More on the Home Invasion Defense Class

Okay, so you don't like guns and don't want them in your house.  That's your choice.  But there are still common sense things you can do to keep your home and family safe.  Here are just a few:

• Change your routine and make your home look like someone is home.  Change which lights you leave on.  If you go out of town in the winter, have a neighbor leave tire tracks and footprints in the snow in your driveway.
• When you pull into your driveway, day or night, look around.  Could someone be hiding in your overgrown shrubbery?  Do you see anything out of the ordinary?
• If someone comes to your door that you do not know, day or night, don't open the door.  Instead ask them who they are and what do they want.  Common lines used by criminals:  "Lady, I think I just ran over your dog.  I am so sorry."   "Police, please open your door."   "FedEx delivery"  "Can you tell me where the Johnsons live?" There was a City of Rochester policeman in our class.  He told us a real police officer is never going to be upset if you ask him to wait until you call  the police department to verify his identity.  AND the department knows at all times where their officers are.
• Consider putting a motion detector light on the exterior of your home.  Next to barking dogs, that is the worst thing a criminal fears.
• Keep your doors locked AT ALL TIMES. 
• Rarely is a home invasion committed by just one person.  Almost always there are one or more people standing to the side of your door that you can't see.