How to Survive a Home Invasion

Step-by-Step List for a Home Invasion

Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do if you find yourself facing a home invasion:

1. Stay Calm and Quiet:
   • Keep your presence in mind. Staying calm can help you make rational decisions under stress.
   • Avoid making loud noises that may alert the intruder to your exact location.
2. Find a Safe Room:
   • Quickly and quietly move to a predetermined safe room in your home. This could be a bathroom, closet, or any room with a sturdy lock.
   • Lock the door and barricade it with heavy furniture if possible.
3. Call for Help:
   • Use a cell phone to dial 911 or your local emergency number. Speak quietly and clearly, and concisely describe the situation and your address.
   • If speaking risks your safety, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen and send help.
4. Stay Put:
   • Remain in your safe room until help arrives. Do not attempt to leave unless necessary for your safety.
   • Keep away from windows and doors and stay as silent as possible.
5. Arm Yourself for Self-Defense:
   • If you believe the intruder might try to enter your safe room, prepare to defend yourself with any weapon, such as a pair of scissors, a heavy lamp, or a fire extinguisher.
6. Communicate with Family Members:
   • If possible, use your phone to quietly communicate with other household members to ensure they are safe and inform them of the situation.
   • Plan for a code word that indicates it’s safe to come out or when to remain.
7. Record Details:
   • If it’s safe, note any details about the intruder(s), such as their appearance, language, or other identifiable features. This information can be invaluable to law enforcement.
8. Wait for Authorities:
   • Do not leave your safe room until the authorities have secured your home.
   • Follow the instructions of the police when they arrive and inform them of any details of the incident, including the direction the intruders left, if known.
9. Preserve the Scene:
   • After the situation is under control, avoid touching anything that the intruders may have come in contact with. Preserving the scene can help in the investigation.
10. Seek Support:
    • Home invasions can be traumatic. Consider seeking support or counseling to help cope with the psychological impact.

By following these steps, you can better manage a home invasion scenario, ensuring your safety and aiding law enforcement in their investigation.

Preventing Future Incidences

Community Watch: Engaging with your community and forming a neighborhood watch can effectively deter criminals. There’s strength in numbers, and a tight-knit community is less appealing to intruders.

Regular Training: Consider taking self-defense classes or attending safety workshops. Being prepared is half the battle, and knowing how to react can save lives.

Technology Upgrades: Keep your security technology updated. As new systems become available, consider upgrading to ensure you have the best protection possible.

Understanding Your Rights and Obligations

Self-Defense Laws: Familiarize yourself with the self-defense laws in your jurisdiction. Knowing what you can do to defend yourself and your property can be crucial in a home invasion scenario.

Reporting to Authorities: Understand the importance of reporting incidents to the authorities, not just for your case but to help prevent future incidents in your community.

Wrapping Up

Surviving a home invasion is about more than just getting through the night. It’s about preparing your home, understanding your rights, and knowing how to react in the heat of the moment. With the proper preparations, you can make your home a fortress, and with the right mindset, you can ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones.

Remember, the goal is to survive and thrive, maintaining a sense of security and peace in your home. Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and most importantly, stay safe.

Uncommon Facts About Home Invasions

Here’s a list of uncommon facts about home invasions in the United States:

• Only about 12% of home invasions are planned, indicating the majority are crimes of opportunity.
• Most burglars (41%) reported acting on impulse rather than premeditation.
• Home burglaries in the U.S. occur once every 30 seconds, highlighting the frequency of these incidents.
• The average burglary duration is between eight and ten minutes, suggesting intruders act quickly.
• Approximately 100 burglaries result in homicide each year, underlining the potential danger of these crimes.
• Burglaries have decreased by over 50% over the last 20 years, reflecting improved security measures and law enforcement tactics.
• The state of New Mexico had the highest number of burglaries in 2020, with a rate of 648.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• Almost 7 million property crimes were committed in 2020, with larceny-theft being the most common.
• A surprising 28% of renters experienced a property crime in 2021, closely followed by 27% of homeowners, indicating that renters are slightly more at risk.
• The number of reported burglary offenses increased from 671,648 in 2021 to 847,522 in 2022, showing a recent uptick in burglaries.