“Have you ever heard of Distraction Burglary in the Atlanta Georgia area?”
Imagine for a moment that there is a knock at the door of your home in downtown Atlanta GA.
A well dressed man tells you that his vehicle has broke down just down the road… and would you mind if he used the phone to call for some help.
Of course being the good neighbor you are, you reply.
“Why of course you can borrow the phone”,
However, here lies the problem.
Are you helping an innocent neighbor in a jam…
Or will you become the innocent victim…of a distraction burglary?
A What you may say?
A Distraction Burglary.
Although you may have never heard of this phrase…Unfortunately, it is not a new burglary scam.
Believe it or not over 12,000 distraction burglaries happen to good Samaritans each year.
What Exactly Is Distraction Burglary in the Atlanta area?
A stranger tries to get into your home to borrow the phone, check the meter or give an estimate for work that you never asked for.
As you can imagine, they often seek out the elderly as targets.
A criminal can either work alone or with an accomplice. As one does the “distracting” the other does the stealing.
How To Protect Yourself From Distraction Burglary & Distraction Scams
- The first thing to do to protect yourself from distraction crimes is to install a peephole in your front & back door!
- Live by this motto: “If I don’t know them…I do not open the door”
- If you must talk to some one…either talk from a window…or talk thru a crack in the door while using your door chain
- Is your rear door locked at all times? Imagine answering the front door while someone is entering the back door. Its scary to think that people would be so brazen to do this…but it does happen.
- Check for ID! Make a phone call to the proper authorities to see if they are really legitimate.
- Never allow unannounced guests or uninvited contractors offering to do free estimates into your home unless you call them & invite them.
Its sad we have to take precautions as these…but it is always better to err on the side of caution.
To learn about more security tips for your home contact a Atlanta home security consultant.