Stranger on my porch...
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (38262)
November 30, 2024 3:32am CST
At 2:44 AM, my door cam went off.
This has happened occasionally, always due to nature out in the night...the occasional raccoon, squirrel, bunny, and twice in one night, a little red fox. But never a human at that hour, never. My neighborhood is very well lit, and very quiet at night.
I checked the phone camera, imagine my surprise when I hit play and an older man walked up to the doorway. Baseball cap, light tan jacket, probably in his 60's....he walked sort of funny. Stopped and looked at the door, walked back out to the sidewalk, and after a shuffle or two, went down to the next townhouse (we are all on one level.) It's COLD. Sort of icy. And I wasn't sure of him at all, so I didn't open the door to check on him, etc...I called the police. They came out and did a scan all around for him, and in the surrounding two circle streets and even went out by our little lake, and the big gazebo...but no one. They called me back and asked to see the footage, so came and got that...they have no idea who he is. One officer says, maybe he's confused, or possibly from the Assisted Living down the street, but they checked and no one is missing from there.
Now I am worried he is still out there walking around. He didn't act that confused, he was just sort of...well, strange. They said they were going to look some more.
Yes, my doors are locked, of course. It was a first for me, in all the time I have had that camera, I have never had a human come to the door in the middle of the night. Gave me a weird feeling.
11 people like this
10 responses
@LindaOHio (180346)
• United States
30 Nov
I can understand your feelings. It would scare me too. I'm glad you called the police and gave them the footage.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
I wasn’t scared exactly, but he acted so strangely. There was no other choice but to call police at that point. At least now they have the picture and footage and know what he looks like.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62858)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
30 Nov
@porwest Anybody at my door at any time is unpleasant to me. Even if they aren't strangers lol
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (6824)
• United Kingdom
2 Dec
It makes you wonder who is out there wandering about late at night. Without the camera you’d have probably been blissfully unaware.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6824)
• United Kingdom
2 Dec
@MarieCoyle You’re going to have to get rid of the welcome mat at your door. It’s too inviting!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
3 Dec
@Orson_Kart
My nice, cute welcome mat blew away in a massive storm...now it's a plain, black mat. Not very welcoming, but it gets the job of wiping feet done just fine!
@GardenGerty (160812)
• United States
30 Nov
Maybe he found the place he was looking for and went inside. I am glad your police were responsive and thorough.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
He is reportedly still wandering about. And it is very cold outside. I hope he gets where he needs to be soon.
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
We do not have enough police here, but I do have to say they are a good bunch of officers that seem to care. Thank you, Amber.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137254)
• India
30 Nov
Good you have that what we call here CCTV I have not installed one but my neighbour has and she can see if anyone approahes my gate.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
My oldest son insisted I have the cameras. I didn't really think they were necessary, but in these strange times we live in, they do add some reassurance, and provide a person the opportunity to talk to the person without opening the door, or to ignore them.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51423)
• Canada
30 Nov
@MarieCoyle It is reassuring to know that the police is doing everything that they can, and haven't just written the call off.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
The police called again to ask if I knew if anyone had seen him today. I got the impression that he is wandering about and that they have had more calls now.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (181456)
• United States
30 Nov
Yikrs, that would scare the neck out of me. Do you think maybe he was just looking for a particular house?
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50384)
• United States
30 Nov
I hope that he is okay and made his way home.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107343)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Nov
He might have been looking for a certain house.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
Maybe. None of my neighbors recognized his picture when the police went around and asked them. I think there may be more to the story than we know, but time will tell.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38262)
•
30 Nov
I will post if I hear anything. Just hope he is ok. Thanks, Jim.
1 person likes this