[rabscuttle385]

I would add...be careful when someone knocks on your door. A potential thief could pretend to be a neighbor who got locked out of his (or her) house or someone whose car just "died" and needs to use the phone.

All the protection in the world (except maybe a rifle) is worthless if you stupidly open the door and invite the robber right on in.

[Stoat]

I would add...be careful when someone knocks on your door. A potential thief could pretend to be a neighbor who got locked out of his (or her) house or someone whose car just "died" and needs to use the phone.

All the protection in the world (except maybe a rifle) is worthless if you stupidly open the door and invite the robber right on in.

Excellent suggestion!  Somebody tried to do that very thing to me once, but I turned him away without opening the door.  I'm in a metro area, so public phones and services are not hard to come by in the neighborhood. 

If somebody says that they've just had an accident outside and you can't see it from your window, they can wait outside while you call 911. 

[Farmer Dean]

I always answer the door with one hand behind my back.In that hand is either a 1911 or HK USP.The dogs are standing right behind me too.

[MindBender26]

Happened to us recently.

Well dressed man at front door said "Car died en-route to getting his sick child to hospital, could he come in and use phone?"

Said (on intercom) that I had just called 911 for him. He took off running.

Also had my Glock 23 in hand......