Last month we talked about answering doors. This month, we are going to explore the why behind the subject further and what kind of rouses they tend to use.

If they do not respect you, your space, your privacy, your wishes, and your property it is a red flag that something is wrong.

Professional salespeople and the #CookieCartel (aka Girl Scouts) will conduct themselves accordingly. Keep in mind that you are under no obligation to open your door to anyone. My Cookie Dealer (aka Girl Scout’s mom) makes drops at the door on request for my husband. Even if the person claims to be an Officer of the law and you are unsure, request to “see” their shield, ask for their badge number, and call 911 to verify. When they show all of these items to the camera for you to view, you will have a video of a potential suspect and their false identification through this method. You would be surprised how many people don’t know that it is illegal to impersonate a Police Officer and will use the uniform as a tool to gain entry, intimidate, isolate, control, and harm others. Furthermore, criminals are usually lazy and don’t do research, so they don’t know that what civilians call a “badge”, Law Enforcement Officers call a “shield”. An actual LEO, will display their badge when you ask for their shield because they will understand what a civilian means. They will never hesitate to give you the number printed on it either. Additionally, photos can be extracted from the video footage as well. A Dispatcher should be able to verify the presence of law enforcement and their identity for you with very, very few exceptions due to federal investigations. I have worked with dozens, if not hundreds of feds, and virtually all of them call before they come to see you the first time. Then, you have additional time to verify their credentials through a field office prior to their arrival if you are uncomfortable. It is not worth the risk.

Please teach your children that they should not interact with strangers or be alone with others. There is a reason for the buddy system. Unfortunately, even people that are in positions of trust hurt children. Children will often open the door when they are home alone when most parents think they wouldn’t for things that vary from deliveries, other kids (they can be used as well), requests for assistance, and more. A lot of parents will select a trusted friend who is a parent and they will “test” one another’s children to see if they will leave with them and/or open the door. This is a safe way to do a security self-check since you will be tucked just out of sight.

One of the oldest tricks is criminals that go to a door and feign an emergency. Imagine a damsel in distress, but modernized. It could be a medical emergency or her car. Perhaps, she is escaping someone.

I had three older teen girls show up on the doorstep of my first home, expecting to be let in, many years ago, while they were being “chased” by a mysterious unnamed, nondescript man. Curiously, they did not want me to dial 911 and he never came after them. They left as soon as my late/former father-in-law walked over in uniform. None of them could identify the man and they didn’t want to file a report. I had not seen them previously and I never saw them again. I knew that something was wrong with their behavior, their stories were inconsistent, and there were three of them and only one of me. As much as I offered to assist (they wouldn’t allow my alternative efforts either), they only wanted in my home. Sometimes, we have to do what initially seems selfish in order to protect our personal safety.

I am thankful that I was cautious.

Another popular trend is looking for a missing pet. The person will even walk around aimlessly with a forlorn look with a leash and/or collar. Children tend to be particularly vulnerable to this tactic. We teach them to be kind to animals and to help, so it is a particularly effective way to separate a child from a group as well and not just lure them from your home.

With the increase in online sales, the need for directions or confirmation of certain things like an ad on Marketplace, Craigslist, or the like can often arise. I know the streets in our development can be confusing; however, you don’t need to open a door in order to be of assistance while providing directions to someone attempting to make a pickup or delivery who is turned around. In addition to that, there are many safe places that law enforcement encourages us to use for exchange of these goods. They have been established for our safety. Please use the ones that have camera surveillance that are monitored by law enforcement personnel 24/7. If someone refuses to meet you in a public place with cameras, don’t go. You can find another buyer or seller.

If someone has a true emergency, they will not take issue with you calling 911 for them. They may tell you that their car broke down and they need to use your phone though. You can call for them. They might say they “need” a glass of water or are pregnant and having a bathroom emergency. We all feel bad for the pregnant ladies. These plots are designed to make us feel sympathetic and/or empathetic.

Criminals know how to pull at your heartstrings by design in order to get you to feel sorry for them and “help” them out. We want to see the best in people. Unfortunately, there are people out there looking to take advantage of our kindness and generosity of spirit. They will use your kindness and willingness to help them to take advantage of you. They may swipe some of your belongings while your back is turned or they may simply gather information and come back at a time when you are not home.

Once inside, thieves will use the opportunity to subtly open a door or unlock a window so that they can come back and gain easy access later. Think about the repair people that have avenues of entry into your home or the potential number of party-goers you may be hosting at any given event during the holidays. Do you have a cleaning person? Do you check to make sure that everything is secure after they leave? What about the person that does your landscaping? Even if each person is 110% trustworthy, we all make mistakes. I have seen many windows opened at parties without any malicious intent. I know doors are not locked as a general rule. Are you going to feel like locking down your home as if it is a fortress after you have imbibed? If not, you should have a designated house person like you would a designated driver that ensures everything is secure and all guests make it safely home if you are unwilling or unable to do so. Frat Houses usually bestow this task upon the Key Master who takes all keys at the beginning of the party, monitors things for safety, stays sober, only allows designated drivers to leave with their keys, calls a ride for everyone that needs it, and locks the house up when done. If our kids are organized and have a safety system, why can’t we do the same? We should be setting the example for them - not the other way around.

The most important skill that you have when someone comes to the door is your basic gut instinct. If something doesn’t feel right, call. No one will laugh at you. Remember to stay calm and get as much information as you safely can so that law enforcement can make contact with this individual. There have been multiple times that Police Officers have noted encounters with suspicious people that have later been linked to crimes, but it is so much easier to proactively fight crime than it is to be reactive - especially when you are a victim.