worked up about it all.