Question

How should someone respond to avoid danger in the following situation?

You are home alone when a stranger comes to the door and asks if he can use your phone.

Answer 1

Just say no. Then call 911.

Answer 2

I disagree with calling 911. A stranger asking to use the phone is not necessarily a threat.

Of course lock the doors and windows, but I don't see this event as an occasion to call the police.

Answer 3

We have been told in our precinct to 1) not open the door and to 2) call 911 with a description. A deputy constable can then check the situation out and determine if there's a threat or not. They don't want us determining who's a threat and who isn't!