Use These 10 Tips to Secure Your Home Against Invaders
You’ve worked hard to provide yourself with what you need, both now and in the future. You owe it to yourself and your family to protect what you’ve acquired by making sure your home is secure against invaders.
I’m going to tell you exactly how to do that. If you follow the 10 steps listed below, your home will become a fortress that the bad guys will avoid next time they’re in your neighborhood.
This is especially important for those of us who have become known for preparing for an uncertain future. Once others become aware that we have safeguarded our homes against power outages, food shortages and other kinds of chaos that are almost certain to erupt at some point, we have more to lose and we become targets.
The way for you to become as prepared to protect your home as you are to face power outages and food shortages is to take to heart my top 10 tips for securing your home from invaders. Here they are:
- Install secure doors. A door is the most likely entry point that an intruder will use, so keep your doors locked whether you’re home or away. Solid wood doors or metal-clad doors are effective.
- Upgrade your locks. Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolts, accompanied by heavy-duty brass strike plates, should keep doors from being kicked in.
- Install secure windows. You don’t want windows that can be manipulated from the outside. Keep your windows from opening more than six inches. Consider installing mounting brackets now so that you could quickly install window bars later if necessary.
- Secure the perimeter of your home. Install motion sensor lights all around your home. Fences can be climbed, but having one might be enough to make an intruder choose a different home. Keep shrubbery trimmed to reduce the number of hiding places on your lawn.
- Install an alarm. The louder the better with an alarm. Even if you don’t have a full-fledged security system in place, the noise itself could scare away an intruder. Post a sign regarding your alarm near the entrances. Make sure your children know how important it is to keep alarm codes confidential.
- Secure breach points. Take a walk around your home – inside and out – and look for areas where someone could enter without much trouble. If there is a seldom-used door to the outside, install a 2 x 4 barricade on the inside.
- Join a neighborhood watch group. If one is not already in place, you may have to take the lead here. Neighbors watching out for neighbors can be an effective deterrent against burglaries.
- Have a dog. Being a dog lover, I think this is a good idea anyway. But if your dog can also make your home safer, all the better. Dogs can be trained in defense, or at least to bark when they hear a noise outside. If you can’t have a dog, you can still post a “Beware of Dog” sign in your yard.
- Don’t make it obvious you’re away. When you’re out of town, lights on automatic timers are very effective. Make sure newspapers aren’t delivered while you’re gone, and try to keep a car in your driveway. A trusted neighbor is important to have while you’re away.
- Have a family emergency plan. Every family member should know exactly what to do, in advance, if an intruder enters the house. Getting out of the house quickly is best, but if that’s not possible, a previously designated “safe room” is where they should head. Always keep a pair of tennis shoes, a flashlight and a cell phone by your bed.
Finally, you have to be ready to protect your home, your family and yourself from anyone who might try to break in and steal what you have worked hard to gather for just such an occasion.
You may or may not be comfortable having a gun in your home for protection. But if you decide to use a gun on an intruder, aim for the middle of the body to increase the likelihood that you will hit the target.
A revolver will normally be easier to use than a rifle or shotgun within the confines of a home. Well before you ever need to use a gun against someone, learn how to operate it efficiently and safely, and fire it accurately.
Window bars are a good idea for keeping intruders out, but remember that you won’t be able to get out of the window in case of a house fire! Something to think about.
While installing locksets or deadbolts, screw striker plate on using 4″ screws. You will be securing same but with extra strength of having it secured to framing rather than just door facing.
Re: “wasp spray” as self defense–
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2014/01/does-bear-spray-or-wasp-spay-work-for-self-defense.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uy9MnQfk_0
http://articles.extension.org/pages/70030/6-reasons-why-wasp-spray-is-not-a-substitute-for-pepper-spray
http://www.popville.com/2010/12/mpd-no-you-may-not-use-wasp-spray-for-self-defense/
Summary: forget the “bug spray”; get certified to carry Mace if you feel the need for sprayable defense.
Excellent set of articles. A couple of other weapon options that might be worthwhile. 1. reload some shotgun shells with rock salt instead if regular shot. Some of the salt will penetrate the skin but not much deeper. The salt will then dissolve becoming extremely painful. I’d load 2 or three salt shells followed by a regular shell or two in case that doesn’t work. 2. I’ve heard of people using a machete. Savage but effective. I prefer a Bolo Knife. The reason is the Bolo is much heavier than a machete which allows you to use it as a club if you believe that can stop your assailant with killing him.
Good article. Some good comments. Many have their heads in the sand and don’t want to know or believe what is about to happen. So sad what has happened to this entitlement-minded society. The Marxists (socialists) are winning. Look at what Obama and his crew have already done to this country. Trump 2016 – our last hope to turn this country around to what the founders intended it to be.
When you are away and maybe even when you are home have a radio tuned to a 24 hour talk radio station near the front and rear doors turned up just loud enough to be heard outside when a person gets near the door, A Prowler will think it is two people inside talking or that someone is inside listening to the radio and be less likely to pick your house to break into !
The gold and silver are for the “after”, not before or during the crisis. Best to have both guns and gold, silver and ammo!
You must declare morality and ethical lifestyle as well. Do not think for one second that you could not succumb to the allure of an attractive woman flaunting her bobbles and unwittingly allow a breach in your defenses. This is a physical, emotional, and spiritual battle we face and all tactics will be employed. No one gets in!!!!
I don’t know if there is anything to be worried about or not but it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared and it sort of sounds fun in some ways.
A very wise person once said ” Hope for the best, but plan for the worst” , ” A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. If nothing ever happens and you are ready no big deal, if something does happen and your not ready…..! Its not called fear to plan ahead, the fear comes when you dont plan and the sh_t hits the fan!!
Thanks Frank for the article. Once again you’ve touched a subject few people are even “concerned” with. They’re thinking that the authorities will be there to protect them. Those people need to wake up and take a long look around them. Pay attention to what is happening . I hate to say it but the United States is about to fall right on her face! And the worse thing about it is “we the people” are allowing it to happen. Look at our history, look at the natural disasters , where were the authorities let’s say when all the looting and rioting occured after “Katrina”. How about all the civil unrest? Anyone ever think about that? AND it’s getting worse EVERY DAY.. All I’m saying people is WAKE UP!! We have been asleep too long!! If we wake up, we may be able to save our country. Look at the other countries in the world. The chaos, dare I say anarchy. My God let’s save what our forefathers gave US by the shedding our their blood!! WAKE UP!!
There are 2 things I’d like to add about dogs and security.
1.If you do not or cannot have one, put a bowl of food and one of water outside near an exterior door. There are also good “barking” devices that sound like a real dog barking.
2. If you do not have a dog but are considering getting one, get a small one. Small dogs like dachshunds and Chihuahuas. sound fierce and do nip at strangers. They are less likely to respond to food and calling as well
The heck with buying gold and silver, guns and food will be far more valuable when anarchy comes. Also I have security screens over all my windows. No one can break in, even with an axe or a blunt object. My doors are protected by metal security doors.
We have 33 solar panels on the roof> If the grid goes down they are worthless! The panels are a different frequency than a portable generator and can’t be activated by a generator. Any idea’s .
You need to do some research, and find another source for your solar components.
What you are missing is a battery bank and a transfer switch.
any solar panel can charge any battery. charge the battery first and use an inverter to convert DC to AC power. It’s that simple.
if you can afford it… rv supply stores has 12v/24v appliances or anything 12v….
Two good places to start would be Home Energy Magazine and Backwoods Home Magazine.
When government takes away citizens right to bear arms it becomes citizens DUTY to take away governments right to govern!! George Washington
It’s time for the first shot to be fired! It’s time to take OUR government back! It’s time for a revolution!!
You got my vote
If 40 of the charge your home
Good Luck to all your methods
Yes just read the Declaration of Independence, It is written very clearly that the American Citizens have the rite to through the current Government out using whatever level of force is necessary to get rid of them if they become dictators ! Read it, It is very clear and good to see !!
oF course all and well thoughts .
