Someone at the door dad!!!

[NyzPnoy]

Rob, Michael and Michael:

I'm perhaps just looking for a validation that what I'm doing is right or wrong, but at the same time I'd like to get more ideas to make my home and  family safer...I know this is addressed to the TBD hosts, but I welcome other opinions and ideas.  Thanks in advance...

I'm a big fan of TBD and I saw the episode on home invasion and I made few adjustments, for the better, at home because of the show. 
 
My kids are finally old and responsible enough to be left at home.  As a parent I still worry whenever I have to leave them at home for any amount of time.  I have always trained them what to do when someone knock or ring the doorbell.  If l'm not around I tell them to yell, "Someone at the door, dad!!!" and acknowledge whomever is at the door without opening the door and with a mobile phone in hand.  One of them will call me right away from another phone and let me know that someone is at the door and I will stay on the phone until the person at the door leave.  I'm fortunate enough that my work is only 10 minutes away.  My kids usually tell them that that I'm in the shower and if they are trying to sell something they politely tell them they don't want to buy.  If I am expecting a delivery I usually find out the expected time of delivery, so I can be home around that time.  The reason I train my family this way for the following reasons:  1)  It will let the person knocking at my door know that the home is not empty.  2)  If the person is a burglar he will likely or hopefully leave the area

I live in Southern California and just 3 weeks ago, I saw on the news that about 40 homes were burglarized.  The burglars would knock and ring the doorbell, if no one answer the door, they break in.  If someone answer the door, they pretend to be lost and ask for directions.  I have been training my family before these crimes happened.

I talk to other parents and they tell me if someone is at the door and they don't know who it is they simply don't answer.  If there is an advantage to their strategy I don't see. 

Any of you have any advice or suggestions on how I may improve my approach?  Am I just paronoid?


Joel

[Rob Pincus]

Thanks for the thoughts, Joel.

Sounds like you are taking good reasonable precautions, including talking about your kids with potential problems.

I would suggest that the person answering the door might actually have the phone open and appear to be on the phone (or actually make a quick call), as they dismiss the person at the door.

In Women's Assault Prevention courses, I have heard a couple of times that some women have the "strategy" of excusing themselves from their dates and calling their parents/sister/friend and telling them who they are with, where they are or what car they are in, etc...  I encourages them to actually make the call casually in front of the date, in this way, knowing that the call has been made may act in dissuading any potential negative action later.
 In the same way, thinking that there is an active call (witness) going on might influence the decision of the person at the door in regard to possibly trying to make entry.

-RJP

[NyzPnoy]

Thanks for taking time Rob, I can never know too much.  Someone always have something to add to what I already know and don't know.  I love the show and I always look forward coming from work and learn more from it.