Over Half Feel Anxious About Unexpected Home Visitors; One in Three Have Experienced Suspicious Visits [Survey on Handling Home Visitors]

Amid the increasing sophistication and severity of recent robbery and fraud cases, anxiety about home invasion crimes is rising. In particular, reports of incidents triggered by face-to-face encounters at the front door, such as 'inspection robberies' and 'impersonation scams,' have been frequent, making it clear that the traditional mindset of 'just locking the door is enough' is no longer sufficient. Against this backdrop, Panasonic Corporation conducted a survey on 'attitudes toward handling visitors at the front door' targeting 800 men and women living in detached houses. The results revealed that many people feel 'annoyed,' 'stressed,' or 'fearful' when visited by strangers, indicating a mental burden associated with responding at the entrance. ■ Over half responded that they 'feel more scared about opening the door to visitors than before.' More than 30% expressed a need to 'handle matters without opening the door if possible.' Along with changing security awareness, there is a strong demand for 'non-face-to-face safety assurance.' ■ Over 60% of people find visits from strangers 'annoying,' an overwhelming majority. This highlights the negative feelings people hold toward unknown visitors. ■ One in three people have experienced 'persistent, pushy solicitations or suspicious visits trying to get them to open the door.' The perception of the entrance is shifting from a 'place to welcome people' to a 'place where one must act cautiously to ensure personal safety.' [Survey Overview] ・Area: Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama) ・Target: 800 men and women aged 20-69 currently living in detached houses ・Period: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 to Friday, May 1, 2026 ・Commissioned to: Rakuten Insight, Inc. *When citing the survey results, please attribute them to 'Panasonic survey.' When asked if they feel scared about opening the door to visitors now compared to the past, 57.1% responded 'feel it strongly (17.0%)' or 'feel it somewhat (40.1%),' showing that over half are experiencing heightened fear. Furthermore, when asked about their preferred approach to handling visitors, a combined 79.8% said they want to avoid opening the door, with 34.4% wanting to 'handle matters without opening the door if possible' and 45.4% wanting to 'avoid opening the door depending on the situation.' With nearly 80% considering non-face-to-face responses, there is a clear trend towards a strong need for 'non-face-to-face safety assurance' that allows for safe confirmation and resolution without direct contact, in line with the increasing sophistication of crime. When asked how they feel when a stranger visits and the intercom rings, an overwhelming 67.0% said they find it 'annoying.' While a certain number (17.8%) said they 'don't feel anything in particular,' responses like 'feel stressed (36.0%)' and 'feel scared (15.1%)' followed, indicating that many people hold negative feelings toward unknown visitors. When asked if they have ever experienced pushy sales or solicitations trying to get them to open the door, or suspicious visits, 36.8% said they have, with 6.8% saying 'quite often' and 30.0% saying 'occasionally.' With one in three people having had unpleasant or threatening experiences at their front door, it appears that the perception of the entrance is shifting from a 'place to welcome people' to a 'place where one must act cautiously to ensure personal safety.' This survey revealed that many people find the sound of the doorbell 'annoying' or 'stressful,' and that responding at the front door is a source of mental burden in daily life. Furthermore, with one in three people having experienced persistent, pushy solicitations or suspicious visits, it is clear that people's vigilance is higher than before. The habit of 'first, open the door and see' is giving way to a mindset where the entrance is a 'place to act cautiously to ensure personal safety,' and communication based on prior safety confirmation is becoming mainstream. With over half saying they feel more scared about opening the door than before, and over 30% wanting to handle matters without face-to-face contact, social awareness regarding home safety is evolving. Going forward, in addition to individuals raising their own security awareness, there is a need to shift towards an 'advanced security style' that utilizes security devices that 'ensure safety without opening the door,' reducing psychological burden while enhancing home safety. Here are some security measures made possible by incorporating home appliances. Introducing security products that respond to the 'non-face-to-face' need and resolve stress and anxiety at the front door. ■ Resolving front-door stress with 'non-face-to-face' and 'automatic identification' Wireless Monitor TV Door Phone VL-X70AHS 1. AI automatically identifies visitors for optimal 'non-face-to-face' response With AI facial recognition, the system smartly auto-responds to pre-registered family, acquaintances, and regular delivery personnel. For unregistered visitors, the AI automatically checks their purpose and records the situation. By having the AI judge and automatically respond to both 'known' and 'unknown' people, it enables a style where you only need to respond when necessary, without psychological burden. 2. Detects suspicious individuals loitering near the house. Provides peace of mind beyond pretending not to be home with security camera functions. It also features a security camera-like function that detects suspicious movements around the house and automatically records them. Even in anxiety-inducing situations where you might feel forced to pretend not to be home, the door phone monitors your front door 24/7 on your behalf. Even if a suspicious visitor arrives, you can accurately record and handle the situation while maintaining a safe distance without any face-to-face contact. This door phone is designed to address the modern, pressing concerns of 'being scared to open the door' and 'finding it a hassle to respond,' ensuring safety and peace of mind without opening the door, embodying an 'advanced security' solution for the new era. ▼Wireless Monitor TV Door Phone VL-X70AHS https://panasonic.jp/door/products/VL-X70AHS.html *1 Requires linkage with the smartphone app 'Panasonic Smart Security.' *2 Facial recognition registration is possible for up to 30 people. *3 Recorded data is saved to an SD card (sold separately).