Slacker’s Guide To Home Defense
You think that you are safe in your home?
Think Again!
Check out these documented stats!
- More than 3.7 million cases of home invasions are reported annually. These include kidnappings, murders, rapes, burglaries etc.
- There is a 20% chance that your home will be invaded in a period of 10 years.
- Over a 20 year period, the chances are as high as 50%!
Does that make you feel uncomfortable?
Sure it does.
So instead of switching over to Reddit or Facebook, read and implement the information mentioned below. Protecting your house is more important than Cat Memes and the latest news on North Korea.
Here’s what you do in 8 Simple Steps:
1) Buy a weapon and learn to use it:
Do not rely on just one weapon – place a couple of weapons at different places in your home. Put them in places which are not obvious but not very inaccessible either – you should be able to grab your gun quickly when you need it.
You will not have the opportunity to fumble and search for it in your wardrobe or under your bed! Learn to use a gun properly and make sure that you are not shooting your friend or cousin who has entered unannounced in a bid to surprise you with a birthday party! Also, make sure that your gun is well maintained and loaded (and locked). You do not want your weapon to jam when it is time to shoot.
For more Awesome Home Defense Tips – Check out our Blog Post: 12 Unusual Home Defense Weapons
If you have to reach for your weapon, it means that your home has already been invaded. The key to effective home defense is to stop the invasion before it happens! You have to set up psychological and physical barriers to deter invaders. Read on to find out more.
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2) Keep the exterior of your property well maintained:
Thieves and burglars look for easy targets. If your house looks shabby (broken fence, overgrown lawn, mold on the walls etc.), it means that you are either careless or away from home. Such a property is very likely to be broken into. However, if you maintain your house, it tells the invader that the home is inhabited and the owners are vigilant. Keeping shrubs trimmed also limits hiding places for the attackers.
3) Get a dog, preferably a big one:
Apart from providing excellent company, a dog does a wonderful job of warning the owners against strangers. Nobody wants to deal with a big bad ass dog. You do not need to spend a thousand bucks on buying a fancy breed; you can adopt one from a shelter. Do not forget to add a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign on your gate. (Or Nevermind the Dog: Beware of Owner)
Slacker’s tip: If you are thinking that a dog is too much of a responsibility, simply put up a dog warning sign and skip the actual dog! Yes, your neighbors will know the truth but home invaders won’t.
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4) Install a security system with CCTV:
Burglars usually avoid homes with security systems. The risks are just too high. Costs are a huge factor here as cameras and alarm systems do not come cheap. However, you can get good deals if you willing to look.
Entry level wireless cameras are not very expensive – yes, you compromise a bit on picture quality but hey, at least you remain forewarned! Let potential attackers know that your house is equipped with a security system by putting up a sign on the door or on the compound wall. Electric fence is a great idea but then it is expensive. Go for it if you can afford it!
Edit for Clarification:
(Thanks to Reddit User Gravlox15 for this tip!)
The security system with CCTV doesn’t mean just cameras. An alarm system with a monitoring subscription is very useful, especially depending on home location. At the very least, a glass break sensor with an audible alarm is a must.
Edit: this kind of door armor seems really nice. I haven’t tested it, but I want to get some.
5) Barbed wiring over your house or compound walls: (Rural Areas ONLY as this DOES make you stand out and look like something worth going after)
If a compound wall runs around your house, install some barbed wire over it. This makes it very difficult to jump over the wall. Yes, the attacker can cut through the barbed wiring but hey, you have to add as many layers of protection as possible. If you’re in a residential neighbhorhood do NOT do this as I can think of NOTHING to make your house stand out more from your neighbors than barbed wire lining your fence. 🙂
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6) Strengthen all doors and windows:
Place deadlocks on all the doors. These are very hard to break into. You can also install multiple bolts on every door for added security. Still, remember that a door is only as strong as its frame. So reinforce all frames around the house. Install grills on all the windows. If you have sliding glass doors/windows that open into the garden or pool area, you can pair them sliding metal grills. All points of entry must be totally secure.
7) Keep the lights on:
This is a classic technique for discouraging burglars and it is fairly effective too. If you are worried about using up too much electricity, buy low wattage CFL bulbs. You can also install solar lights on the roof, gates and along walkways.
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8) Create a safe room:
You can possibly take down one or two intruders if you are well trained. However, it is dangerous to go into a gun fight if you are outnumbered.
Besides, it is better to avoid a direct confrontation if you can as you do not know what the attacker is armed with. He/she/they might have shotguns and bullet proof vests. A safe room enables you and your family to stay protected until the authorities arrive. How you go about creating a safe room depends totally upon your imagination and budget. It can be something as modest as a bedroom with multiple door locks and a reinforced frame to a James Bond movie style secret vault with an underground escape tunnel. Your safe room should have basic supplies like a phone, food, water, first aid box, electricity etc.
Set up a well prepared home defense plan based on your location, resources, house layout etc. All members of your family should know what to do in the event of an invasion. Get them to participate in mock drills! Make your plan as simple as possible and try to include all possible scenarios. Get started now!
9.) Keep a Fire Extinguisher Under Your Bed
This tip was submitted by Reddit User entroptyrope over at https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/ – so thanks for that!
“I keep one under my bed, one in the kitchen, one in the garage, and one in the car trunk. These are the most likely places to have a fire issue.
Besides fighting fire, they also make good home defense options, particularly for people who either cannot or choose to not have loaded weapons in the home.
With a fire extinguisher, you can spray the foam in an attackers’ face and then use the extinguisher as a blunt instrument. Doing so creates the opportunity to run like hell.”
Before you Go: Don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of How to Build the Ultimate Survival Kit
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