One of the scariest situations to find yourself in is being a victim of a home invasion. A home invasion is defined as an illegal, often forceful entry into a private dwelling with the intent to harm the occupants. Home invasions include the threat of violent crimes against homeowners including burglary, assault, murder, rape, or kidnapping. According to the FBI, about 135 home invasions happen every day in America.
So what can you do to fight off a home invasion and protect yourself and your loved ones? The first thing to do is call the police and/or trigger your home’s security alarm system. If you don’t have a security system for your house, a good alternative is to use your vehicle’s alarm system. Keep your car keys in your bedroom and trigger the alarm. Purchase a bull horn or trigger the fire alarm in life-threatening cases.
Experts say that noise is the best deterrent in a home invasion. Try yelling through a window or getting a noise box that blasts loud sound effects — anything that gets a neighbor’s attention so they can call the police. If you hear someone trying to break in, it might be best to get yourself and your family members outside and to a neighbor’s house. Sleep with all your bedroom doors open so you can hear what’s going on.
Another option is to try disabling the attacker. The attacker might be disabled by using some sort of weapon. For example, you can try spraying him or her with a can of wasp spray. Wasp spray is more powerful than mace and can reach up to 25 feet. Any intruder hit with wasp spray will be temporarily blinded. There is the option of using a handgun for self-defense in a home invasion. If you choose this option, however, be sure to know how to use it and any laws that govern its use.
Of course, the best option is preventing an invasion in the first place. Here are some suggestions for deterring a criminal.
- Keep the doors and windows locked. About 30 percent of burglars enter through an unlocked door or window.
- Set up a wireless alarm system. The majority of convicted burglars report that they intentionally avoided homes with security systems, and if these alarms were triggered, they would flee immediately. Plus, a wireless system is less vulnerable because there are no wires to be cut by the perpetrators.
- Plant thorny bushes around windows.
Remember that no material possession is worth your life or the lives or your loved ones. In a life-threatening situation, it might be better to cooperate with the invaders rather than risk harm.