Prevent Distraction Burglary
They may say that their car has broken down and they need to
phone someone for help. They may pretend to be a workman, saying
that they need to check your electricity or water. They might
even claim to be from the council and that they are carrying out
a local survey. Whatever reason a visitor gives, you need to be
sure that they aren't just trying to get into your home to steal
something.
There are around 12,000 incidents of "distraction burglary" each
year where strangers get into homes and then steal cash or
valuables while the occupier is distracted in some way.
Sometimes they work in pairs with one doing the talking while
the other is stealing, and they often target the elderly.
Be on your guard everytime the doorbell rings or there's a knock
at your door. Look out your window to see who's there first and
if you don't know who the person is, open the window slightly
and talk to them that way, rather than opening your door.
Alternatively, have a "peep-hole" fitted in your front door so
that you can take a good look at who's there first. If your
eyesight isn't so good, don't worry as you can now get
wide-angle viewers to help you see better.
Put the door chain or door bar on before opening the door and
talk through the gap. You could even fit a small mirror to the
wall next to the door so that you can easily see the person you
are talking to. When the stranger has left and you've closed the
door, don't forget to unhook the chain so that any friend or
relative you have given a key to can still get in.
Make sure your back door is locked if someone knocks at your
front door. Sometimes thieves work together with one coming in
the back way, while the other keeps you talking at the front.
Keeping the chain on the door, ask visitors from the council or
any other organization to pass through some identification. If
you need your glasses to check this, don't think it is rude to
close the door to go and get them. A genuine visitor won't mind.
If you're still not sure, ask the caller to leave and tell them
to write and make an appointment so that someone else can be
with you the next time they stop by. The basic rule is if you
don't know the person at your door, don't let them in.
As part of the Government's "Stop, Chain, Check" campaign, local
councils, social services, centers for the elderly have further
information they can provide. They can also help with
"peep-holes", chains, and mirrors, and in certain circumstances,
may be able to supply a personal attack alarm that connects
through a control center.
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