- Keep your garage door down and locked at all times.
- Utilize deadbolts on all exterior doors.
- Securely lock windows and consider the use of a "pin type" or wedge device to provide extra window security.
- Install the best security system you can afford.
- Lighting deters criminals. Install adequate outside lighting, preferably with motion detection capability.
- Keep your bedroom dark but consider background lighting in other rooms to provide illumination of an intruder.
- Sleep with a cell phone near the bed. Home phone lines can be cut by an intruder.
- Locate "equalizers" in various locations in the home. Conceal firearms or other weapons in strategic locations, which allow quick access when needed. Other equalizers include, knives, baseball bats, pepper spray, golf clubs, or anything else which can level the playing field. When placing weapons, ensure children, burglars, and others are unable to get immediate access to them. (We teach our clients means of securing firearms and other weapons).
- Keep a bright ("blinding") flashlight near your bed.
- Have a "panic room" or other area designated as a place to hide.
- One should practice responses in the event of a security breach. For example, one should have a plan for locating and protecting chidren and other family members. They should know and rehearse this plan. (We teach this as well).
- In general, let an intruder come to you, unless you have to secure loved ones.
- Ensure the outside of the home is free of obtrusive landscaping or other items that might provide concealment for an intruder. Privacy fences protect your privacy but they also allow intruders to operate out of sight of neighbors or passersby. Trees and shrubs can also work in the intruder's favor. Be sure to keep all shrubs properly trimmed and make sure that they don't block the view of doors, windows, etc.
- Do not hide a spare key outside.
- When returning home, do not let your guard down until you know you are alone and the house is secure.
This list is by all means not conclusive. Rather, it is just a sample of areas covered in our interaction with clients and it provides you with a good starting point for remaining safe. For a complete Home Security Assessment and training program, call us at 256.679.7405 or email us at knmconsultinggrp@aol.com. We teach about specifics such as types of doors, locks, windows, security systems and other hardware. We also practice and role play home invasions and defense against burglary, robbery, and abduction attempts. We help you come up with a plan to stay in charge and SAFE!!!!!
Copyright 2008 KNM Security and Risk Consultants
Disclaimer: KNM is not a law firm and does not render legal advice or engage in the practice of law. KNM Consulting and its employees shall have no liability to any persons or entities with respect to any loss, liability, or damage alleged to be caused by the application of information or opinions expressed in accordance with a consulting contract, its website, blog, or via complimentary marketing survey reports (MSR’s).
2 comments:
I don't know if guns are the answer but you do have a point with most of your ideas. I just worry about a gun falling into the wrong hands.
Proper training and gun safety will help reduce risk. Some people, either due to past criminal acts, mental illness, low maturity level, etc. do not need to own or carry a firearm. I only recommend carrying a firearm in legal fashion and with enough training and awareness to do so confidently and safely.
The only way a self defense system will work is if one actually has the will to survive. In some of the recent cases profiled on this blog, it appears that a firearm would have leveled the playing field and enabled some of these victims to live another day.
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