Preventing Home Invasion
How to Prevent a Home Invasion
There are few experiences in life that make you feel as violated as a home invasion. Coming home to find that your place has been broken into and your possessions have been taken is awful. Unfortunately, it’s a reality that many people must face. You can’t live in fear of being robbed. You can, however, take action and ensure that your home is less likely to be targeted by thieves.
The Best Defense is a Good Offense
Law enforcement officials estimate that as many as 90% of home invasions are preventable. The average burglar spends a mere two minutes trying to break into a home before moving on to another target. What does this mean for you? It means that it’s well worth it to take the time to make sure that your home is set up to deter criminals. We recommend purchasing the best gates, door alarms and home security system you can afford, of course, but there are also some other things that you should think about doing:
- Change the locks. If you’ve just moved into a new place, get all the locks changed. There’s a good chance that the previous tenants still have keys and can easily gain access to the interior of your residence.
- Get some stickers. If you can’t afford a home security system, fake it. Put some stickers around the entrance to your residence in order to make it look like you have a security system. It may not fool seasoned thieves, but it can’t hurt. It’s also a good idea to display a Neighborhood Watch sign in your window. You may even want to consider slapping an NRA sticker on your door (that should scare away potential burglars).
- Store your valuables in a safe. This point is self-explanatory. Store the safe in a closet or, better yet, in the attic.
- Keep a record of what you own. Take a camera around your home and snap a photo of every item that you own that has any significant value. Keep all your receipts in a safe place (or, failing that, write down the model number or serial number for items that you don’t have receipts for).
- Get a dog. The sound of a barking dog, even a small one, can be enough to deter would-be burglars from targeting your home.
After a Robbery
No matter how much time and energy you spend on preventing a home invasion, you’ll never be able to guarantee that you won’t be robbed. If you do get robbed, follow these easy steps:
- Call the police. This should be your first instinct upon discovering that you have been robbed.
- Don’t touch anything. The police may be able to dust for fingerprints in your home, so try to avoid touching anything that could be used as evidence.
- Decide whether to make a claim. If you have homeowner’s or tenant’s insurance, you’ll have to decide whether to make a claim. Determine whether the items that were stolen are worth enough to justify paying the deductible on your policy. Remember that, as more claims accrue on your insurance policy, the rates are likely to increase.