How to Prevent Home Invasion | By Security Expert Jordan Frankel

If you’re concerned about home safety, learning how to prevent home invasion is one of the smartest moves you can make. Every year, countless families experience the shock and trauma of having their home forcibly entered—often while they’re still inside. Unlike typical burglaries, home invasions are personal, fast, and often violent. But the good news is, there are clear steps you can take to reduce your risk. In this article, I’ll show you how to strengthen your home’s defenses, identify weak points, and use simple but powerful tools—like door braces and window security film—to stop intruders before they get inside. This isn’t fear-based thinking—it’s smart, layered protection.

What Is Home Invasion—and How Is It Different from Burglary?

Most people use the term “home invasion” and “burglary” interchangeably—however they’re not the same thing. A home invasion is far more dangerous. It happens when criminals break into a home knowing the home is occupied. Their goal? To confront the occupants directly, often using threats, violence, or intimidation to force them to hand over cash, jewelry, and other valuables.

In contrast, a burglary typically occurs when no one is home. The intent is to get in and out quickly without being noticed. While burglary can still result in property loss, a home invasion puts lives at risk.

Home invaders often kick in the front door or break through a window, immediately taking control of the situation. These aren’t random crimes. In many cases, the intruders target specific homes where they believe valuables are easy to access—and where occupants can be used to lead them straight to the goods.

That’s why learning how to prevent home invasion isn’t just about deterring theft—it’s about protecting your safety.

The Most Common Ways Intruders Enter Homes

To understand how to prevent home invasion, you first need to know how intruders typically get inside. Most don’t use clever tricks or advanced tools—they use brute force and speed. Their goal is to get in fast, catch you off guard, and take control before anyone can react.

Here are the most common points of entry:

• The Front Door: It might surprise you, but the front door is the most common entry point for burglaries and home invasions. If the door is locked, criminals often kick in the door using overwhelming force. If your front door and frame aren’t reinforced, it can give way in seconds.

• Back Doors and Side Entrances: These are often less visible from the street, making them a favorite for intruders. Like the front door, they’re vulnerable to forced entries because of the flimsy door frames and cheap hardware.

• First-Floor Windows: An unlocked or poorly secured window is an easy target. Even locked windows can be shattered if the glass isn’t protected.

• Garage Doors: Criminals can sometimes force open garage doors or gain access through a side door leading from the garage into the home.

Securing these entry points takes more than one fix—it takes a layered strategy that works together to slow down or stop an intruder. In the next section, we’ll start where it matters most: reinforcing your front door.

How to Reinforce Your Front Door Against Forced Entry

If there’s one place every homeowner should start when it comes to home security, it’s the front door. It’s the most common point of entry—and often the weakest link. Most standard doors aren’t built to handle a forceful attack. A few strong kicks can be all it takes for a home invasion criminal to break through.

Here’s how to reinforce your front door and turn it into a solid barrier:

• Install a Security Door Brace: A high-quality security door brace anchors to the floor, absorbing the shock of a forced entry attempt. Unlike door chains or traditional deadbolts, a brace physically stops inward-swinging doors from opening. The best models, like the OnGARD Security Door Brace, are made from polypropylene-type materials and have been tested to withstand over 3,100 pounds of force—making them one of the most effective tools for preventing a break-in. To see how such a door brace works, check out this OnGARD demonstration video.

• Reinforce the Strike Plate: The strike plate is the metal piece on the door frame where the deadbolt locks in. Replace the factory-installed screws (usually less than an inch long) with 3-inch screws that anchor into the wall studs. This drastically improves resistance to forced entry.

• Upgrade to a Solid-Core Door: If your front door is hollow, replace it. A solid wood or metal door adds serious strength and is far more resistant to kicks and battering.

• Upgrade Your Deadbolt: Choose a deadbolt with a one-inch throw and a reinforced housing. Look for ANSI Grade 1 models for the highest level of residential security.

• Secure the Door Hinges: Use security hinges or non-removable hinge pins. Also, replace existing hinge screws with 2½ to 3-inch screws so they anchor into the door frame.

Why Window Security Matters—and How to Strengthen Vulnerable Glass

Criminals don’t just rely on doors. If your windows are unsecured, they become an easy access point—especially during a home invasion. First-floor windows are often hidden from view by fences, shrubs, or shadows, making them an attractive target.

Many homeowners think a locked window is enough, but most locks can be bypassed or broken in seconds. And if an intruder decides to smash the glass, traditional windows offer little to no resistance.

Here’s how to strengthen your windows and make them a tougher target:

• Apply Window Security Film: One of the most effective ways to reinforce your windows is by adding window security film, like BurglarGARD. This clear, virtually invisible layer holds shattered glass in place, creating a spiderweb-like pattern instead of allowing the glass to fall away. Even after multiple strikes, the film can slow an intruder down—buying you critical time to react or escape. It’s especially important to apply security film to sliding glass doors, which are among the easiest entry points to break through. These large panes can be smashed quickly without the right protection.

