We all want to prevent home invasions and burglaries.
One may not think that there is a difference, but there is one.
Both are designed to take your money and other valuables.
The burglar does not want anyone at home when they enter your premises.
The home invaders will use you or your family members to extort even more money from you.
That is something that you should take the right steps to prevent.
There are some inexpensive ways to prevent home invasions, and there are some expensive ways.
Do the former so you can save for the latter and get them done when they fit your budget.
Easy steps to prevent home invasions
There are different areas of your home that need to have weaknesses strengthened.
One of the smartest ways to address those weak areas is to make a checklist.
That way, you can mark off each area that has been improved to the point where it will aid in the prevention of a home invasion.
The yard
In this area of your property, you should start by building a good fence.
It does not have to be too high or block your view, but it should be strong enough to withstand a good amount of force.
Plus, it should hinder any attempts to climb over it.
This means having a good lock on the gate as well as a high enough one to not give those home invaders any ideas.
Then, you should go for motion-detection lighting.
You want to light up your yard so anyone trespassing can be seen.
Clean up your garden and around any bushes so that home invaders have nowhere to hide from security cameras or the law.
If your driveway does not have a gate, then you should consider installing one.
That will be your weakest link, which makes all other outside security efforts moot and a waste of money.
The house
Motion detectors for lights and alarms will work here as well.
You want to make sure the invaders know they can be seen, and hopefully, they will go away when illuminated.
If not, then make sure you install tough locks to pick or manipulate.
These locks should be on all exterior doors, including your garage door, and they should be able to withstand a lot of force.
One of the reasons home invaders get tempted to enter your home is that they can see what you have inside.
A good privacy film can keep those snooping from seeing your valuables while still letting in enough life for you and your family to be healthy.
Reinforce your windows with window-strengthening applications so home invaders cannot bust a window to gain access to your home.
These should also be applied to your basement and garage windows, if you have them.
Next, check your doors.
Weak doors are an invitation to home invaders.
If they can get in easily, it won’t matter what lock you use.
Replace any weak doors, especially hollow-core ones, if they lead into your house from the garage, basement, or outside.
After that, stop hiding a key outside.
Thieves and home invaders know about all the cute hiding places that have been invented to hide keys in case you get locked out.
Look at your home with the eyes and mind of a burglar or home invader.
See what weak spots you have and take the right steps to reinforce those weaker areas.
Inside the house
The first thing you should never do is tell everyone you are going on vacation or leaving your home for a few days.
Especially those “friends” on social media outlets.
Keep your trips private and only talk about them when you are home.
Your social media accounts may be secure, but no matter how secure they are, your friends may not be as secure and they may talk to other people.
Make arrangements to have someone pick up your mail, newspapers, and other deliveries while you are gone.
Those items are a big sign the house is empty and safe for invasion.
Then, put a safe somewhere in the house that is not in a logical location.
That is, if you keep valuables inside your home.
A good safe will slow home invaders down and make it tougher for them to steal from you. Add in a light timer to help make your home look “lived.
They can operate the lights while you are away, as well as your TV or radio.
You can ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway to make it look like someone is living there while you are away.
The garage
If you want to prevent home invasions, then special attention should be given to your garage.
As a lot of thefts take place in broad daylight.
Thieves often drive up in a construction truck, etc., and enter your garage through the open door, etc.
Then, after a while, they walk out with tools, equipment bikes, spare car parts, and so on.
Your neighbors won’t give it a second thought, as they will think you are having work done.
Close your garage door and secure it with a difficult-to-crack lock.
Also, check the door that leads into your house from the garage.
If it is weak, then thieves have an easy access point to your home.
Look at your garage the way you would your home to spot the different weak areas that need reinforcing.
The basement
This is an easy access point for many thieves and home invaders because those windows are not very visible to your neighbors or from the street.
One of the best ways to protect your home is by putting bars over the windows.
When you secure those bars, however, use carriage bolts to keep the nut on the inside of your home and out of reach of the thieves.
Check the lock on your basement door as well.
It will need replacing if it is not that secure.
Taking some time and evaluating your home and property will help you discover areas that need cleaning up, strengthening, and securing.
This is only half of the battle in preventing home invasions.
How home invaders work
Understanding how these people work should help you remain calm.
The home invader wants you home, and they want to use fear to get you to comply with their demands.
Most burglars operate during the daytime.
They do not want anyone home when they do their “work want anyone home when they do their “work.”
Home invaders like to work at night as they can use the occupants of the home to get everything they want.
The methods they use are not pretty.
While burglars avoid contacting anyone, home invaders will ring doorbells and tell tragic tales to gain your sympathy, and they are usually not alone.
They are also known to use a lot of force to gain entry into your home.
They want to use fear and have it on their side, as that is the easiest way to control you and your family members.
The victims are chosen because they are in the most vulnerable state possible.
For example, women living alone, wealthy people, and senior citizens are all targets for these people.
They do not want to encounter any brave and strong men who know how to defend themselves.
Then, if you display your wealth as you go about your daily activities, you can be chosen as a target by merely walking through a department store’s parking lot.
Now, while we are hoping to prevent home invasions, it’s possible we fail.
So, what next?
How to recover from a home invasion
There is no magic elixir you can drink to help you get over this violation of your privacy and home.
It is a tragic event that causes a lot of trauma for the victims, and it is hard to get over.
The best way to deal with this situation is to get good support from your family, church friends, pastors, and even some professional therapists.
Even if you practice the best preventive medicine, home invasions can still happen.
That is because criminals are always trying to figure out ways to circumvent the best defenses.
If you have done your best, then do not take the home invasion out on yourself.
There is only so much you can do and prepare for.
If you have a wife and daughter, then you will need to be there for them after these invasions, as they have a lot more at stake than you do when criminals enter your home.
Before You Go
There is no shame in experiencing a home invasion if you have taken all the best steps possible to protect your home and your family.
There is nothing wrong with being afraid during a home invasion.
Just don’t let your fear get the best of you.
Your life and your family’s lives are the most important things you have.
Do your best to protect them, and you should be able to recover from a home invasion fairly well.
It just takes time to do so.
Originally posted 2023-02-17 01:30:02.
