Ok here's a question we've been wondering about for a while now.
When the doorbell rings and you peep out (or not) and dont want to answer the door (or your child is home alone and knows NOT to answer the door), not opening the door is no longer enough to keep 'the bad guys' out and keep you safe because sometimes they ring the bell just to find out if anyone is home and then they go around back and break in (has happened to me, only I'm deaf and didn't hear them but did give up on trying to sleep after the doobell rang and I didn't answer because I was sick so I wandered into the living room and wasn't until that evening we found the patio door was wide open behind our closed blinds. *shudder*!!)
Anyway, so how do you keep yourself safe by not answering the door but also making sure people know the house is occupied? There are two threats - someone who wants to get at you, and someone who wants to get at your household goods without you in it. What do you do?
Leave some lights on and the tv going??? i always have SOME back ground noice on when i'm home alone, however, no one can get through my back door or side doors without allerting my dog that will bark at a cricket that's out of reach (outside his fenced area) yes that's exagerated, but he defiantely makes a fuss when he sees someone he doesn't know
I have a very goofy but menacing looking muscular dog. He is the most cowardly dog I have ever known but others don't know that about him. He looks so alert when he hears something which gives people the appearance that he may eat them but at best he would just lick someone to death.
I don't let strangers approach my dog on the street while walking him. I don't want them to know he is a cream puff but most in the neighborhood know we have the dog so they don't even try. A 40 lb bag of dry food lasts him about 3 weeks - a month. He gets one feeding in the morning and one in the evening. Never eats table scraps (they wouldn't be healthy for him). Gets a raw hide chew about every three days, and a handfull of soft treats. He's a great addition to the family and just loves all of us. He does a great job at his job.
I do not open the door to people I do not know. If in doubt, I let them knock away! I DO have a peep hole and that is good to identify the person. The way my house is, the "front" door is actually on the side of the house so I can easily go to the other side of the house where the drive way is and peep out the street side window to identify the vehicle.
I always keep my doors locked when I'm home and not home and I have one of those locks on my door like you would find at a hotel...you know the one that is like a chain latch but it is solid metal and when the door is opened, you can only open it so far. I've used that latch/lock when I have opened the door to someone I do not know. While it is true that if someone wants in bad enough, they can kick in the door, however, my husband used very long screws to secure that lock into the wall. They might hurt themselves pretty bad before stepping foot into my house.
I would recommend you get acquainted with your neighbors very well, especially if you live in an area that is not safe. I know my neighbors and we all look out for one another. I've not hesitated to call my neighbors at work to let them know of suspicious people or vehicles on their property and if need be, I've also called the police. Keep curtains on your windows and keep your windows and doors locked. Aside from that you can always get a security system or a watch dog, if you like dogs.
Secure the back door as safe as possible and lock your front door. From someone who's had their house broken into, it's a disturbing feeling, but be safe and don't answer the door if you don't want to.
Here are some links/information for you, for door safety gadgets for deaf people:
http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=1656
http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/eqp-access.html
http://www.seniorssuperstores.com/cart/html/Products/SAFE...
Or do your own Google Search on it.
You need to put extra latches/dead bolts on your doors.
Put them high up on the door.... so that your kids, cannot reach it. At least 5-6+ feet up the door.
But nowadays, it does not matter, to thieves, if a house is occupied or not... they break in anyway. As we hear on the news...
Also, put flood-lights outside... that are triggered by movement. Go to a Home Depot... they have them or call an electrician to install it.
Put the lights... right at any doorway of your home.
Or, install a camera... at your door... so that you do not have to open the door... but can 'see' who is there...
Or have a dog....
Or, put in timers on your lights... so that it goes off or on at intervals... making it seem like people are home in the house... even if you are not home.
Or leave a TV on....
Or, call you local police department.. .and they may have a community safety department... to give you tips....
Or, if your neighborhood does not have one already... form or have a Community Watch program... whereby the neighbors take turns watching the neighborhood and report any weird happenings or strangers around premises....
all the best,
Susan
We have three dogs too, two of them are shepherds, one bites. I have beware of dog signs and everyone I know calls me before they come. I have answered the door to salesmen and stood outside with my hand on the door handle and answered the question "does that dog bite?" with "should I open the door and let you find out?"
From the mouth of burglars "dogs are the best deterrent". If you don't have a dog you can still put up a "Beware of Dog" sign, buy a large dog dish and put it in your back yard. An alarm system it also a very good deterrent and a sign (even if you don't have an alarm). You can also get a security door, but be aware that the sales people will try to get you to put a double cylinder dead bolt (one that needs a key for both sides), but the fire department does not recommend that. If you have a double cylinder dead bolt and your house catches fire, you are likely to trap your self in your home. Many people will hang the key by the door, but in an emergency they drop it and can't find it! If you get a security door, get one with a single cylinder dead bolt and metal screens. From the outside you can't tell if it's which type of dead bolt is on the door and it is very difficult to cut through metal screen.
We have a dog and an alarm, but when the door bell rings and I don't want to answer, I do look to see who it is and watch to make sure they leave my property. My kids have been instructed to do the same and to call 9-1-1 if any one should enter the back yard.
Get a dog! Or find some dog barking mechanism.
well if you have dogs they are great deterances if not they do have a dog sensor not sure exactly how it hooks up but when te doorbell rings it sets it off & makes loud growling barking noises just like you do have dogs.. or I would suggest getting an alarm system..
We have 3 loud dogs. That helps.
I don't answer if I do not know who it is or if I am not expecting someone. I do, however let them know someone is home and I am too busy to open the door at this time.
Wow, I don't answer the door if I don't know who is at the door.
my neighbors also had their house broken into like that. some 'landscapers' were going door to door and if someone wasn't home they busted out the back door. They have a 14 year old daughter and the dad was freaking because he tells her not to answer the door(fortunatly no one was home at the time). we don't have a dog and my kids are too young to leave alone but I have a sign i put in the window that says 'home sick, I will not answer the door'.
A dog especially a large dog. Hubby was gone for training for 3 weeks and it had me worried thinking ppl would notice that his vehicle was gone. My neighbor would be over and armed in a heart beat if I called them up. They'd be here a lot faster then the police would.
lol...Somer my dogs bark at everything!
