subject: Home Invasion - Tips On Preventing It From Happening To You [print this page] If you've ever been the target of a home invasion, or known someone who has, you know that it is a terrible experience. Not only do you lose your treasured possessions but you could be at home when the person invades your home.
If you are in the bath tub or taking a shower, a home invader who cases your house beforehand, perhaps even ringing the doorbell as a "delivery man" may assume that you aren't at home if you don't answer.
You don't want to risk encountering anyone who invades your home. They may have more than burglary on their minds. They may want to harm you and get a thrill from being in power.
Sadly, many homeowners don't take some very basic steps to prevent home invasions. If they did, they could rest assured that break-ins could be reduced or completely eliminated. One key point to remember is that home invaders don't want to waste precious time getting into your home.
That raises the risk that they could be seen or a neighbor could report suspicious activity. They simply want to get in quickly, grab the most expensive items or attack you and then leave quickly. This is how professionals behave but even professionals can put your life at risk.
That's why your goal is to make it impossible for any home intruder to get into your residence quickly. Unlike burglars, the the home intruder may want you to be home and intend to harm you. Women living alone, elderly people or drug dealers who may have expensive drugs in their homes - all are at higher risk.
Remember, intruders may even enjoy the power they have over you. Home invaders target both wealthy and poor people and in all sorts of neighborhoods. It is up to you to take steps to protect yourself. Don't make it easy for an intruder to get into your house!
You'll want to install strong locks, of course (more on that in a bit) but an important first step is to make sure sure you and your family are up to speed on actions which help ensure safety. The best lock available won't do any good if you open your door to a suspicious person.
Tell everyone who lives in the home to never open the door before looking out a window to see the person. If there is a peephole on the door, use it. Look through it before opening the door. It is amazing how many people forget to do this.
If someone says he or she is with the police, make sure you see a badge. You might even call the police to see why someone is coming to your home. Never, ever open your door to a sales person or stranger, even if the person seems safe. Some may say they have a flat tire while others seem to be dressed in uniform, complete with sales items.
Don't fall for this possible trick. If you have any children, don't only talk about security tips but consider having a friend (one whom the kids don't know) come to the house, ring the doorbell and ask your children to open the door. If they do, go right back over those security tips again until they truly understand. Be serious and stress the importance of safety measures.
Once you've gone over the basic actions which can prevent home intruders from gaining access to the home, make sure all doors, windows and garages stay closed and locked unless you are at home and in front of those windows, garage doors, etc. All doors should be solid core, with high quality locks which can't be picked or easily broken. Locks on windows should also be the highest quality and strike plates located in the door's frame should have the strongest and longest screws in them (at least 3 inches or longer).
Do not ever rely on old-fashioned chain latches to protect you. A home intruder can easily break most of those with one strong kick to the door. Finally, make sure both the front and back of your home are well lighted.
If you don't always get home before dark, set the lights to come on automatically. Consider having some lights come on 5 or 10 minutes after the first set does so that it appears you are at home and turning on the lights randomly. Motion detectors can also be used to turn on lights if anyone enters your drive or comes near the house.
By taking these extra steps, you've just made sure your home is unlikely to be the target of a home invasion. In addition to making sure your family follows vital safety steps, having strong doors and locks are equally important and can make your home much safer. You've just helped slow down or stop a home intruder.
