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Is someone breaking into your house? Here is what to do, if you think you can't fight back or run away.
Steps
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1Be quiet. Remove your shoes if they're loud. Don't breathe heavily or scream, and try not to use the stairs as they can be loud. If and when you call emergency services, be sure to speak quietly so the intruder cannot detect you.
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2Stay out of sight. In the event of a home invasion, the best place for you to be is outside of your home and at a safe location, such as a trusted neighbor's house. After all, your life is far more important than items in your home that you want to protect. If leaving your home isn't possible, be sure to stay well out of sight.
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3Find a logical place to hide. Under a table is too obvious. If you decide to hide in a closet, find one in a room, get in, and close it (without making a sound, or as little noise as possible). Lock it (if possible) quietly. If you have creaky doors, don't hide in a closet. Instead, hide under a bed, in a cupboard if you're small, in a shower, or even in a dog cage and cover it with a blanket.
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4Make sure that you have a phone (preferable a cell phone) near you to call the police with. While chatting with an emergency dispatcher, keep your voice quiet so the intruder doesn't hear you.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I know if someone is in my house?
Community AnswerUsually you hear strange noises. If that happens, you grab a weapon (preferably a gun), remove your shoes, and quietly search the entire house. Make sure you have your phone, and it's not dead. -
QuestionWhat if I cannot access a weapon but need to stop the intruder?
Community AnswerUse everyday objects such as kitchen knives, cheese graters, or scissors if possible. -
QuestionWhat if the intruder finds me?Community AnswerStay calm and assess the situation. Striking them very hard on the eyes and nose should give you enough time to escape.
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QuestionIf someone breaks in, is it good to hide under the table?
Community AnswerNo. It's fairly easy to see under a table and hard to get out from if you need to escape. A logical place to hide would be under a bed or in a closet. -
QuestionIf they find me what do I do?
PotatoestoseeCommunity AnswerIf you have a weapon, use it. If the intruder is a man, kick him hard in the groin. If the intruder is a woman, punch her in the breast. -
QuestionWhat if I can't hide under my bed or in a closet?Community AnswerLock the door and rummage around for any object with a point you can use as a weapon, like a knife or a letter opener. Call the police and then put your phone on silent. Find another place to hide, or just lock yourself in the bathroom to put another door between yourself and the intruder.
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QuestionWhat do I do if someone breaks into my home and I don't have a phone on hand?Community Answerif this happens than you can try to get out of the house using a window, and go to a neighbor's house and ask them for help
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QuestionWhat happens if they shoot me?PotatoestoseeCommunity AnswerStay calm. Call 911 and ask for medical help. Shout out for friends and family that may be in the house and see if they can help.
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QuestionWhat if I think someone's outside?Community AnswerIf you think someone dangerous is outside of your house, call 911 or your local police station. They will come and investigate.
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QuestionWhat if there are a lot of them?
Community AnswerYou can try to see if any are outside the window. If none are outside, get out using a window. If there are people outside get a phone, put it on silent, try to fit in a cabinet, and call 911.
Warnings
- Sometimes it is better to try to get out of the house and know self defense. Only hide if you absolutely must.Thanks!
- Do not use a firearm if not threatened.Thanks!
Things You'll Need
- A usable phone
- A good hiding spot
- A firearm
- Any object nearby you that can become a weapon (scissors, laptop, plate, etc.)
