Did you know that most criminals don’t force themselves into the home? They usually gain access to the interior by entering when an 
unsuspecting individual lets them in. Criminals will go to great lengths to gain the trust of the person answering the door, and that is why you should be on guard. If you do not recognize the visitor, it is worthwhile to spend some time satisfying yourself about the intention of the person.
Most criminals will be deterred by a cautious homeowner, as they do not want t rouse suspicion. While not all have malicious intent, people who are genuine will cooperate with you. Taking the following steps will help you stay safe.
1. Answer the Door
You should answer every doorbell, so that the person outside is alerted of your presence inside. You may be tempted to ignore people you don’t recognize, but it is actually safer to answer. This will stop criminals from attempting forced entry.
2. Ensure Your Door is Secure
No matter how genuine or likeable the stranger seems, you should not immediately open the door. Often, this is sufficient to prevent most criminals from inflicting harm. You should also invest in reinforcements for your front door. This can be easily done with metal plates that you can install yourself, along with a security chain. Be aware that the chain can be cut, so do not rely on it to protect you.
3. Try to Get a Glimpse of the Person at the Door
If your porch light is broken, repair it as soon as possible. A brightly lit porch can help you see the person at the door and aid identification. You should also have a peephole, so that you can have a clear view of the person outside. You will be able to spot any suspicious behavior and also determine whether the person is dressed appropriately.
For example, if the person claims to be a home maintenance man, he should probably be wearing overalls and carrying a toolbox. Use visual cues to your advantage to establish the credibility of the stranger.
4. Ask Questions and Confirm Identity
Some criminals will claim to be from a company, and gain entry to your home on the pretext of providing you with some service. If you did not request the service, you should be cautious. Demand an identification document, and call the company to ask if they sent the person over. You should also look to see if there is a vehicle marked with a logo on the driveway.
General precautions that you can take to deter strangers with ill intent from knocking at your door include installing a home security system and keeping a dog. Your pet dog can also double as a guard dog, by raising the alarm if something is amiss. Prevention will save you from grievance, and do not shy away from making the person wait while you check his identity.
Francis Allyn works for an Ohio security firm that helps homeowners keep themselves and their families safe. When not assisting clients, Francis likes to blog about safety in the home and neighborhood, and also writes for Lifeshield Elyria Ohio.
About The Real Supermum
Security is important in your home. Thanks for your recommendations, it will really help and for us to be ready. There are instances that we may not expect it so just be ready for all the actions. It’s also important to be ready at all times to handle the entire situation if needed. Thanks for your very informative post.
We have a chain and a glass pannel on the door so we can sort of see who it is. i am on my own with sidey during the day and unless i am expectiong someone i always answer the door with the chain on. x
If some one is at my door be it religious caller or the gas man my immediate question is “who are you and what do you want?” If they dont have a satisfactory answer is a quick f off not fussed and i slam the door locked and chain on, x
remind me not to pop in for a cuppa lol
I hate to answer the door to ppl i dont know. Were quite lucky to have a spy hole so i dont have to open the door to see whos calling and weve got safty doors… you cant open them the outside without a key
not ideal tho when u go to put rubbish out and it slams in the wind and you have to bribe your 2 year old to let you in ha
my door was same lol. quickly learned to take a key with me
i always look though the key hole if am not expecting anyone mostly just to be nosing lol xx
hope your key hole is higher then mine. all i’d see is groin lol
me too lol x
i automatically look for a name badge, always take the phone to the door and then look through the sky hole lol x
i stick my head outta window lol
i have a image in my head of you falling out that window now lol x
I always use my key hole xx
i’m anti social i just don’t answer the door lol x
i dont answer the door if i’m not sure who they r , i’ve had it once were the guy said he was there to do a gas check when i knew mines was due so told him this n asked him to pop back in a hour as wanted to double check with my landlord … i rang my landlord up n sure enough they were not from my landlord n funny enough the guy never came back xx
Iv never really thought about this, I always open the door and always let them in if they say there here to do this and that.. Thanks for the post bit of a eye opener! Xx
We have a peep hole so I always use that, when answering the door to people I don’t know I use the chain… 1st thing I look for are Id badges x