Not many people realize how often a home is burglarized or robbed in the US. Would you believe that every minute in the US a robbery is taking place. A forced entry home invasion nearly every five minutes! We live in a dangerous society with opportunistic criminals. Criminals are looking for the easy target and passive victim. There are inexpensive home protection products that make for extremely wise investments.

For about a dollar you can purchase window security decals. Just by placing these home security stickers on prominent windows and entry ways you send a message to would be criminals. In many cases the little things like decals that mean the difference. A criminal is likely to choose a home who they don’t think in protected.

A door brace will help fortify hinged doors as well as sliding glass doors. Made of 20 gauge steel a door brace could be the security device that prevents a home invasion or forced entry. Again, these are very simple, easy to use home security products and the cost in most cases is less than twenty dollars.

Consider a door stop alarm; you’ve seen these before, they are wedge shaped, you put under the door. If someone attempts entry it prevents entry and sounds a loud 130 decibel alarm. The alarm will get your attention while deterring further entry.

Simple wireless motion alarms can protect an entry way, or purchase one for each room in your home and have consistent protection. Motion triggers a high decibel alarm, some models allow you to pre-program telephone numbers into a keypad. When motion is detected the “autodialer” function will begin calling your pre-programmed numbers.

Magnetic window and door alarms are very simple and effective home security devices. These devices are two separate pieces. One part attaches to the door or window and the other portion mounts on or near the frame. When the door or window is closed the two parts come together. Upon opening the magnetic connection is broken which sounds the alarm.

The home protection products discussed above are some of many items available. The cost for these type of products is very inexpensive, with most being less than $20.00. If your home, town home, or apartment is not protected, I suggest making this a priority.

This morning I woke up and began calling local friends and family to make sure they were aware that police had released a sketch of a man wanted in a brutal rape last night. I’m on the phone with my wife reviewing basic safety and self defense, when I get word of a home invasion that left one person dead and another critically injured.

Local crime in the greater Baton Rouge area has increased nearly 50% versus this time last year. Even worse is that the increase in violent crime including murder is increasing at even greater rates. Why is this happening? What is causing this crime spike? What can we (the community) do to reverse the trend?

I don’t have all of the answers but am willing to do just about anything if it will make a difference. Less than 100 miles down the road is New Orleans which recently became the “murder capital” as per capita the city had the highest rate of murder in the country.

People are concerned, scared, mad, you name it and I think I’ve felt the emotion. As a resident trying to raise a family I don’t like what I see. I see that the majority of the crime seems to be drug related in one way or the other. I see the highest crime areas are also the lowest income areas. Education is lacking, family is lacking, role models are non existent; these things combined make for a vicious cycle that is very difficult to escape but extremely easy to fall victim to.

In the latest home invasion, a 38-year-old man who with another guy allegedly forced their way into a home after 2:00am last night in what is being called an armed robbery attempt. The 38 year old attacker was fatally shot by an 18 year old who was inside the home at the time of the invasion. The 18 year old was also critically wounded in what is believed to have been a shootout.

The two attackers attempted forced entry into the home for the purposes of robbing the 18 year old. The 18 year old quickly got his gun and began shooting. There will likely be more violence overnight tonight and potentially more casualties.

Self defense and security are now at the top most families priority list. Local gun shops report an unbelievable increase in the requests for concealed weapons permits. Our business, non-lethal self defense products is extremely busy. Individuals and small business owners are buying pepper spray, stun guns, home alarms, personal security products like never before. Others are installing cameras, both hidden surveillance cameras and domes in plain view.

So what is the answer, how do we get these criminals under control. First, I believe in community policing. We have to put large amounts of officers into our highest crime areas. It’s a no brainier that crime will decrease with increased police presence. The most important aspect of community policing is to build relationships. The great majority of people who live in high crime areas want the violence to stop and will help to do so. This type of policing brings community leaders and law enforcement together and typically spurs valuable awareness and prevention programs.

Once the law enforcement presence has become embedded, it’s time to root out the “cancer”. There will always be those who want to continue business as normal. These “thugs” must be dealt with and the consequences should be harsh. During this same time period, an education initiative should be embarked upon. Education can clear the way and “break the cycle” of crime, drugs, and poverty. Education will only be effective once those within the community feel safe and don’t fear retaliation from the criminals.

So you have your law enforcement embedded 24/7 in these areas, you are working with local leaders and organizations to provide the necessary programs and resources. Initiatives such as rebuilding and renovation as well as “clean up” type programs help to build morale and ownership of the community.

Now when education is introduced and reinforced it will be much more effective. Young men and women who choose to will now have a “fighting chance” to break the cycle.

Fact: Two of the deadliest Mexican drug cartels now have a combined combat force of over 100,000 soldiers according to the US Defense Department. These dangerous have wreaked havoc throughout Mexico for decades. The growth and power of the drug cartels now have them crossing into US border states and committing horrific crimes including kidnapping for ransom and murder!

Reports claim over 7,000 people killings at the hands of the cartels last year — more than 1,000 in January alone. Murders often involve beheading or bodies dissolved in vats of acid. The shear numbers of the cartels now rival that of the Mexican army and have reached crisis proportion in Mexico. The threat to the US, especially border towns is increasing daily.

The two most dangerous cartels are the Sinaloa cartel, nicknamed the “Federation” or “Golden Triangle” by law enforcement agencies, and “Los Zetas” (the Gulf Cartel). They have been growing and are reportedly discussing a truce or merger to better withstand government forces, The Times reported.

