One Clear Dot

There has been a rash of e-mail activity for the e-mail group for my community. Apparently, there has been a guy coming to homes saying he is with Verizon. He has a Verizon magnetic logo on his van. Though Verizon is known to work with contractors, this man is telling people he needs to get into the house to check the lines, even though the people he is saying this to are not and have never been Verizon customers.

It prompted another member of my community to post a link to an article on safety points to keep in mind when answering your door. I am going to copy them into my post, but want to first give credit to the eHow Home & Garden Editor, Willi Galloway.

1. Stop and think for a minute before you answer the door. Ask yourself if you are expecting any visitors and if it is an appropriate time of day for someone to be knocking.

2. Look through the peephole to see who is outside. Installing a wide angle peephole will allow you to see a broader area in case the person is standing off to the side.

3. Peek out a window if you do not have a peephole on the door or if you cannot see the visitor through the peephole. Do not open the door and rely on a door chain to keep the person out. If pushed hard enough, most chains will break, giving the invader easy access to your home. If you can’t see the person, don’t answer.

4. Verify the identify of anyone who claims to be representing a particular company when you are not expecting a visit. Even if person shows identification, call the company to verify before opening the door. Get the phone number from the phone book or by calling information. Do not call a number the person at the door gives you.

5. Carry your cordless home phone or your cell phone when you answer the door. Have the phone number for the police programmed onto a speed dial button and be ready to use it in the event of a problem.

6. Refuse to open the door if the person on the other side makes you uncomfortable or gives off danger signals. Tell him that this is not a good time and ask him to leave. If he refuses, call the police. It is better to risk being rude to a visitor than to risk your safety.

7. Teach your children how to answer the door safely and instruct them not to answer when they are home alone.

Posted on July 4th, 2008 by onecleardot
Filed under: Home Life