What To Do If You Think Someone Is Outside Your House

What should you do if you think someone is outside of your home that shouldn’t be there?

If you’re at home and think someone is outside your house, call the local police and try to hide in a safe location until they arrive. Now, if you are outside of your home, you should enter the house and secure all doors and windows, drive away, or go to a neighbors house until the police arrive.

Make sure you stay on the phone with 911 operators and provide them with as much information as possible until the police arrive.

You can also take actions to minimize the chances of you and your family ever being caught off-guard in this type of situation. This article will provide you with what you need to create a plan of action in case there is ever an intruder outside of your home.

What to Do If You Think Someone is Watching Your House

If you think someone is watching your house, don’t panic. Stay calm and try to figure out what’s going on.

Sit down in a place where you won’t be seen from outside and write down everything that seems suspicious to you: When did it start? How often do you notice the suspected person there? What is their physical description? Are they hiding, or are they visible? What is the suspect doing there? Do you know them personally or have a good idea of who it might be? At what distance can you see the suspect?

Call the police if you believe your life or property is in danger. Let them know there is a suspicious person in your area and provide them with all the information you have written down. Be as descriptive as possible. If possible, take out your smartphone and record them if you can.

This will provide police with a better idea of who this person is and what they may be doing. If you or your family are outside and think someone is watching your house, it’s best to bring everyone inside and call the police. Do not go out to confront the person.

What to Do If You Think Someone is In Your House at Night

If you believe an intruder is in your house, especially at night, do not go looking for them.

Call 911 immediately and report that an intruder may be present in the home. If possible, provide as much information as possible about the suspect’s appearance and location within your house or apartment. Stay calm, clear, and alert.

What TO Do:

• Turn on all of the lights in your house or apartment.
• Close and lock as many doors and windows as possible.
• Go into the room that has the fewest possible escape routes for an intruder (i.e., if you’re in a hallway, go into one of the rooms).
• If possible, hide in an attic, basement, or crawlspace.
• Grab something to use as a weapon (i.e., gun, hammer, or sharp object).
• When calling 911, stay on the phone with them until help arrives. If you can, let law enforcement know where the intruder may be and where you are located in the home.

What NOT to Do:

• Do NOT shout and say “stop” or “I know you’re out there.” This could make the intruder want to find you or your loved ones.
• Do NOT look out of any windows to identify the intruder from within your home. If necessary, call 911 from another phone so that you can describe the intruder from a distance.
• Do NOT lock yourself in one room, and do not try to hide under your bed or in a closet. The intruder may look under your bed or open your closet doors, so if you have other options, use them!
• Do NOT open your door for any reason until the police arrive and find you or instruct you to come out.

When people feel under threat, the first thing they tend to do is panic. This can make things very dangerous and put you in a situation where you have to use physical violence against an intruder. Use your common sense and only take what action you feel is most appropriate.

How to Protect Your Home from Intruders

A home is typically broken into during the daytime when most people are at work and school, but burglaries can happen at any time.

Incidents of break-ins peak in warm weather months when it is easier for intruders to conceal themselves from neighbors by hiding in an unoccupied vehicle, backyard shed, or shrubbery near your home.

Here are six easy steps that can help protect your residence from intruders:

1. Invest in a quality door lock with at least a one-inch throw bolt.
2. Install security locks on all outside doors and windows to prevent crooks from removing the glass to gain entry.
3. Make the exterior of your home as unattractive as possible to burglars by keeping bushes and shrubs neatly trimmed and well-lit.
4. Install a peephole in your front door, so you can see who’s knocking before you open it, and install a door chain for additional security. It only takes a few minutes for a thief to rip off your door chain with a pair of pliers, so if you use one, use it in addition to the door deadbolt.
5. If you have an alarm system with exterior cameras and floodlights, don’t point out its presence by prominently displaying the decal on the glass of your front door. If you don’t have an alarm system, make it a priority to get one and learn how to use it.
6. The best burglar deterrent is a dog — it’s your first line of defense. The noise of a barking dog, combined with the sight of its owner brandishing a weapon, can be enough to scare away most thieves.

Final Thoughts

If you are ever concerned that someone dangerous is outside your house or suspect something isn’t quite right, the first step is to remain calm and consider the tips you have learned today.

They are not guaranteed to work every time – nothing can ensure your safety against an intruder 100% of the time. However, the information here will buy you more time until the police arrive and substantially improve the chance of a positive outcome.

Thieves and intruders prefer an easy target. This is why prevention is so important. Making it clear that your home is well secured and likely to bring them harm or cause them to be arrested is the best thing you can do to keep the people inside your home safe from the dangers outside of it.