HOME INVASION PREVENTION

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One of the more frightening and potentially dangerous crimes that can occur to a family is a home invasion robbery but with careful planning, you can take the necessary steps for home invasion prevention.

A home invasion is when robbers force their way into an occupied residence to commit a robbery or other crimes.  It is particularly frightening because it violates our private space for our family.

Home invasion is like the residential form of an automobile carjacking and it's on the rise. Like the crime of carjacking, most police agencies don’t track home invasions as a separate crime. Most police agencies and the FBI will statistically record the crime as a residential burglary or a robbery. Without the ability to track the specific crime of home invasion, little can be done to alert the public as to the frequency of occurrence in their community or devise a law enforcement plan of action to control it.

Common scenarios include the following situations:

• A uniformed individual tells you that they are in the area checking for a gas leak, a problem with your cable, or a problem with your telephone and request entry into your house.
• A uniformed individual informs you that they have a delivery of some sort, usually flowers, telegram or a package. Be especially suspicious if you have no reason to expect a package.
•  An individual appears at your door, informing you that you have won a contest or special prize. In this case they may just collect your information.
• The individual informs you that they are collecting for a charity or some other good cause. This sometimes provides an opportunity to snatch your purse or wallet.
  
• A stranger claims to be in some kind of distress and asks if he or she can use your phone or bathroom.

Prevention Steps

The same tactics used to prevent daytime burglaries will go a long way to preventing forced entry home robberies.  A residential security system can delay a home invader at the point of entry then you have a chance of deterring them before the police arrive. A solid core door, strong locks with reinforced strike plates, and reinforced window devices will stop most forced entries as well as a good home security system that monitors all points of entry into your home.

The weakest home security link is the home occupant who fails to lock doors or windows or who will open the door without question at the sound of a knock. The best defense against home invasion is education and planning. Parents should hold a family meeting to discuss how to answer the door when someone knocks. Another important topic is how to act if your home or family is invaded. Once you know how home robbers work, you can effectively prevent most occurrences.

Remember these important security steps:

• Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window security devices.
• Activate the perimeter doors of a CPI home security system even when you are home.
• Lock all doors, windows, and garages at all times.
• Use the door peephole BEFORE opening the door.
• Use your porch light to help you to see clearly outside.
• Never rely on a chain-latch as a barrier to partially open the door.
• Never open the door to strangers or solicitors.
• Call the police if the stranger acts suspicious.
• Alert your neighbors to suspicious solicitors.
• Hold a family meeting to discuss home security plans.

Following these steps are important for home invasion prevention. Coupled with a good home security system from CPI Security, you and your family will benefit with 24 hour, around the clock monitoring and added home invasion prevention.