There are a lot of things to be thankful for this month and providing great security systems to home owners in Greenville, NC is at the top of our list. As safe as your home is, it doesn’t mean that danger can’t come knocking. According to a report by the Bureau of Justice,

“An estimated 3.7 million household burglaries occurred each year on average from 2003 to 2007. In about 28% of these burglaries, a household member was present during the burglary. In 7% of all household burglaries, a household member experienced some form of violent victimization”

That means, next time you hear a knock or the doorbell rings, that could be you. Sometimes you can check your security systems camera to ignore the knock, and other times you hope for the best and swing your door right open. Your safest bet for not having to guess, but to be on your guard at all times. With alarm systems, advanced security cameras, 24-hour surveillance, security monitoring, and other cool features – you can get the protection you need for your family or office in Greenville, NC without having to wonder what is on the other side of that door bell.

Of course, sometimes you check the camera and you just can’t tell why the person is knocking, so you open the door. Here are some tips for the next time you open the door:

1. Don’t Get Pressured

Whether you are Netflix binging or working from home, you have no obligation to buy anything from a demanding sales representative. No one deserves to be panhandled to the point that they do not want to give at all. In addition, for all you know, they aren’t selling anything at all but scoping out your home for a burglary later. Don’t let them in or give them that opportunity.

2. Beware of Fake Charities

Who doesn’t to give back to charity? If you are in the right mood, you might feel inspired to donate. However, research before you press the donate button or give the person at the door the check. According to CNBC,

“Four cancer charities—Cancer Fund of America and three affiliated groups—were recently accused by the Federal Trade Commission of bilking consumers out of $187 million from 2008 through 2012 and doing little to help cancer patients.”

Make sure your charities are actually giving the right amount of money to make positive change, so that your dollars actually matter.  In addition, in general you should avoid door Signing. Your signature is unique to you for a reason. Make sure you give yourself some time to review any contracts before you sign them.

3. You Don’t Have to Answer the Door

It is not unacceptable to not answer the door. If you have no idea who it could be and you want to completely avoid the risk, let them knock and ring the doorbell. Stranger danger is as true for an adult as it is for children. If they really need you, they’ll leave a note or better yet, call or send an email.

What Else Can You Do?

If you’re concerned about safety, the best thing for you to do is get adequate security.The mission of East Coast Security is to help protect you, your home, or your other properties. We do by installing the software and systems you need to detect who is knocking at your door and when. Don’t wait for danger to come knocking, request a quote.