Understanding Assailant Tactics: Are You Alone?

      There are many reasons strangers enter our homes. They might be there to fix our internet, plumbing, or furnace. They might be delivering food or other items. Perhaps, they are door to door salespeople. In most cases, they arrive, do what they are supposed to do, and leave. There are other instances, however, when their intentions are not professional.  There are many potential signals that the visitor has ill intent.

     One potential indicator is if the person is trying to determine if you are alone. He might ask you directly but the criminal mind can be much more cunning.  For example, a man knocks on the door of a house. A woman answers then listens as he explains his company's free trial offer.

"Sorry," the sales person says to the woman in the doorway of her house. "I talk too loud sometimes. Am I going to wake anyone?"

"No," she laughs. "It's just me."

"Oh good. I hate to ask. May I have a glass of water? I've been doing this for 3 hours."

"Sure. I'll be right back." She says then walks to the kitchen.

"Thanks," he says, quietly closing the door as he walks inside and walks to the kitchen.

      Notice how he didn't explicitly ask if she was alone but rather evoked a response by expressing " concern" about walking up a family member.  Criminals can be clever and there are innumerable examples of tactics they can use to to determine if you are alone.
 
Be mindful of the information you share.