Guns will be a luxury , one would be wise to invest in some Bow and arrows , swords and my favorite is a nail gun ;). 120-180 p.s.i. and pretty effective wood grabber ;). Here it is against the law to , ” set a trap , for a human being !”
However a grizzly is a whole ‘nuther critter :).
Remember when it gits to the basic animalistic time . Trust only yourself and barely that . Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see and you just might make it ! Promise .
Becoming One people of One Nation together as equality for all demands . This my friends and fellow countrymen/women is the very simple fact that the Patriots gladly paid the dearest price one can pay their future generations , their Life !
What We the people of whom , as you , I AM one !
must put to a stop , is The enslaving of their fellow country men/ women , by the wealthy politicians is beyond forgiveness and these “traitor/ terrorist from within … ” must be made example , for the anti-American criminal acts , a few have done to the many !
This must be addressed and dealt with , by We the people !
Equality for all , or slavery !!!
eWe choose .
and take your time , there’s not much left anyway ;).Promise .
Wow. Reading your comments and statements is like hearing myself talk. Well said and well done.
May I suggest for those of you that prefer to have a gun (Weapons), also include a pump action pellet gun. There are 22 caliber quality airguns available. You can run out of ammo, but you will have pellets at your disposal for your 22 cal air rifle.
Also remember that only about 3% of the colonists were active in the revolution. There was assistance from foreign governments, but the majority of the action was completed by 3%. So we do have a good chance should it all go down.
Diedre- Althoughyou may consider the content to be lame, please keep in mind that not everyone is as well informed as you are. Some people are just starting to become aware of what we already know. There are enough negative texts out there already. Move on. USAF Blue Beret.
Good, sound advice. Listen to it.
These tips are lame I thought you were going to teach me something.
How many days are totally prepared for… off the GRID.
Just wondering if you have some advice for us.
Where are your tips Deidre ??
Great post, Explained very nicely. Some important tips mentioned. There are many devices we can use like alarmed for doors and windows, secure doors, high profile locks, etc.
Where is all this fear comming from.Where are you guys getting your information?
Keep living with your head In the sand. You will be just fine.
Yep. The idiots with the sand in their eyes will be the first to die. As it should be…
If you look around you and do not see the writing on the wall then you will be missed. #1 Being prepared for any emergency is not fear it is sensible thinking.
I bet you have Life Insurance,Medical Insurance,Home Owners Insurance and Car Insurance. SO WHERE IS ALL THE FEAR COMING FROM???
This is the same thing being prepared for any emergency natural or man made.
I read all of your info, plus all the blogs. My question is we live in a retirement community. All apts. are ground level. We have guns, bug spray, plus trying to stock up slowly on survial items. Any good suggestions on better survival in our living situation?Look to hear from you. Thanks B. Rose
Since you have close neighbors, one of the best things you can do is become good friends with them – a true community. Next you’ll need water, food, emergency power (especially if anyone needs it for health equipment). Since everyone in your community is older, you’ll want to store your items in smaller, lighter, easier to carry containers. You should also talk to your pharmacist and your doctor about options for medication; can you get extras? Are there on-the-shelf items that would help out if you couldn’t get your prescriptions?
In addition to Frank’s advice, I would suggest that you arrange more common areas that are secure. Perhaps enclosing a courtyard in your back yards or connecting units by adding doors. It will only get harder to get by on your own and combining your abilities will make it easier for everybody.
None of you have any subtlety at all. It’s like shoot em out the moment you see them. Defense starts with:
1. Camouflage. Be a chameleon, blend in with your surroundings. Make sure you don’t attract attention for anything. Buy your groceries bit by bit so no one realizes you are stocking up. Wear the same clothes have the same opinions. In fact, downsize yourself a little – be not quite as good as they are (no one expects someone with an IQ of 50 to come up with brilliant solutions), dress down slightly, so that your not ostracized but not quite as good as others, your presence is OK but not desired.
2. Misdirect. All predators can detect changes in behaviour. If you act like you’re threatened then the hunt is on. Create a behavioural precedent, if people never know what to expect then they can’t predict changes. cannot predict what you will do, don’t know when your home or when your gone. This also applies to your house. I once saw a car that was covered in rust. It looked awful, I wondered how a car like that could be allowed to be driven on the roads, until I got up close and realized that it was an excellent paint job. Who wants to steal an old rusted car? Great disguise.
3: Make those wanting to come in illegally, not want to come in. Why not have a sound system set up with a/many movement sensors so that when an intruder enters your property they think there is someone behind them loading a shotgun, all to the sound of someone’s heavy breathing? When you know what to expect then you know what to do, but when you can’t understand what is happening or it doesn’t make sense then you pause because you don’t have a pat resolution. Are you going to burgle the place when you know there is someone behind you but you don’t know where they are? Or, why not have objects lying over the lawn at night so the intruders trip, hopefully they will trip and knock themselves out or start swearing and give up. Another more subtle way of turning people away would be a high pitched sound at a frequency that causes headaches. The closer they get to the house the worse it gets. Best if they don’t realize that it is a sound because if they don’t think its a defense mechanism then they will just think its them having a bad day. Maybe they’ll come back another day? just not today. Does anyone know of a way to make you hair stand on end? Just imagine going into some creepy place and your hair stands on end? Let me outa here.
4. If none of the above have worked and your confronted then you resort to the more violent methods. But if you’re face to face with the offender and he can see your face, then smile like you’re the cat that ate the cream because he will then wonder why you’re so confident. This is now a game of poker. Keep your poker face on.
I have one gun, a 9 mm with two cartridges full of hollow points. I also have s shoulder holster for it that I can get on in seconds and the gun sits nice and tidy. Homeland Security has visited this area and told us that we would most likely be a survivor area. We would not have utilities but our homes would be intact if there were an attack on the Air Force base in the city. While that is good news, they caution that we are also prone to looting and other violence. I told the man about my gun and he said in the event of such a disaster, I would strongly recommend that you sleep with it, and that you wear it in your shoulder holster all day. Do not answer a knock on the door after dark and if you answer in the daylight, have the gun in your hand. Do not hesitate to shoot. Unless you see a Homeland Security vehicle in your yard, you are probably facing danger when that knock comes. And we could knock. You have capacity to house half a dozen more people, and your home is well protected and in itself a safe area. We may ask you to house some of us but we will not strain your resources. We will have our own food and drinks and we will try as much as we can to stay out of your way. The benefit of having us here is that you have protectors and we come with generators. I smiled and said, you didn’t look at the room behind the kitchen. He looked. He said four generators give you safe food, hot water, and more danger. Don’t turn the lights on after dark. Don’t shower after dark. They’re going to be out there and they’re hungry and they’re cold, or they’re hot. If they see your lights or hear your water running, you will have both cartridges emptied before you can stop them. And you may not stop them anyway. He saw my indoor garden and approved, and he saw my emergency supplies, and water, and he approved, and he said, I wish you could make your neighbors understand that whether it is a tornado, a blizzard, a flood, civil unrest or terrorist attacks, each person must be ready to fend for himself in the first few days. We cannot possibly turn the lights on, feed everyone and get everyone’s medications available again in less tan 30 to 60 days though food will be available withing 2 or 3 days. I said I understand the food part; a site that I get things from is usually out of stock. He said did they tell you that’s us? I said no, but someone is buying the year supplies and all the tents, blankets, sleeping bags, flashlights, etc. He said nothing. I said you know more than I do. But how about giving me a hint? How big will it be? He said we are all over the US, looking for other survivor communities. The implications of that are chilling.
I don’t know what to think of your comment. Homeland Security is going door to door checking people’s homes? And you let them in and basically showed your hand? What part of the US do you live in and how did they connect with you in the first place?
So, Frank. Now that we’ve ordered food from you, the government knows we have it. What’s to stop soldiers from taking it from us? Those are the “gangs” that concern me most.
“I’m sorry, sir, it was really tasty. We didn’t save you any.”
I found the Wasp spray defense interesting. I like the heavy duty revolvers but keep both in case. Good hunting.
There is great safety and power in numbers. If you and your neighbors agree to defend each others lives and property then you will be vastly more safe than on your own. Food will be the most needed item when our society ends. Within weeks people will be starving and try to steal food. So many people will be searching for any food, gangs will surely develop and you will confront 30 armed men, not just one.
