Have you or someone you know fall victim to a break-in or home invasion?

By Tom Reimer Whether you answered yes or no, it is important that you are aware of the steps you can take to not only deter criminals from entering your home but to keep them out entirely. Whenever a stranger enters your home with the intention of stealing your valuables, violently or discreetly, a feeling of numbness is left behind knowing that someone has entered your family’s personal space. It is traumatizing for parents and children alike. If you or your family members do not feel safe in your own home, where can you feel safe? As human beings, we have many underlying needs, most famously outlined by Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Maslow states that we have motivations to achieve needs, but some needs take precedence over others. Basic needs, such as food, water, warmth, rest, security and safety, must be met before psychological and self-fulfillment needs are met. Safety needs are only second to your physiological needs! Therefore, once you have become a homeowner and have met the necessity for shelter, your next goal should be to protect that home and the people within it! The number of home invasions and extortion is drastically escalating. In Canada a residential burglary takes place every 3 minutes. Commercial targets like convenience stores and any high-ticket retail stores have hardened themselves against criminal attack. Private residences, by comparison, are now the most attractive target. The question you must ask yourself is, what are you doing to prevent a home invasion or break-in? You may have a large dog by the front door ready to attack, or a state-of-the-art alarm system that makes noise and takes videos, OK, While these are viable deterrent solutions, they cannot stop an unwanted entry and are simply not enough! Burglars should not be underestimated; many are not afraid to use force; they know where to look and can be in and out before a police cruiser is even dispatched to your home. Tougher locks with long strike plates mounted with 3-1/2” screws passing through the door frame and into the 2x4” structural sub frame and that also goes for the hinges. But not even close to being enough, look at the window beside the door, if it can be broken to enable the crook to reach through to open the lock. Low lying window are also extremely vulnerable and need your attention. Patio doors need your attention and many solutions are available. The bottom line is, you wouldn’t tolerate a roof that leaks water into your home or a furnace that has given up the ghost, so why would you allow an entrance that caters to burglars? Don’t wait until after the fact. Be proactive! Just remember this little analogy, if you and a group of people are walking in the woods and you are being chased by a bear, you don’t need to be the fastest runner only faster than the slowest. Till next week.