mgmorden
Member
Just coming here for some advice. Last night around 8:45 PM my doorbell rang. Wasn't expecting company so I checked out the window and noticed a young black male wearing shorts, sneakers, t-shirt, and ball cap carrying a 3-ring binder with some paper in it.
He didn't look to be on any official business (particularly not at almost 9pm) so I didn't answer the door. Today the local phone company (who also does internet and security systems) sent out a notice that someone was going door to door in the last few days claiming to be an employee of theirs and asking to see check the thermostats and alarm systems.
A fellow resident of the neighborhood confirmed that they were probed in this manner last night. The person asked to see their thermostat. They said no, and the person mentioned being able to save them a lot of money if he could look at it. She said no again and he mentioned that he noticed that she didn't have a security system because he didn't see a sign. She lied and said she did have one but that she didn't have a sign out.
The whole situation just has me a little unnerved as when I checked the door my home defense handgun was upstairs in a safe next to my bed. Had I needed it it was a good ways off. I'm already set on installing an additional wall safe downstairs so that I have a second gun available if down there. I know the recommendation is that one carry at all times (even at home), but I've got two small children in the house (3 and 5) while are often jumping up on me and such and I just don't like them hitting a handgun on my side as they play.
I'm also considering getting a security system, which is the main part of my question - do you guys think they're worth it? Do they really have any impact? Is it just as effective to just get a sign for one of the companies and put it in the front yard?
Also, given that I didn't answer the door, do you think that makes me more or less of a target for later break-in if they were probing homes like this?
He didn't look to be on any official business (particularly not at almost 9pm) so I didn't answer the door. Today the local phone company (who also does internet and security systems) sent out a notice that someone was going door to door in the last few days claiming to be an employee of theirs and asking to see check the thermostats and alarm systems.
A fellow resident of the neighborhood confirmed that they were probed in this manner last night. The person asked to see their thermostat. They said no, and the person mentioned being able to save them a lot of money if he could look at it. She said no again and he mentioned that he noticed that she didn't have a security system because he didn't see a sign. She lied and said she did have one but that she didn't have a sign out.
The whole situation just has me a little unnerved as when I checked the door my home defense handgun was upstairs in a safe next to my bed. Had I needed it it was a good ways off. I'm already set on installing an additional wall safe downstairs so that I have a second gun available if down there. I know the recommendation is that one carry at all times (even at home), but I've got two small children in the house (3 and 5) while are often jumping up on me and such and I just don't like them hitting a handgun on my side as they play.
I'm also considering getting a security system, which is the main part of my question - do you guys think they're worth it? Do they really have any impact? Is it just as effective to just get a sign for one of the companies and put it in the front yard?
Also, given that I didn't answer the door, do you think that makes me more or less of a target for later break-in if they were probing homes like this?