THEY have been preparing for years for the SHTF. It has been kept a secret while the special underground CITIES for the BIG SHOTS and the PRESIDENT with his family to hide away comfortable and secure till IT blows over. It could last years. PRAY IT DOSEN’T HAPPEN. CECE
This article reminds me of an old twilight zone episode. One family Prepared for a disaster as everyone else partied.When the disaster came the rest of the neighborhood tried to break into his bunker and take his things. He was considered a crazy for preparing and a monster for not sharing, even when he told everyone to prepare. I think maybe tight lips and quiet preparation is the best option.
The best defensive spray can be purchased at any local grocery store: Hornet spray. It costs around 5 dollars.
You don’t have to have a great aim as the spray shoots out 20 feet and will completely disable an attacker.
While pepper spray is often recommended, you have to be fairly close to use it. That means that your attacker can grab your arm in the process.
I promise the hornet spray is much more effective and easy to obtain.
and remember, in many nanny state places ‘pepper spray’ or ‘mace’ is restricted or banned outright, whereas hornet spray is commonly available at any big box hardware store. its effects, by the way, are both very unpleasant and very permanent … think excruciating chemical burns to the eyes followed by permanent and complete blindness … golly, mr. mugger, maybe you ought not to have chosen one of my family to victimize … no officer, I’ve kept a can of that spray here for years … there are nests all over the place, you know …
I love it. Pepper spray is a joke, many are taught how to continue attacking with the pepper spray. He hornet spray sounds great, I’m getting plenty today.
Hornet spray and wasp spray are the most effective. In our neighbor hood, we blast the car horn on our key chain. Everyone looks out their windows to see what is going on. We leave the lights off at night time. I fell one time and turned on my horn, the neighbor with the key came over and helped me up.
Not sure if hornet spray is readily available here or not, but “off label” uses can get you hauled into court on assault/battery charges if the “victim” sues you. Sure, it’s better than being killed, and wouldn’t matter during Armageddon, but something to consider.
You are absolutely right!!! Noah warned the people in his day. They just partied and drown when the floods did come and come they did. The floods are coming today, not from water, from our own government.
All good advice…I’ve done most, quietly..no need to let anyone know,
The last thing you want to do is join a neighborhood watch group. The very people who engage in this type of criminal activity by targeting innocent people for all types of harassment and not just because you may have stockpiled emergency supplies are members of gangs talking groups who either start the community watch themselves or commandeer already existing watch groups for the sole purpose of not being helpful to anyone, but to get as much info on as many members of the community as possible. This gives these types of people who do not know how to mind their own business more power to manipulate and “play” people, more power than anyone should give away to others especially in a time of emergency. I would prefer that only my close friends have that much info about me–not a whole community of nosey and manipulative community “watchers”. I’m sure you’ve heard by now of Fusion Centers. They are just one step up from your community watch people and are run with the aim of using whatever info can be found to keep people in.line. This is not something I want to engage in or fall victim too ever again.
You are right! My husband and I started a neighborhood watch group in an area we had just moved into thinking it was the thing to do. After a few meetings a couple of “power” people seemed to be taking over and trying to run everything their way even though they new NOTHING about defense or being a good neighbor! We put up signs and backed out of the organization , but continued keep in touch with our neighbors.
Hi Frank. Hope your doing fine. I read alot of the home prepper on the web. they all seem to be talking to people who live in a house. I live in a tiny apartment above the garages and only one way in, is the front door. I have a large front window with 1 sliding window . I had considered a jail cage door, but the owner refused to let me put one up, even though I told him I would buy it and install it. I;m a jack of all trades. I’m almost pretty well preped, still need a few things from my ex’s house , my camp stove and a few propane bottles. Just trying to decide on buying a solar generator. so what do you recomened to a disabled person living in a tiny apartment?
Hi Paul…I purchased a supply of diethelene glycol heating gel and the stove specifically designed for this product. The military starting using it to replace the old poisonous trioxane heating fuel to heat their MREs since is non-toxic, burns without noticeable flame, has an indefinite shelf life, and is not affected by freezing or extremely hot temperatures. It’s great for emergencies to cook with or even starts wet wood for keeping warm. I think everyone should have a few cases on hand. You can check it out for yourself at http://www.pyropacstore.com to see what you think…PS…and you don’t have to worry about storing explosive gas which would probable make your landlord happy!!
Hi John,
Since you mentioned “the old poisonous trioxide heating fuel to heat their MREs” I am replying to your comment.
In a cupboard in this old house I have lived in for 37 years (previously my grandma’s), I recently found four cans of “Poison – Wood Alcohol – Fuel Tablet, Ration Heating” liquid. I thought “Cool, I’ll just keep it there for some of my survival gear. Is this something I really SHOULD keep, or something I should dispose of?
It was manufactured by Hotel Research Laboratories in New York.
Sorry but I have used EZ Armor several times on many homes and find over time they
cause problems for the home owner and the company only state that it must not
have been installed right. I been doing security products for 37 years and
specialize in door replacements. I do it right, customer safety is what I live
for. The deadbolt Security Anchor is a better solution for your customers. Less
intrusive; better security (over 9,000 psi) strength; easier to install;
insurance discount. I found it at http://www.nobreach.com.
In addition to my praise for your excellent article, I have two comments for you:
1. Make sure you have enough food and water for at least one week. And, if one or more of your neighbors are really true friends, encourage them to also make this preparation, but be ready to help them yourself if necessary.
2. Rather than pepper spray, I keep two cans of wasp spray at the ready. This product has a range of almost 20 feet and it can blind an intruder for at least one hour.
Frank great points. I strongly recommend a book “Strong on Defense” by Stafford Strong. He was the head of LA police dept. some years ago. The book covers cases pertinent to what we are all talking about. He explains how people save their lives in critical situations like home invasions, abductions, fire,muggings robbery etc. He also explains the things they didn’t do which cost their lives along with their families. I believe the best highest powered ammo one can have is knowledge and practice it so you can use as needed. His book can be purchase used,if wanted, on Amozon. I lent it to many friends who loved the info. Your tips Frank are very well taken.
Frank as usual you are 100% accurate, you have put a lot of effort in thinking of every possible scenario and building a defense to counteract it. At first you talked about everybody thinking you are crazy for doing all these things. Like my family does me, they listen, they know damn well to, but they don’t believe a damn word I say. However, I make sure they know what to do in case something does happen. I’ve also told them that in a group the one’s who wouldn’t fight or help in any way were to be killed first. Friend or foe if they want help but are able then they are a liability and must be wasted. The only you can trust, as you well know is yourself. I carry a small caliber pistol in my pocketI have a small Pistol Loaded with 22 LR Hollow Points. If I get robbed I will start bitching and sounding pitiful about them taking a poor man’s last dollar and as I reach into my pocket to get my money guess what comes out and is discharged immediately. I also carry an innocent looking knife clipped in my right pocket, It is a thumb assist Hog Killing sharp knife that will open up a juggler vain before a cat can lick it’s ass. Another good thing to have around your house is a thin but stout (electric fence wire will do) wire secured with posts (cut up electric fence posts) about four to six inches above the ground. It’s a pain to mow around but needs to stay as cloaked as possible. This will trip him/her and put a kink at least in their plans. Ask your critics this: Do you have a spare tire on your car? When they say yes – Ask- “Why, are you expecting to have a flat tire?” Enough said and your point is driven home.
Col. Dana Gillespie
You are you one and only true friend!
Haha! Love the spare tire comment. I’m in the insurance business and use my business to drive home the same point to friends and family. Most people have insurance for just about everything: their home, belongings, cars, boats & even their life which only benefits those left behind when one dies. And yet who has “insurance” on what is most valuable in a crisis? Hardly anyone. The one commonality every person on the planet has is we need food and water to survive. I told my wife that our food storage and water are my insurance policies when the shit hits the fan because it’s not a matter of if something is going to happen , it’s just when. Might not be in my lifetime or my kid’s lifetimes but you can bet at some point those who are prepared are going to be thankful they had the wisdom to insure their survival. And I agree- I’m not announcing my preparedness to the world. I don’t want people beating down my door because they didn’t prepare and know that I did. My preparedness doesn’t constitute a free handout to this in need.