These cartels are wealthy and able to invest large amounts of money in weapons and technology. As a result they are armed with only the best. Their arsenal includes semi-automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, dynamite, assault rifles, bullet proof vests, and .50 caliber sniper rifles.

The drug-related murder rate in Mexico doubled in 2008 from just one year before, and as the violence escalates, the power of the drug cartels has destabilized Mexican authority to the point of threatening national security. The Mexican army is the only force fighting the cartels. Police are largely corrupted by the cartel bribes. If the police don’t except the bribes they are usually killed. The cartels now control whole territories in Mexico and they are looking to move west.

There has been a rash of crime as a direct result of these cartels. Though most appear to be criminal on criminal killings, abductions and murders; numerous crimes have been committed against innocent US residents. This trend is expected to steadily increase as the cartels recruit and train more members.

The Defense Department states that these criminal cartels have already established HUBS in the US in which they are currently operating. As there presence increase the violent crime where they reside is also likely to spike.

Home Invasion

One of the most frightening and dangerous crimes that can occur to a family is a home invasion robbery. Home invasions are when the robbers or attackers use forced entry to gain access to an occupied home, apartment, hotel room, or trailer to commit robbery or other crimes.

Home invasions as well as car jacking are on the rise. This is an especially scary trend because both crimes violate a persons private space and the places that we believe to be our sanctuary.

Why are the prevalence of these crimes on the rise? The fact is that small businesses like convenience stores and fast food establishments have upgraded their security. They can afford to setup high tech surveillance systems, hire guards or policemen, and with time lock safes they have limited the amount of cash available to criminals.

As a result, the criminals are now focused on residential crimes because homes are a much easier target. As much as we want to believe that our homes are safe, the fact is they are rarely as safe as we think!

The Profile of a Criminal

Residential burglars work mostly during the day and when a residence is more likely to be unoccupied. Most burglars work alone and tend to probe a neighborhood looking for the right residence and the right opportunity. Alarm signs and decals, bars on windows, strong locks and doors, big dogs, and alert neighbors can sometimes deter burglars. Also, burglars will avoid a confrontation and will usually flee when approached. Most burglaries do not result in violence unless the criminal is cornered and uses force to escape.

Home invasion robbers, in contrast, work more often at night and on weekends when homes are more likely to be occupied. The home invader will sometimes target the resident as well as the dwelling. The selection process may include a woman living alone, a wealthy senior citizen or a known drug dealer, for example. It is not unheard of for a robber to follow you home based on the value of the car you are driving or the jewelry you are wearing. Some home invaders might have been in your home before as a delivery person, installer or repair vendor. Home robbers rarely work alone and rely on an overwhelming physical confrontation to gain initial control and instill fear in you. The greatest violence usually occurs during the initial sixty seconds of the confrontation and home invaders often come prepared with handcuffs, rope, duct tape, and firearms. Some in-home robbers appear to enjoy the intimidation, domination, and violence and some even claim it’s a “rush.”

Home invaders know that they won’t have to overcome alarm systems when the home is occupied or be worried about video cameras and silent alarms. Unlike robbing a retail store, home invaders expect privacy once inside your home and won’t have to deal with the police suddenly driving up or customers walking in. Once the offenders take control of a residence they can force the occupants to open safes, locate hidden valuables, supply keys to the family car, and PIN numbers to their ATM cards. Home invaders will try to increase their escape time by disabling the phones and sometimes will leave their victims bound or incapacitated. It is not unheard of for robbers to load up the victim’s car with valuables and drive away without anyone in the neighborhood taking notice.

Home invaders will sometimes use a ruse or impersonation to get you to open the door. They have been known to pretend to be delivering a package, flowers or lie about an accident like hitting your parked car. Once the door is opened for them, the home invaders will use an explosive amount of force and threats to gain control of the home and produce fear in the victims. Once the occupants are under control the robbers will begin to collect your valuables.

Some home robbers have been known to spend hours ransacking a residence while the homeowners are bound nearby watching in terror. Some robbers have been known to eat meals, watch TV, or even take a nap. A major fear is that the robbers might commit more violence like sexual assault or even murder. Some robbers have kidnapped and forced a victim to withdraw cash from their ATM machine or take them to their small business to rob it as well.

The same tactics used to prevent daytime burglaries will go a long way to preventing forced entry home robberies. If you can delay a home invader at the point of entry then you have a chance of deterring them or have time to call the police. A solid core door, strong locks with reinforced strike plates, and reinforced window devices will stop most forced entries. In addition home alarms are a burglars worst enemy, because it catches them by surprise and exposes their presence with ear piercing alarms. Some of the most popular and inexpensive home security alarms are door stop alarms, window alarms, barking dog alarms, and auto dialer alarms.

Other self defense weapons to consider are pepper spray and stun guns. Pepper spray is extremely effective at stopping would be attackers and the price is very affordable. Stun guns are easy to operate and come in models that are disguised as cell phones, pens, or a blackberry. This gives you a tactical advantage and the element of surprise.

Remember these important security steps:

* Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window security devices
* Lock all doors, windows, and garages at all times
* Use four three-inch screws to secure heavy duty lock strike plates in the door frame
* Use the door peephole BEFORE opening the door
* Use your porch light to help you to see clearly outside
* Never rely on a chain-latch as a barrier to partially open the door
* Never open the door to strangers or solicitors
* Call the police if the stranger acts suspicious
* Alert your neighbors to suspicious solicitors
* Hold a family meeting to discuss home security plans
* Set the home perimeter alarm at night, if you have one

Be safe.