I felt compelled to share this one right away. It's excerpts from a Dr Ben Kim whom I'm subscribed to his newsletters. I added my thoughts at the end of this article. Very good information, especially for kids being home alone. I take children's safety very seriously:
"...A police officer told me about a recent break-in where a lady was
home alone and ignored the chiming of her doorbell, thinking that it was
a solicitor. As she peered out of her second story window, waiting to
catch a glimpse of the solicitor moving on, she was startled to realize
that he had gone around to the back of her house and was trying to break in through her patio door.
If someone knocks on your door or rings your doorbell, be sure to make
your presence known. The vast majority of burglars will first approach a
target house pretending to be selling something or looking for a
friend, only to pretend that they had the wrong address should you open
your door. Their goal is simply to find out if someone is home.
If you ask parents of children ages 10 to 17 who let their children stay home alone for a few hours at a time what their children should do if someone rings the doorbell, many will say that their children should not answer the door, which is precisely the worst thing to do if the visitor has malicious intent.
If you have children who stay alone at times, please tell them that the best response to someone at the door is to keep the door locked, but to say loudly through the door that their father or mother can't come to the door right now because they are taking a shower or you can have your children say that their father or mother is (in the basement) cleaning his or her gun. (as a deterrent statement)
Make your presence known through a locked door, because as soon as potential burglars know that someone is in the house, they move on.
When in doubt, unsure, or uncomfortable, call 911..."
In the meantime, stay safe.
If you ask parents of children ages 10 to 17 who let their children stay home alone for a few hours at a time what their children should do if someone rings the doorbell, many will say that their children should not answer the door, which is precisely the worst thing to do if the visitor has malicious intent.
If you have children who stay alone at times, please tell them that the best response to someone at the door is to keep the door locked, but to say loudly through the door that their father or mother can't come to the door right now because they are taking a shower or you can have your children say that their father or mother is (in the basement) cleaning his or her gun. (as a deterrent statement)
Make your presence known through a locked door, because as soon as potential burglars know that someone is in the house, they move on.
When in doubt, unsure, or uncomfortable, call 911..."
In the meantime, stay safe.
