By Webmaster

TexasCHLLicense.com

Protecting your home is essential, and periodically we receive emails requesting information on what steps should be taken to secure a home if the homeowner chooses not to own a firearm.

The following is a simple list of things you can do to make your home more secure without owning a firearm.  Keep in mind though, that the following will not offer you the same level of protection as owning a firearm and properly knowing how to use it.

 
Locks

Locks are the first thing that should be changed when you purchase a new home or move into rental property, specifically rental property.  Changing the locks on external doors and adding deadbolt locks when possible, should be done as soon as possible.  Without doing this, anyone who has ever had access to the residence still has access, and you may wake up one morning to find you have uninvited guest in your home.

Window locks are another aspect that need to be checked and replaced if neccessary.  Check to insure that all mechanical window locks operate properly and are security latched when the window is closed.  If you are an individual who chooses to leave the window cracked at night for air flow, a mechanical lock which prevents the window from being opened far enough for an individual to climb through is essential.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your doors and windows locked whether you are at home or away.  This will help prevent unauthorized entry.

 
Alternative Weapons In Your Home

An alternative weapon is anything you can use to defend yourself in the event of a break-in.  This can be something as simple as a writing pen which can be used to stab an assailant, or a baseball bat to use as a club.  Things such as insect sprays when sprayed in the eyes act similar to things such as pepper sprays, although these do not offer the lasting effects of pepper sprays.

Glass bottles can be broken and used as a knife to defend yourself against attack.  A TASER or stun gun is another non-lethal defense item which can be used on an assailant to incapacitate.  Although between the two, a TASER is far more effective than a stun gun in subdueing an assailant.

 
Security Systems

Having a good security system installed in your home or apartment these days is very important.  A properly installed security system offer a deterent to break-ins as the robber no longer has the ability to quietly break into your home through a back bedroom and attack you in your sleep.  Keep in mind though that a security system is only going to be as effective as the system you have installed, and then only if you remember to actually arm the system.  With door and window sensors, motion sensors and glass breakage sensors, a quality security system will give you a little peace of mind against someone entering your home without your knowledge.

 
Exterior Lighting

Probably one of my biggest pet peaves is people who have exterior lighting and then turn them off at night before going to bed.  Not only does this let the robber know that the homeowner has retired for the evening, but it also allows them to approach your home and break-in without easily being spotted.  It is a proven fact that burglars hate a well lit residence, and will often go to another home which is not lit up in order to break in under the cloak of darkness.  If you have external lighting, then make sure you use them.  That is what they are there for.

 
Blinds And Curtains

At night, attempt to keep you curtains drawn or your blinds closed.  It is easy for someone outside your home to see inside and take inventory of your personal property when the curtains are open at night.  Also, it allows the burglar to plan their points of entry and gives them a layout of the residence.  Also, keeping your blinds closed make it more difficult for burglars to see your activities and whether or not you are still awake.

 
Know Your Way Around In The Dark

Being able to navigate through your home in the dark is very important.  For example, you are awoken in the middle of the night by a noise in the other room.  Upon getting out of bed, you realize there is someone in the other room.  If you have a security system with a key pad located in your bedroom, you can hit the panic button to activate the alarm and have the monitoring company contact the police for you.  If you do not have a key pad in your bedroom, you can grab your cell phone which you should keep by your bed and sneak out a bedroom window.  Once safely out of the residence, call the police and alert them to the break-in.  Or go to a neighbors home and have them contact the police for you.  Either way, exiting your home instead of facing your attacker is the preferred choice.  Never just run into the room and confront a burglar.  Although the burglar may have broken into your home with every intention of not hurting anyone, if confronted by the homeowner their good intentions can change in an instant.
The above is just a simple list of things you can do to make your home safer against a home invasion, but is in no way meant to be the only things you should do.  If you choose to be unarmed and unprotected, then your possibilities of protecting yourself are limited and a plan of escape or defense is even greater.