Home Defense Series - Final Preventative Measures

Defending your home from armed or otherwise dangerous intruders is a situation no one wants to find themselves in - but just like any other emergency situation, you prepare the best you can for it now, regardless of its likelihood or potential outcome. Read on as we delve into the ins and outs of ensuring you’re ready for whatever - or whoever - may attempt to invade your home.

Well, this is it: The final article in our Home Defense series. If you’ve gotten this far, let me personally thank you for sticking it out. We’ve said it before, but just as important as it is for us to sell body armor and gear to freedom-loving people, we believe proper education and training are equally vital if you want to be effective with that gear. Let’s finish strong as we go over some of the most simple yet effective measures you can take to prevent a home invasion from happening.

Did you know that over 65% of home burglaries happen during daylight hours?

Step 7: Final Preventative measures

Remember Step 1? Have a plan? Hopefully, you’ve been able to create an outstanding plan for your circumstances. Let’s now take the time to discuss some additional techniques, tips, and other methods to utilize in creating a plan to fortify your home against any form of intruder. You may have already thought of some of these, others perhaps not. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle any of them into an existing plan, no matter how strong you feel it already is.

Cameras

Alright, this should be a given. In this day and age, home security cameras are affordable, reliable, accessible, and convenient. For my home, we have wireless front and rear-facing outdoor cameras, as well as a doorbell camera, all synced up to a single phone application that allows me to review them all simultaneously, auto-records human motion, stores those clips on either a local server or microSD card, and doesn’t require a subscription to use. So let me be the first to say, there aren’t many excuses for you not to get a camera or two around the house.

Modern home security cameras are relatively inexpensive and damn good at what they do.

In the 4 years I’ve lived at my current residence, between my own camera and a few of my neighbors’ cameras, I’ve captured footage of criminal acts ranging from vandalism to hit-and-runs to attempted home invasions - and surprise surprise, the house that got hit was the only one without any cameras of its own - but thankfully all the neighbors had them. They are an impeccable method of home security for multiple reasons:

First, they are an automatic dissuasive device to criminals casing a neighborhood. Stopping crime before it happens is always a preferred outcome to having to utilize any means of self-defense. I proved this in a city I lived in with a high rate of crime, back in the day. My wife and I were fairly poor, and our vehicles were broken into within 48 hours of us moving into the home. 2 days is all it took! Unable to afford a real camera at the time, I purchased a set of fake yet extremely realistic-looking dummy cameras, complete with battery-powered “dummy” IR lights - they looked damn convincing and were less than $25 for a set of 4 online. We never had an issue again in the 3 years we lived in that neighborhood. I brought one of those cameras with me to our current residence, and the dummy light is still going strong. Criminals are always on edge when they believe cameras are everywhere. You want that in your neighborhood, because a criminal on edge is much less likely to go through with a crime, and/or is much more likely to make mistakes due to being under pressure.

I like to think of it in the same vein of racking a shotgun to scare away a home intruder - except the dummy-camera solution is much more effective than that. Truth be told, it’s more like sitting on your porch racking a shotgun in front of the potential intruder, than relying on just the noise.

Even if someone has millions of dollars, you probably wouldn’t try your hand at breaking into this home. The obvious solution for any thief is to marry their nephew’s mom.

The second and perhaps most obvious advantage to cameras, is that they record things; things like people’s faces and their actions. Most home security cameras these days do not constantly record, but are motion activated and will “trigger” themselves when they detect specific types of motion, automatically recording and storing it. While this may not help in the short-term (when there’s an armed criminal inside your home, knowing the camera captured him doesn’t exactly make you any safer in that moment), they can help immensely in prosecution and case-solving. Additionally, most cameras have a “live view” option - particularly helpful for doorbells, of course - so you can get notified if a human is on your premises. If someone is entering your home, this can help you know the difference between a burglar and your drunk relative who needed a couch to crash on.

Third and last… My goodness, they are an everyday convenience you didn't realize how badly you needed until you had them. They aren’t just useful for criminals. They’re great for investigating that loud random noise outside, great for avoiding solicitors, great for capturing that cute moment in the yard when you were playing with your family, and so much more. Buy a camera, guys. Heck, buy two.

