How to Escape Home Invasion

Imagine you're home alone and you hear glass breaking. Someone is breaking in. Do you know what do? or

You are at home with your spouse and Children. You’re in your room sleeping with your spouse. Your children are in their own rooms doing whatever or better still sleeping. 

At 11:00pm you hear a knock on the door and your spouse gets up to answer the door. After the door is unlocked you hear a sudden outburst as two strange young men burst through the door and into your living room. As the door crashes open, you see your spouse is being punched and beaten to the floor. Before you have time react you are overcome by physical force and threats of harm to you and your family. The two men are brandishing guns and are shouting obscene threats and commands simultaneously as they push you onto the couch. One of the men quickly searches the house for other occupants while the other stands guard over you.

Your mind is racing. Will we be killed? Will these attackers beat us or molest our daughters? The level of terror and anxiety is high and will cause victims to sometimes act irrationally. Some will freeze and become incapacitated from fright. Others will instinctively resist and try to fight back. Others will run away if possible. Psychologists have labeled this phenomenon as the “fight or flight syndrome.” The first thirty seconds are the most critical to your family’s survival. 

What would you do?

 Most people have never thought this question for themselves or with their family. How will I react under similar circumstances? How will my family react independent of me? How will we react together? How you naturally react depends on many factors: your sex, age, physical condition, culture, personality, how you process information, how you react under extreme pressure, special training, skills, and past experience in responding to aggression.

1.  Have a Plan

 Always have that contingency plan drawn up in your head. It's okay to walk around the house and draw up scenarios. It's not being paranoid, it's being prepared. Develop a family plan with a code word. When your kids hear the word, teach them to hide under their bed until you come get them.
If you develop a home security plan and talk about it with your family and neighbors, the chances of acting appropriately and getting help are greatly improved. 

2. Be prepared

Keep your cell phone and car keys with you at night. You'll be ready to call police and your key fob's panic button can create a great distraction

3. Weapon

During a home invasion, you cannot always count on your ability to get to your weapons before being injured yourself. Ordinary household products can work in self defense. Chemical fire extinguishers work great to disorient the robber

Pepper spray and baseball bats can be good go-to items, but any heavy object can help if you decide to fight.  

4. Pretense

If you come face to face with an intruder and you're not prepared, lie down and do not look at them. Pretend to have a heart attack or breathing problem.  

5. Don't let fear paralyze you. When you become paralyzed by fear, that's when you really do become a victim,Nothing is worth the life or safety of your family. Let them take whatever they want to take."