Home invasion is gaining more popularity with each passing day. Having an intruder break into your home is already a scary issue. Add in an intruder with a gun and anyone would start to hyperventilate! Albeit situations like this make our brains go haywire, it is necessary to stay calm and adhere to some strict protocols.

Even though the situation is not always manageable enough to adhere to certain guidelines and protocols, it is still good to be prepared. So, when calamity befalls, you are fully geared to face it.

While there are no set of guidelines or rules to deal with an intruder to guarantee your protection 100%, here are some things that you can do to increase the odds in your favor and protect yourself.

Take Precautionary Measures

Before thinking about what to do when an intruder successfully breaks into your home, it is wiser to take precautionary measures to avoid such a situation entirely. One basic step is to keep important phone numbers such as the local police department within your hand's reach.

The second step is to get yourself a robust home security system. You must have security cameras affixed at your home as a precautionary measure. Other than home security cameras, you should also have burglar alarms, medical alert systems, and carbon monoxide detectors installed.

If you can't afford these right away, get a fake security alarm instead! Your intruder wouldn't even notice the difference and chances are he'd flee the scene instead of risking an arrest.

Home intruders often keep children hostage to get parents to comply. So, if you have a baby at home, you should also get baby monitors to ensure the highest level of safety for your little one.

Invest In Smart Home Resources

While we are familiar with smart devices such as smartphones and smartwatches, a smart home is something you should definitely invest in. This works by the mechanism of the Internet of Things that will take your home security system up a notch.

You can turn your home into a smart home any day. Managing home appliances such as heating, lighting, and security devices. It is now a piece of cake with distance monitoring. All you really need is a stable internet connection.

You can control these devices remotely through the use of dedicated apps or a central control system. If your security devices detect any unusual activity at your home, you'll be notified instantly. This will buy you enough time to contact help right away even when you're not home.

Some essential security devices that you should invest in are:

Smart Locks

Smart locks are the locks of this generation. It is an electromechanical lock that does not open by twisting a key inside it. Rather, you can only unlock it using the command of an authorized person, which can be done with an app installed on your smartphone. This will warrant only authorized personnel to have access to your unlocking device and provide the utmost home security.

Wireless Security Cameras

This is another smart home device that will prove to be highly beneficial for you. Wireless security cameras are the newest form of security cameras that will provide you with all the benefits of ordinary security cameras and more, minus the tangle of wires. You can place them anywhere you like as they will not be attached to long wires.

Smart Home Hubs

This is an important element in integrating your other smart home devices uniformly with each other. Smart home hubs are hardware or software that connect other home automation devices through a network. They look like Wi-Fi routers and can be connected locally or to the cloud. However, they typically function over Bluetooth rather than a Wi-Fi network.

Video Doorbell Cameras

Video doorbell cameras are smart doorbells that include a camera and provide you with audio and video facilities. They are triggered by movement or sound when a human is nearby. The device is capable enough to send you a notification directly to your smartphone or tablet, which is connected with the doorbell.

Now, you will be able to view your visitors in real-time through it, at all times.

What To Do When An Intruder Breaks Into Your House With A Gun?

Let's consider worst-case scenarios. What if, even after taking all the precautionary measures stated above and despite a locked door, an intruder successfully breaks into your house? What would you do in such an uncertain situation?

While the reaction and management of every situation will be different, there are certain things you need to keep in mind.

Confirm the intruder's presence

This may sound silly but it is true that sometimes after watching a horror movie or after a long day, you may be scared or tired enough to hear unusual sounds. Thus, take a few seconds to find the source of unusual noises.

Fight or flight?

It may be tempting to go out there and fight the intruder with all your physical force but you should hold that thought as this is against your personal safety. The intruder may be stronger and can charge at you with a deadly force, whereby defending yourself will not be enough. It is wise not to draw attention to yourself and stay put.

Find a safe place to hide

Most intruders in your home will aim for the master bedroom directly. If you do not have safety resources, find a safe place to hide, even if that means leaving your house. This is the best thing to do if you are living alone and it can spare you your life. Also make sure to carry a safety weapon with you, anything you can grab.

Call the police

Finally, the last thing to do is call the police once you are alone and away. Clearly and precisely explain your situation and wait for help to arrive. It is definitely tough but try your best to stay calm and alert.