| They may say that their car has broken down and | | | | caller has left and you've closed the door, don't forget |
| they need to phone someone for help. They may | | | | to unhook the chain so that any friend or relative you |
| pretend to be a workman, saying that they need to | | | | have given a key to can still get in. |
| check your electricity or water. They might even claim | | | | Make sure your back door is locked if someone |
| to be from the council and that they are carrying out a | | | | knocks at your front door. Sometimes thieves work |
| local survey. Whatever reason a caller gives, you need | | | | together with one coming in the back way, while the |
| to be sure that they aren't just trying to get into your | | | | other keeps you talking at the front. |
| home to steal something. | | | | Keeping the chain on the door, ask callers from the |
| There are around 12,000 incidents of "distraction | | | | council or any other organization to pass through some |
| burglary" each year, where callers get into homes and | | | | identification. If you need your glasses to check this |
| then steal cash or valuables while the occupier is | | | | don't think it's rude to close the door and go and get |
| distracted in some way. Sometimes they work in pairs, | | | | them. A genuine caller won't mind. If you're still not sure, |
| with one doing the talking while the other is stealing and | | | | ask the caller to leave and tell them to write and make |
| they often target the elderly. | | | | an appointment so that someone else can be with you |
| Be on your guard every time the doorbell rings, or | | | | the next time they call. The basic rule is if you don't |
| there's a knock at your door. Look out of your window | | | | know the person at your door don't let them in. |
| to see who's there first and if you don't know who the | | | | As part of the Government's "Stop, Chain, Check" |
| person is, open the window slightly and talk to them | | | | campaign, local councils, social services and Age |
| that way, rather than opening your door. | | | | Concern centers have further information they can |
| Alternatively, have a viewer fitted in your front door so | | | | provide to older people. They can also help with door |
| that you can take a good look at who's there first. If | | | | viewers, chains and mirrors, and in certain |
| your eyesight isn't so good, don't worry as you can | | | | circumstances, may be able to supply a personal |
| now get wide-angle viewers to help you see better. | | | | attack alarm that connects through to a control center. |
| Put the door chain or door bar on before opening the | | | | Never take your safety for granted. Criminals won't |
| door and talk through the gap. You could even fit a | | | | hesitate to take advantage of your generosity by |
| small mirror to the wall next to the door so that you | | | | pretending to need to use your telephone. |
| can easily see the person you are talking to. When the | | | | |