How To Protect Yourself From Home Invasion
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In these unfortunate down economic times crime is up. Let 's look at some things you can do to protect yourself from home invasions.
The number 1 thing you can do is not answer the door. When thieves realize that someone is at the door one of 2 things happen:
1. The thieves kick the door in. Unfortunately most residential doors are not as secure as we think they are. Anyone can put a size 10 against the common home front or rear door and kick the door in.
2. If door parts don't come flying at you, the thieves falsely identify themselves as the police, realtors, salesperson or what ever! When the person in the home extends the trust to the identity, that is when the door is opened and the thieves come in to do whatever they want.
What to do?
1. If someone identifies themselves as the police, don't open the door no matter what they are wearing! It is extremely easy to buy items with the police or sheriff name on it now and thieves can look just like the police, especially when they have a fake badge. Immediately call 911 and tell the operator your address and that a person or persons are at your door identifying themselves as the police. The 911 operator will be able to tell you if the police at the door are real in a matter of seconds. All it takes is a radio communication to the patrol officers and then confirmation. At the same time you should be moving to a safe place in your home, one that affords escape, like the back door!
2. If someone identifies themselves as realtors, which is the latest scam for home invasion, you should already know if you have a realtor coming by. Beyond that, you should know the name and number of the realtor. No professional realtor is going to send someone beside themselves to your home to sell it! Beyond that, realtors DO NOT cold call homes to attempt to gain a client!
3. If someone wants to sell pest control, pool care or maybe even yard care and is knocking on your door; ignore it! Why in the world would you want to answer the door to be cold called and pressured into buying some services anyway?
4. If you have kids, they probably have a mobile phone. They are probably already calling their buddies and would know if they are coming over. The same goes for your friends as well. What you should do is teach your children to get over wanting to answer the door when someone knocks or the door bell goes off.
5. Install a peep hole. Back in my childhood peepholes were standard. For some odd reason they are not in doors know. I guess the $4 a builder saves on a peep hole is the break point of profit. Well you can easily install a peep hole in your door and it will cost you about $4 and 20-30 minutes of your time. All you need is a peep hole, drill, drill bits and a screwdriver; all common household tools. One piece of advice is to not be asking who it is as you approach the door to look into the peep hole. Many home invasions have occurred when the thieves see a shadow in the peep hole. Most victims reported they were calling out to see who it was.
6. Some opt for a camera intercom system. These are great because you can see who is at the door and even talk to them at a safe distance. Just be aware that initiating the intercom will tell thieves you are home. Cameras are extremely cheap now and even the ones for low light. Having a camera pointed at your doors can really give you some added security when someone knocks.
This is just a partial list of things that can happen and things you can do to protect yourself. The number 1 rule in my home is to not answer the door unless we know someone is coming over! You should not have to live in fear, but you should live in a safe environment instilling sound safety principles in your home.
www.wsillp.com
In these unfortunate down economic times crime is up. Let 's look at some things you can do to protect yourself from home invasions.
The number 1 thing you can do is not answer the door. When thieves realize that someone is at the door one of 2 things happen:
1. The thieves kick the door in. Unfortunately most residential doors are not as secure as we think they are. Anyone can put a size 10 against the common home front or rear door and kick the door in.
2. If door parts don't come flying at you, the thieves falsely identify themselves as the police, realtors, salesperson or what ever! When the person in the home extends the trust to the identity, that is when the door is opened and the thieves come in to do whatever they want.
What to do?
1. If someone identifies themselves as the police, don't open the door no matter what they are wearing! It is extremely easy to buy items with the police or sheriff name on it now and thieves can look just like the police, especially when they have a fake badge. Immediately call 911 and tell the operator your address and that a person or persons are at your door identifying themselves as the police. The 911 operator will be able to tell you if the police at the door are real in a matter of seconds. All it takes is a radio communication to the patrol officers and then confirmation. At the same time you should be moving to a safe place in your home, one that affords escape, like the back door!
2. If someone identifies themselves as realtors, which is the latest scam for home invasion, you should already know if you have a realtor coming by. Beyond that, you should know the name and number of the realtor. No professional realtor is going to send someone beside themselves to your home to sell it! Beyond that, realtors DO NOT cold call homes to attempt to gain a client!
3. If someone wants to sell pest control, pool care or maybe even yard care and is knocking on your door; ignore it! Why in the world would you want to answer the door to be cold called and pressured into buying some services anyway?
4. If you have kids, they probably have a mobile phone. They are probably already calling their buddies and would know if they are coming over. The same goes for your friends as well. What you should do is teach your children to get over wanting to answer the door when someone knocks or the door bell goes off.
5. Install a peep hole. Back in my childhood peepholes were standard. For some odd reason they are not in doors know. I guess the $4 a builder saves on a peep hole is the break point of profit. Well you can easily install a peep hole in your door and it will cost you about $4 and 20-30 minutes of your time. All you need is a peep hole, drill, drill bits and a screwdriver; all common household tools. One piece of advice is to not be asking who it is as you approach the door to look into the peep hole. Many home invasions have occurred when the thieves see a shadow in the peep hole. Most victims reported they were calling out to see who it was.
6. Some opt for a camera intercom system. These are great because you can see who is at the door and even talk to them at a safe distance. Just be aware that initiating the intercom will tell thieves you are home. Cameras are extremely cheap now and even the ones for low light. Having a camera pointed at your doors can really give you some added security when someone knocks.
This is just a partial list of things that can happen and things you can do to protect yourself. The number 1 rule in my home is to not answer the door unless we know someone is coming over! You should not have to live in fear, but you should live in a safe environment instilling sound safety principles in your home.
www.wsillp.com
Posted by WSILLP at 7/10/2009 7:40 AM 
Categories: Safety
Tags: theft phoenix private investigator safety chandler private investigator arizona private investigator scottsdale private investigator mesa private investigator gilbert private investigator
Categories: Safety
Tags: theft phoenix private investigator safety chandler private investigator arizona private investigator scottsdale private investigator mesa private investigator gilbert private investigator
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