Crocodiles are prevalent lurkers. They expertly camouflage and lie in wait for potential victims, who are oblivious to the mortal threat that awaits. They are stealthy, violent, and savage. The nature of the beast is to prey on the weak. Similarly, an attacker will always fear defeat, so they aim for what they deem to be an endangered mark.
This cunning nature is not unlike the human predator who stakes out potential sitting ducks. Your attacker will not know what physical skills you have under your belt – but they will judge your level of weakness from your presence – your acumen – your alertness.
FACT: A burglar strikes every 30 seconds in the US. That’s 2 every minute. 3,000 per day
I train my students to exude power and strength – hard-core lessons to arm them for life, but did you know that a criminal’s perspective also influences home safety? What’s fundamental to grasp is that they will identify homes that suggest the least resistance, like a soft target.
To learn more about how to hard target your home, as well as GUN DEFENCE click here!
Home invasions are shocking and horrendous – they happen in a place meant to feel inherently sacred, safe, and secure. It’s your lair, with your loved ones and everything physical you’ve worked so hard to earn. Yet, the violation is capable of leaving you feeling perpetually unsafe.
Today’s blog is about assessing if where and how you live is vulnerable to a home invasion – putting you and your family at risk. Home invasions and burglaries are not only about immense property loss – there is much more at risk.
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They can be emotionally devastating and even fatal. Extreme violence is possible in a home invasion since these robberies transpire in a private setting where they are less visible, but in a street attack, the aggressor must act quickly for fear of getting caught.
Achieving optimal home security is pivotal and will always be unique to the homeowner. However, the intent to stop the bad guy from picking your home is not. The million-dollar question. Is your home a soft target?
FACT: 75% of homes in the U.S will be broken into int he next two decades!
What is a Home Invasion?
A home invasion is a crime in which a criminal invades another person’s home while it is occupied. The purpose is to rob a person of money or other belongings. Sometimes, however, this type of crime has a more frightening and violent purpose. In some cases, a criminal invades a home with the intent to commit rape, murder, acts of terrorism, or kidnapping.
The violence first ensues when a criminal forces his way into the home by kicking open a door or breaking a window. He may then use physical violence or threats to subdue the people inside the home. In some cases, he may use weapons, such as guns and knives, or restraints, such as rope and duct tape.
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These invasions take place at night when you are most likely to be home, targeting the resident and the homeowner. It’s good to note that burglaries are quite the opposite premise. They tend to transpire during the day when the home is unoccupied – violence is not the motive.
Home invasions are not random. When establishing if your home is vulnerable, you should know that an intruder is always looking for an angle or means to enter your home – it’s good practice to find it.
FACT: Suburban homes have a 50% higher chance of being burglarized!
Remember, it’s not uncommon that they will pose as city or utility workers, even postal carriers. There is a sophisticated approach to victim selection based on prior knowledge they have collected.
Extreme violence is possible in a home invasion since these robberies transpire in a private setting where they are less visible. In a street attack, the aggressor must act quickly for fear of getting caught. The dynamics are night and day.
Krav Maga GUN DEFENCE SURVIVAL COURSE – Be prepared for home invasions!
Aspects of a Home invasion
- Entry is forced and unlawful
- The offender pursues confrontation
- Any strife and confrontation occurs inside
- Violence or the threat of violence is use
- Money and/or property is demanded
FACT: 25% of Americans have installed security systems to protect their property and loved ones and 40% have zero deterrence from home invasions!
TIPS TO CONTROL YOUR PERIMETER:
At the same time, your home is meant to be a sanctuary, not a prison, so how to hard target your home without sabotaging your peace of mind is paramount.
The periphery or outline of your home should be a physical and visual deterrent for a criminal, so it’s critical to assess if he can approach and even move across your property without detection.
Taking the time to scrutinize the level of safety in your home by walking your property with the mindset of a criminal is invaluable. For example, you may discover that your main living area is visible from across the street – or a garage or window provides easy access, along with other life-saving details that you never stopped to notice.