Frank all good stuff to stoke our minds in a productive direction. I’ve been involved with martial arts my whole life and I’ve never been slow to get the jump on a latent bad situation. so whenever anyone spoke guns to me it was a voice in the wilderness. .. I know-wise fool. Until… I spoke with a gent who found himself in the security industry after being an out of work, downsized project manager. He mentioned some pointers involving firearms that made a lot of sense.
Position yourself in a room that is at the top of the stairs or in another scenerio where your “backs to the wall”. Let him find you because you want him to. Hes got bad intentions for your family and your going to let him know what victims feel like.
Use a shotgun as the broad spectrum of the buck shot will increase your chances of hitting the sillouette that will most likely be difficult to see in the dark.
In addition that 10% better that you are than everyone else at the gun range that makes you a rockstar there goes away when your adrenaline and heart are pumping 240. That relaxed hand prerequisite is gone and you’re as good as that guy whos shooting for the first time. You will most likely miss. …and when we miss in a home chances are good that the slug may find its way thru the wall into one of the kids rooms.
For close range as I know the argument is going to be the long barrel is longer and easy to grab, keep a knife by the bed. This is the point where you have to admit your in it, Lets see him grab ahold of that in the same dark that gave him the confidence to sneak up on you when your sleeping.
Just my take on the night home intrusion phenomenon.
Thanks for what you do!
Couple of small points:
1. Using pepper spray indoors is really a bad idea. You will get sprayed, too, and if you plan to live in that room again the cleanup is a bugger.
2. Instead of keeping a gun in the living room, or where you normally spend most of your time, why not just carry it? I carry all the time when I am awake in my house. (well, not in the shower, of course). That way if I am “surprised”, I will be able to react immediately instead of having to “go for the gun”.
Just my $.02. Great article! Thank you.
Doc
Thanks Frank your survivor information it’s very good, and l hope someday that we as humans will be able to live in peace, but only with a common understanding of equailizum in the world will this be possible.
l am a strong believer that we as humans are entiteled to four things, good healthy food, clean drinkable water, good affordable housing and a job to become selfsuficant for sence of worth and better understanding of the world around us.
The problem is we don’t believe in equality, the governments of the world, make it impossible for us to live in peace. Since the beginning of man, we do not know any difference, from the life we live. So in closing all l can say is GOD have mercy on our soul’s, send down the mother ship and get me off this rock !!!
Great information for anyone. Common sense approach is a fresh idea and glad you share this with everyone who wants to use it.
And to JLS – Thank your for your service! But you have got to be kidding!! I respectfullly disagree.
A revolver is simply point and shoot. You don’t have to rack the slide, (which most women have trouble doing) they don’t get hung up like semi-autos do and if the person is fat and your gun is against their belly, the cylinder doesn’t get stuck by fat like a slide would on blowback. They are also easier to clean. What is harder to do is load them. You have to push the cylinder release button, dump the shells and reload. However, if you practice and have a speed loader, you can do that as easily as you can drop a semi auto magazine and reload it.
Absolutely agree that a revolver is a far better choice for most people than a semi-auto, and with a speedloader you have more fast firepower than you’re ever likely to need. Even most gunfights involving cops only have a few shots fired from any weapon, and I like the certainty of knowing that all I have to do it point and pull the trigger, and nothing is going to jam.
I spent over 20 yrs in the Army, many years as an instructor and as a firearms dealer. I have lots of semi-autos and enjoy shooting them on the range, but I would never carry one as a primary defense weapon, ever. Aside from the inevitable jam problem, often you can get into a scuffle where you are struggling with some mutant & may not be able to get a perfect “grip,” and if one round goes off during this adventure & you are wrestling with the thug, it’s way too easy to jam the slide on him or his clothing (or the mud you’re rolling around in).
My wife carried a Ruger .357 revolver for decades. She loved the gun but complained about packing that thing every day around the farm, as well as when we went to town. Finally she bought a little .380 semiauto to carry around here. Within a month or so, she came across a feral dog ripping up a pen full of her Golden Pheasants. I should mention that she is a very experienced and skilled competition shooter, and has been a Life Member of NRA for over 50 years.
She grabbed the .380, took one shot at the dog, and the slide came back & hit the web of her thumb, causing great pain and of course jamming the gun completely. She lost the whole pen of pheasants, and next day Fred the Ruger went back to work and she never complains about the weight or bulk. She’s nailed three foxes, on the run, with it since then.
If you are concerned about over-penetration in your dwelling, load up with Glaser safety slugs or something similar.
Use .38 Specials Glasers, Grey tip in a Magna-ported .357 revolver.
Wyman’s suggestion below is great but our neighbor was home invaded and the way they got in was to smash the rear sliding door. 35% of the time entry is through the front door but don’t count on that. As to saving extra food and water for them – oh no! If they don’t have common sense they will get NONE of ours. Charity begins at home and if they won’t help themselves, we will NOT help them. Stupid is as stupid does. Its like those without a gun to protect themselves……we will NOT waste ammo helping them if they won’t listen and learn.
And a peep hole??? Oh No – unless you get the new ones with a cover where you can stand back 7 feet and see out as the traditional peep hole allows those with a reverse viewer to see right in to your home. You can also only see straight out and you need more vision that that. The best way to handle seeing who is at your front door is using a camera mounted on the outside or through the bell button. If you put your eye to a traditional peep hole, a shadow is created and if someone wants to enter they can merely shoot through the peep hole. They also know you are home….thus ruining the surprise element which is on our side.
And frames – replace pine or soft wood door frames with hard wood.
The suggestion below about throny bushes is a good one – thanks for posting it.
Get your heighbors involved in being prepared. They will become your alliens instead of enemies.
Save extra food and water for them if they don’t do it themselves.
Frank, most outside doors are strong enough if they don’t have glass in or around them. Make your doors solid with a peep hole. Another issue are the screws, most are only a 1/2-1 1/4 inch long. These tear out easily. replace your door hinges, handles plates with 3-4 inch screws, these will go all the way into the door frame, making the door stronger. also add door stops that flip down to the inside or have door wedges handy These will help prevent the doors from being forced open. The flip down door stops are easy to employ even as your trying to hold the door with your shoulder as someone attempts to push it open against you.
Heavy duty screens over the windows and thorny bushes below them just on the outside prevents an easy entrance. Having a blanket or a throw rug to help escape is a good idea during fire evacuations to protect you when escape through the is necessary.
Being a retired Police Sgt and Taser instructor there are two things that need to be cleared up. First of all the use of a Taser on a subject has not caused the deaths they have been accused of causing. Check out any reputable source on Tasers and you will see the deaths were connected with drugs and improper care of the suspect after the Taser was used. But the Taser itself did not cause the death. Secondly a revolver is not normally easier to use, a semi-automatic hand gun is easier. There are several studies out there indicating this.
I agree with you on the Taser, though I have little use for them as a defense weapon since they are usually a one-shot thing & of little use against multiple assailants.
I do, however, disagree about semi=autos being “easier” to use, and can’t imagine any sensible, realistic study recommending them for any but the most skilled & experienced shooters who, when they are suddenly awakened by the sound of an intrusion at 3 am, will (from long experience & practice) know that the magazine is inserted in the weapon, there is (or is not) one in the chute, and whether the safety is off or on. Someone who hasn’t even handled that gun in the nightstand drawer in months may have trouble even remembering where the safety IS.
Frank I dont call 911 Richard end of story.
The only point that I can say is good, is the dog. A large dog is good but any dog that barks when they hear or sence something is what you need and the only thing needed. Replace your doors with stronger ones. Come on, get real. The same for alarms. Motion detectors are good especially with a light. Neighborhood watch???????????? Who are you trying to keep out anyway. There may be one or two other families in your neighborhood that are as prepared as you and maybe will join with you to look out for each other. A GUN. Great thinking. Just make sure you have plenty of ammo.
