Most people consider their homes to be a safe haven from the outside world, but with approximately two million home invasions occurring in the United States each year, you simply never know when tragedy could strike. For additional peace of mind, many homeowners have a home security system installed in their homes. Even if you think a home invasion could never happen to you (much less when you're actually home), it's better to be safe than sorry; below are some steps to follow in the event that somebody breaks into your home while you're there.
Listen Closely
First of all, you'll want to be sure that somebody's actually breaking into your home before you start panicking or call the police. Think to yourself: is there anything else you might be hearing? Perhaps a raccoon has gotten into your home or you forgot that your spouse would be getting home early.
If you're relatively sure your home is being broken into, keep listening carefully. Try to determine how many intruders there are (if possible) and/or where they're heading. If it sounds like they're coming towards your location in the house, you'll need to act quickly for your own safety.
Escape, If Possible
If you have the chance to escape the home without being seen or heard by the intruders, do it. Slip out of an open window or run out of an exterior door. Once you're out of the home, run as quickly as you can to a neighbor's house or local business to call the police.
Hide, If Needed
If you can't safely escape without the intruders seeing or hearing you (for example, on the second story), then you'll need to do your best to find a safe place within the home. You'll want to avoid moving as much as possible, so you probably won't want to sprint across the house to a room that has a locking door. Instead, do the best with the space you're in; if the door doesn't lock, push heavy furniture in front of it to create a barricade.
Call the Police
Hopefully, if you're home has been invaded, you have your cell phone on you or have a landline in the room. As soon as you're able to, call 911. Try to keep your conversation with the operator as succinct and quiet as possible. If you fear the intruders will hear you talking, speak quietly into the phone, giving the operator only the address and a brief description of what's going on. Dispatchers are trained in these situations to send help, even if they aren't able to collect a lot of details. If you can, stay on the line but remain quiet so that the dispatcher can hear what's going on in the background.
Avoid Confrontation
You'll want to avoid confronting the intruder(s) at all costs because you never know what you may be dealing with. However, if you have no choice but to confront the intruder (for example, you're unable to hide and he spots you), be prepared to act quickly.
If you have a firearm, now is the time to use it. After all, it's your right to protect yourself and your property if somebody has broken into your home. Many homeowners in this situation hesitate to pull the trigger if needed; it's a natural instinct for most people. However, this could be a life or death situation. You don't want to take any chances at finding out whether or not the intruder has a gun first.
Having your home broken into can be a terrifying situation, but by being prepared and knowing how to act, you can protect yourself and get out alive.
If you live in the Albequerque area and are interested in preventing a home invasion in the first place, search for home security systems in Albuquerque, NM to keep you and your loved ones safe.
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