Dogs

This is one of those suggestions where everybody who owns a dog will wholeheartedly agree, and most who do not will probably not. A quick Google Search will reveal a thousand and one interviews with lifetime criminals, who almost always state that a large dog was one of the few automatic dealbreakers for considering a burglary in a neighborhood. As the owner of a dog that is somewhat intelligent and moderately well-trained, I largely consider him one of my most useful assets in protecting my home and my family.

The best part? He’s a Lab/Border Collie mix who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Most unconditionally loving dog on the planet. You, however, would not know that from hearing his surprisingly aggressive bark when entering my home unannounced.

This adorable little freeloader of mine may be the sweetest boy there is… but to an unknowing criminal hearing his aggressive bark, he could be anything else.

You see, my dog knows his people. He knows what we look like, he knows what we sound like, and he knows what we smell like. Most dogs will in fact know their people, as they generally have heightened senses that allow them to do so. Coming from a mix of shepherding-type breeds, my pup also likes to make sure he knows where everyone is. That means if he hears a sound somewhere in the house where he knows one of his people are not, he gets a little ticked off. He starts growling just enough to be cautionary. If that sound escalates into certainty that someone else is in the home, he will then bark. The advantage is obvious: My dog can tell me when someone is entering my home long before I can hear them. And if it’s a friend visiting during the day, then I just let the dog sniff them and all is well. But if it’s someone who is not invited, I immediately have an advantage - and a deterrence, if they’re smart enough to not fuck with a dog they cannot see and do not know. Most people generally are - even the stupid ones.

And of course, the given - dogs are great pets, and even better companions. They can improve your mood, sense when you’re sad or upset, offer love and friendship, and so much more. I’m not here to convince you of all the reasons to own a dog, but let it be said - dogs rock.

As an aside, if you choose to go this route - COMMIT TO THE DAMN DOG. I hope I piss somebody off here, and if I do, you deserve it. I have a special place of hatred in my soul for people who neglect the dogs they choose to own. Yes, your dog can be used as a tool in fortifying your home. But do not buy a dog if that is your only reason for doing so, and the rest of the time they are just thrown out back on a chain. Nor should you buy a dog just to “have” one. Dogs are a major commitment, and one that not everybody is physically, financially, or mentally ready and available to meet. They require training, love, money, and most of all - consistency. So, do not get one thinking you can treat it like a security camera, only handy when you need it. Because honestly, it probably won’t work for you.

At the very least, you could always go the “poor man’s route” as well, similar to my fake security system back in the day - put a big dog bowl outside your house with a dog’s name on it and a little bit of food. Maybe toss a few chew toys around (have a friend’s dog play with them so they don’t look new). If someone is casing homes for potential hits, clues that a large dog is on the premises, and - even worse - a dog they cannot immediately see, is going to ward off all manner of criminal scum. Note the emphasis on a “big” bowl, because you want people to think it’s a big dog. “Beware of Dog” signs can be helpful here as well.

Remember Ferris Bueller’s principal? Let it be a lesson: don’t ignore signs of a large dog.

Proper locks and secure points of entry

Arguably one of the most overlooked home defense measures. This really should go without saying, but make sure you have real locks on your doors. If someone is going to pick your lock, make sure it is a pain in the ass for them to open, or that there are multiple. We have a metal doorknob with lock, and a swing bar lock at eye-level. Both work great.

But this doesn’t apply to doors alone, either. You need to make sure your windows lock when you close them. You don’t necessarily need anything fancy here (usually), but just make sure the locking mechanism engages properly, and take care that they do so on ALL floors. Criminals know how to climb. Haven’t you ever been on vacation and noticed graffiti on highway bridges way high up, in seemingly unrealistic places? Yeah, people know how to climb. And they’ll do it if they believe it’ll give them an advantage.

Secure your points of entry. Simple as that.

Signage

I’ve observed this method utilized very liberally, and sometimes I wish it wasn’t. You all know what I’m talking about. People love putting up “Trespassers will be shot” or “Nothing inside is worth dying for” or “Warning: We don’t call 911” signs plastered with silhouette AR15s and the like. While I do think some of these are pretty funny or clever, it is important to remember every angle a criminal can use - and thus understanding that these signs can actually be a two-edged sword.