A family plan is good also. If a crisis comes your way, you will want to know where to go, to meet, how to get there. Cell phones will do no good nor will this computer. They all will be shut down by our government along with GPS and any transportation such as air travel, buses, trains. So make your plans carefully.
Dog, Family Emergency Plan, and Gun
These were the only things in the article worth mentioning. Anyone worth pepper spraying is worth shooting. Waste money on doors when every home has windows that can be broken/shot out–dumb. Alarm system? Give me a break.
This message is for charlie White – What is going to happen April of this Year? Were you talking about the Boston thing? If so how did you know? Your post was 33 days ago? Do you know something we don’t know? There are still days left in April, please let us know.
A few items worth mentioning.
1. Have solar powered battery Hand Cranked operated Radio and find out you local County emergency radio station frequency.
2. Even better if you our a HAM Operator buy a Transceiver that Transmits and Received
on the Amaeture Radio Bands plus Short Wave and FM.
3. Some clear plastic coated Medical Instructions Sheets, so They dont get dirty or bloody
during a emergency. Have Surival Manual and Medical Aid Kit on topics that a normal
person could read and follow for broken limbs etc. Some medical devices, temperature
gauage that you can check personnel,
4. Restraining TY Wraps for unruling Visitors Handcuffs and A containment box, closet, room
etc.
5. Some Gas Masks and Instructions on how to use them properly. Decontamanation
procedures and instructions
6. Water Purification tablets and water containers both full and empty.
7. Gas containers or Bottle Gas for cooking along with one of the NEW STOVE
THAT BURN ALMOST ANYTHING FOR FUEL AND THE ONES THAT THEY ARE
USING IN INDIA AND AFRICA THAT USE LESS FUEL IE. WOOD , OR COMBUSTIABLE
FUELS AND ARE EFFIENCENT, WHEN IN USE.
8. A supply of your medications for a 90 day period.
9. Portable recharable Lights, Flashlights, handheld and Headlights Battery type
that have a elastic band you can wear on your head.
10. A Set of Map s, all types local, state, country and a compass
11. Provide you near a water sources a boat , etc bionculars or teleascope.
12. A four wheel vehicle for hauling heavy loads and going off road, where danger
badits, will be waiting.
13. Have a scanner, if possible for your local police, and emergency vehicles
that you can monitor for info.
14. Remember you maybe on your own, BE PREPARED TO GO IT ALONE
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS COULD BECOME HOSTILE UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS.
Very good suggestions and I would like to add one….have a couple of radios going on timer(a great deterrent). We can never be too careful and it doesn’t hurt to keep a gun by your bed and one in the living room if that is where you usually spend your time. You wouldn’t want to do that if there are children in the home.
I am a 70 year old widow But I have a 38 Special gun. No body better not try to get in my house.I’ll shoot first and ask questions later…
Mary, you’ll need a more bullets than 6. get yourself a semiauto shotgun that hold 8 rounds , or a rifle with detachable magazine. you cannot fend off a few intruders with a 6 shot 38. the likelly hood of one person breaking into your home in a catsrophy is 1 out of 4. usally they send one person to a door to see whos home , or if there going to get massacuered with somone with an AR15 with a 30 round mag.
I, too, am an eldery widow and our area is becoming more and more crime ridden, How do I find the semi-automatic gun you recommended to the other lady-I nee d specific directions for what & where and can i learn how to use it at one of the gun shooting ranges you see?
Also, would you please give specific instructions about purchasing a generator. Cna you tell I don’t have much knowledge about these issues,but I am frightened about possibilities we may face in everyday life.
Thank you so very much for the articles you write and suggestions you give to all.
Good advise.
I want to point out that depending on the situation protecting your home alone may not be enough. Your advise is good for general protection i.e. burglary/weather disasters, but I feel if it is a total collapse of the system you might need to take a diffrent approach.
If a total collapse occurs you might think about recruiting your neighbors ASAP to help, call it a support group. You are never the “only” target because if these people know you were not willing to help one neighbor or your neighbors were not willing to help you they will move to the next house even if you stop them from entering yours. The advise I give is to stop them before they gain the power of FEAR! Once these people have the power of FEAR there is little most peope can do to overcome it. If a situation in the area starts be proactive and try to prevent it, this sends the message that the Entire Area is secure and not just my home, this will also allow others less inclined to get involved to become proactive as well. Even if this means leaving your sanctuary of safety because if you just protect yourself and let them over run the neighborhood it won’t be long before they come back. Remember these people will not likey care about what happens to the others in thier group, so thier motive won’t be of revenge, it will likely be just to prove that your not safe NO MATTER WHAT.
As stated your overall advise is good but like many of us have been thinking: Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Thanks for another great e-mail and keep fighting the good fight.
Dave S
One way to keep a bit more secure….don’t talk about what you are up to.. no one needs to know you have a seed vault, a food and water stash, a loaded gun on top of the TV cabinet
You betcha! Loose lips sink ships
good advice for those wise enough to use it
Another great blog, Thanks, Patrick
you know the story about feeding your neighboor a fish or TEACHING him how to fish!
i think its a great opening to share thoughts about survival with your neighbors. There is a great article in POPULAR MECHANICS,april issue on basic food storage for survival. the site is
“popularmechanics.com/disasterprep” Its a minimal investment and you can’t loose–in a year you can eat it. you don’t have to be a prepper or build a bunker to use some common sense—Lord knows we need it.
Hey Frank—-what better security than a block full of neighboors who share your mindset.???
Have a blessed Easter—-Jerry
This is an eye opener, but this is somethlng I’ve slowly been worklng on. I try to really keep up with what is going on in the world. Things are getting spooky. We have to help each other as much as possible. Everything you said is true, an loved the tips.
Thanks Frank
U HAVE OPENED MY EYES TO THE FACT I NEED 2 DO MUCH MORE REALY FAST 2 PREPARE FOR WHATS GOING 2 HAPPEN IN-APRIL OF THIS YEAR THANK U – CHARLIE
Frank,what about when the government goons want to take what you have stockpiled and take you and your family to Fema detention centres.You will not be able to stop them and they have all the surveilance equipment to watch everybody.You need to have a well equiped hideout that is virtually undetectable.Smoke from cooking and heating,and air exchangers need to be filtered and spread out and disguised.You can run but you can’t hide.You need a network of people you can trust and that is getting scarce these days.The government goons have mega resources and orders to kill those who oppose them.Look at what happened after Katrina when citizens were being killed.Don’t think they will have any mercy for people who oppose them.
Yea Frank, those defense tips were very good! A few of them were things that I believe I have to set in motion. A couple of them I have the materials and all I need to do is put them in place. But had it not been for your alert they would have just been left alone as they were before. Thanks for the tip. I will look into that EZ Armor Ultimate Security Door.
Tanks Loads, Arnie
The average hunter’s shotgun is a better home defense weapon than a pistol. 1. The object is to overwhelmingly intimidate the intruder so he or she leaves! There is a perception that even an old lady can’t miss with a scattergun. Police use them for riot guns because of the intimidation factor. No sane person challenges a scattergun. The sound of a round being chambered is distinct and know from the movies.. 2. The shotgun is more lethal at close range where an intruder is more dangerous to you. 3. Many pistol rounds can easily penetrate walls and enter rooms or homes where innocents are located. 4. If there is a perception that you can’t handle the pistol or are unwilling to fire than it might be taken away from you or your family member and end up in the hands of the intruder. 5. You don’t really want to have to kill someone or accidently harm an innocent. Either case will bring legal questions even if you are justified. Trained police officers are scrutinized every time they fire their weapons. My home and person were threatened because of my job actions and remote location. I borrowed a shotgun, not a pistol. My neighbor fired shot over the heads of these same people who were chasing his daughters. They did not return.
You want them to leave!
What happens when the government decides it needs to take your food and water to share with the masses? I believe the government knows how low the food supply is, is going to take our guns so we can’t rebell when the food lines start. Things are going to get tougher than anyone can imagine, if we can’t stop those in our government that are so far removed from the farm that they think milk is made in the grocery store. We’re being brought down to a third world country on purpose. Those in power now are trying to set us up for a one world government run by the U.N. possibly, and we all know how effective they are. This is probably the most scary time in our country’s history. The Brits were a cakewalk. Our own government has become a living entity and we as citizens must feed it. Things MUST change.
