Do you think you are safe from criminals at home? Do you think that all criminals buy a gun and rob stores and banks? There is an 85% chance that they will get caught in an armed robbery on their first job. Less than 15% of burglars are caught or spend time in jail.

Professional thieves don’t normally go after subdivisions. They are looking for high-end jewelry, paintings, and artifacts. Most thieves will probably fall into the semi-professional or amateur category. They have to learn about surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and locking systems. They will need to understand what MACE®, pepper spray, tasers and stun guns can do when confronted with a homeowner armed with these weapons. They will have to understand that they are not to carry a weapon and whether to face a firefight or surrender. A robber not only probably doesn’t want to kill anyone, but if caught by the police, the difference between a robbery and an armed robbery is 5 or 20 years.

A thief will scour the neighborhood looking for shabby yards and houses with lots of bushes to hide behind and protect them from the street and neighbors while they gain entry. They will park their vehicle close enough to get away, but not so close to the scene that neighbors can see it if there is a disturbance. Single level homes are best as the master bedroom with the owner’s keys, jewelry, and possibly drugs will be on the first floor. A burglar while selecting the target house, will look for a security camera and a home security system or window sensors attached to the glass.

The offender will park around the block and walk to the house and ring the doorbell. If no one answers, they will hear a dog barking inside. With no one to answer the door and no dog, the criminal will go around the back and find the easiest way into the house. Typically, a burglar will not attempt to pick the lock, but will find the easiest entry by shouldering the door down or breaking a window. Door bars and glass sensors will deter a burglar’s ability to break in or break a window without setting off an alarm. The criminals plan eight minutes to get in and out, which will likely get them out of the house before the police arrive if a neighbor called them or an alarm went off.

I’m not really trying to turn anyone into a thief. You are probably a hard-working person who has earned the right to your home and possessions. Despite losing your valuables and possibly your flat screen TV, the trauma of a home invasion doesn’t go away easily. It can take months to be able to sleep soundly after a home invasion. My goal here is to get you thinking about ways to protect your home while you sleep or are on vacation or business.

Always make your house look occupied, even if no one is there. Keep your garden controlled and don’t let the bushes get too big. Have someone come by while you are gone and collect your mail and newspapers. Pay someone to mow your yard or shovel your sidewalk and driveway while you’re gone. There is nothing better than a good security camera or complete video security system to deter thieves or to use as evidence in court. Dummy cameras have their place in making your video security system seem more extensive than it is. Door clamps, window alarms and radios left on, or even a barking dog alarm with motion detection, make a criminal nervous about breaking into your home. Steel entry doors with security locks are best. On a windowed door, you need a latch that requires a key from both sides. If you buy a TV or other electronic device, like a camera or computer, don’t leave the empty box next to your trash can. Take the box to a commercial dump for disposal. The store where you purchased the item will gladly allow you to throw the empty box away.

Don’t buy a gun to protect your home or family! Unless you are a trained law enforcement officer or a trained soldier, you will regret taking a gun from a thief. Look into MACE instead. Pepper spray, stun guns, or tasers. I could go on for another hundred pages on what you can do to protect your home from invasion. Instead, my goal is to make you think. Every home and every situation is different, but you should take some time to think like a criminal who wants to break into your home and take your things. Talk to your family and neighbors, they probably have some good ideas or experience. One of the best deterrents is a conscientious neighborhood willing to question people or call the police when they suspect something. Every neighbor around you should have your phone number and know who lives in your house, and you should have the same information about them.