I think we need to define what legally constitutes a home invasion and how it differs from a burglary. Laws vary from state to state so the definitions I am posting may not be exactly the same as in other states, but they will be similar.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilc...hapterID=53&SeqStart=62600000&SeqEnd=63400000
Here is the definition of Home Invasion:
And here is the legal definition of Burglary:
Basically to be a home invasion the suspect has to know the dwelling is occupied or have reason to believe it's occupied before entry
and use force or threaten the use of force against the occupants of the dwelling. A lot of incidents that people call home invasions are really burglaries.
You don't understand the premise of the thread. No one here is saying that home invasions never happen to innocent people. The premise of the thread is, that if you don't live a criminal lifestyle or allow people who do to reside with you and if you don't hang out with people who live a criminal lifestyle or allow the people who live with you to, you have greatly reduced the chances of becoming a victim of someone breaking down your door for the purpose of harming you or someone who lives with you.
Now if you are the manager of a bank, an armored car company, a check cashing business or a jewelry store, you have a higher risk of becoming a victim of that kind of crime. If it's public knowledge that you keep a large amount of cash or jewelry in your home then you have increased your risk factor.
A high profile home invasion that gets a lot of news coverage usually generates several threads here on upgrading the weapons one keeps handy, clearing your own home and conducting close quarter battle drills in one's living room.
The purpose of this thread is debunk the notion that there are gangs of heavily armed criminals randomly targeting people for home invasion robberies, rapes and murders. It's just not true.
Here is a list of steps you can take to make yourself safer. They are listed in priority order:
1. Don't live an "on the edge" lifestyle. That means don't do or sell illegal drugs, run the streets engaging in bar fights, road rage or other hot tempered conduct.
2. Don't live with anyone who lives that kind of lifestyle.
3. Don't become romantically involved with someone who has a violent ex. If you do, you have to be aware that you are accepting his or her's problem ex as your own problem and your risk of becoming a victim has increased.
4. Don't keep large amounts of cash, jewelry or other valuables in your home. If you must, keep the number of people who know that you do to the barest minimum. Vet everyone who has knowledge of the fact there is cash or valuables in your home. Remember the only way something ever stays secret is if only ONE person knows the secret.
5. Harden your home. You need a layered defense that starts with security lights on the exterior, an alarm system with cellular backup, good locks on windows and thorny plants under them to dissuade people from attempting to use the windows as entry points. Door jambs should be solid and hinges and strike plates should be secures with at least 3 inch screws. Deadbolt locks that require a key to open from the inside. A way to view who is at your door without exposing yourself. Video is getting to be fairly inexpensive and is better then a peep hole in the door however that may not be possible in an apartment. The door to the safe room should meet the same standards as the exterior doors, solid core, 3 inch screws for the hinges and strike plate, long throw deadbolt lock.
6. Don't let anyone you don't know into your home. Call and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer, firefighter or utility company employee. Anyone with a computer can produce authentic looking ID for any organization. Several months ago I ran off a man who claimed to have been hired by the company I have my home owners insurance with to update the photos of the house. He couldn't produce any identification to prove that's who he worked for. I immediately called my insurance agent after he left and within 30 minutes the agent called me back and said that yes, the company had hired an outfit from out of state to take new photos of the homes they insured in the area. And no they didn't provide them with any ID or a number that homeowners could call to verify. My agent agreed with me, that it was a stupid thing for the company to do. I don't regret running him off at all even after it proved legit.
7. Sanitize areas of your home that contractors and service people will have to access to do their work. Don't leave guns, valuables or other intel that could make you a target visible. Do your best to vet anyone you let into your home to do any work. This will be hard with things like the cable company. But do your best.
8. Dogs are good, but you should not rely on them to provide early warning or defense. I know that there are many here who will scoff at that notion, but it's true. A dog is only part of a defensive strategy and they are fallible just like everything else.
9. Have a plan to move everyone in the home to the safe room if a breach is attempted and rehearse the plan.
10. Have a firearm, a cell phone and a good flashlight handy. Train with them.