Staying safe at your front door
Your front door is the first line of defence for your home. While most callers will be genuine, criminals often rely on gaining quick access or creating a distraction to take advantage. A confident approach and a few simple precautions can make a big difference in keeping you and your home safe.
Many doorstep crimes happen because people feel pressured to act quickly or don’t want to appear rude. It’s important to remember that you are always in control — you don’t have to open the door or engage with anyone you’re unsure about.
Common warning signs of doorstep scams
Be cautious if someone:
- Pressures you to make a quick decision.
- Asks for cash payments or offers 'today-only' deals.
- Claims to be working nearby and spots a “problem” with your home.
- Refuses to leave when asked.
- Cannot provide clear identification.
Simple ways to make your home more secure
A few small changes can make a big difference:
- Keep doors locked, even when you’re at home.
- Fit a door chain or viewer so you can check safely.
- Consider a video doorbell or CCTV, so you can see who is outside before even opening the door.
- Display a 'No cold callers' sticker - Enter our competition to win a free sticker.
- Install good outdoor lighting.
- Keep keys out of sight and away from letterboxes to prevent theft.
Strong doors, good quality locks and sensible access habits all play an important role in preventing burglary - view our protect your home resources to find out more.
Install a door chain, restrictor or intercom
Door chains, restrictors and intercoms add an extra layer of protection and allow you to speak to someone safely without fully opening the door, or even opening it at all in the case of an intercom.
They can help you:
- Speak safely with callers.
- Open the door slightly while maintaining control.
- Reduce the risk of someone forcing their way in.
Important:
- These measures should be used alongside, not instead of, checking ID.
- Never rely on a chain alone for security.
- Only remove the chain / open your door once you are confident the caller is genuine.
Remember it is always okay to say no and close the door - genuine callers will not mind arranging another time.
Safer ways to answer the door
- Take your time before acting:
- Speak to callers through the door first before opening to check who it is.
- If you feel uncomfortable, don’t open the door at all.
- Always use your door chain or restrictor, even after identifying who it is, to limit access and give an extra layer of protection against unknown callers.
- Ask for identification and verify it independently using official contact details before removing your door chain or restrictor.
- If you are uncomfortable at this point, shut the door.
- Call 999 if you feel threatened or feel you are in immediate danger.
- Call 101 to report suspicious behaviour.
Remember it is always okay to say no and close the door - genuine callers will not mind arranging another time.
Prevent doorstep parcel theft
With more people shopping online, parcel theft - sometimes called doorstep theft - has become more common. Simple steps can help reduce the risk:
- Arrange for your parcels to be sent to a designated safe places or parcel locker if you are not going to be home.
- Alternatively, arrange deliveries for times when someone is at home.
- Ask a trusted neighbour to take in parcels.
- Avoid leaving deliveries visible from the street.
As well as potentially getting stolen a parcel on a doorstep is a clear sign someone is not in which increases your risk of other burglaries, so think ahead when ordering items.
Taking these precautions can help ensure your deliveries arrive safely and aren’t an easy target.