Why?

Because if I’m a criminal and I see a sign with a gun on it, I will think to myself, “Cool! Not only do they have nice things - they also have guns. I will simply wait for them to leave, break in and steal them before they come back.”

Not only does this tell the world you own expensive guns… it tells the lawyers it was your intent to kill. Which will land you in prison, regardless of the situation.

Don’t believe it could happen to you? It happens every single day. You want to keep guns out of the hands of bad people without legislative gun control? Then stop freaking advertising on your front lawn that you own them. Criminals don’t use magic to steal the guns they use in violent crimes. They steal them from law-abiding citizens who were careless, overconfident, or both. Don’t be that guy who gets his gun stolen.

Of course, tactfully clever signage can be helpful - such as the aforementioned “beware of dog” sign, or even a “this property under constant surveillance” sign. Putting up a sign representing home security can be helpful, but more… conditional. Many modern security systems can be electronically bypassed if the intruder is competent in that area of expertise. As uncommon as those cyber-savvy criminals may be, I generally counter the risk by putting up signs for a different home security system than the one I actually own. The companies themselves do not care, I promise.

Motion lights

Lights, generally speaking, signify people: people who are probably awake. Motion lights add another small, yet potentially significant deterrent to criminals: surprise. Whether you’re home or not, someone sneaking onto the premises who is surprised by a sudden light coming on may not be sure if it’s a motion light, or if it’s a human intentionally spotlighting them - either way, the psychological response is generally to retreat. Great in tandem with other home security measures. And of course, regular lights in general can be an advantage, as criminals typically prefer darkness.

Faking being home

This is less about confronting a home invasion, more about general burglary prevention. I will say this: Be CAREFUL with this one. When leaving home, many people go overboard with turning on the lights, and smart criminals are able to identify this mistake with very little effort. If your home is normally only partially lit in the evening, yet the night you go out of town you choose to light it up like a Christmas Tree… that looks weird. And it looks obvious, especially if there are no vehicles parked. The key to pretending to be home in normalcy - make the house LOOK like it normally does when you’re home. A vehicle in the driveaway if at all possible, maybe a TV on, a few lights, etc. You know your house better than anyone, so this takes some personal judgment to be effective.

Some heroes have gone to great lengths to convince burglars that the house is more occupied than it is.

Be consistently inconsistent

As someone who works from home most of the time, this is my favorite unsung home defense strategy. It can also help with the “fake being home” tip above, if done well. The key here is to not give any indication of a “schedule” to the outside world. Criminals, especially home invaders, will study patterns of movement and behavior when casing a home. They will identify when you get home, when you leave, when you go to bed, when you let the dog out, and more. If at all possible, vary these types of behaviors. You want to throw as many wrenches into a potential perpetrator’s plan as possible, and this throws more wrenches in than just about anything else. As someone who is extremely strict with his schedules, meetings, and punctuality in general, I promise it is more than doable.

Wrapping Things Up - Once and for all

Well, we’ve reached the end. If you’ve stuck with me, I again thank you - and sincerely hope you’ve taken away something that will allow you to become more prepared than you were before.

The world is falling apart. It is getting much more wicked than it is righteous, and it is only going to get worse. I know many of you are reading this, believing you are safe where you are (I am one of you as well). But never believe that your city, your neighborhood, or your home are eternally safe. Learn how to balance being prepared for anything, without living in a state of paranoia and fear.

Be happy, for crying out loud. You probably deserve it.

And perhaps above all else, remain teachable. I certainly do not claim to have all the answers within these articles, but I have had to utilize more than a few techniques throughout this series for the preservation of my own life and the lives of others around me. Even having that experience, I try my best to remain as a sponge. If you are someone who is always trying to learn, you will almost always have the advantage over someone who believes they know everything - no matter how talented they may be. Overconfidence kills; Humility saves.

Newsflash - It’s okay to do cool-guy shit and not take life too seriously. Healthy, in fact.

So get out there, prepare, be humble, and kick ass. And smile through it all.