• Use Window Locks and Pin Stops: Reinforce your window locks and consider adding pin stops, which prevent windows from being forced open. These are inexpensive but add another level of security.

• Install Glass Break Sensors: Connected to a security system, window sensors can alert you instantly if someone tries to open or break a window.

• Consider Reinforced Glass: For high-risk areas or vulnerable rooms, impact-resistant glass can add serious strength.

Garage and Secondary Entry Points—Why They Matter More Than You Think

When most people think about home security, they focus on the front door and maybe the windows—but garage doors and side entrances are often overlooked. That’s a mistake. Home invasion criminals know these areas are less likely to be reinforced, and they often use them as entry points.

Here’s how to secure them:

• Lock the Interior Garage Door: If your garage is attached to the house, don’t treat the door leading inside like it’s part of a safe zone. Reinforce it just like your front door—with a deadbolt, strike plate, and even a security door brace if possible.

• Secure the Overhead Garage Door: Many garage doors can be forced open with minimal effort. Use a manual slide lock or install a smart garage door controller that allows you to monitor and lock it remotely. At night or when you’re away, consider unplugging the opener for added security.

• Cover Garage Windows: If your garage has windows, cover them with frosted film or blinds. Criminals often peek inside to see if anyone’s home—or to scout for valuables like tools, electronics, or even a car with the keys inside.

• Don’t Forget Side and Rear Doors: Side entrances and back doors are often hidden from neighbors’ view, which makes them ideal for a quiet break-in. Reinforce these doors just like your main entrance—with long screws, strong deadbolts, and solid door construction. A security door brace should also be applied to doors that swing inward.

Securing these secondary entry points is one of the easiest ways to close off weak spots and stay one step ahead of would-be intruders.

Smart Habits That Can Deter a Home Invasion Before It Starts

The best security systems in the world won’t help much if you leave the front door unlocked or forget to close a window. That’s why your day-to-day habits play a big role in keeping your home secure. You don’t need to live in fear—but you do need to be intentional about how you protect your space.

Here are some smart habits that can help prevent a home invasion:

• Lock All Doors and Windows—Even When You’re Home: Never assume you’re safe because you’re inside your home. That’s when home invasions happen—when people are home. Always lock every door and window, no matter the time of day.

• Use Outdoor Lighting Strategically: Motion-activated lights around entry points can startle would-be intruders and draw attention to their presence. Bright, consistent lighting near the front and back doors is one of the simplest deterrents.

• Keep Landscaping Trimmed: Overgrown bushes and trees can provide cover for someone trying to break in. Make sure your yard doesn’t offer hiding spots close to doors or windows.

• Don’t Ignore Strange Behavior: If someone is loitering around your property or ringing your doorbell at odd hours, take it seriously. Trust your instincts and contact local law enforcement if something feels off.

The above suggestions cost nothing—but they can make your home a far less attractive target.

FAQ: Common Questions About Home Invasion and Home Security

Q: Should I install a security door brace on every door?
Focus first on high-risk entry points, like your front and back doors. A security door brace is a great investment for any exterior door that swings inward. If you have a designated safe room inside your home, install a brace there too for added protection.

Q: Can window security film be installed on existing windows?
Yes. Window security film is designed to be retrofitted to existing glass. Once applied, it helps hold the glass together under impact, making it harder for intruders to gain access through windows or sliding glass doors.

Q: Are smart home security systems enough to prevent a home invasion?
Smart systems are helpful for alerts and surveillance, but they don’t stop forced entry. They work best when paired with physical reinforcements like door braces, upgraded locks, and window security film.

Q: Does window security film really work?
Yes. When properly installed, window security film holds shattered glass in place—even after multiple impacts. It creates a delay that can buy you time or cause the intruder to give up entirely. It’s especially effective on sliding glass doors and ground-level windows.

Q: Are certain homes more likely to be targeted?
Home invasion criminals often look for easy access, poor lighting, open or unlocked doors. Homes without visible security measures are more likely to be targeted.

Final Thoughts: Layered Security Is the Best Defense

There’s no single solution that will guarantee your safety—but when it comes to how to prevent home invasion, layering your defenses is the most effective strategy. Every lock you reinforce, every habit you build, and every upgrade you make adds another barrier between your home and those who mean harm.

Start with your main entry points. Reinforce your entry doors with a security door brace, replace hollow doors, and upgrade your locks and hardware. Strengthen your windows with window security film, and don’t overlook sliding glass doors or garage entries. Then go a step further by creating smart daily habits—locking up even when you're home, keeping your property well-lit, and paying attention to your surroundings.

The reality is that home invasion criminals look for easy targets. When they see strong resistance, they often move on to easier targets. You don’t have to live in fear—you just have to be prepared. With a few well-planned steps, you can turn your home into a place that’s both welcoming to your loved ones and unwelcoming to intruders.