You lay down in bed at night, closing your eyes and anticipating a nice night’s sleep before work tomorrow. You never consider that you could get woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of breaking glass or a shattering doorframe as someone breaks into your house. You know it happens, but it’s not that common, right?
Actually, these incidents are far more common than many people realize, and they impact most homes. According to some, in the next two decades, about 75% of homes in the United States will get broken into.
Now, it is worth noting that many people will case homes and specifically wait until they see you leave. Maybe you’re just going to work or to the store. Maybe you’re going on a summer trip. Regardless, they don’t want to do it while you’re there.
Still, some burglaries happen while people are home, either because the thieves do not care or because they make a mistake. This can lead to confrontations between criminals and homeowners. You could stumble downstairs, wondering what all the noise is about, to find yourself face-to-face with a surprised and frightened thief.
These confrontations often turn physical. You could get assaulted or even shot. Things happen quickly and people who panic will to almost anything without thinking about it. The situation can escalate in a heartbeat.
If that happens and you get seriously injured, make sure you understand all of the options you have. More than just your possessions are at stake; an injury could have a lasting impact on your life.