Home Invasions – A Growing Epidemic In U.S.

Earlier this week, we ran a story highlighting a recent episode of Spike TV’’s , Surviving Disaster. The post and the show focused on ‘How To Survive A Home Invasion‘. It was a brief post with a small video clip, however the response was anything but small. Within just the first couple of hours of posting, over 1000 people had read it… That’s unusual for a post that is not a “breaking news event”. I received a number of emails and a variety of questions.

Why so much interest?  I’m still not completely sure but I believe it’s partially due to the following. To most people home invasions are a shockingly new and horrific type of crime that few are prepared for, or know how to prepare for. Most have read about them, are shocked by the violent and disturbing nature, but they themselves and the people they know have not been personally affected. People see  the rising epidemic and understand that it’s no longer a crime relegated to just the big cities. They see the stories in their local newspaper and they’re afraid it could just as easily happen to them. They want to know how to prepare  and hopefully prevent such an attack.

So how bad is it….  Take a look, the stories listed below. All of these stories appeared in the news in the past 24 – 36 hours, yet they represent only a fraction of the home invasions that are taking place across the country. Keep in mind, there are people behind each of these headlines, people who will probably never again enjoy the sense of safety and security they had just 48 hours ago.

• Man pistol whipped in Southwest Miami-Dade home invasion
• Novi police have arrested five men they believe to be responsible for a string of nine home invasions that have taken place in Novi since July 30.
• Home invasion leads to SWAT standoff
• Patriots CB Jonathan Wilhite victim of a home invasion early Sunday morning
• 1 Shot in Leavenworth Home Invasion
• 77 year old homeowner Hurt During Home Invasion Robbery
• Police investigating violent home invasion
• Police searching for suspects in Lubbock home invasion
• DeKalb Home Invasion Leaves 1 Injured
• Two men were arrested by Corpus Christi police after a home invasion Wednesday night.
• 2 arrested in St. Bernard home invasion
• Home Invasion Robbery in Centralia
• Shocked Neighbors Gather After Home Invasion Homicide
• Morning Home Invasion Injures Two
• Fairfield Home Invasion Gang Busted
• Two suspects on the run after violent home invasion
• Three people attack 69-year-old man in South Bend home invasion

As I mentioned in the previous post, Home invasions are among the most insidious of crimes, shattering the sense of safety and security for children and families for many years after the crime, often for a lifetime. With the rise in these types of crimes it’s important to learn what you can do to safeguard your home and family.

What can you do to protect your home and family from such an attack? I had planned on writing a post on how to survive a terror attack on a hotel but instead, next Tuesday I’ll publish a special report detailing the steps you can take to reduce your risk and increase the odds of thwarting a home invasion.

Surviving a home invasion begins long before the actual event. In the report we’ll discuss the following:

• Specific actions you can take that can reduce your risk
• Fortifying your home against a home invasion
• Creating an emergency plan to thwart a home invasion
• Recognizing the signs that you have been targeted
• The first 60 seconds of a home invasion
  
• After the first 60 seconds
• New Products and Technologies for safeguarding your home
  

Surviving Disaster – How To Survive A Home Invasion

Home invasions are on the rise. A difficult economy and increased surveillance and security at many businesses is causing criminals to look elsewhere to perpetrate their crimes and sadly they see peoples homes and residences as much easier and less risky targets.

The result… An epidemic of violent home invasions across the country. This is Part 1 of a 2 part Post

Home invasions are among the most insidious of crimes, shattering the sense of safety and security for children and families for many years after the crime, often for a lifetime. With the rise in these types of crimes it’s important to learn what you can do to safeguard your home and family.

In a recent episode of Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster, host Cade Courtley shows how to fight back if escape is not an option. Watching this episode you will learn how to get out of hand restraints, devise a plan for escape in a life-threatening hostage scenario and how to protect your home and your family when you are the one in danger.

Watch this 11 minute clip, or click the the link to watch the full episode online.

Surviving Disaster – How To Survive A Home Invasion.

Related Post Surviving Disaster premieres on Spike TV

Surviving Disaster Series Premieres On Spike TV

For the past few weeks I’ve had the privilege of consulting in research for an upcoming episode of an incredible new show, Surviving Disaster, scheduled to premiere on Spike TV, Tuesday, September 1 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT). Mark this date on your calendar, it’s a show you won’t want to miss!

