Dads, it is important that you are prepared for the unexpected. What would you do if there was a home intruder in your home? Would you know what to do? In this blog post, we will provide a collection of tips for dads on how to prepare the family in case of a home intruder. Follow these tips and you will be able to protect your loved ones in the event of an invasion!
What To Do If You Encounter A Home Intruder
Each year in the United States there are more than 2.5 million burglaries and nearly 60% of those involve forced entry. Despite this, less than half of American homes have a security system installed. Unfortunately, home invasions are not a matter of if ... but when. That's why it is important to be prepared so that you can keep your family and property safe.
So, what should you do if you experience a home invasion?
The first thing you need to do is remain calm. This can be difficult, but it is important to keep a level head. You need to think clearly in order to make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
Next, you should assess the situation. Is there more than one intruder? Are they armed? What do they want? Once you have a clear understanding of what is happening, you can better decide how to proceed.
If possible, you should try to get yourself and your family to safety. This may mean leaving the house or hiding somewhere within it. If you can escape, call 911 as soon as possible and give them a description of the intruders and their location.
While we will discuss defensive gear to be used during a home invasion, your objective should be to avoid conflict, not to directly challenge the invader.
How To Protect Your Family and Property From A Home Invasion
There are several things you can do to protect your family and property from a home invasion.
Make an assessment of your home security weaknesses
For instance, do you have a long driveway and a house hidden from the street? Is there illumination around your house? Are your doors and windows old and easy to open?
These are all part of an overall security assessment that you should do around your property. You need to find the weak points and make them stronger.
Not only should you be looking for ways to inhibit invaders but also escape routes should you need to move your family to a safe spot quickly.
Invest In A Good Home Security System
A security system is one of the best ways to deter criminals from breaking into your home. If you have a security system, make sure it is always turned on and that you know how to use it properly. Research from Alarms.org suggests that homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized. Furthermore, according to the FBI ... more than 80% of criminals will check for indications that a home has an operational security system before they decide to invade the home.
There are several different types of security systems available on the market. You need to find the one that meets your specific needs. Do some research and talk to a professional to find the best system for your home.
While a comprehensive security system complete with sensors, lights, and cameras that are all connected to a monitoring service is the ideal scenario. You can start by simply adding motion lights, landscape illumination, and security cameras to help make your house a less desirable target.
Update Your Doors and Windows To Make Them More Secure
One of the most common ways that burglars gain entry into a home is through an unlocked door or window. You can make it much more difficult for them by ensuring all of your doors and windows are locked when you are not home and at night when you are sleeping.
In addition to locking your doors and windows, you should also consider upgrading them. If your doors are old, they may not be as strong as they once were. The same goes for your windows. If possible, invest in impact-resistant glass and solid core doors. These will make it much more difficult for an intruder to break into your home.
Finally, now that you have updated portals to your home, make sure to always keep them locked! After all, the most hardened door isn't going to do you any good if someone can just turn the handle and walk right in.
Consider Adding A Safe Room To Your Home
If you live in an area where home invasions are more common, you may want to consider adding a safe room to your house. This is a room where you can go to in the event of an emergency. It should be large enough to comfortably hold your family and it should have reinforced walls and a sturdy door with a lock. The goal is for this room to be impenetrable by an intruder.
In addition to being strong, the room should also be stocked with supplies in case you need to stay there for an extended period of time. This could include food, water
This may seem like an obvious tip, but you would be surprised how many people do not keep their doors and windows locked. Make sure all of your doors and windows are locked, even when you are home.
Develop And Practice Your Emergency Plan
In the event of a home invasion, it is important to have an emergency plan in place. Everyone in your family should know what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency. Your emergency plan is only as good as your ability to execute it. Make sure you and your family know what to do in the event of an emergency by practicing your plan regularly.
While formulating this plan, make sure to understand the approximate time that it will take for police to arrive after being notified, as well as if it is better to develop a shelter-in-place location to gather your family, or if it is better to develop tactics to escape the house entirely.
Have The Right Defensive Gear To Protect Your Family
If you are ever in the unfortunate situation of having to defend yourself during a home invasion, it is important to have the right gear at hand. Wear the right protective gear and have a home defense weapon within reach. You can find all the necessary protective gear at TacticalBrute.
In reality, the best course of action is to avoid the fight entirely but having a firearm will help balance the power in your favor and could cause the intruder to retreat completely or at least allow you time to move your family to a saferoom in the house.
Other gear that you might want to consider would be body armor that can be put on quickly as well as a high-lumens flashlight to help blind the intruder.
Ultimately though, the goal here is to avoid direct conflict till law enforcement can arrive.
If A Home Invasion Happens ... Stay Calm
A home invasion can be a traumatizing event. It is important to be prepared mentally and emotionally for such an event. Talk to your family about what to do in the event of a home invasion and make sure everyone is on the same page. Preparation is key to surviving a home invasion.
If you are ever in a situation where you are face-to-face with a criminal, it is important to stay calm. Do not give them any reason to hurt you or your family. Remember, they are looking for an easy target. If you remain calm and follow their instructions, they are more likely to let you go unharmed.
Build A Good Relationship With Neighbors As Well As Local Law Enforcement
One of the best ways to deter crime is to have a good relationship with your neighbors. Get to know them and let them get to know you. This way, they will be more likely to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it to the authorities. It is also important to build a good relationship with your local law enforcement. They are there to protect and serve you and your community. Get to know them and let them get to know you. This way, they will be more likely to respond quickly in the event of an emergency.
Home invasions are becoming increasingly common, so it is important for dads to know how to protect their families in case of an intruder. While you may not be able to prevent the intrusion, you can certainly follow some of the advice above to help protect your family and property once that happens.
