Home invasion is a crime where a criminal enters an occupied home to rob or commit violent acts like rape, murder, terrorism, or kidnapping. It differs from burglary as it occurs at night and can be violent. It can also happen when a resident opens the door for a criminal. It can have lasting psychological effects on victims.
Home invasion is a crime in which a criminal invades another person’s home, apartment or trailer while it is occupied. Often, the purpose of a home invasion is to rob a person of money or other items. Sometimes, however, this type of crime has a more frightening and violent purpose. In some cases, a criminal invades a home with the intent to commit rape, murder, acts of terrorism, or kidnapping.
Often people think of home invasions as burglaries. In reality, however, the two crimes are dramatically different. First, burglaries tend to occur during the day, when criminals expect residences to be unoccupied because residents are at work. Home invasions are the opposite, usually occurring at night when criminals know most people are likely to be at home. Similarly, a burglar usually targets the residence, while the home invader may target the residence and the person living there. For example, he may follow a person home with the intent to steal their wallet, expensive watch, and household items.
Since no one is home at the time of a burglary, these crimes are unlikely to turn violent. Violence usually only occurs if the burglar is caught by a resident who gets home early or an interfering neighbor. A home invasion is often violent, however, as a criminal can force entry into a home by kicking a door open or breaking a window. He can then use physical violence or threats of violence to subdue the people inside the house. In some cases, he may use weapons, such as guns and knives, or restraints, such as ropes and duct tape.
While many home invasions begin with a criminal breaking in a door or window, some occur when the resident opens the door for the criminal. This can happen, for example, when a resident opens a door for a criminal posing as a police officer, delivery man, or person in trouble. The resident may allow this person into her home and learn, too late, that the robbery or assault is the person’s intention. In other cases, the resident does not admit the offender into his home. Sometimes a resident may simply open his door to see who knocked, even with a chain in place, and the criminal pushes his way into the opening.
In addition to the potential for material loss and physical effects of home invasions, these types of crimes can have a lasting psychological effect. This is because most people consider their home to be the only place where they are safe and secure. Home is a sanctuary for most people. After a home invasion, some people may find it difficult to feel safe anywhere.
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