Worried About Home Invasions in Your Area? Here’s How to Actually Protect Your Home

A home invasion is a break-in where the offender enters knowing, or not caring, that the home is occupied — as opposed to a standard burglary, where offenders deliberately target empty homes. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded a rise in household break-ins, from 1.8% of households in 2022–23 to 2.1% in 2023–24, an extra 32,000 households nationally. Most residential break-ins remain crimes of opportunity: an unlocked door, a flyscreen instead of a security screen, or a window left open.

If you’re feeling unsafe right now, start here

Before you think about products, these are the steps Queensland Police, Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Watch recommend every household take:

• Lock every door and window, including at the back and side of the house, every time — most break-ins start at a door.
• Keep the exterior visible: trim back trees and shrubs near windows and entry points, and fix any broken sensor lights.
• Make the home look occupied: a car in the driveway, a light or radio on, mail and bins brought in.
• Know your neighbours and join or start a local Neighbourhood Watch group — a street that looks out for itself is a harder target.
• If an intruder does enter while you’re home: stay in a locked room if you can, make noise, and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

The one upgrade that stops forced entry: a tested security screen