A Home Invasion Quiz: Do You Know How to Improve Your Chances to Survive?

You come home late at night to a dark home. As you enter from your garage, you hear noises from an upstairs bedroom and realize you are not alone. Before you can retreat or call for help, two masked burglars seize you and tie your arms and legs.

A home invasion has to be one of the most frightening situations anyone can experience. It can be even worse if you have other family members with you to worry about.

Do you think you would know what to do in a situation like this? What actions are likely to give you your best chance of surviving unharmed? Answer the following five questions and see how you do compared to advice from experts.

1. I should resist my captors.

True        False

2. If I am left alone for a few minutes, I should try to escape.

True        False

3. I should engage my captors in conversation.

True        False

4. I should try to make my mind blank until the event is over.

True        False

5. The longer my captors are in my home, the more likely I am to survive.

True        False



1. False. Unless you feel you are facing an imminent life-and-death situation, don’t fight back. As hard as it may be, accept your situation and give your captors time to take any material possessions they want.

2. False. If you fail in your attempt, you risk severe injury or death. As one expert put it, even if you feel certain you can succeed in your attempt, think twice.

3. False. Speak only if spoken to and then try to keep your answers short and to the point. Certainly, don’t argue with your captors.

4. False. Try to get a good look at your captors and memorize their physical details and clothing. Listen for any names or other details that might help identify them later.

5. True. Generally speaking, the first few minutes of a home invasion are the most dangerous. Try to remain calm and quiet. If you are not threatening, your captors can concentrate on their goals and leave. Also, the longer the situation continues, the more likely outside help will arrive.

Remember, these are generalizations. No two incidents are ever identical, so consider these tips to be basic guidelines. As hard as it may be at the time, try to stay calm so that any decisions you make are not just reactions resulting from panic.

And also remember that a monitored home alarm system acts as a deterrent to most burglars and can help prevent a home invasion altogether. If burglars should enter your home, a monitored home alarm system can help report the incident to the police.

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