Suspicious Door Knockers Asking for iPhone Chargers in St. Pete

Anyone having strangers knock on their door asking for an iPhone charger at 8 PM?

6 posts · 623 views · started 5d ago

1. Nov 5, 2026, 8:56 PM#1
   Has anyone else in St. Pete had random people knocking on their front door late at night asking for an iPhone charger? About 8 PM tonight I had a girl knock on my door. Instead of opening it, I talked to her through my Ring camera. She told me she needed an iPhone charger. I told her no and to have a good night, then watched her walk back down the street. What makes this extra weird is that about six months ago, two girls knocked on my door around the same time with the exact same story asking for a charger. Back then, we watched them wander down the block trying other doors before turning around. My husband thinks tonight was the exact same girl. I downloaded the Ring video and have an extremely clear shot of her face. Is this some kind of casing scam going on in our neighborhoods, or has anyone else dealt with this?

   Salami belongs on a real Cuban sandwich. End of discussion.

2. Nov 5, 2026, 9:10 PM#2
   We have not encountered this specific situation in Historic Kenwood; however, it bears all the hallmarks of a street-level casing attempt. Perpetrators frequently utilize trivial requests, such as borrowing a phone charger or asking for directions, to determine whether a residence is currently occupied; furthermore, it allows them to assess sightlines into your entry foyer. You were prudent not to open the actual front door; I strongly advise forwarding that high-definition video footage directly to the department.

   1925 Craftsman | Native Flora Only | No Vinyl Siding Allowed

3. Nov 5, 2026, 9:38 PM#3
   Hey everyone! Oh my gosh, that is so scary! So sorry if this has been asked a million times before, but we just bought our place in Woodlawn and now I am panicking! Is it normal for people to wander around knocking on doors like that at 8 PM? Should we be locking our side gates too? Did you end up calling the police non-emergency line or just posting the video somewhere?

   First time homeowner | Learning as I go!

4. Nov 5, 2026, 10:23 PM#4
   Thanks for the sanity check. I went ahead and saved the video clips from both incidents onto my phone. I am going to call the SPPD non-emergency line tomorrow morning and hand over the files just so they have her face on record. Better safe than sorry when people are wandering around testing doors at 8 PM.

   Salami belongs on a real Cuban sandwich. End of discussion.

5. Nov 6, 2026, 12:15 AM#5
   People have lost their mind out here. I get home after sitting in dead-stop traffic on the HFT for an hour and the last thing anybody wants to deal with is some stranger banging on the front door asking for electronics at 8 PM. Half these people are scoping houses out to see who is on vacation. SPPD needs to start picking up these wanderers who hover around 4th Street and the off-ramps.

   Use the zipper merge, people! | '04 Tacoma 280k miles

6. Nov 6, 2026, 3:50 AM#6
   Lock your doors. Keep a dog inside. Watch the Snook lights and call SPPD if someone comes on your porch.

   24' Pathfinder TE | Yamaha 250 | Tight lines