Never Open Your Gate to an Agitated Unknown Visitor

When a stranger arrives at your gate demanding access to your home in search of another person, the immediate instinct is to engage — to explain that the person is not there, to reason with them, or to resolve the situation at the gate. That instinct is dangerous. In May 2026, Petula St Rose was attacked with a cutlass at her Arima home by a man who had arrived looking for a woman who had recently returned from the United States. St Rose had no involvement in whatever dispute motivated the visit, but proximity and presence were enough. An agitated person who has already committed to confrontation does not require a genuine grievance against you — being in their way is sufficient. The only effective response is to deny access and remove yourself from the gate before the situation escalates.

Steps to follow:

• If an unknown person arrives at your gate in an agitated or demanding state, do not open the gate under any circumstances — speak through it briefly if necessary, or do not respond at all.
• Do not try to reason with or de-escalate someone who is already angry; step back from the gate and move inside your home immediately.
• If the person claims to be looking for someone who is not at your property, do not engage in an extended explanation — say nothing and go inside.
• Once inside, lock your doors and call 999; report the person’s description, any vehicle they arrived in, and the direction they came from.
• If the person forces entry or begins to damage the gate, do not confront them — stay inside, move away from the entry point, and keep the line open to emergency services.
• Inform a trusted neighbour or family member as soon as possible so there is a witness account independent of your own.