The difference between a home invasion and a burglary is simple: a burglary occurs when an intruder breaks in while you are not home, while a home invasion occurs while you are at home. While both are dangerous, home invasions often pose a greater threat to your safety and the safety of your family.
Below are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family during a home invasion.
Take Preventative Measures
First and foremost, you should take preventative measures to protect your home and family. Trim trees and bushes around your home to prevent potential burglars from hiding in them. Make sure that all doors and windows are secure and locked. You should also stay alert to suspicious people or cars near your home.
Call 911
Unfortunately, even the best plans and preventative measures can fall short. If you are home and someone breaks into your house, calling the police is absolutely the first thing you should do. Answer their questions thoroughly and take their advice. Try to stay on the line until the police arrive.
Flee or Hide…
Attempting to leave the house is the next thing you should do after you call the police. If this is difficult and cannot be done safely, find a place to hide. If you are in your bedroom, lock the door and keep still, or find another place to hide, such as a closet, until help arrives.
Then Fight
The last thing you want to do is confront the invader. You have no idea who this person is and what this person may be carrying as a weapon. Sometimes, though, you must fight back to protect yourself or to protect your family. If you have to fight, go for vulnerable areas such as the knee or the face. Do anything that you need to do to keep yourself safe. When the invader is incapacitated, leave the area immediately.
Even though a home invasion is stressful, the biggest thing to do is to stay calm. Acting irrationally can lead to a situation where someone gets hurt, including your loved ones. Go over these steps with your family to make sure that everyone knows what to do if a home invasion arises, including escape routes and emergency plans.
One of the best ways to protect your home from invasion? Install a home security system. Security systems and security decals will help deter potential invaders from targeting a home.
At Sonitrol, we offer comprehensive home security solutions that can give you and your family peace of mind. You can also visit our blog for more tips and advice on protecting your home and family in many situations, not just a home invasion. Reach us online or at (843) 747-0904 to see what Sonitrol can do for you.