Is it safe to open the front door when you are alone at home?

I don't open the door, even though I have a peep hole to look out. Unless I have invited someone over, or they have called first, I'm not interested in seeing the. I live in an apartment. I don't answer my buzzer unless I know someone's coming. The other night someone rang my buzzer, and I didn't answer it. The person managed to get in and knock on my door. Hey, why were they knocking if I dind't let them into the building No, I do not answer the door.

I hate those door-to-door sales people, or anyone else that is knocking on my door who I don't really know. I had one really weird guy, high on pot, knocking on all the doors where I live. I was stupid and opened the door, but nothing happened. I think I'm going to start pretending I'm not home when I see someone at the door I don't know.

I didn't knowthey still had door to door salesmen. The only eople thatcometo my door are neighbours in need or religious fools.

With all of the horrible stories on the news these days I never open the door for anyone I don't know. I don't care if my kids are screaming in the background and they know I am home I won't do it! I would hate something to happen to my kids or myself because I was "feeling bad" about them or whatever. I just want to be safe =)

here in the philippines... thats definitely a bad idea. youll never know who might enter your abode. With a high criminality rate right now.. you have to secure your life and properties.

If you have a screen door, perhaps you could keep that locked. Also, it might be wise to put a chain lock on the door and use it. At least that way, if one of your visitors turns out to be an attacker, you have somewhat of a slight advantage. It's really sad that we live in a world where one even has to worry about such things, isn't it.

I do not think we are required to answer the door or the phone if we do not want to. The things are not the way they were years ago. We have to use some common sense when answering the door. Perhaps you could install an intercom system to make sure who is there before you answer.

My sister use to live by herself with her kids and she use to put a pair of mens work boots outside her front door so whoever came to her door would think she had a husband or some male figure living there. She got the biggest boots and would set them right outside. Plus another thing you could do is put a dogs leash outside and let it hang outside your door and maybe have a sign up about having a watch dog or something. My sister got all this off of oprah, the talk show. It's a good idea to be safe because if someone was going to try to come to your door that really wasn't a sales person, would see those big boots and just walk off. Never know. Just be safe. And I wouldn't answer the door when alone.

I don't open my door either unless I'm expecting someone. I even have a locking screen door but I still won't, a screen door won't stop a bullet if they're really that crazy. I've made some people angry doing that because for some reason no one else seems to understand but I'd rather be safe than have friends. One "friend" came pounding on my door at 9:00pm. It was dark so I couldn't see who it was, all I knew was they were pounding really loud. I ignored it because I was uncomfortable. He left and called me 10 minutes later when he got home and was acting all put out because I didn't open the door to him. I even explained why but he acted like I was being overly dramatic. I just know that it takes the state police 45 minutes to get here and that's only if the 911 operators can give good directions.

It really depends on the kind of neighborhood you live in. If you feel that your place is safe enough then maybe its alright to open your door to anybody but these days I think it would be more cautious if you use a door chain especially if you have a stranger knocking on your door. In my case, I live in some sort of a compound so I feel safe opening my door to everybody. In fact, most of the times I often leave my door open...

Oh, I don't think it is safe at all. Even if you are not alone, you shouldn't open the front door. Well, if you have a gate before the door, then of course you can open the front door since you are still protected by the gate.

i always look through the window before i open it. i live near a major street with a lot of bars on it,and you never know who's going through the neighborhood or what they might be on. just safer that way.

I keep my front door locked during the day. If a stranger comes to the door, I just yell through the door to gain some identity first. If it's a solicitor, I never open the door for them. If it's someone from one of the utility companies, I ask to see ID before I open the door. Even then you can't be too safe so I open the main door to the screen door and keep that locked while I speak with them.

i think that you should be careful and do not let the door opened but sales people who came to us we cant ignore them completely but we must be careful when we talk to them thats what i think

I dont as you never know who else might be standing there. you might not beable to see them. the other thing is, they then know that your alone and might come back.

If I were you, I would post a "No Soliciting" sign by the door where it can be seen from the path. This should be enough to keep any honest salesperson away. And if they still knock , just look out through the window on your door, point to the sign, and shoo them away if you don't know them. Don't open the door. There are many cases where people pose as salesmen to go around a neighborhood and figure out who is home and who is not, and to get a look inside the houses if they can to see who would be easy to rob. I have a screen door, which I keep locked, and a window in my front door. I don't feel bad at all standing inside and yelling to be heard if someone I don't know comes to the door, neither should you. Be Safe.

I do not think it is very safe to leave the door open when you are home alone. No matter where you live or how safe you feel your neighborhood is, you just never know who will be on the other side. There is just some crazy people out there now a days and you never know when of if you will be a victim. Maybe I am just a fraidy cat or just overly protective because I have two little kids but that is my opinion. If you do like to keep your door open though I would recommend purchasing one of those No Solciting signs at your door. This way salesmen will leave you alone, and the only people who should be at your door knocking would be neighbors and friends who you would welcome. Hope this helps.

I moved out to the middle of nowhere one year. The only people I had seen around were the neighbours. I had just jumped out of the shower one day when I was alone. I wrapped a towel around my head and put on my ratty old nightgown and answered the door. Two women were standing there and asked if I had a minute they wanted to discuss god. They were Jehovah Witnesses there to bother me. I am an Atheist and this bothered me. Leave me alone, I am in the middle of nowhere, go back to the city. I was polite and said I was busy and closed the door. Two days later we come home and there is a van load of them there to "save" me. I wasn't alone then and they were chased off, never to return. I am back in the city now and refuse to open the door to anyone except if I am expecting them. So no is my answer it isn't safe!

If its salespeople you can just makes them leave. If you really don't feel safe opening your door, which i find a little wierd, just do not open your door. You should think about why you are so afraid though. If you can find the cause, maybe you can intervene on that?

well y dont u try just pretending tht some1's at home.... like shouting frm the door "mom it is so nd so"....