Home Defense
Home invasions are nothing new, and most likely will not be going away any time soon. It is not possible to completely prevent a house from being broken into, so the best thing to do is prepare for the worst. Alarm systems and neighborhood watches are very popular and effective. Alarm systems are great, the company is alerted quickly and gets help out to the home in a timely manner. Neighborhood watch groups are also beneficial, they work to protect the neighborhood and watch out for any suspicious activity. Most of the time, the alarm company puts a sign in the yard or window of the customers house, and neighborhoods with neighborhood watch groups often post signs in the entrance of the neighborhood. When signs like this are visible, it often scares any potential invaders away because they know either an alarm system is active, or neighbors could be watching.
If a home invasion does occur, it is helpful if the whole family has a plan of action. Having a specific plan of action cuts down on panic if an invasion does occur. Many people find it beneficial to set up a “safe room”. A safe room is a room or spot in the house where the family can go and remain safe until help arrives. It is also beneficial to know what windows can easily be climbed out of in case of an emergency and how to navigate throughout the house in the dark.
If the home owner is caught off guard and comes face to face with the intruder, there are a few different options. For one, the homeowner could perform self defense techniques to incapacitate the intruder. The techniques have the same principle, but the types of weapons can vary. Many people prefer the use of guns for home defense and do not usually have pepper spray within the house. With a gun, it is important be properly licensed and trained before turning to it as the main defense tool. If neither a gun nor pepper spray are present, there are many natural weapons through an average house. Pens, knives, spices, cleaning products, hairsprays, lamps, etc. are all things that can be used to incapacitate an intruder.