Why do violent home invasions happen?

It's the same script over and over

We have had another violent home invasion in Boquete.

In my safety lectures I have spelled out how these robberies happen and what they are after. They all follow the same pattern and there is no reason for anyone to be a victim.

IN EVERY CASE, the robbers have advance knowledge of what they are after. Someone has tipped them off that your have:

• Money

• A safe

• Guns

• Drugs

But why don’t they just break in when nobody is home?

These are not random crimes of opportunity. They plan to come in as a group so they can put a gun to your head and force you to open your safe or reveal the location of the guns/drugs/money - that they know is there. They won’t shoot you if possible, but you will be tied up and pistol whipped and watch them ransack your house.

IN EVERY CASE, the homeowner has no idea the robbers are in the house until they wake up with a gun in their face. Having a gun will not protect you. In fact it is probably the reason they are there. It will be stolen and used by the criminals to commit more crimes. Even the most elementary intrusion alert can disrupt these crimes.

How to disrupt a home invasion:

• Motion sensor lights

• Driveway ding dongs and outdoor alarms

• Motion sensor alerts outside that wake you up inside the house

• Dogs - but often unreliable

• A boat horn pointed out the window if you have been alerted

So to sum it up, if you have any of the items listed in your house and ANYONE knows they are there, AND if your house is completely unprotected by intrusion alerts, then you are asking to be the next victim.

It is sad that this script has played out again in Boquete, but with a little awareness and precautions, there is no reason to fear becoming the victim of a violent home invasion.