The Well-Armed Woman

It’s 2 AM on a Tuesday night and you and your spouse are fast asleep in bed. Your kids are comfortably tucked in down the hallway.

All is quiet in the house, not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. Suddenly, you’re jolted awake by the sound of glass shattering. In your sleepy stupor you’re not sure where the sound came from, all you know is that something was broken.

Your heart starts to race and you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins- one of your worst fears may be coming true…

Unfortunately, home invasions are more common than we’d like to think. Here are some concerning statistics according to the Department of Justice:

1. In 2017 there were 1.7 million home burglaries reported.

2. Of those burglaries, over half took place during the day.

3. 51% of burglaries are repeated within 6 weeks, meaning the same house is struck twice. Savvy burglars know that 6 weeks is often the period of time that it takes for homeowners to successfully file an insurance claim and replace some of their stolen items.

4. 65% of people who have been burglarized know the burglar.

This article will be the first in a series of articles that will cover important topics relating to home invasions, including what makes you vulnerable, security system considerations, firearm considerations, action planning, and more.

While each burglar is different, they tend to target places that they think will be easy targets. Here are a few things that make your house more vulnerable to burglaries:

1. Keeping your garage door open. Not only does this allow them access to everything in your garage, it can also be an easy entry point into your house.

2. Having large trees or bushes around doors or windows. These make great places for people to hide while they are trying to break in.

3. Leaving first floor windows open.

4. Letting mail or newspapers pile up. This gives the indication that no one has been home for a few days.

5. Sharing vacation plans or pictures on social media. If you do want to post pictures of your vacation, wait until after you are home.

6. Letting your valuables (jewelry, guns, etc.) sit in plain sight of windows. Lock them up in a safe or move them to a low visibility location.

7. Putting boxes for expensive items out in your trash, such as a new TV box. This advertises to everyone that you probably have a brand-new TV in your house. Instead, try to take them to a public dumpster or to the dump.

To find out more about home defense, personal safety, gun ownership, and other methods of self-defense, please join us for The Well Armed Women (TWAW) Sterling chapter meeting on November 20th from 9 am to 11 am at Logan County Shooting Sports complex, 12515 Highway 61/2nd Amendment Way off Highway 61 Sterling, CO. We will be meeting in the classroom.

TWAW Shooting Chapters exists to educate and empower women in a safe and non-threatening environment for their effective and responsible self-defense with a firearm. Prospective members are welcome to attend their first meeting before joining. If you would like to become a member, you can join online at www.twawshootingchapters.org. Women over 18 interested in learning more can contact Jennifer Everhart at [email protected] or visit TWAW Shooting Chapters, Inc. website at www.twawshootingchapters.org.  You can also like us on Facebook @twawsterlingcolorado or stop by Boondocks Army Surplus at 324 N 4th Street in Sterling and pick up a flyer.