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us Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone is trying to gain access to a secure building by following residents or posing as a delivery person

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

Short answer

Move away from the entrance and do not confront or admit the person. Alert building staff or security, and call 911 if immediate police assistance is needed because of forced entry, threats, violence, a weapon, or another immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Do not hold the secured door open, unlock it, share an entry code, or lend the person a key or access card.
  • Do not physically block, restrain, chase, follow, or try to remove the person.
  • Do not argue with them or move closer to inspect identification, a uniform, a package, or a delivery screen.
  • Do not put yourself between the person and an entrance or exit.
  • Do not approach or follow the person to photograph or record them.
  • Do not gather other residents at the entrance.
  • Do not base a report on the person’s race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sex, or other personal characteristics. Describe the actions and words that concerned you.

What to do now

  1. Move to a safer place without approaching the person. Go inside your apartment, into a staffed or separately secured area, or to a nearby public place.

  2. Allow the secured door to close if you can do so without confronting or physically blocking anyone. If the person has entered, keep your distance and do not follow them.

  3. From a safe place, contact the front desk, security team, superintendent, property manager, or other designated building contact through an official number or the building’s usual communication system. State what you directly observed and whether the person is outside or inside.

  4. Call 911 if the situation requires immediate police assistance, including forced entry in progress, threats, violence, a displayed weapon, or another immediate danger. Give the exact street address, entrance or floor, what happened, the person’s last known location, and your safe location. Answer the call-taker’s questions and follow their instructions.

  5. If there is no immediate emergency, use the official website or published contact details for the local law enforcement agency to find its non-emergency reporting route. Report specific behavior, such as entering a restricted area, following residents through a locked door, testing entrances, or impersonating authorized personnel.

  6. If it is safe, note the time, entrance, observed actions and words, clothing, distinguishing features, items carried, vehicle details, and direction of travel. Do not move closer to obtain information.

  7. If the person claims to be making a delivery, use the building’s normal visitor or delivery procedure from a safe location. Let building staff or the intended recipient decide whether to admit them rather than relying on contact details or proof supplied by the person.

  8. Warn nearby residents through an existing building communication channel if you can do so safely. Keep the message factual and ask them not to gather at or open the entrance.

What can wait

You do not need to determine the person’s intentions, inspect their identification, question them, contact a delivery company, review security footage, make a formal complaint, or decide how the building’s access procedures should change right now. Those matters can wait until the immediate situation is stable.

Important reassurance

You are not responsible for proving that the person is unauthorized or stopping them yourself. Moving away and reporting the specific behavior you observed is reasonable, even if the situation later has an innocent explanation.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety and reporting steps only. Later decisions about security footage, access systems, resident notices, building policies, or formal reports may require help from property management, security professionals, or local law enforcement.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal, law-enforcement, security, or other professional advice. Prioritize your immediate safety and follow instructions from emergency responders.

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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