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What to do if…
an unexpected person at your door or building entrance will not clearly identify themselves

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Keep the door or entrance locked and do not admit the person while you verify the visit from a safe place. Call 911 if they threaten anyone, try to force entry, display a weapon, or create another immediate emergency.

Do not do these things

  • Do not open or unlock the door because the person sounds urgent or appears to have identification.
  • Do not step into the hallway, lobby, porch, or parking area to confront them.
  • Do not say that you are alone or share personal details, access codes, account information, passwords, or verification codes.
  • Do not rely only on a phone number, website, or contact details supplied by the visitor.
  • Do not hand over money or make an immediate payment at the door.
  • Do not ask a neighbor, friend, or building resident to confront the person.
  • Do not follow the person if they leave.
  • Do not post a live update that reveals your location or who is inside.

What to do now

  1. Keep the door locked. Lock any other accessible entrances and move children, other residents, and pets away from the doorway.

  2. Keep your phone with you and observe the person only from a safe position, such as through a peephole, camera, window, or intercom. You do not need to stand directly behind the door.

  3. Through the closed door or intercom, ask for their full name, organization, reason for visiting, and the name of anyone who arranged the visit. Tell them you will not open the door while you verify the information.

  4. Verify the visit independently. Contact building management, security, the front desk, the utility company, or the claimed organization using contact information from an official website, account statement, official app, lease, or building directory.

  5. If the person claims to be a utility worker, contractor, delivery worker, or building employee, ask the organization whether that specific person and visit were authorized. Do not treat a uniform, badge, vehicle, or identification card as verification by itself.

  6. If you cannot verify the visit, say once through the locked door or intercom that you will not admit them and that they need to leave. Avoid arguing or continuing the conversation.

  7. In a managed building, contact on-site staff or security from inside. Give the person’s location, description, and specific behavior, and ask staff to handle the situation.

  8. Call 911 if the person tries to force entry, tampers with the lock, threatens anyone, displays a weapon, damages the entrance, or you believe immediate police assistance is needed. Give the call-taker your location, describe what is happening, and follow their instructions.

  9. If there is no immediate emergency but the person remains or behaves suspiciously, contact your local law enforcement agency through its published non-emergency number. Describe what the person is doing rather than guessing about their identity or intentions.

  10. From a safe place, note the time, what the person said, their appearance, any vehicle description, and the direction they went if they leave. Save available doorbell or security footage without going outside to gather more information.

What can wait

You do not need to work out exactly who the person is, gather perfect evidence, review every recording, warn people online, or decide whether to make a formal report right now. Once the immediate situation is stable, you can notify property management, review saved footage, and consider any non-emergency report.

Important reassurance

Keeping a locked barrier between you and an unverified visitor is a reasonable safety precaution. You are allowed to take time to verify a visit and you do not have to open the door to continue the conversation.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Repeated visits, targeted behavior, stalking concerns, building-security problems, or questions about your rights may require help from local law enforcement, property management, a victim-support organization, or another qualified professional.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal advice or professional security advice. Circumstances vary, and instructions from a 911 call-taker or responding emergency personnel should take priority during an emergency.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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