Latest News 5 Things to Remember Before Opening Your Door

5 Things to Remember Before Opening Your Door

Published on 9 August, 2021

Latest News

Why would criminals bother breaking into your home when they can just knock and be invited in?

Distraction crimes and doorstep scams are used by criminals as a way of gaining access to your home. Those attempting to gain unauthorised entry will come up with various distraction techniques; from bogus officials to bogus traders, the instigators of doorstep crime can come in many disguises.

Bogus callers trick their way into homes to steal money and valuables. Others will force their way in by waiting until the door is opened allowing them to barge their way into the property.

So how do you stop this happening to you? There are many simple and affordable home security upgrades you can make to help protect yourself from doorstep crime. Read on for our top safety tips.

1. Ask who the caller is without opening your door

 

2. Use a Door Viewer

Install a door viewer so you can check who has knocked on your door before unlocking your door and potentially leaving yourself and home vulnerable to attack. UAP offer 360 degree viewers that give a wider scope of the outside, leaving less room for criminals to hide out of sight.

 

3. Check ID

Don’t be fooled by bogus tradesman and officials! By law, all tradespeople must carry a form of identification. Install an ID slot and request identification without opening the door by simply lifting the latch – the visitor can pass their ID to you through the slot. Call the company they are representing if you are still unsure if the caller is genuine or not.

 

4. Install a High Security Door Chain

The protection of a high security door chain not only means you can speak to a caller through the door, but it makes it difficult for criminals to barge through the door as soon as it’s unlocked.  Make sure the door chain has a high breaking force, and if possible has individually welded links for additional strength.

Also look out to see if the door chain is ‘Secured by Design’ approved from the Association of Police Officers, meaning that it has passed many security tests.

 

5. Once you are happy that the caller is genuine, then take off the door chain and let them in safely.

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