Peepholes
vs
Blind Luck

Peepholes (a.k.a. wide-angle viewers or fisheye lens) let you know who's knocking at your door before you open it. Otherwise you might blindly open wide for Jack the Ripper and his friends – and plunge into the nightmare of a Home Security - Push-In.

Of the more than 8,000 home invasions or burglaries daily in the U.S. alone, roughly half are Walk-Ins through unlocked doors. Duh! Running a close second are Push-Ins when a homeowner blindly opens the door to a criminal. Duh again!

• Insist that all family members always check before opening the door.
• Locate it about five feet high from the indoor floor. Keep a stepstool nearby so kids can use it (and open the door only with your permission).
• Insist on a deliveryman's photo I.D. from his employer pressed to your window. Look for a company vehicle (not with a magnetic sign). Then call his company to check (get the phone number from the phone directory, not from him). See Home Security - Scam-In.
• Know that some criminals block your view with their hand or stand out of sight, hoping to fool you into opening anyway.
• Also use a doorbell intercom for all exterior doors to more easily talk with visitors (or just listen to them making plans) without opening your door. There are really cool models at Home Intercom System.

The Best Selection

[By the way, get rid of "Door Chains" (a.k.a. chain-locks or chain door interviewers) that allow partial door opening to talk to a visitor. They are far too flimsy to stop a kick-in or an aggressive push-in. The newer "high-tech" brands are slightly better but still not nearly good enough.]

Related Pages:
Burglary Prevention | Home Safety Tips | True Crime Stories | Home Intercom System | Home Security - Push-In | Security Products - Door | Home Security - Cracks

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