Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to realize someone was breaking into your home?

Within seconds, all of the adrenaline in your body would be coursing through your veins, and in all likelihood, you would be sent straight into a state of complete panic. The mere thought of being at home when an intruder breaks in is enough to make most people want to run out and invest in a burglar alarm system right away.

You should definitely consider doing that. A custom security kit will make your home safer from the minute you set it up.

But you should also think about what you might do if you ever catch a burglar in your home and plan accordingly. Here are the steps you should take if you happen to find yourself in this unfortunate scenario.

Resist the Urge to Make Any Noise

When you hear an intruder attempting to break into your home or, worse, when you hear them walking around inside of your home, your first instinct might be to scream.

Don't do that.

There's a chance your scream might scare the burglar off. But there's also a chance it'll result in them finding you and attacking you.

By screaming or making any other sounds, you will automatically give up your position. This will put you at a distinct disadvantage and put the power into the hands of the intruder. So try to remain as quiet as you can while carefully contemplating your next move.

Find Your Phone and Call 911 Right Away

Once you're sure that an intruder is definitely in your home, place a call to 911.

Again, you want to stay as quiet as you possibly can when you do this. The last thing you want to do is start yelling into the phone and send the burglar running in your direction.

Tell the 911 operator that someone is in your home and give them your address. This will allow them to send police officers out to your home right away.

Arm Yourself With a Weapon, Just in Case

Ideally, you don't want to have to use a weapon to take down an intruder. But just in case you find yourself in a scenario in which you need to defend yourself and your home, arm yourself with the best weapon you can find.

If you have a firearm and are licensed to carry it and use it for protection, now is the time to pull it out (just be careful when you do and put it down as soon as the police arrive to avoid any confusion!). Otherwise, something as simple as a lamp could help you ward off a burglar if they try to come after you.

Escape from Your Home Quickly If You Can

In a perfect world, you would be able to climb out a window or, better yet, walk out through a door to escape your home when an intruder is inside. Look around and figure out the quickest way to leave your home.

If there's a window or door nearby and there isn't anyone else in your home that you would be leaving behind by going out of it, make your move and escape. Once you're outside, you can run to a neighbor's home and wait there until the police arrive.

This will prevent you from getting into an altercation with a burglar. You'll be much better off if you leave that to the police.

Hide in the Safest Place Possible If You Can't Get Out

If, after looking around, you find that there isn't an easy way for you to get out of your home, your next best bet is to find a safe hiding spot and stay there.

You might want to hide in:

• A locked closet
• A bedroom with heavy furniture positioned in front of the door to prevent the intruder from breaking in
• A small bathroom with a lock on the door

When you're talking to the 911 operator on the phone, you should inform them of where you're hiding if you stay in your home. You should also let them know how many other people are hiding with you.

This will help the police track you down once they show up on the scene.

Wait for the Police to Arrive and Clear Out Your Home

Within about 10 minutes or so of calling 911, police officers should arrive at your home. At that point, the intruder may think better of their plan and scamper off without taking anything.

But you need to be prepared for just about anything to happen. The burglar could very well sense that he has nowhere to go and barricade himself inside of your home.

If this happens, stay wherever you are and don't make a peep. The burglar might sense that someone inside called 911 and come looking for you. As long as you stay where you're at, they'll have a hard time finding you.

The only time you should come out of your hiding spot is when the police finally make their way inside. They'll clear your home and let you know that they're there to save you.

Celebrate the fact that you survived a home invasion and count your blessings. The situation could have been a whole lot worse.

Install an Alarm System to Steer Clear of Encountering an Intruder

Do you want to avoid having to deal with an intruder in the first place?

One of the easiest ways to do it is by installing a burglar alarm system in your home and arming it every night. We carry a selection of DIY systems from companies like Honeywell. They'll make your home feel safer than ever before.

Contact us to learn more about these alarm systems.