Surviving Disaster – Picking up a few last minute items at the mall when violent gunmen storm the store…what to do? What if, on the daily subway commute, a bio weapon is released? Or a fire is blazing in the 12th floor office and the only way out is blocked? Disasters can strike at the most unexpected times, but Spike TV’s new original series “Surviving Disaster,” led by Cade Courtley, vividly takes viewers through catastrophic scenarios and arms them with the knowledge needed to survive the unthinkable. Navy SEAL Courtley is the ideal host for this timely series, having faced imminent danger for a living, conducting clandestine missions from the sea, air and land that include counter-terrorism operations, special reconnaissance and unconventional warfare. The series premieres Tuesday, September 1 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT) with an episode dedicated to a plane hijacking.

Each week, Navy SEAL Courtley tackles worst-case scenarios and equips viewers with the practical information needed to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. Whether the threat is natural or man-made or on a national or personal level, Courtley speaks directly to the viewers and guides them through a comprehensive, step-by-step process to not only survive the big picture disaster, but endure the many dangerous obstacles that may occur within each catastrophic event. While leading viewers out of danger, Courtley not only provides helpful tips and hands-on instruction, but swiftly points out common misconceptions and fatal mistakes. Unlike any other series, “Surviving Disaster” may actually save lives by providing actions that anyone can perform.

Featured Surviving Disaster Content

Cade Courtley Survivng Disaster

“Surviving Disaster” featured content on Spike.com will present an introduction to host Cade Courtley, including videos, a biography and an exclusive multi-week breakdown of the “Top 10 Most Impressive Survival Stories of All Time,” presented by Courtley. The promotion will be timed to lead up to the premiere of the show. The show page will also feature exclusive downloadable survival guides based on each upcoming episode, sneak peeks, video clips and a forum for viewer commentary.

Other disaster-themed episodes this season include: Nuclear Attack, Home Invasion, Fire, Avalanche, Lost at Sea, Hurricane, Bio-Chemical Attack, Mall Shooting and Earthquake.

A standout from the beginning of his military career as a Naval Officer, Courtley was the Class Leader in his BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training and was chosen to attend the elite SEAL Sniper school, a privilege given only to a select few. While on active duty, he served tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Southeast Asia, where he led highly classified, high-risk operations. He continued this high-risk profession with several tours to Iraq in the private sector. His strong background in military Special Operations has given him the unmatched skills to survive and adapt in the direst of circumstances.

“Surviving Disaster” is produced for Spike TV by Shed Media US (“Man On Wire,” “Supernanny,” “The Real Housewives of New York City”). The series is executive produced by Alex Graham and Nathaniel Grouille. Sharon Levy, Tim Duffy and Joe Weinstock are Spike TV’s executives in charge of production.

Visit Surviving Disaster -  Spike TV Site

Home Invasion – Terror Remains Long After Attack

Alysha Rivas is only 19, but she takes pills to help her sleep.

Nighttime is no longer restful for her. She dreams of men following her, kidnapping her, shooting her.

“I hate to be alone. I get freaked out when someone knocks on the door unexpectedly,” she said.

Her persistent anxiety and fear started when two armed young men burst into her family’s home on June 26, 2006. The attackers went into her room, pointed a gun at her and demanded drugs and money as she shielded her 5-year-old sister.

“I can’t forget about it,” Rivas said. “I can’t move on.”

She and her family are unwilling members of a growing group in the Tucson area: home-invasion survivors.

Police are unsure whether home invasions are increasing in the Tucson area. But they suspect the crimes are spreading beyond the criminal circles where they began as a way of stealing drug loads or money from traffickers. The numbers are still very small, but more and more it seems, innocent residents are being attacked, leaving them with a deep sense of insecurity and anxiety after their sanctuaries — their homes — are so violently violated.

A wave of home invasions led the Tucson Police Department to form a home-invasion unit last year. While most of the cases the police have investigated involved drug trafficking, about one-fourth could not be explained that way, police Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said.

And even in the homes of criminals, there may be innocent victims — children or spouses who didn’t willingly participate in the drug trade.

James Springs was a 71-year-old marijuana dealer when his East Side home was invaded on Jan. 11, 2008. His son, who has cerebral palsy, walked into the robbery on his two canes and was shot by the invaders.

Then there are the people outside the criminal realm, such as the Rivas family, whose members have found themselves targeted, sometimes by mistake, sometimes intentionally.

Alysha Rivas was 16 when her home, near South Cardinal Avenue and West Los Reales Road, was attacked. That night she was awake in the early-morning hours, watching TV while her sister slept, when two men kicked in the door of her room, the first bedroom they came to.

“I immediately began crying,” Alysha said.

Her father, Joe Rivas, heard the ruckus and emerged from his room to see the intruders. Rivas was ordered to the ground.

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