What is Self Protection?
Self Protection is to protect yourself. Self-explanatory huh? But it doesn’t just end there. Self-protection is something you have to constantly think about, plan for, and execute precisely. There are many ways to protect yourself and your family. In this blog, we will go over various ways to prepare yourself, your property, and your vehicles for that moment that could end very badly. This blog is a master list of all of the things that will give you the upper hand in such situations. You will see links throughout the blog. If you want more information about a specific section, click the link that corresponds with the section to learn more!
Levels of Self-Protection –
The Levels of Self Protection in a home situation like a potential burglary or home invasion are not very complicated. In a home invasion, the victim is ALWAYS at a disadvantage. The criminal has had the time to plan when, where, what time, and how they are going to execute the crime. The strategy here is to deter, detect, deny, and defend. NOTE: These sections will build on the last. This is something you will build on step by step. I will go through budget-friendly ways to achieve each level of protection and ways that will require you to spend money. This blog is for your benefit so please bookmark and refer back to this blog as many times as you like.
How To Deter Home Invasions on a Budget –
There are ways to deter these less-than-favorable people. One popular method is to upgrade the lighting outside of your house from dim yellow light bulbs to bright white LED flood lamps that are motion activated. This has been shown to reduce potential burglaries by 39%.
The next way to deter a potential burglary is not as apparent to us law-abiding citizens but is very noticeable by a criminal. We have all seen those “ This House Is Protected By ADT” signs outside someone’s house in our lifetime. The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of North Carolina did a study on burglars and noted that the burglars walked away from the house that had one of these signs out front 25% of the time.
Another great way to deter a home invasion is by getting a cheap “Beware of Dog” sign. The dog is not needed but is recommended! Even if you are not a dog person you can utilize this tactic and put the sign in a very open and easy-to-see spot. This accompanied by the alarm company sign as I previously mentioned is a great way to keep potential thugs from stealing your hard-earned property.
It is imperative that I tell you that getting a dog takes a lot of responsibility and time. I am a dog person and love my German Shepherd Husky mix. But they require time and training to be well-mannered and to be good at the tasks you require them to do. I will say it again YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET A DOG TO USE THIS TACTIC! However, it is very intimidating to walk up to a house with beware of dog signs and hear the booming bark of a medium to large breed dog behind the door.
How to Detect Home Invasions (Spending a Little Money) –
Now I will give you some ways to boost what we have covered in the first section. One of the most important tasks of self-protection is early warning and detection. You are in your home, not paying attention, maybe reading this blog. Do you know what is happening outside your home? Now from this exact room that you’re in right now can you see your front yard, driveway, front door, and car from where you sit? What about the backyard? If you live in an apartment or single-family home, think about all of the ways someone can get into your home. Scary, I know. This is an issue. Now take a breath and calm your mind.
This thought exercise brings to light the importance of a camera system. The more vision you have around your house the more information you have regarding the situation.
So What’s The Solution?
Something that is taking home security companies by storm is the doorbell camera systems. I am sure you’ve seen a couple around. These guys have a camera, mic, and speakers on them so that you can effectively see and communicate with anyone outside of your home. This is an amazing tool to purchase. Along with the security system that allows you to have cameras for your perimeter, and glass shatter detectors for your windows, you get a team of individuals that will send emergency services to your home if something happens and you do not turn off the alarm. This is a key piece of home invasion detection because you are able to see what was a potential burglar and tell them that you are calling the police. All from inside your locked and secured home.
The next question we have to answer is what happens if this doesn’t work and they still try to get into your home? Well, I have an answer for the next Level of Self Protection! Which is…
Home Security –
How to Deny Someone Access to Your House, to the ear sounds a little dumb, doesn’t it? But denying someone to enter your home is not only just saying “No, you can not enter my home.”. It also has levels. We will go through just a few in this blog but if you are wanting more information about How to Deny Someone Access to Your House you can click on the link at the end of this section.
The most important part of this section is security. Securing your access points in your home is the main priority. Using elements like security systems, cut-resistant deadbolts and locks, heavy doors with wrought iron in the glass, and having shatter-resistant glass on your windows are wonderful ways to deny someone access to your home. These items can be pretty pricey though.
To learn more about Home Security, please click this link – How to Deny Someone Access to Your House
Self Protection –
How to Defend Yourself – In this section we will be talking about Self Protection. As we know there are many ways to protect yourself in a situation. However I will only be covering a few in this blog primarily because I would like to spend enough time to thoroughly explain each portion adequately in other blogs. To find more information about How to Defend Yourself please click the link at the end of this section.
If we continue with the situation I have painted through this blog, in theory you have put security and beware of dog signs outside your home. You would have upgraded your lighting to bright LED lights and put up security cameras with a security company. You also would have upgraded your doors and windows with security doors and glass. You have done everything in your power to keep these criminals outside your home and give time for your local police department to get to them. But what if they are dumb enough to come inside? Have you planned an escape? Are there laws in your state that allow you to stand up for yourself and your property to defend it?
A Decision You Need To Make
In self protection, you have many choices to defend yourself. Now my go to would be a firearm however I know that some people don’t agree with firearms and that is okay. There are other options that aren’t as lethal as a firearm. Such as tasers, pepper spray and batons. But I would challenge this with if they are willing to go through potential dogs, set off an alarm, go through security doors and windows, are they willing to go through you and harm you? Is your life worth defending with everything you have? If you thought, “My life is priceless and I would do anything to defend it,” then you can find my arsenal of blogs dedicated to firearms here, under Firearms Blogs.
I would like to further explain something before we go any further. I am an avid firearm enthusiast. I like shooting them for fun, and for competition. I carry one with me everyday. HOWEVER never at any moment will I ever WANT to end someone’s life. I think that it is only a means to preserve my life in a moment where I absolutely have no choice but to defend myself or my family or you or your family.
I understand that some people will still not be swayed to even look at firearms as a defense method and that’s fine. I respect your decision and that is why I have created blogs dedicated to you. Please click here to find all of my Non-Lethal Defense Options Blogs.
Please feel free to navigate around the blogs and read some more. Make sure to bookmark our website so that you can have all of the knowledge of how to be self reliant right at your fingertips. Thank you for reading. If you want to read more blogs like this one click this link to go to our bank of blogs! I Want To Read More!
Until next time,
Stay Safe
Jacob D
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