Long Island security tip: A good rule of thumb is to not open the door to strangers. Overly trusting people have often inadvertently allowed a home invader into their home by opening the door to people who pretend to be in distress or to supposed delivery people.
The Modern Survival Blog has a number of suggestions of what to do when someone you don’t know knocks on the door. There are many tips for Long Island security.
Before opening the door it is usually a good idea to look out the window or by a video monitoring system to see who is there. Even then one should be careful. Someone attempting to gain entrance does not necessarily dress or act like a criminal.
One might also interview the person through the closed door, asking what they want. If you are a woman alone at home, you might mention in passing that a male relative, a husband or father, is at home, thus discouraging someone who might be planning to do deceive.
If you can handle whatever the person at the door wants without opening the door, you should do so. But if you feel safe enough to open the door for the visitor, you should be prepared for trouble. Having a weapon at hand and, just as important, knowing how to use it would be useful. However a Long Island security system with a push of the panic button that sounds a frightening alarm and summons the police in a hurry is even more useful.
In any event, when someone you don’t know comes to the door, it is better to be safe than sorry. Always ere on the side of caution.
