Home Invasion Protection - Keeping Your Family Safe

Reduce your chances of being a victim of home invasion with these home invasion protection tips. Home invasion can be described as entering, either by force or by deception, an occupied property with the intention of committing a crime.

Whereas the average burglar will select homes to break in to that look unoccupied, home invaders look for homes in which the residents appear to be in. This is the reason that invasions (aka hot burglaries,) mostly happen in the evening, at night or at the weekend.

So why do these criminals target occupied homes? There are many reasons but often it is because they can use terror or violence to force homeowners to reveal the whereabouts of valuables, the combination of the home safe, credit card pin numbers etc.

Home invaders are dangerous individuals because they seek out confrontation whereas ordinary burglars seek to avoid it.

Home invasion protection steps you can take to keep your family safe.

If the criminals know that your home security is weak with poor quality locks on your external doors they may simply rush your property, smash their way in with a few swift kicks to your door and hold your family hostage until they get what they want.

It is more likely though that the home invaders will use some sort of deception to fool you into opening up your door. Once you do open up they either continue the deception and trick their way inside, or barge their way in through the open door.

Protecting your home from invasion by forced entry requires the same home security measures as protecting your home against burglary. All outside doors, and frames, should be of external quality, be in top condition and fitted with deadbolt locks. Windows too should be in good condition, connected to your home alarm system, and fitted with locks.

Home invasion protection is in essence, is about establishing good security habits that the whole family put into practice. Do not open your door unless you are absolutely certain about the intention of the caller. Do not even open your door just a crack, not even if it is on a door chain ( door chains cannot withstand much brute force.) Use a door viewer, or your home security surveillance system, to establish who is calling.

Protecting your home from invasion by deception means you and your family being mindful that things are not always what they seem to be and people are not always who they say they are. The guy at your door who claims that his car has broken down on him and is requesting politely to use your phone to contact help seems genuine enough, but why doesn't he use his cell phone? His answer is that the signal is weak. OK offer to take the details of where his car is and call for help for him - but don't open the door!

There is a guy from the water supply company says that he has to make some tests. He is wearing a uniform and looks the part. But uniforms can be stolen. Without opening your door ask to see his ID, note his name, call the water company. Do not call any number he may give you, it could be the number of an accomplice, look up the number.

The excuses that home invaders give for calling at your door are endless and they can be very persuasive. Remember that the number one home invasion protection rule is do not open your door to anyone unless you are very sure of their identity and purpose.