When The Crime Is Underway


by Laura Williamson - Date: 2009-02-14 - Word Count: 495 Share This!

Possibly the most terrifying form of crime is home invasion. Once a criminal has gained entry to your home, all bets are off. There is no way to know what their intentions are or how far they will go toward achieving those goals. This is a survival situation and one that requires, above all, a clear head.

You'll be presented with the two most primal choices a human being is capable of making: fight or flight. Depending on the situation, you may find your choice dictated by the circumstances. If you happen to be in bed or in a different room when your home is invaded, you have the option to flee through any convenient exit and are well-advised to do so. Most law enforcement personnel will tell anyone who isn't trained in dealing with criminals themselves to avoid the situation altogether.

If there are others in the home, especially children, the stakes are immeasurably higher. The best thing is to be prepared. Just as in the case of a fire, the family should have an exit plan and stick to it. All of the available exits should be known beforehand so that, no matter which point of egress is blocked, there is always a choice available. You always want to use your knowledge of your home to your advantage.

If you happen to have a cellular phone or landline you can dial, dial 911, even if you can't talk to the operator. A 911 call with no one on the other end will always cause the operator to dispatch personnel to the scene.

Cooperate. In the best case scenario, the invaders didn't know you were home and simply want to loot the house. Let them do so and don't try to resist. There is no material item you own worth your life. In the event of a home invasion, your life is exactly what's at stake.

These situations will be fluid and there are few hard and fast rules. You'll have to rely on your wits to get you through the ordeal safely. The only real rule is never, ever, let anyone take you to a second scene. Do not get into a car and do not let the invaders force you to go anywhere with them. They may well threaten you with the worst for not complying but there's really only one reason they would demand that you accompany them to another location so, horrible as it is, you're looking at even odds.

Being prepared is your best defense. A monitored alarm system is absolutely the best way to defend your home against home invasion. Most of them come equipped with a way to contact the alarm company right from the panels. In those cases, the room monitors can give the monitoring personnel information about what's going on and allow them to inform the authorities. There is no telling how such a terrifying event might unfold and your best option to prevent finding out is to be ready.

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