“They came at night by scaling the wall when we were fast asleep, tied us up and robbed us of all our belongings.”

“I was driving the car into the house and as I stepped out to close the gate they pointed a gun and shoved me inside; calmly they loaded the car with all my valuables and drove away.”

We have all heard people explaining situations such as those mentioned above when asked for details about the robbery they were a victim of. And these are the situations which one can hardly prevent.

So how exactly does one react when one is being robbed? Is it ok to challenge the robbers?

How people react to being held at gun point and robbed solely depends on their frame of mind at that very moment, but their actions or inactions could be life-changing.

How to react to a robber in your home

Listen attentively

It’s important to hear what the intruder is up to. Can you hear multiple footsteps? Is the person talking to someone with them or on the phone? Are they heading towards you? This will help you understand what you are up against.

Do not move and stay put

If you are inside a room try and lock the door. Do so with little or no sound. Don’t switch the lights on or off as doing so may give away your presence.

Set off an alarm

If you have an alarm that sounds off within your home, then use it. If you have a panic alarm with remote monitoring, trigger it. If you have neither of these, then use your car alarm. (Keep your car key on your bedside table at night).

Be silent

Silence is your best friend as screaming out to warn them that you’re calling the police or that you have a weapon and will shoot, will only cause them to panic. If the intruders get panicked, they could harm you out of fear of being caught.

Use your phone

Call the police and inform them of the intruder and give them your address. Do not tell them which room you are hiding in. This is crucial if you are using a landline with an extension in another part of the house. Always ensure your cell phone is charged, especially when heading to bed at night. Don’t forget to put your cell on silent and on vibrate mode either.