Staying Safe in Your Home-Tips on Preventing a Home Invasion
March 31st, 2008 categories: Central Connecticut News & Information, Home Owners
This morning I heard the awful news that Mary Ellen Walsh was found dead in Bristol, the victim of another home invasion but this time in New Britain. Although not in her own home but in that of a friend, Mary Ellen reminded us all that crime can impact us even in places we should feel safe. I am truly sorry for her, her family and her friend Carol Larese who is recovering in the hospital.
I am not going to get into how angry it makes me that this home invasion ever occurred, why or how it happened or how disgusted I am that I can’t leave my doors unlocked because some low-life may get this idea in my area. Long gone are the days where you enter your home and leave the doors unlocked. Maybe those days never even existed but I like to think they did.
Normally, I don’t comment on issues like this but this event touches a basic need we all have and that is security - more specifically security in your own home.
Other than buying a gun and getting a big, mean dog, (which I have no problem with, by the way) how do we stay safe in the one place where we should never have to feel unsafe - our home?
Here are some tips from CrimeDoctor.com
Use a wide-angle peephole and instruct everyone in your family not to open the door to strangers. Chain latches are ineffective as a barrier, so use your peephole to look outside before opening the door. Be suspicious of someone claiming to be making a delivery that you did not order or use other tricks to get you to open the door.
Fortify your doors, windows and sliding glass doors.
Audible alarm sirens can prevent home invasion…if they are set. Alarm systems can be designed so that perimeter door and window sensors are activated while the home is occupied. The alarm can be set to instantly go off upon unauthorized entry. Be prepared to give a prearranged duress password to the alarm company if they call. Most alarm panels have an emergency panic button that will function much like a 911 call and will instruct your alarm monitoring company to call the police. Alarm company lawn and window signs help advertise that your house is wired and capable of getting a response from the police. These alarm signs and decals offer good deterrence value and may cause the robber to select another victim.
Automatic dial telephones, that can call 911 in speakerphone mode, can be effective in getting police assistance. If a home invader breaks in you may have just a split second to push the 911 direct-dial button on your telephone. If you dial in speakerphone mode the police dispatcher can listen in on what is going on in the room. Every telephone in your home should be programmed with this feature and all family members should be instructed how to make this emergency call. Your home address will automatically pop up on the police dispatcher screen and an officer should be dispatched even if the phone wire is cut. All 911 hang-up calls are supposed to be investigated by the police because of this type of scenario.
Click here for other tips from Crimedoctor.com
Additional tips in this video from Good Morning America on ABC.
Even more tips from Chubb Insurance
Stay safe.
Jessica,
I’m sorry to hear this.
It’s also hard for me to be scared of leaving the front door open.
And saddest thing is people lose community in so many ways because we’re afraid and many have valid reasons but also, the media exaggerates the story and majority of people are paranoid.
It’s a well known fact that the biggest harm come from people we know very well,our family, relatives. Not an outsider.
Thanks for the advice Jessica.
Good point. Unfortunately, this latest incident was one out of several in the last year - a stranger invading a home. Last year we had the home invasion and murder of three people (including two girls).
Personally, I had my apartment broken into while I was in it so I take in home security very seriously. The person tried to open a window while my roomate was working on a paper late. We were both awake - thankfully so because she was able to chase him out the window and I called 911.
He could have had a weapon, he could have timed it better, he could have brought someone with him - and I wouldn’t be here writing this comment. You just never know…