Hunter Protective Services on How to React to a Home Invasion

According to the United States Department of Justice, more than a million home invasions take place around the nation every year. Given such mind-boggling numbers, it is more than reasonable to plan for the worst. This includes having a detailed course of action in case of a home invasion, understanding legal boundaries, and more. In addition, it is important to recognize that each state views home invasions differently.

Below, Hunter Protective Services breaks down what do during a home invasion:

Make Presence Known

In almost all cases of home invasions, the intruder is hoping to engage in a simple burglary. For those unfamiliar, the difference between the two is the fact that burglaries take place when nobody is at home. So, when an intruder runs into somebody while expecting an empty house this often causes them to panic. Unfortunately, this is also why a lot of home invasions end tragically and the intruder causes bodily harm to those present. So, what is the lesson here?

It is extremely important to make your presence known. Although leaving the lights on is somewhat effective, it is also the oldest trick in the book. By now, most invaders know that a home with its lights on could easily be empty. In order to make one's presence truly known, the residents have to do more. This can include things like having loud noises in the background, letting the curtains show who is home, and so on.

Additionally, one should absolutely never ignore a knock on their door. One of the most common ways that intruders diagnose if there is someone at home is by knocking. If the person refuses to acknowledge the party at their front steps, it will make the visitor think that the house is empty. Thus, they may see this as a green light to break in.

Have an Escape Route or a Hiding Place

According to security specialists from Hunter Protective Services, it is mandatory to have an escape route. Living in Jamaica means that one is subjected to the local laws clearly stating that the victim must run away from the danger. Therefore, in order to obey the law and not be harmed, the resident should have a path of escape. In case that they do not, however, the next best thing is to have a great hiding place. That way, the person whose life may be threatened can still hide under the radar and avoid the intruder.

Long-Term Consequences

In order to avoid experiencing adverse long-term consequences, people should fully comprehend the current laws surrounding home invasions. In every state, it is allowed to use lethal force when it comes to one's self-defense against immediate danger to their life. The problem, however, comes in when the authorities investigate whether one ran away from the danger or not.

This is one of the countless downsides of being a victim of a home invasion here in Jamaica. If the victim is determined to have used lethal force instead of running away from their own home, they could face prison time. Hence why it is important to make one's presence known and, as Hunter Protective Services advises, avoid the ordeal altogether.

Contacting the Authorities

Given that the violent outcomes of a home invasion are the last thing anyone wants, the victim should always have a way to alert the authorities or their neighbors. For example, sleeping with one's phone very close to them is basically a requirement in this day and age. Doing so makes it easy to get in touch with emergency services in less than a minute. Thus, keeping a cell phone on the nightstand or having a home phone in the bedroom is a great idea.

If the person is unable to alert the authorities, they should somehow make the intrusion known to their neighbors. For instance, people living in the same area can agree to send intrusion signals through their vehicles or room lights. Thus, clicking the "panic" button that causes the car to start honking can alert people residing nearby. Additionally, turning the lights on and off repeatedly can be another signal in case that a neighbor looks over. Ultimately, the better the preparation, the less likely someone is to face terrible consequences.