29 JUNE 2002, Page 63

Q. I live in Balham and would like your advice

on how to discourage uninvited people from ringing our doorbell. We have an intercom through w hich they variously purport to be window-cleaners or to be looking for someone who does not live here. We never open the door because, on peeping out from a side window, we invariably find that they look distinctly dodgy and are clearly just checking to see whether the coast is clear for them to break in, J.F., London 5W12 A. You should replace your single bell with a row of bells to give the impression of multiple occupancy. This puts burglars off as they realise it is unlikely that everyone in the building will be out at the same time.

Mary Killen

If you have a problem write to Dear Maly, co The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC1Ai 2LL.