Because they, or possibly another pair of door-to-door window sales guys, had solicited us no more than 3 days prior. And before that, two weeks prior.
Since about 2020, the prevalence of door-to-door window, chimney, and roof service solicitors in our neighborhood skyrocketed. I even saw another pair ringing a neighbor across the street WHILE I WAS DISMISSING an individual solicitor, some time before this lug nut incident.
I remain polite, up to a point where enough is enough.
In their defense, these guys were at ground level, in front of the first step when I leaned out the front door.
It just seems odd that the next day, the lugnuts were loosened and one in my driveway. As I recall, being as it was at the time of their visit dusk, they could have come back from their vehicle parked several doors away, walked down the driveway around in back where our cars were parked, and done their deed. We had no motion sensor lighting or CCTV at that time on that house.
As far as the other suggestions offered here: Stating “Sorry, we’re just renters”, or other tactics, well, at that time it just never came to mind. I’m not the most street-savvy tool in the shed, so to speak. My Dad and Aunt, conversely, were expert readers of people, and could see/smell a b u l l s chitter a mile away.