Most homeowners are interested in equipping their property and families with enhanced security systems in order to prevent crimes and protect safety and well-being. The home security market is populated with scores of individual units and systems designed to help homeowners achieve this goal, and there are many effective ways in which security tools and services can both prevent unwanted activity and respond to any breaches that occur. Sometimes, however, some of the most common-sense security tips go overlooked, possibly because of their relative simplicity or the unavailability of a convenient product to carry out the task at hand. One of the most important ways to protect a home against invasion is simply talking to family members about how the household plans to approach any related activity, yet many families neglect to carry out this crucial step. By designating a small amount of time in which to hold a household-wide meeting, families can explore the many angles of home security and can ensure that their properties are better able to stand up to the risk of invasion.
Home invasion may seem like a crime that only occurs when perpetrators force their way through locked doors or windows or otherwise gain unauthorized entry, but in fact, many invasions occur when occupants willfully allow the criminal into the home. People with the intention of robbing a residence or causing harm to its owners may pose as professionals or safety personnel, or may even show up on a doorstep sounding distressed and in need of help. While most people desire to assist those in need and may feel obliged to open the door for those who seem to have a legitimate reason to be on the property, it can be dangerous to trust people who arrive unexpectedly. As a result, it?s important to have a good sense of who should be allowed into the home, and in what types of situations a door should even be opened in the first place. Often, families fail to discuss these issues amongst themselves, and family members may have vastly different ideas about when and how to open doors and allow access. By discussing these themes with one?s family, homeowners can create a solid layer of protection against invasion, no matter who happens to be home at the time of an attempt.
Suspicious activity on and around a property may also be a cause for concern among those worried about the threat of a home invasion. Reminding family members to be aware of their surroundings and to examine suspicious situations is a wise move, though discussing how precisely to act when such situations arise is also critical. Families may decide that certain types of activity are grounds for calling local police or emergency numbers, or are simply cause for alerting an older member of the family or a neighbor. A home?s occupants, especially those who are young, may feel hesitant about acting at all when confronting suspicious behavior, typically because they?re not sure of what type of response is appropriate. When families take the time to discuss proper responses and to have a conversation about what constitutes suspicious behavior and what is probably fine, occupants can feel more confident about being a part of their own security systems.
Though households may employ many different methods, including family-wide discussions, in an attempt to prevent home invasion, such an event is still a possibility. It can be far more comfortable to imagine that such a crime will never take place than to think about how to respond if it does, but this choice can be disastrous. Families should sit down together and discuss the best options for taking action in a home invasion actually does occur. Whether it?s a reminder of evacuation and exit plans, instructions about which phones or other devices to use to call for help, or how to behave so as to stay calm and increase chances of escaping or launching a counter-attack, a family?s discussion about home invasion can go a long way towards improving its security profile. When households feel more prepared to face the possible dangers of a home invasion, they?re more likely to act effectively and decidedly during an actual invasion event, potentially contributing to a lower incidence of injury or financial loss.
The desire to protect a home against invasion leads many people to outfit their properties with expensive and sophisticated security equipment. While such systems can indeed play a part in protecting a home, it?s important to remember that sharing information and discussing security issues can?t be replaced with products. When families make a point of forming and discussing specific security plans surrounding the risk of home invasion, they can count on better protection and less difficult consequences from crimes that do take place on their properties.
superbowl alex smith alex smith lee evans lee evans birmingham news 49ers