Home Invasion Security Tips that Can Make You a Safe Hero
Today's action movies would have you believe that the average homeowner can easily fight off the attack of multiple home invaders. You know the scenario; it's late in the evening. The camera pans to a sleeping child cradling a teddy bear. Mom is reading a book in bed while Dad watches late night TV. Suddenly, a loud crash emanates from downstairs. Startled and concerned, Mom rushes to their daughter's bedroom, while Dad sets off down the stairs to investigate.
In real life, parents literally have seconds to make a possible life or death decision in such a scenario. The problem is that the average homeowner isn't trained on what to do during a home invasion. As a result, many make crucial mistakes that result in physical violence, sexual assault, and even death.
Such is the case in a recent home invasion in Baltimore, Maryland. According to The Baltimore Sun, three men claiming to be police officers forced their way into a home during the night. Once inside, they handcuffed the two occupants then began searching the house. Eventually, one of the victims freed himself from the handcuffs and confronted one of the suspects, which resulted in the victim being shot in the face.
That same night, another home invasion took place in Brooklyn, New York, where three masked men broke into a home, pistol whipped, and bound the three occupants. By the time the ordeal was over, one of the occupants, a 25-year-old woman was sexually assaulted, and another occupant, a 45-year-old man, was shot in the stomach.
Although these sad headlines may be about other people, thinking such a crime will never happen to you and your family could be a critical mistake. Chances are that the people in the above news stories thought the same before it happened to them.
So what should you do if a home invasion occurs? If you were to ask that question of 10 security professionals, you'd likely receive 10 different opinions. However, there is one thing we all absolutely agree on—if you don't want to be the victim of a home invasion, then you must take the necessary security steps to fortify your home to keep the intruder out of your house.
If you think attending the occasional kick boxing class is going to help you protect your family from an intruder, you could be sadly mistaken. The key to protecting your family is taking the precautionary measures necessary to reduce your risk of being confronted by a home invader in the first place.
So what's the best way to keep the bad guys on the outside of your home? The following are a few important preventive measures you can take.
Reinforce your door frames and hinges. Installing a security door brace that withstands a minimum of 1800 pounds of force will also go a long in preventing thugs from entering your home.
Treat all ground floor windows with glass protection film. These protective window coatings can significantly slow down an intruder, supplying you the precious seconds needed to call the police or retreat to a predetermined safe room, such as a basement or locking closet with a reinforced door.
Install outdoor, high-intensity LED motion lighting underneath a minimum of two roof-line eaves. Motion detection lighting is a fantastic way to startle and deter intruders.
Keep your alarm system set day and night. Alarm systems are important components of any home security plan. However, a recent study suggests that up to 25% of homeowners neglect to set their alarm systems. No matter if its day or night, make sure you and your family members set your home's alarm system.
In addition, ensure everyone is familiar with how to operate the keypad. Most home security systems have a panic button located on the keypad. Knowing how to activate the panic button in an emergency can yield numerous benefits, including signaling the police to respond with higher priority than normal, which can speed up the overall response time. Alarm keypads also have the ability to display the zone or area of the home that was breached. Informing the 911 dispatcher of the intruder’s location on the premises can be extremely helpful to the police in apprehending the intruder.
Never open the door to a stranger. If you aren't expecting that person that claims to be a service technician, delivery man, or police officer, do not open your door when they come knocking. Instead, ask for their name and the name of their employer, and then call the company or agency directly to verify their identity. If you suspect foul play of any kind, call 911 immediately.
No one wants to endure the frightening ordeal of a home invasion. Even if no one is physically harmed, the fear victims experience often times leave emotional scars that last a lifetime. So don't fool yourself into thinking you can fight off the bad guys like the heroes do in the movies. You can be a hero just by taking the necessary steps to fortify your home so that the bad guys stay out.
Jordan Frankel, commonly known as The Security Sensei develops revolutionary security products and solutions that protect both lives & property. Countless agencies and corporations such as NASDAQ, the US Military, and law enforcement entrust Mr. Frankel with their security and safety. Jordan Frankel is also frequent media guest addressing the personal and financial consequences associated with home invasions, burglaries and other serious threats. In addition, Mr. Frankel's security products & inventions have been featured on Oprah, FOX news and in countless publications. Jordan's ability to outsmart the proverbial bad guys - coupled with his commitment to making security an affordable reality for everyone is the key to Global Security Experts Inc success. Mr. Frankel (The Security Sensei) is available for media interviews by appointment only.
Mr. Frankel is a proud member of:
The American Society for Industrial Security.
The International Association for Counter Terrorism & Security.
The Society of Professional Locksmiths.