FACT: 28% of burglaries occur with someone still in the house
Keep it Surrounded
A fence is a solid physical barrier that is practical for slowing down a home invader. It may not be preventive, but it’s also not the easy access they seek.
What’s more, it’s a choice of physical barrier to impede visibility. This means there is no sight line to your driveway, backyard, or home, which is the objective. Locking your gate or fence thwarts easy access and fleeing – and as simple as it sounds, it shouldn’t be underestimated.
Keep it Lit
Bright lights are a great tool in hard-targeting your home – invaders don’t want to be seen, so setting powerful spotlights on your driveway and front and exterior doors are vital areas to hone in on. And, motion sensor floodlights are also stellar planning.
Keep it Neat
Attractive targets are neglected homes. Keeping your trees and shrubs neat and trimmed conveys the message that your home is bustling with activity – you may have employees on site, and overall the odds of being spotted are greater.
It would help if you sized up whether your bushes are fruitful hiding spots and offer strategic placement – avoiding windows and entryways. Also, items such as ladders, crowbars, tools, baseball bats, etc., should be avoided. They offer a criminal a hand in breaking into your home.
Keep it Rolling
Ideally, you should have at least 4 strategically placed cameras capturing footage of your property—front and back doors and both sides of the house. Knowing there is visual proof of their intrusion is excellent preventative. Taking the time to review your home footage is also an intelligent move to enhance your situational awareness.
Criminals use ploys to pretend to be someone they are not to convince you to open your door so you can also install a video doorbell with intercom functions and real-time video. With connections to your cell phone, you can speak to anyone as though you were home.
FACT: 75% of homeowners don’t have a home security system
Keep it Guarded
Dogs are major deterrents in burglar attempts, making them highly effective for home security, and breed will not always determine the outcome. Large canines pose a physical threat, but smaller pups make a lot of noise. Making your home a hard target means provisioning obstacles that would make any home invader second guess their plan. It’s good to know that even a sign like a Beware of Dog is a warning can prompt an intruder not to isolate your home.
Keep it Safe
Although difficult, preparing a haven is critical for your survival during a brutal invasion. It may include a family plan where you identify a room or space in your home to meet in an emergency. It’s wise to ensure that the WIFI is reliable to call for help and to activate your alarm system remotely. It should be stocked with a medical kit, 24 hours of food and water, and ammunition if you have a weapon for personal protection.
Keep it Spontaneous
It’s also helpful to know that home invaders love predictability – it gives them an idea of your timeline and your schedules – it even a heads-up to major events in your life. So, changing things or avoiding patterns weakens their plan of attack. Likewise, not being able to analyze your movements leaves you and your family in a defendable position. Consequently, they are more apt to find an easier, more tangible home.
FACT: In the US, about a third of home invasions are repeat burglaries
Keep it Real
Remember that making your home a hard target also includes defending yourself before you are hit – having some critical items next to your nightstand could save your life and those of your family. They include tactical weapons, a heavy flashlight, and even car keys with an alarm to alert neighbours or passersby that you’re endangered. It’s also the time to unpack your improvised weapons.
Alerting your neighbors by any means possible is colossal. If they sense danger or are awakened by noise especially during the wee hours, they will call 911. Also, if you have a bat or night stick or even any make-shift weapon, be prepared and know how to use it!
Home invasions are not restricted to high-crime areas; they boom in suburban and rural areas. A plan varies according to who you are, who you live with, your home’s layout, emergency response service times and whether you have access to a weapon, and always – your legal homeowner rights. Whatever methods you choose to hard target your home, if your home is ever hit, you will have a defence system to keep you and your family safe.
Teaching prevention, detection, and ultimately setting up for the initial strike to be one step ahead of the attacker, will always be in hardcore demand. My Knife Defense, Hero Program, Hero Training Camp, Bob Dummy F.I.I.T, Women’s Shield Program, Bully-Proof, and Larger Attacker Defense are dynamic systems indicative of real-world self-defense to sustain personal protection. Which one will empower you?