Suspicous Dude tried to break down my precious door!

[HotelMinion]

Around 2am (what I call the Weirdo Hour) a very tall guy a hat approached the locked front door. The first thing that struck me about him was that he was wearing baggy sweatpants and a heavy coat, gloves and a mask in the middle of summer. Very suspicious. He kept trying the pry open the door with his hands, a personal pet peeve of mine. Then he kicked it a few times. Then he knelt and tried to open the door from the bottom. After a few minutes of this, he rang the buzzer, and I answer via intercom.

Me: Hello can I help you?
Suspicious dude: I'm just tryna...jus tryna visit ma fren on the 4th floor.
Me: What is his name? And his room number?
SD: Joe...or somethin' I can' rememba.
Me: You can't remember your own friend name?!
SD: I'm sorry, I gotta terrible memory.
Me: What about the room number.
SD: 4666...or somethin.
Me: ....-_-
Me: Okay we don't have a '4666' here-
SD: *interrupts me* I'm sowee! I gotta bad memory! Look if you just open da door--
Me: I'm sorry but if you can't remember the name or room number, I can't open the door. Please leave.

He didn't leave, he rang the buzzer a few more times and I grabbed the phone and called the cops on him. Usually I warn them if I will but he was freaking me out and he stole our newspaper. He took off before the cops came, and I babbled to them what happened. They jsut wanted to know which way he went. I told them and they left. He kind of reminded me of that time when I went just outside to bring the newspapers and I bent over and when I looked up, there was this easily 6'6" guy looming over me behind me. I screamed and dropped the newspapers and ran to the back office. He kind of looked like Hagrid from Harry potter. Except without the friendliness. Brr. Really, even if he was telling the truth, who wears a hat and heavy clother in the summer?? I'm still shaken, probably though because I've been watching old horror movie reruns, a morbid fascination of mine. :\ Now what to do about our newspaper, the guests will be MAD.

[Seshat]

If you have a Petty Cash float, grab a newspaper from a nearby store once there's another staffer around.

[XCashier]

Around 2am (what I call the Weirdo Hour) a very tall guy a hat approached the locked front door. The first thing that struck me about him was that he was wearing baggy sweatpants and a heavy coat, gloves and a mask in the middle of summer.

Wait, what? He was wearing a mask?! I would've called the cops right then and there. If someone's wearing a mask and it's not Halloween, they've got to be up to no good.

Regardless, I'm glad you're safe, and hope the cops find him before he hurts anyone.

[blas]

Besides all the other obvious red flags....I've never understood why people continue to keep banging on doors or trying to open them if they've already been denied access.

[bainsidhe]

Wow, glad you listened to your gut, this sounds way sketchy. Night audit can be very dangerous. About 8 years ago in an area of the city I don't consider that bad, a night auditor was shot and killed at a local hotel. It can happen anywhere.

[Tama]

I imagine he may have been drunk or trying to rob you, or as our world increasingly shows with its dumb criminals, BOTH.

[Opalin]

Wait, what? He was wearing a mask?! I would've called the cops right then and there. If someone's wearing a mask and it's not Halloween, they've got to be up to no good.

Regardless, I'm glad you're safe, and hope the cops find him before he hurts anyone.

Erm... I need to interject here. A lot of my former customers wore masks because they no longer had facial features and hadn't had reconstructive surgery. (Severe burn injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan). It was startling the first time I saw this instead of the scars... but I honestly can't blame them.

[Pixilated]

A good explanation for masks at odd times of the year, Opalin. Thanks for the heads-up. Although with the rest of it ... couldn't remember his friend's name OR room number ... it still sounds sketchy enough that I too am glad the OP didn't open the door. Sorry, dude, go call your friend and tell him/her to wait out front to let you in!

Besides all the other obvious red flags....I've never understood why people continue to keep banging on doors or trying to open them if they've already been denied access.

Could be their wits are addled due to drink or drugs ... could just be that they figure if they make enough ruckus, somebody will open the door to stop the noise.

[XCashier]

Erm... I need to interject here. A lot of my former customers wore masks because they no longer had facial features and hadn't had reconstructive surgery. (Severe burn injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan). It was startling the first time I saw this instead of the scars... but I honestly can't blame them.

A fair point. I've also had customers with facial prostheses. Not to mention pollen masks during allergy season. So it would depend on the type of mask being worn.

But I suspect the guy in the OP wasn't wearing a facial prosthesis or pollen mask. Plus, with him trying to break down the door and other suspicious behavior, I don't think I would've given him the benefit of the doubt.

[jedimaster91]

Wait, what? He was wearing a mask?! I would've called the cops right then and there. If someone's wearing a mask and it's not Halloween, they've got to be up to no good.

As a cosplayer, Imma have to disagree. For nerds, every day is Halloween. Though I doubt that guy was on his way to or from a convention.

[Skarredmind]

It is for reasons like this (and the fact that I *DON'T* have a lockable exterior door at night) that I've been considering getting something for my own self defense.

I don't think its likely, but I'd much rather have something I don't need, than need something I don't have...

[Deserted]

It is for reasons like this (and the fact that I *DON'T* have a lockable exterior door at night) that I've been considering getting something for my own self defense.

I don't think its likely, but I'd much rather have something I don't need, than need something I don't have...

I'd suggest some form of martial arts, or else take a personal self-defense course. And the number one rule of self-defense: you can't outrun or dodge a bullet. (If they have a gun... don't be a dead hero for the company.)

[Chromatix]

Most normal people understand that sometimes, taking the mask off is the right thing to do.

But these are generally also not the people who bash at a locked door when it doesn't open for them.

[taxguykarl]

A mask and long clothes in the middle of summer....sounds like an attempted robbery to me.

[RootedPhoenix]

I'd say that it's possible for someone who meant no harm to be dressed like that guy was. People, even nice ones, do odd things. But with how he was acting? Scary. And at o' dark thirty? Can't be a good guy.