What to Do if a Burglar Breaks Into Your House?
Even if the rate of burglaries has been declining for some time,1 the prospect of a home invasion is still unsettling and illegal.
Continue reading for our advice on how to deal with this terrifying situation.
What To Do When an Intruder Is in Your Home
- Verify their presence
- Stay calm
- Determine if you can escape
- Stay put
- Call the police
- Keep quiet
- Take notes afterward
1. Quickly verify their presence
Time is of the essence, so be quick about checking. Take a deep breath and listen closely or check for security camera or video doorbell alerts on your phone.
See if you can distinguish between pet movements and normal plumbing sounds and those of footsteps, breaking glass, opening doors, or shuffling objects and furniture.
2. Stay calm
In scary situations, it's normal for your adrenaline to surge and for your heart rate to jump. Take a few deep breaths to calm your mind and body so you can decide what to do next.
Avoid grabbing a weapon unless you have tactical training in high-intensity situations—weapons like firearms can often make things more dangerous instead of safer, especially if you lack professional training.
3. Determine if you can escape
If you confirm someone is in your home or if you still suspect it after taking a pause, don't confront them. Find a way out immediately. Look for windows you can safely exit from or places to hide if you can’t make a getaway. If you have a fire escape ladder, now is the time to use it. But if they try to attack you, you can use this tactical flashlight to defend yourself.
4. Stay put if you can't escape
If the intruder is between you and your exterior doors and you can't climb out of a window, shut yourself in a bathroom, bedroom, or even a closet. Lock the door, and if possible, barricade it. Stay as quiet as possible.
5. Call the police
Whether you're escaping or hiding, call 911 for help. Keep your voice quiet and speak slowly so dispatchers can hear you.
How can you reach out for help?
- On any phone: call 9-1-1
- On an iPhone 8 or later: hold down the power button and one of the volume buttons, then select Emergency SOS from the options on screen.
- On an iPhone 7 or earlier: press the power button five times in a row, then slide the Emergency SOS option.
- On a cell phone in an area with Text 911 services: open a new text message draft, type 9-1-1 into the To field, then write a message. Spell things out, and do not send emojis, gifs, or pictures.
The dispatcher will ask what your emergency is. Be prepared to answer a few questions about the following:
- Nature of your emergency
- The address of the emergency
- Your phone number and name
- Who else is in the home with you
- Description of intruder including clothing, gender, hair color, height, weight, race, location or direction of travel, and whether or not they're armed
- Where you and other members of the household are located
They may stay on the line with you until help arrives on scene. If you move locations, be sure to update the dispatcher on where you are.
6. Keep quiet and follow instructions
While most intrusions are not violent, it's not worth taking the risk of being found. Stay quiet if the dispatcher asks questions or gives you instructions while they're on the line with you. Answer quietly and succinctly.
7. Take notes immediately afterward
Remember everything if you're in a position to witness the invader. You should be able to offer a full account of weight, sex, height, clothing, vehicles, and direction of travel in case they flee before police show up.
It will be simpler for authorities to find the burglar and stop them from harming other properties. Additionally, you should compile a list of everything that was damaged or taken so you can give police a thorough report and begin the process of recuperating from the break-in. Give them the video evidence taken from this camera. Security Camera
A break-in can be a frightening and upsetting experience, but with a little planning, you can both stop one from happening and remain composed if it does. Spend some time examining and enhancing your home's security, and rehearse your break-in protocol there like you would for a fire drill or earthquake drill.
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