It is an unfortunate fact of modern urban life in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne that home invasions are a constant threat. Violent forcible entries by gangs of men into homes where there may be women and children present. Robbery is usually the prime motivation for these terrifying acts perpetuated upon innocent people; but physical assaults also regularly occur. Drugs are often a big part of the story, with the offenders either high or desperate to raise money to buy drugs. It is also a common thread that these acts of home invasion are targeted upon vulnerable victims.
These include the elderly, often frail and living alone, women and children when husbands are not present; these are cowardly acts committed by physically aggressive young men. The chosen victims have usually been observed by gang members, their houses being watched to find out the most opportune times for invading the victim’s home. These youths are often wearing clothing and jewellery associated with American gangs, as if they are attempting to emulate the things they have seen on TV. These violent behaviours are the underbelly of American urban culture and Australian gangs, usually made up of some particular ethnic group, are mimicking this behaviour.
The top five Home Invasion Sydney articles on Google include: a woman being forced from her home by a half naked man with a gun; a blind man being robbed and injured in a western Sydney home; four children experienced an invasion of their home; and a pregnant woman was injured in another home invasion. Drugs are nearly always a motivating force in the cowardly acts of these men; whether you can really call them men is debatable, boys, bullying boys picking on the weak and vulnerable is a better description of them.
In the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics Annual Recorded Crime Report for 2014 all crimes were down on previous years except stealing from a dwelling, which was up 3.2%. What can you do to protect yourself from a home invasion? Firstly, I would recommend engaging locksmith services to assess and install locks and security devices on all ports of entry into your home. Next, I would pay attention to anybody who may be watching your home, as they may be casing your joint in preparation for a home invasion. Talk to your neighbours and get them involved, perhaps the whole street. Do you have a neighbourhood watch program in your suburb? There is safety in numbers, and in community spirit and action.