What would you have done?

[tigwig]

Hi all, the other night there was a knock at my door and on answering I found a quite elderly lady, who was a complete stranger, who asked if she could come in. I said why and then she began babbling about her daughter and relative and it became obvious she wasn't all there. I didn't particularly want to let her in my house especially with my 3 year old so she said she would try someone else. She wasn't distressed in any way just confused. she then walked up the street and knocked on other doors but no onw would answer. I felt sorry for her so phoned the police, by this time she had made her way right down the street away from my house and the police said they were sending 2 units out so could I possibly keep her in sight. I ran after her and she had vanished. I live next to a hospital and searched the immediate area but to no avail. When the police arrived some NHS staff pulled up to say they were missing a person from the ward who fitted the description. She had escaped from hospital! I went away feeling awful that I didn't just let her in and later rang the police again and luckily she had been found safe and well
What would you have done? Would you have let a complete stranger in your house?

[China Doll]

A question was asked and it was answered.

If it was my gran I hope someone would have done the same for her.

If you choose to feel bad about an answer then don't ask the question. I made no judgement.

[whiffey]

Well maybe not a group hug, but it's about time we all reinforced to each other how fabby we are. I don't mind being left out, I'll sweep up the hair in the salon and have a bar of Lindt Extra Rich Milk Chocolate.

[China Doll]

Actually Whiffey.... Before you do that.

Considering how fabulous you are... do you think I should try a home hair dye job to counterbalance the one that's gone wrong? Or admit defeat and go the hairdressers?

[sense4all]

Yeah, I let some old lad in who was confused about where he was because we lived on the opening corner to a 1930s half a dozen roads estate. We opened the back kitchen door and made a cup of tea together. I called the local surgery ( and Police ) to let them know in case his carer tried there;, as we lived on the way to Doctors. My kids were in, within forty minutes a distraught woman, was shouting and crying in the street ... crisis averted she arrived before the Police. By the way I had stay at home neighbours all around me. So not by myself lots of help to hand if needed.

[cambus]

You can't be too careful.
There is a gang of elderly women, probably pensioners, using the modus operandi you describe.
Once inside your home they will snatch purses and any other small items of value, particular targets have been young mothers with children.
They have been nicknamed the Grey Foxes by the press and police are warning everyone to be extra vigilant.

[johnlambert]

ROFLMAO @ the thought of a gang of 80 odd year old women with blue hair and rumpled thick denier tights making a getaway on their zimmer frames, cackling like witches while clutching tesco carrier bags full of ill gotten swag
That's it, I'm off for the night
See yaaaaa!!

[redcrx]

HAHA Cambus.

.......but you never can be too careful. My mum once found a toddler playing in our back garden when i was a kid, they were no mor than 3 years old. The child didnt seem upset and was happily playing. Upon further investigation the childs mother was sat at the front of the house waiting for someone to bring the child out from garden. This was a well known trick by a group of pikeys in the area to find out which homes were empty.

Its just a shame that because of such people others may well find that people are just not quite as trusting and welcoming as perhaps they would like to be

[daffy654]

I once had a strange young bloke knock at my door,he was covered in blood and was asking for me to call an ambulance.My daughter had answered the door and was quite scared by the sight of him.I asked him to come in and sit down while I called the ambulance but he wouldn't.I called it anyway whilst talking to the bloke and trying to find out what had happened to him.He had been beaten up by another bloke up the road and had run away and come to the first house with a fence out front so he couldn't be seen.I practically dragged him in the house then in case his attacker was still around.lol. He left blood all over my floor and sofa. When the ambulance came accompanied by the police he wouldn't leave and got really agitated,there were lots of emergency vehicles parked right outside my house and a large group of locals gathering.
I don't think i'd offer help to a young bloke again but a little old lady would be much less trouble.

[joko]

just because someone is old doesn't make them a lovely little sweet old lady - they are the same as anyone else, they have just been around longer.
They also don't suddenly become weaklings either.

people seem to automatically trust old people and assume they are just kindly old duffers.

just remember - ian huntley, rose west, that old hag with the psycho dog etc etc - will all be old one day - will they suddenly become all lovely and kind and trustworthy?

anyone can feign ''confusion'' and dementia

just remember all those asbo shows and neighbours from hell shows - they invariably feature and horrid old person.

you did the right thing, by keeping her out, but also getting some help for her.

[Panic Button]

My Nan was most upset once when she went for her 4 o'clock hair appointment but it was shut.

She went at 4 in the morning.

[tigwig]

thanks for all your answers folks. To chinadoll, you seem to be aiming your answer at me saying I shouldn't ask a question if I don't like the answer when in actual fact I haven't made any comment about the answers until now. I would also like to add that the lady in question wasn't a frail 80 year old, she was around early 70's and at first she seemed like any other person which is why I was taken aback when she asked if she could come in!

[China Doll]

Nah, not aimed at you.

Just a couple of statementsof fact to counter balance the accusation that I was being judgemental when I'd made no judgement at all.

No offence intended to anyone.