Recent Robbery Warrants Home Invasion Prevention Tips

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- A home robbery incident in The Woodlands recently has caused many in the community to be concerned for their safety. While not all crime can be foreseen or stopped there are many prevention actions that can be taken to lessen the chances of becoming a victim to this sort of crime.

Most people are unaware that there are actually two very distinct types of home robberies, breaking and entering and home invasion. These two types of home crimes are different from one another in several aspects.

A criminal who uses breaking and entering actually prefers to commit his crime when the home is not occupied and generally targets homes while the owners are away at work or on vacation. His preference is not to encounter people during his robbery and his intent is not to use violence in his crime. This type of criminal will usually attempt to flee the home, if caught in the robbery act, but he is capable of using violence so caution should always be used in this case.

Criminals who commit home invasions are just the opposite in that they want occupants to be home when they commit their crimes. They will either follow people to their homes to rob them or wait for them to get home to do so. Home invasions are most likely to occur nights and weekends when there is a greater chance of someone being home and they are one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States today. Home invasions continue to grow, in part, because most people feel an unwarranted sense of security while in their homes. People get careless about locking doors and keeping their garage doors closed while they are at home busy making dinner, watering their lawns, or relaxing in front of their television sets.

Statistics show that during home invasions, firearms and restraining materials are almost always used. The perpetrator of this sort of crime desires for the home owners to be there so that he can frighten them and force them to show him where their valuables are. He will use threats, force, and extreme violence if he deems necessary. Sexual assaults are also common with this sort of crime.

The best defense against home invasions are: education, planning, and implementation. For instance, most criminals will bypass places that visibly display security devices and/or signs. The best home alarm system is one that monitors for both burglary and fire. As a deterrent for intruders, homes can also be protected by installing small alarm sound devices to all windows and by keeping garage doors closed, even when home. Over 26 percent of home break-ins are committed by penetrating the home through garages.

Garage doors, sliding doors and side windows are considered weak points of a home and an easy entry for an intruder. Installing 160 degree "peephole" viewers 59" high on all exterior doors and securing them with double cylinder deadbolt locks is advised. Doors should be installed so that they swing "in" to prevent access to hinges. A criminal can take a door off the hinges to gain entry into a home if the door swings "out." All exterior hollow doors should be replaced with solid doors made of wood or metal and wooden dowels should be placed in the tracks of sliding doors and windows.

The use of lighting can also be used as a crime deterrent. Exterior lighting should be bright enough to be able to see 100 feet from the light source. Lights can also be used to create the illusion that someone is home when the home is actually unoccupied by using light timers. There are also timers that will turn radios and television sets off and on at intervals.

Criminals can be very creative and they often use "ruses" such as pretending to be police officers, cable repair or package delivery personnel, and flower or pizza deliverers. This is called the "Push In" technique that is used by criminals to gain entry into a home. It is always safest to assume that a criminal is armed and has the capacity for great violence. If you arrive home and find that your doors or windows have been tampered with do not enter or call out. Silently leave and use your cell phone to call the police and wait somewhere safe for the police to arrive.

Some other safety precautions that can be taken are to always keep doors locked when at home in the day or at night. Never open a door automatically after hearing a knock and require all repair men to show their company identification card before letting them into your home. Never hide a key over a doorframe, in a flowerpot or under a mat and keep emergency phone numbers posted in the home for easy access.

Other precautions can be taken before arriving home. When in public do not make large or expensive item purchases in front of others. If you believe that you are being followed while in your car, make four right turns. If the car turns with you, you are being followed. Drive to the nearest police, fire station, or busy area. Do not drive home! If you are followed into your driveway stay in your car, with the doors locked, until you identify the occupants of the other car. If a criminal approaches, honk your horn, set off the car alarm, and attempt to drive away, even if that means driving through your front lawn. When pulling into a garage always shut the door immediately after entering. These safety and prevention tips, and a heightened sense of awareness, can help to keep you and your family safe.

Michelle Peterson is the owner of PROTECT Institute of Self-Defense, NSA Agent, and Community Outreach Education Specialist for The Montgomery County Women's Center. The Montgomery County Women's Center serves victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, support services and legal advocacy. All services are offered free of charge. For more information on the Women's Center, call Michelle at (281) 292-4155 ext. 280.

The 24-hour crisis hotline is (936) 441-7273.