I don’t agree with leaving the home, this give you so many disadvantages against an intruder. You know your own home and there will more than likely be others. #1 rule is never get in a car to be kidnapped, as it is a well known fact your likely survival turns to almost zero chance.
Many states have a castle doctrine for self defense and a right to defend yourself and fa,ily at all cost.
Please modify this advise, this is just wrong in so many cases, unless instructed to do so by a law enforcement officer who is at or near your home.
When you consider new windows for your home, for more efficient control of heat loss ( helps lower power needed = lower demand for power needs to generate, a given ) if you choose plate glass windows, they are much harder to break, Evan will help from rocks breaking glass within limites, rocks, a bolder would have to hit the glass dead straight on. And the intended intruder may move on to another house, plus if they can’t break down a steel or wood door with the before mentioned locks and lock plates, and a jamb bar from door to floor at 45 degree angle, I believe that’s the right angle, or the mentioned 2×4 across, the door, other thing with your windows a bar ( round bar or angle iron) between the windows that slide open, you can paint the bar the same color as window frame for looks and it hides them when looking In the window from the outside, simple combo with plate glass and the thief moves on to a easier target house. Most people have done this with sliding glass patio doors for years using a simple wood dowel, or old broom handle cut both sides to fit, Necessary to cut off the rounded top of handle for better safety. This combo with plate glass is a big help, and again the crook moves on.
Hi, Frank,
May I suggest one addition to your pepper/taser/gun trio? Since my goal is to incapacitate the villain, not harm innocents,and pay as little as possible, I recommend WASP NEST SPRAY INSECTICIDE. A lot cheaper than any of our trio above–about five bucks–the aerosol can propels a pencil-sized stream about 30 feet. While not fatal to humans, my information is that any eye hit with it must receive hospital-level medical attention to see again. Since the can sprays for quite a while, no worries like missing with a one-shot taser, getting close enough to hit the bad guy with pepper spray, or using up all 7 rounds in your Obamaclip. Keep a can by your bed, by each door, and in your car. But, I also keep my Mossberg Persuader handy for any goggle-wearing intruders.
Very true, a retired police officer told me wasp spray is legal and much more effective than pepper spray. An assailant may be able to shake off the effects of pepper spray, but if you blast him with wasp spray, he will NOT be recovering anytime soon as it could possibly make him go blind. And if you’re worrying about causing permanent damage, just consider what might have befallen your family if he had not been stopped. I have my wife keep a can by the bed.
Thanks for the information. Thanks to the friend who sent it to me also. I concur with everything you wrote about, especially the part how to better protect my home and yard…..a dog would be nice too.
Dear Frank,
I am well aware of the defense suggestions. My problem is a sliding glass door off my deck. You know the type, glass in the sliding part the slides against another glass panel. My yard is fenced but this door faces a heavy treed lot that belongs to the city. Any suggestions?
I work in law enforcement so, although I don’t know it all, I would like to add to this list a little. First I would like to point out a huge misconception that about 90% of burglary victims (as well as this list) have about the security of their doors. You can buy a solid steel door with a solid steel striker plate, but if your door frame is not strong, then it’s a waste of money. There are 3 parts to a solid doorway. 1) The door: just as you said must be strong (Just because it’s “metal” on the outside does not mean that it’s strong. Make sure it’s a solid core door. 2) The striker plate: make sure that it’s not only strong, but buy one that cover a lot of surface area (The more surface area covered, the stronger it is). 3) The door frame: a simple modification using a long strip of metal as a shank inside the door frame works wonders. Just cut out a notch in the frame behind the striker plate and replace the wood with the shank. For aesthetics, just cover the shank with the left over wood. A little wood putty and paint will hide the modification. This, in addition to the frame being strongly tied into the supporting wall, will be almost impossible to force open.
The next thing addresses plants around windows. If you’re going to have them, make sure that they are thorny.
Finally, if you’re going to spend your money on an alarm, don’t just get a base level system. The average alarm has a 15 sec delay before going off. Then some alarm companies will try to call the residence before contacting police (3-5 min). Then the alarm company contacts police, a dispatcher takes the call, dispatches an officer, and the officer responds (5-15 min). This is a delay of around 8-20 min. So a basic system is just letting the police know that your stuff is gone. Either invest in an alarm with cameras or supplement your alarm with something as simple as a game camera with IR flash. This will help in prosecuting the burglar after the fact.
Hope this helps. God bless.
Stop mail through post office . stop paper delivery.Trust one or two people at most and and help them watch thier place as well .surround yourself with good defense like the other people commenting say .let your security people know your schedule .
A few years ago my rather pricey front porch furniture was stolen while I was on vacation. I had the feeling perhaps someone involved in the delivery of my newspapers might have tipped one of their thug hoodlum friends. The folks who get up at Zero Dark Thirty to toss the LA Times on my porch are truly hard workers. The folks who answer the phones and take the vacation stop info……
In any event, a month ago it was revealed through a police investigation that my suspicions were correct. Someone involved in the vacation stop process was tipping off a burglary ring. Better to have a trusted neighbor or friend deal with the newspapers and mail.
Frank, We need some all around American Support to provide safety solutions and it seems the government will not help, listen or reply.
We invented a Moving Target System that provides for the more advanced training while having more ability.
We are looking for funding and I am working on some solar powered cells from your system!!!!!
These is well beyond Home Defense
Here are some Target Tracker Videos for your review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlK6ROxbIBk Basic Pistol We are setting up a website training system as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQs4grr7v_c AR Run & Gun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfOEBDvG3VY Sniper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpMvKDiJaWM All Law Enforcement Products Demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M2oAZuBMEU Weight Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBFIEI96t7E Tactical Shield Unit with Emergency Medical Stretcher to retrieve wounded with cover – Riot Control!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfrHjy4Rgbg Suspension Test
WATCH THIS VIDEO- THE SOLUTION IS TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM FOREIGN AID TO TERRORIST COUNTRIES AND TRAIN PEOPLE HERE TO BE DEPUTIES-LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND PROVIDE SAFETY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT – ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS AND MUCH MORE….I KNOW FROM TRAINING WITH POLICE THEY WILL NOT FIRE ON US… I KNOW FROM TRAINING WITH MARINES AND GREEN BERETS THEY WILL NOT FIRE ON US AS WELL AS NAVY SEALS…IF YOU LOOK AT MY YOUTUBE PAGE THERE ARE VIDEOS OF CHRIS KYLE ON THERE THAT I VIDEOED….
CAN YOU HELP US?
You can buy Bear pepper spray at hunting supply stores, like Bass Pro Shop. It is very effective!
Even better than pepper spray and totally legal is: WAS
i have your dvd on solor cells and as soon as i get back to work oops thats a nasty word.
i am 81 years old but i cant quit work. id be lost with out work of some kind.being a ibew electrican for so many years as igo thru your dvd im thinking how to feed your home circuits so as not backfeed the main panel during an outage.my idea is to install a nother panel beside orbelow with a main breaker in it and feed the main brkr from your other source. next the house circuits that you want to feed with solor power bring a wire from the house paneldown to the solor panel breaker all circuits could be brought to the solor panel. shut off the main house panel brkr turn on that solor panel. when all said and done this would this would solve a power outage feed back problem. just an idea marion
As a single Mom to three growing children – one in high school and two commuting to college, there are plenty of people coming and going at all hours of the day and night. My house is equipped with and ALL are trained to use Walther (PK380), have pepper spray throughout the house, a stun gun and a Louisville Slugger near the doors and in each bedroom. Let’s just say I am raising my sons and daughter to be protective and independent like their Mother! Our dinners at the kitchen table include everything from giving me their usernames and passwords on their computers to safety at school to what supplies they have for an emergency in their car. I want them to come to me for information and I truly appreciate your blogs/website for mine! Thank you and God Bless!
I also love dissuaders…. They can’t hurt.
