| When most people think of home invasion, they | | | | The work that was to be performed in your house |
| have the image of a person knocking on the door | | | | was done, and you completely forgot to retrieve |
| and forcing his or her way into the home when the | | | | your house key from its outdoors hiding place. You |
| occupant opens the door. That is one method of | | | | and your family are awakened at three o'clock a.m. |
| home invasion, but there are many more. Sadly, | | | | by two masked people standing over you barking |
| simply locking doors and windows and setting the | | | | orders. |
| alarm is no longer enough to prevent an invasion of | | | | Each of the above situations is real, and they take |
| your castle from happening. With home invasions on | | | | place all the time. A lot of people don't think about |
| the rise, it is to the benefit of everyone to think | | | | handing their entire key ring to someone that is going |
| outside the box and consider other things that create | | | | to perform a service for them because they should |
| opportunities for this hideous crime. | | | | be able to trust that person. No one thinks twice |
| A home invasion is different from a home burglary. In | | | | about going in the house for a few minutes. Some |
| a home invasion, the occupant is at home at the time | | | | people don't think anything of hiding their house key |
| the perpetrator enters the home. In a burglary, the | | | | somewhere outside. In all of the above |
| occupant is normally away from the home. | | | | circumstances, the perpetrator was knowingly given |
| Garage door openers, key rings that carry all of our | | | | the tool to commit the crime, but the realization that |
| keys, and absence of mind are a mixture of chance. | | | | the crime could be committed was not there when |
| At some time in our lives, nearly all of us have work | | | | the key ring was handed over. This type of thinking |
| done in or on our homes or vehicles. We are casual | | | | must change in order to protect your home and |
| with our key rings. We hand them to valet parking | | | | family. |
| attendants, and offhandedly give them to service | | | | Here are some tips to help prevent a home invasion: |
| people that we hire to perform services. Garage door | | | | 1. Never give anyone your entire key ring. As in the |
| openers are left in unlocked vehicles, and in other | | | | auto garage example, hand over only the key that is |
| places that let them be used to gain entrance to our | | | | necessary to unlock and operate the vehicle. |
| homes. Think about the following: | | | | 2. Never leave your garage door opener anywhere. If |
| - When you request repair for your vehicle at the | | | | your vehicle must remain in the auto garage or |
| auto garage, the service writer requests the vehicle | | | | anywhere else overnight, take the garage door |
| key. You hand over your key ring that has all of your | | | | opener home with you. Never leave it in an unlocked |
| keys on it. | | | | vehicle. Treat it like your wallet - you wouldn't leave |
| - Your vehicle needs to be left in the auto garage | | | | your wallet or purse behind where it is accessible to |
| overnight because the part is not due to arrive until | | | | anyone. |
| the next day. The auto garage has your key ring, | | | | 3. Never give any key to a valet parking attendant |
| and your garage door remote is in the vehicle. You | | | | other than the key that unlocks and operates your |
| have spares so you decide to leave both. | | | | vehicle. |
| - You go out to dinner at an upscale restaurant with | | | | 4. Stepping into the house from the heat for a few |
| valet parking. You give your key ring to the parking | | | | minutes is refreshing. All it takes to prevent someone |
| attendant and continue on to your dinner. | | | | from entering the house after you do is locking the |
| - You are outside on a warm day. You enter the | | | | door behind you. This also stands for the connecting |
| garage and go inside the house for a few minutes | | | | door between the garage and house. A garage can |
| with the intent of going back outside. | | | | hide an intruder from neighbors or passerby until he |
| - You have hired workmen to do some work in or | | | | can slip into the house through an unlocked inner |
| around your home. You just found out that you have | | | | entry door. He was lurking around watching you, but |
| an appointment elsewhere at the same time the | | | | you didn't see him. |
| workmen will be at your house. You are out of time, | | | | 5. The key that was hidden outside to allow the |
| and rescheduling either appointment is not an option. | | | | workmen to come inside during your absence should |
| You call the business and explain the situation stating | | | | have been left with a trusted friend, neighbor or |
| that you will hide your house key outside, and leave | | | | family member. That person could have let the |
| for your appointment. | | | | workmen in and stayed in your house while they |
| These are the opportunities for home invasion: | | | | were there. Never leave a house key hidden |
| In both of the auto garage situations, the company | | | | anywhere outside. |
| might have an unscrupulous employee that could | | | | The above tips are common sense, yet millions of |
| make a copy of your house key. The garage door | | | | people still hand all of their keys over to complete |
| opener could be used to raid your garage, and if the | | | | strangers, or to people that they know only as an |
| garage is attached to the house, entry into your | | | | acquaintance. Thousands of these people become |
| house could be gained. | | | | victims of home invasions. A home invasion can |
| In the valet parking example, the parking attendant | | | | happen to anyone. Instead of putting yourself, your |
| could give your house key to a friend or a partner in | | | | family and your home at risk, why not be safety |
| crime to make a copy. | | | | conscious and practice being safe on the outside so |
| Remember being outside and taking that quick trip | | | | that you can be safe in the most treasured spot on |
| into the house? Now you are face-to-face with an | | | | earth--your home. |
| armed intruder in your living room. Where did he | | | | © 2007 Patti McMann. All rights reserved. |
| come from? | | | | |