It would be wonderful if crimes were never committed and if we could trust everyone who steps across our home’s threshold. Unfortunately, this is not the reality, and although most situations perfectly safe, we all must still take precautions.

It takes a great deal of trust to invite a stranger into your family’s home and this is a necessity when hiring a service person. Sadly, some people take advantage of this trust and abuse their position as an opportunity to commit a crime. Even worse, some criminals fraudulently present themselves as service providers in order to gain access to homes.

Although these situations are rare, it is important to take precautions to ensure that you do not fall victim to a crime. Even if a visiting service person is prearranged, you should still take precautions to protect your home and yourself. The following are some simple safety tactics that can help keep you safe.

Ask for Identification

Whether the visit was scheduled or not, you have a right to ask for identification to ensure that the person is whom they say they are. If they are unwilling to show the ID or do not have proper identification, ask them to return at another time. This is not a time to worry about appearing rude; your safety comes first. After asking the service person to leave, call the company that they represent and report the incident.

Call the Company

If a service provider arrives at your door unannounced, you should call the company that they represent to confirm the visit. As an added precaution, verify the phone number for yourself rather than using one provided by the visitor. Of course, if you are uncomfortable with the surprise visit, you can always ask the service person to return at a later, scheduled time.

Have Someone Else With You for Scheduled Appointments

Even if you are certain that the service provider is authentic, you may still feel nervous having stranger in the home. If you feel uncomfortable about being at home alone when a service provider visits, ask a friend or family member to be there with you.

You may also want to schedule a trusted person to be home if you have to be absent during the visit. This can ensure the safety of your home and your belongings. If no one is available to stay with you, or if you find yourself alone in the end, cancel your appointment. Even if you are charged a small penalty, your piece of mind will be worth the fee.

Remain Firm

These safety precautions will only protect you if you follow them. Whenever you find yourself in a situation of using one of these tactics, you should remain confident that you are doing the right thing.

If you find yourself being pressured or feeling uneasy about enforcing your safety, ask yourself why you feel that way. The service provider you are speaking with should be responding to you in a calm and understanding way.

If they are anxious, irritated, or pressuring you in any way, then you have a right to ask them to leave and return later. Pressure tactics should be a warning sign that something isn’t quite right.

If the person is unwilling to leave or makes you further uncomfortable, then you should leave the home yourself, find a phone, and call the police immediately.