BEWARE: “The occupant’s of this home are Trained and Eager to use whatever course is necessary to protect themselves and their property… YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!”
or
BEWARE: “The Red stain just inside the door was from a previously unauthorized entry”
Most of us guys like to pound our chests and make noise about how we would handle a life and death situation, The truth is that when confronted with deadly violence most people flinch. As human beings our greatest laws and social ethics are deeply engrained that Thou Shall Not Kill. When faced with the decision to use deadly force 99.9% of us will hesitate. The .1% guy stomping in your door will not. In a crisis situation, your friends and neighbors may not be kicking in your door, they may just knock. There could be a helpless family standing on your porch begging food for the children. Pepper spray, shotguns, handguns are all worthy of consideration and important to have readily available, but the will to use them, the will to turn a starving neighbor from your door to save your own loved ones is something you should work through mentally and emotionally long before the day of decision. I, for one, as a christian man decided to add a couple extra cases of Aldi brand beef stew to my survival stock so that if I have to turn away my neighbors I can offer them at least 1 meal and some advice rather than just the barrel of my gun.
Hello Frank
You forgot what should be number one on your list of self defense.
Shot Gun and lots of double ott buck 3 inch magnum ammunition.
In Texas we have the right to shoot any home invasion crook in an attempt to steel or cause us harm.
Second Ammendment!!!!!!
Ernie oliphant
Frank I am going to respectfully say that any plan is better than none; however you have given out info to secure a home that is not truly sound. I am a Security and defense specialist, and a tactician with actual combat. One of my specialties is breaking into homes where criminals run narcotics and various other illegal enterprises, and taking the armed occupants to jail or the morgue. After I got my advanced training I learned there is not a home that can’t be breached or occupants that can’t be driven to lose all hope and become sloppy and vulnerable to attack. Your list needs improving and honestly 10 things or 20 won’t get it done. To harden a target is a lot of work and can be quite costly. The #1 thing on the list has to be a 24/7 mind set toward you and yours safety and well being, everyone trains, everyone participates. Ask yourself this, if a person is hungry, desperate, and starving, will you really shoot him and then look God in the eye and say it was right to kill over food? A Patriot looks beyond himself to help others. Now we can’t give everyone a fish every day and feed the world, but if you are true of heart and have religion, you will show that man how to fish and help him take responsibility for his life and obligations. You can’t fight the world, you have to make them your friends. And then there will still be those that would rather use violence and take what they want instead of working for it, might have to stamp them return to sender, defective, but that my friend is a heavy deed that will change you forever, and not in a good way. I suggest a tactical plan be made so that you keep your supplies hidden so no one knows you have something worth stealing, or find the way to go portable to escape the city and violence, and culture strong relations with like minded people that you could circle the wagons with if you had to to survive odds you may not survive on your own. If I can take millions in drugs from paranoid well armed drug dealers, I can take what ever you have that I want, so don’t advertise your stuff, have complete mindset to blend and not Attract anyone that you can’t trust to be a Patriot as well. God bless us all Frank, I love and respect your efforts. God Bless this Country and preserve us all so long as God fearing Patriots stand as Brothers in arms to hold and own our immortal Souls till we meet on the other side.
To David Black or anyone else using his idea of keeping wasp spray in your car. Be careful with this. I had a can of flat-fix-it in the trunk of my car for emergencies. On a hot afternoon while on the expressway it blew up. Our eyes started watering and I immediately pulled over and told my wife to run from the car not knowing what had happened. After waiting a while I walked back over and looked inside, seen nothing so I opened the trunk. The silicon goop was all over everything and it had blown the speakers out completely. Of course with your air on it won’t be hot but how about while your not in the car. It could go off ruining your interior and making it impossible to drive it. And it could go off just as you enter the car. I DO NOT keep anything aerosol in the car now.
Just thought I’d mention this.
Thank you for information. I feel rather overwhelmed but with a good night’s sleep and doing things one step at a time progress can occur. Take care.
All are good advise for staying safe. Always go for the safe way and for me personally, go for the “over kill”. That is to say; go further, to ensure your safety by doing more, rather than just what’s needed. This way you cover as much ground as possible and will never look back and say anything to the effect; I should have, I could have, or any other statement that implies you have a regret later. I find that this one small piece of advise will give you endless hours to use for productive thought and many, many good nights of sleep.
1 area that I don’t see being addressed here is escape. I can’t speak to this issue for those city dwellers except perhaps befriend a city worker and get info on underground utilidors to escape and disappear into. Get knowledgeable about routes and possible hiding and stash places to keep self and family safe , fed and watered for awhile. A homeless person may have knowledge of places that provide a place to hide and some of these may provide heat and light as well. Keep in mind that other people know about these places so you may need to secure them early to keep others out. For those of us in a rural or bush location, I recommend a series of tunnels that will get you outside of your own perimeter undetected. In the case of your property being surrounded or shelled from a distance you need to be able to escape and with necessities hidden outside your perimeter you may have the advantage of attacking from the rear, after assessing the situation your only option may be escape. I would highly recommend reading My Side Of The Mountain. It was written long ago, (I read it in the early 70’s ) and is a true story of a young boy ( 13 years old I think ) who decided that his poor family would be better off without his mouth to feed so he ran away to a wooded mountain I think in upstate New York or the Appellation Mountains. He survived happily and healthy for I think several years. He lived hidden in a hollowed out tree. He had numerous stashes in small hollows in trees that he covered with bark for invisibility. He even caught and trained a falcon to hunt as well as snared and trapped enough game to feed and cloth himself.
Above 10 tips….good advilce
Thank you very much. We need to work at least once a week on. Defence.
Your information gave me that extra to complete secureing my home. I live in a Mobil Home and that makes it more chalanging. Thanks so much for your E-Mail. My wife thinks I’m a nut but I have this gut feeling that I need to de everything I can to secure what I have. Being elderly, disabled and not able to do much makes it that much harder. Thanks again for a job well done. Blessings, LW
Your brain is your best weapon, without a doubt. Your ability to think and react under extreme duress can literally, mean the difference between life and death.
Planning and practiced responses are key to keeping you and your family safe. Look at the layout of your home. Find places you could defend yourself and your family and devise a plan.
Securing, or Hardening your home, starts with understanding basic layers of protection and prevention. Making forced entry to your home difficult can prevent, or at least slow down, someone attempting to gain access. One need not spend a ton of money on alarm systems and security devices. There are many good, affordable options for protecting your home. Door braces, door stop alarms, glass breakage sensors/alarms are inexpensive and effective options, allowing you precious time to retreat from, or react to a threat.
Invest in a good surveillance system. Again, there are many affordable options available. These systems will record events as they unfold, often giving the police valuable evidence needed to apprehend the perpetrator(s) after the fact. And if you should happen to use deadly force against an attacker, corroborating your description of events, thus clearing you of any wrongdoing.
Arming yourself with knowledge and training, and having effective security measures in place, can make a difference in surviving one of these dangerous and potentially life threatening encounters.
I agree with most everyone. I too keep a loaded gun in just about every room of the house. I have a loaded ,45 in the side pocket of my easy chair. I also carry a loaded gun just about everywhere I go. Anything happens I would not hesitate to use them. Like the old saying goes, I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6……. Terry
Hello, Frank and everybody!
I recommend all patriots to join USCCA.
For a few bucks you can learn from and alternate with the great masters of defense.
You can get in touch with practical, realistic advice: Hand-to-hand combat, gun training, alternative defense options, legal aspects, etc.
Their magazine is almost ad-free and it covers every imaginable topic on home and self-defense.
They’ve also got the best forum in the world.
To my knowledge, there’s nothing better, anywhere.
Here’s the link:
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/membership
Times have been changing fast to the worse. It is not a right, but rather a duty, to be aware and ready at all times
I have heard that wasp spray is efecitve againgt intruders it will even kill snakes it has much longer range and is cheaper.
I am a novice at this. Where do I get pepper spray or a taser?
Change the word, revolver to pistol in the last paragraph.
I recommend people take the NRA course; Personal Protection in the Home. This may also satisfy your state’s training requirements for a concealed pistol license. Good info…
Right on.
