Warning: caution when opening a door to a stranger

Oconeeans are known to be hospitable and to lend a hand to neighbors and even strangers. But an incident last month near Westminster has prompted the Oconee Sheriff’s Office to urge the public to always be cautious when answering the door to a stranger. A man who visited a home on the Dr. John’s Road to inquire about a lawn mower for sale eventually was charged with burglarizing the home. “We recommend that if a stranger knocks on your door and you are not comfortable with answering the door, don’t go to the door at all,” says Jimmy Watt, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. “If you do decide to go to the door, peak out the window to see who it is and don’t open the door all the way.”