One of the worst things that a person can experience is a home break-in. This is a traumatic experience that can leave people feeling vulnerable or scared. Many are unsure of what to do during a situation like this and find themselves unprepared or unsure of what to do.

Luckily, there are a few simple things that you can do in order to be more prepared for a home break-in, and a few tips of things to do while one is happening. It is important that should you ever find yourself in this situation, you keep as calm and cool as possible and respond as quickly as possible.

Here are 7 different things that you can do in order to prepare and respond to a home break-in!

The best thing to do for a robbery is to prevent one from happening in the first place. If you can properly prepare your home, you can significantly decrease the chances of a break-in. A few simple things you can do is install motion-activated floodlights around your home, giving would-be burglars no place to hide in the darkness. Make sure that all of your doors and windows have quality locks and that they are locked at night, as this is when most home break-ins occur. If you have the money, it might also be worth it to invest in a home security system.

In addition to preparing the outside of your home, there are a few things you should do on the inside as well. If you live with your family or roommates, make sure everyone knows what the emergency plan is. Have you ever all talked about what you would do in situations like this? What is the plan? What about a meetup place? Talk about things like this with whoever you live with, and ensure that you have a plan and everyone knows what it is.

If it is at all possible where you live, get yourself a home defense weapon. You do not know what a burglar’s intentions are when they are breaking in, and having a home defense gun can quite literally save your life and those of who you live with. You should have your weapon within easy access while sleeping, and be able to find it in the dark without stumbling around and wasting a time. A great way to do this is to get something like the Morpheus Bed Holster. This holster will give you the best possible combination of practicality and comfort, all while keeping your pistol within arms reach the entire time that you are sleeping. You can pick yours up today at https://dinosaurized.com/pages/morpheus.

The very first thing that you should do if you suspect that your home is being broken into is call 911 immediately. Tell the operator as clearly and quietly as possible your name and address, and tell them that you suspect someone is currently in your house. Try and give them as much information as you possibly can. Can you hear if there is more than one person? What part of the house did they enter through? Where are you calling from? The more information that you can provide the operator, the better the police can assist you when they arrive on the scene.

Even if you have a weapon in your hands and have already called 911, the last thing you want to do is either make a lot of noise or even go looking through the house for the burglar. The best thing to do is lock your bedroom door quietly if possible, and then hunker down with your phone and weapon and stay quiet. Remember, you do not know what the person wants, or how they will react to someone else in the house. Yelling will do nothing but give away your location and allow the burglar to find you faster.

If you have your car keys in the same room as you, another thing you can do is press the panic button on them. Many burglars will run away as quickly as possible at the sound of a loud car alarm, as it is likely to awaken all of the neighbors. Because the sound is coming from outside, you won’t be putting yourself or your family in more danger either by yelling or making the noise yourself. Again, only do this if you have quick and easy access to your keys, but it is one simple trick to scare away any home intruders.

If you are fully prepared for a home break-in, the best possible thing that you can do in this situation is to remain calm. I know that this is easier said than done, but if you are calm than you will be able to make better decisions that could ultimately save your life. Fully prepare your home, have a plan of action, and have a home defense weapon. But when it comes down to it actually happening, the best possible thing you can do is to take plenty of deep breaths, control your heart rate, and make good decisions!