This is to Rick PoPesch and anyone ealse who might need a good security system as I did… I checked into lots of security systems after I had been broken -into a year ago… I was looking for one that had motion sensors and physical alarm on all the doors and windows. Also, one that could be upgraded easley as well as being affordable and not so expensive… The system I found is called SIMPISAFE…. Google it and watch the video on its web sight
If you use a shotgun use #5 or #7 BIRD SHOT. This will stay in the room you use it in and not penetrate the drywall. Wasp Spray will blind someone, so sorry. Maybe someone in jail will teach that miscreant to read Brail? A driveway alarm will warn you that someone is approaching the house. They may cut the landline phone, have a cell phone nearby at all times.
Great tips, and reminders for everyone. As a former police officer, I have no, and I repeat no problem with using deadly force to protect my family, and what is mine. I always have firearms loaded, and in locations in my home, plenty of edged weapons scattered around too. Not afraid of hand to hand combat, learned tons of thing from training.
These are all good and practical tips. What would you reccommend for double french doors?
Thank you very much,
Mary
I have gun’s bullet’s a great and loyal dog named buster who does not like uninvited guests,and a verry large knife with hand to hand close quoaters combat training just in case the bullets run out. thank you for the pepper spray and taser idea, I have a 15 year old daughter and she can use those so thank you again.
Is there any kind of GOOD alarm system that U can put in yourself so that U dont have 2 pay a montering fee every month????? If activated it would set off an alarm????????
For those who are considering pepper spray, my Mom sent me an email recently suggesting something different. Wasp spray. Legal in all 50 states that I’m aware of, and a can of that stuff will shoot 10-20 feet in a straight stream of liquid, meaning that you can hit an intruder from across the room and drop him if you aim for the face. Great alternative to pepper spray!
Oops, I hit a wrong button. Anyway, we will finish with the door and then it occurred to me that we have a large egress window in the basement bedroom. Your blog has clued me to the fact that I need to do an install on that window in order to create easy placement for security grating.
I like reading your blog. Keep up the good work.
Hi Frank, I enjoyed the blog today. I have, for many years, been prepared for doing whatever us necessary in order to insure the safety of my family and myself. Being prior military, I am well versedin the idea and concepts of self-protection. I have many of the key items necessary to ensure our safety and they are placed in nice secure locations all around my home and property. You were discussing the security of the home – my wife and I are installing a new door in the main entrants
Thanks for the tips, they mean a lot.
Hello and Thanks! Question about Solar: What happens to one’s Home Power Plant during mini and/or massive SOLAR FLARES?
Pepper spray is not easy to purchase. It is not allowed in several States.
I watched the Primal fat burning “Caveman Diet” on my computer. I got tired of the salespitch.
Too much of the same thing over and over. I did not have time to sit in front of the computer.
He needs to shorten the talk.
Sincerely,
Mary Smith
Why even consider non lethal force? You going to tie them up and try to convert them!
A postscript to leaving on vacation, have the post office stop delivery of your mail for the duration of your time away. I recently did this and it was effective and safe. None of my neighbors knew I was gone.
thank you for your insite,and your concern about these trying times,one question,how long do we have before the national debt takes us over, or obamacare takes us over the edge or china wants there money or are land or any one of a hundred ploblems we face right now . one question,how long do you think we have. p. s.no one knows i know that ,what is your gut telling you?
I might add electric fencing you can buy fairly cheap in internet. this wil get intruders attention more so than just a fence and lets them know you mean buisness before they reach the home. it can be placed at top of wood fence where they would grab to climb as well as gate handles. I feel it will force intruders to make more noise giving us the warning to prepair ourselves to keep them at bay. anyone who has been hit by a electric fence will agree IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION!
good luck all and hunker down gunna be a long 4 more years.
I forgot to mention in Fl we have the stand your ground with deadly force if needed.
Thanks for the sound advice I believe I would be able to protect my daughter and I (with deadly force if needed)
Since BHO was re-elected, I think I would lean more toward the pepper spray or the wasp spray. He has made it abundently clear that he is going to do all he can to take our guns away from us.
Thanks and keep it up.I have/know all this onfo already.However,I’d rather hear it 10 times over than miss 1 I didn’t know.Some people may find other similar info by becoming a C.E.R.T. member[civilian emergency responce teem]Which is training people over the net,and in college programs[funding is limited for the college deal] to make your comunity able to respond to local emergencies when local responce teams,ie fire,pollice.ambulance,are overwelmed and can not help you.Just check it out.W.Langston
I prefer a 20 ga. shotgun to the revolver or the semi-auto for a couple different reasons:
1. Shotgun is point and click and aiming is not as big a deal. Hopefully they aren’t already on you when you realize you need it…knife by the bedside is key for this problem.
2. Shotgun pellets will not penetrate into my little one’s bedroom. Shotgun pellets are more likely to stop at the sheetrock while a rifle or handgun will always penetrate the walls and be a danger to others.
An added plus…the racking of a round in the chamber usually makes even the boldest turn around and leave a brown streak in the hallway/grass.
Thanks for the tips. The way this country is going we’re going to need to pull together
for each other. There is nothing better than feeling good about being ready for any problem that comes about. When it comes right down to it all you have is family & freinds, cause the gov. isn’t.
Great advice! I think wasp spray may be more effective than pepper spray as it has a strong directional spray that burns and carries accurately to a much greater distance and is legal, everywhere. It’s also less expensive.
I ordered all this and never received anything but the book!!!!
Hello Frank, Thanks for all the tips you are posting. I just wanted to add an alternative product for the pepper spray, I keep a can of wasp and hornet spray instead. One in my car (less obvious for its intended use), one by my bed (not for mosquitoes) and one by the door. It is inexpensive, has a range of over 20 feet, and of course like pepper spray make sure the wind isn’t going to blow it in your face. Also I use it for its intended use such as wasp nests on the porch, etc. Dogs are great alarms even if they aren’t aggressive. My old Treeing Walker hound lets me know if anyone drives into my driveway, if coyotes have come close to the pasture and about a lot of other unusual movements nearby, inside we have a little “feist” mix that hears him and then barks and will wake up the dead.
Thanks for all you are doing.
David
Good info Frank, thanks for sharing.
One thing to always remember, locks only keep out honest and rational people under “normal” conditions… security systems are the same, especially with today’s technology.
As a disabled/retired ex-cop, I’ve witnessed the worst in people first hand, some of them being the best people in “normal” situations.
With the knowledge gained from many years of training and staying up on local (Nevada) and federal laws, our property has been thoroughly “secured” as well as posted in multiple locations with clearly legible “No Trespassing” signs for as long as I can remember.
Here in Nevada, we’re “allowed” to defend ourselves (and property when properly posted) with deadly force If and when necessary… hell, we can still wear a loaded side-arm in public without any permits as long as it’s not concealed… and those permits are available to those who qualify.
If Anyone comes onto our property and gets past the dogs, they’re met before getting near enough to take anything or cause harm, with numerous weapons available.
If their intentions are to take anything or harm anyone here no matter who they are, they’ll have to pry the weapons out of our cold, lifeless hands First, If they make it that far, which I seriously doubt would be possible!
Anyway, on a lighter note…
Hopefully I’ll finally have a chance this weekend to get into the Power4Patriots CD from you on Energy Independence and begin getting everything needed together before too much longer… Social Security doesn’t go very far so may take a while before our system is up and running but we’re sure going to enjoy when it is!
Best wishes and Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Jim
What you refer to is exactly correct. Plus when living in a remote place like back in the woods a half mile from the road is an extra problem,and also an advantage. Places of excape can be a blessing. And it is a must to keep others from knowing one has taken precautions lihe food and general preparing for the one thing that will be of harm or just demanding food etc. Having several weaponds in different locations loaded and well placed for one to react with. Weaponds like pistols are very important in an inclosed area like home. Having weaponds in several places can be a blessing. The most important is to be aware by listening to programs on radio,Tv and papers. Using what you said plus acting a breakin and ,or ,plan how these things will go under attack. Over and over every so often gives one a great advantage to escape and armed in a matter of minutes. Burr,