not leave, quietly Sunday, April 11. 1999 — North Shore News — 23 Answering your door and phone safely HOME, and invasion. Two words that, when defined separately, scem to have no connection. Pur them together, however, and they strike fear into the Lower Mainlanders — espe- cially. seniors. What makes a home inva- sion especially terrifying is that for most people, their homes represent security, a place where they feel safe. These days, there are plen- ty of stories about people whose homes have been bro- ken into and burglarized. It’s a frightening thought, but you’re not helpless. On its Web site, , — the North Vancouver RCMP suggests a number of precautions that will reduce or even climinate the opportunities thar a bur- glar is looking for. First, remember that while you are at home there two ways in which you can be contacted: your door and your. telephone. Az the Door Most of the time, the per- ‘son at your door will be there for a legitimate “reason, whether he/she is a friend or stranger. If the caller is a recognized friend, there should be no problem. If the caller is a stranger, you should immedi- ately become alert. Never open your door toa stranger. : You should have a. one- ‘way peephole installed in the -door that allows you to sce who the caller is. : The one-way peephole is ‘inexpensive and easily > installed. If a stranger is legitimately _ at your door, he/she will not : object to your being cautious. Establish the caller’s iden- : tity and the reason for the ' visit. If he/she refuses to show identification and _ will ge to. the , telephone and call the police. ~ If you live in an ‘apartment - complex, telephone your hearts of building superintendent. Should the caller produce identification but you are stifl nor sure of the validity of the visit, telephone the caller's business office for confirma- tion. If vou still feel uncomfort- able, do not open your door; ask the caller to return in 30 minutes or an hour. This will allow you suffi- cient time to contact a friend or relative to be present when the caller returns. Being cau- tious increases vour safety and well being. There are a number of ways you can secure your doors. If you do not feel your locks are adequate, the police “These days, there are plenty of stories about people whose homes have been broken into and burglarized...but yow’re not helpless.” recommend that you contact a professional locksmith or a friend to assist you. (North Vancouver RCMP have litera- ture on home security that will provide you information on various residential locking devices.) Should you — consider improving the security of your home, investigate thor- oughly your fock require- ments and the cost of upgrad- ing the security of your doors themselves for a lock is only as effective as the door and frame on which it is installed. On the Telephone You contro] conversations and information flow on your telephone. If you do nor know the caller, do not volunteer infor- Caring you can count on. Our complete family _ Support service can provide any level or range of care for your loved one... Personal support, homemaking or nursing services. Ee qwecare’ 980-6350 102 - 145 West 15th St., North Vancouver Where peace of mind bas a bome address” mation. Should the caller ask “Who is this?” you should respond “Who are you calling?” or “To whom do you wish to speak?” Make the caller iden- tify who he/she is calling. If you do not receive an appropriate response, hang up. Do not allow yourself’ to be drawn into conversations with strange callers, census/survey takers or busi- ness promotion sales persons where you will be asked to reveal your name, address, marital status, personal histo- ry information ete. Never give out personal information over the tele- phone. If che call is legitimate and the representative actually requires the information arrange a meeting to your convenience. The legitimate caller will respect your position and agree to an alternative approach. If in doubt, ask the caller for the name of the business and the telephone number so that you can return the call. Then check the number to ensure that it corresponds to the caller’s information. In the case of obscene tele- For Senior Citizens who nced a caring “helping hand". *Shopping eWalks °Transport eCompanionship «Home duties & more Mimi & Lise, Mother & Daughter Team “AS Golden Age Care Services 988-4797 R.A. Witzel, C.A. A Chartered Accountancy ElderCare Practice focused on assisting seniors to live independently by providing high integrity, personal and professional management support and assistance in all domestic and personal business matters. To learn more about ElderCare Professional Services Call 921-4046 An Experienced Consultant has the Answers. R.A. 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