Home invasions are what happen to other people, rich people, not folks like you and me. All one has to do is read the newspaper reports to realize how faulty that sort of thinking really is. It's not what you have, it's the perception of what you have and how that might be turned into money.
Solutions such as guard services and sophisticated security alarms seem like an unnecessary expense to a lot of people. While such precautions are useful, they are not all that necessary. Making your home and family safe from a criminal invasion requires a combination of factors that are not all that expensive.
As with all other defensive issues, this one begins with awareness. Understand that the criminals will most likely make several trips to follow family members and to look over the house before they hit it. Being alert for strangers and strange vehicles is an important key to security. And, when you have strangers wandering around in your neighborhood, don't hesitate to report them to the police.
Having adequate lighting around your house, so you can see the front porch and the yard, is critical. You should never open your door at night until you can clearly see who is on the porch. And, just because a stranger is ringing your doorbell at night doesn't mean you have to open the door at all. If you don't feel comfortable, don't open the door. He can go away, or talk through the door, or just wait until the cops come. It's his problem, not yours.
Speaking of doors, another important technique is to lock your doors when you are at home. Lots of folks make sure to lock up when they leave, but it is just as important to lock the door behind you when you come home. Sure, the bad guys can kick the door in, but that takes time and it makes noise. And it gives the homeowner time to take defensive action.
Everyone in the family should have training in whatever firearms are kept for defense and in how to dial 9-1-1. Protecting the home against home invasion is the responsibility of the entire family and they should all be included in the planning stages.
Finally, speaking of firearms, Col. Jeff Cooper once said something like this..."If you are reading this and can't put your hand on your defensive firearm, then all of your planning and training was wasted."
