We have all laid in bed at night and heard a bump, thinking that someone was there. While most times it’s nothing, what if someone was trying to break into your house? What if someone was trying to steal items while your family was home? While violent crime is down according to the FBI that doesn’t mean you should be unguarded when it comes to your home.
Having a home invasion plan can help your family stay safe and secure even during the worst of times. There are some simple preparations and techniques your family can undertake to stay safe. Our guide on a home invasion plan is not solely about defending yourself, but also helping your loved ones escape. Review this video by a former Navy Seal and continue to our guide below.
Preparation is key
When a home invasion does happen, your fight-or-flight instincts kick in. Your body surges not only with adrenaline but fear. Instead of waiting until that moment of compromised mental clarity to figure out what to do, plan ahead. Talk with your children about having routes to exit your home and where to meet up. Have a plan for places to meet up either inside the home or outside the home.
According to Military.com, you don’t need to make this complicated:
“You need to develop a code word that will tell your entire family that it’s time to spring into action. You don’t need to make up some kind of secret code. The word “ESCAPE” works very well and is simple and straight to the point. Forget about “Red Wolf” and use something simple.”
When designing your plan make it as simple as possible. Teach your children and spouse acronyms to remember steps, ie. ENT (Escape, Neighbors, Telephone). This type of simple acronym is easy for children to remember and implement in the moment, making a successful escape more likely.
In preparation, you’ll want to make your home more secure. Try adding some doorbell cameras and security lights to help you spot any would-be intruders. Even simple procedures such as checking the windows every night can help you spot something suspicious. Building relationships with neighbors who know your family can also be beneficial when you’re away.
Defending your home
If you cannot escape your home, you need to work out a way to defend yourself in a home invasion plan. While self-defense training is always a wise choice, nothing can fully match the stopping power of a shotgun. However, while it may be tempting just to go buy a gun right away, you shouldn’t start there.
As mentioned above, when a home invasion happens your body is going to go into survival mode. This means that unless you have practiced drawing your weapon and firing it under duress, you can misfire. A misfire can result in a loved one being killed, or injury to yourself. Don’t let that happen! Put in the work and take training to deal with a situation like this. Being pro-active can help you make clearer decisions and have better aim when under pressure.
Call the police
Whether you need to defend yourself or escape you should always plan on calling the police as soon as possible. Getting outside help is critical to making sure you and your family stay safe. Not to mention, getting any valuable possessions back. Make sure your kids know how to operate smartphones or unlock them with a passcode.
Are you considering buying a gun for your home invasion plan? At Spring Guns and Ammo we can help you take that first step for home defense. Contact us today to see how we can help you!
