When you walk in on a burglary, it can be a scary situation. You are unsure what the burglar will do next or how he will react. Your priority is to try to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
If you have children, make sure they stay calm, too. If they are old enough to run away from the burglar, tell them to run outside and wait for help.
If they aren’t old enough to run away by themselves, take them with you out of the house if possible – but only if it’s safe to do so. If not, hide them somewhere safe while you escape and call the police immediately. The following information will help you learn how to handle a burglary situation.
Here’s What to Do
If you’re at an unoccupied home, leave immediately and call 911 from a safe place. Keep an eye on the burglar and note their appearance and any vehicles they may be traveling in.
If you’re in an occupied home, lock yourself in a room, close and lock the door, and stay quiet. Don’t unlock the door for anyone except police officers.
Don’t try to fight off burglars or chase after them if they leave. They may come back armed and dangerous, or they may be waiting nearby for you to do just that. Instead, wait for police instructions before going back into your home.
You may try to film with your mobile phone from a distance so that any evidence of a break-in will be recorded and can be used as evidence later if necessary. However, to do so, ensure you are at a safe distance, and there is no chance of the buglers seeing you filming them.
What To Do If You Walk in On a Burglary, and They See You?
The first thing to do is try to get out of the house if you can. If you think you can get away faster without startling or provoking them. But if burglars catch you, you can do a few things to try to remain safe.
- Do not resist. Don’t fight back or try to take the burglars’ weapons away; they may use them on you.
- Try to move slowly and quietly. Walk backward slowly and don’t make any quick movements that could startle them into acting rashly.
- Don’t try to talk with or negotiate with them; this will only distract them from what they’re doing and make them more likely to act violently toward you.
If possible, keep an eye on all of their hands at all times. Being alert ensures that if one goes for a weapon or tries to grab something from your home (like a weapon), you’ll know about it immediately and be able to react accordingly (for example, by running away).
Stay Safe!
In conclusion, burglars choose their targets and break into homes based on easy access and low risk. But it’s not just a matter of keeping your home secure. It would help if you also watched for unusual activity in your neighborhood, especially when you’re away from home.
If you notice anything suspicious, call the police immediately. If you happen to catch burglars in the act, don’t confront them — call for help and wait for officers to arrive.
