How do we Protect our Home or Business from Looters, Rioters or Burglaries?
Home security is no longer just about locking the front door. It’s about being proactive, strategic, and prepared for any scenario. Whether you live in a peaceful neighborhood or an area more exposed to social tension, knowing how to protect your home is essential for your family’s safety and peace of mind.
Recent years have shown us how quickly order can break down during public demonstrations, blackouts, or emergencies. Looters and rioters often target homes and businesses they perceive as vulnerable. Meanwhile, burglaries remain a constant threat, often occurring when least expected. The good news? There are proven, practical steps you can take to deter these intrusions and strengthen your home’s defenses.
This guide will walk you through the most effective strategies, from structural reinforcements to digital monitoring, to help you turn your home into a secure, resilient space no matter what happens outside.
Rising Threats: Home Invasions Amid Civil Unrest in 2025
Home invasions are no longer isolated incidents. In recent years, and especially throughout 2025, we’ve seen a clear rise in residential attacks coinciding with moments of civil tension.
One of the most visible examples took place during the protests in Los Angeles earlier this year, where what began as peaceful demonstrations escalated into city-wide unrest. Several neighborhoods reported property damage, forced entries, and looting, not just of commercial spaces, but of private homes.
According to local authorities, over 120 cases of residential break-ins were reported during the peak of the LA protests, many of them concentrated in high-density urban areas but also reaching suburban homes. In some instances, organized groups targeted homes perceived as vulnerable, taking advantage of diverted police presence and public chaos.
This surge in criminal activity during unrest highlights a sobering reality: your home may become a target not only for burglars, but also for opportunistic rioters or looters when public order is compromised. This makes it more important than ever to assess your current security measures and implement layers of protection designed for both everyday safety and emergency scenarios.
Protecting your home or business: small details make a difference
When it comes to securing your home or business, it’s easy to focus on big-ticket items like alarm systems or surveillance cameras (and while those are important), it’s often the smaller, overlooked details that make the difference between vulnerability and true protection.
Criminals, especially during chaotic events like riots or coordinated burglaries, tend to look for easy targets. A weak door frame, an unlocked window, poor lighting, or even a predictable daily routine can be all it takes for them to strike. That’s why a layered security approach that addresses both major and minor entry points is crucial. Strengthening your perimeter with intentional, practical adjustments can buy you precious time and even deter an intruder altogether.
In the next section, we’ll break down specific, high-impact recommendations, from securing your doors and windows to rethinking visibility, motion detection, and emergency access protocols, designed to elevate your safety without requiring a complete overhaul.
🔐 1. Secure All Entry Points
The first and most critical step in protecting your home or business is reinforcing all potential entry points, especially doors and windows, which are often the weakest links in your perimeter.
- Reinforced Doors and Windows: Upgrade to solid-core doors with heavy-duty deadbolts and reinforce the strike plates with longer screws and metal backings. For windows, avoid standard single-pane glass and opt instead for impact resistant glass or anti-theft glass, which are designed to withstand forced entry attempts. You can also apply protective glass films that make it significantly harder to shatter or break through the surface.
- Smart Locks: Add an extra layer of control with smart deadbolts. These allow for remote locking and unlocking via your smartphone, and many models send instant notifications when a door is accessed—perfect for monitoring entry points in real time.
- Security Bars or Shutters: For properties in high-risk areas or commercial zones, rolling shutters and steel window bars provide added physical resistance. They can act as a strong deterrent against break-ins and are especially useful when the property is vacant or during periods of civil unrest.
🎥 2. Invest in a Reliable Security System
A robust security system isn’t just a luxury, it’s one of the most effective deterrents against looters, burglars, or violent break-ins. Especially in areas that have recently experienced unrest, like parts of Los Angeles in 2025, having eyes on your property 24/7 and a system that can trigger real-time alerts is essential.
- Add a Battle Door for Critical Entry Points: For those looking for maximum physical defense, consider installing a Battle Door at your most vulnerable entries. These doors, originally designed to withstand extreme impact (like a hurricane),are engineered with layered protective glass, steel cores, and anti-theft locking systems. Whether it’s a forced entry with tools, a riot scenario, or an attempted ram, the Battle Door holds its ground. Its industrial-grade construction makes it ideal for front doors, garage entry points, or any access area facing the street.
- 24/7 Surveillance Cameras: Strategically install high-definition cameras with night vision and motion detection at all key access points. Exterior-facing units should cover driveways, doors, and low windows. Look for systems that allow remote viewing and cloud storage for incident review.
- Monitored Alarm System: Choose a professionally monitored system that notifies local law enforcement or a private security firm immediately when triggered. The faster the response, the lower the risk of major damage or loss.
- Smart Sensors: Install glass-break detectors, entry sensors, and even motion sensors within your home or business. These can detect unauthorized activity and sound alerts before intruders make it far.
💡 3. Use Lighting and Visibility as a Deterrent
Criminals seek opportunities where they can act unseen: dark corners, blind spots, or homes that appear unoccupied. That’s why proper lighting and visibility are crucial elements in any effective security plan.
- Motion-Activated Lighting: Install outdoor lights with motion sensors around all entry points, especially front doors, backyards, side alleys, and garage areas.
- Strategic Placement of Lights: Use lighting not just on walls, but also on pathways, driveways, fences, and rooftop perimeters.
- Landscape Management: Keep trees and bushes trimmed, especially near windows and doors.
- Visible Cameras and Signage: Sometimes, the mere appearance of a well-defended property is enough to prevent an attack.
- Keep Your Property Lived-In: A dark or silent property is an open invitation. Use smart lights with timers or app-based controls to simulate presence while away.
🧳 4. Protect Valuables Inside the Home
Even if an intruder gets in, you can minimize losses by securing your most valuable possessions:
- Hidden safes: Use wall-mounted or floor-anchored safes for documents, cash, and jewelry.
- Designated safe zones: Create a secure room or hidden storage area for high-value items.
- Keep valuables out of sight: Especially near windows or main entry points.
🚗 5. Secure Your Garage and Vehicles
Garages and parked vehicles are often overlooked, but they’re frequent targets:
- Reinforce garage doors: Use heavy-duty locks and consider adding smart sensors.
- Disconnect remote openers: When leaving for extended periods, disable garage remotes.
- Lock your car: Always lock doors, even inside your property, and never leave valuables in plain sight.
- Use motion lights: Bright lighting deters nighttime intruders from approaching vehicles or garages.
Protecting your home or business from looters, rioters, or burglaries isn’t just about reacting, it’s about preparing. By reinforcing vulnerable points, investing in smart security systems, and practicing proactive habits, you significantly reduce your risk.
At PRL, we manufacture laminated safety glass specifically designed to resist forced entry, blunt impact, and break-ins. This anti-theft glass combines multiple layers that hold together when shattered, making it much harder to breach than standard glazing. Whether for windows, doors, or storefronts, our protective glass solutions add a critical layer of security, ideal for both residential and commercial applications.
For those requiring the highest level of protection, PRL’s Battle Door is the ultimate solution. Engineered to withstand extreme force, this door integrates impact-resistant glass, reinforced aluminum framing, and multi-point locking systems. It’s a top-tier defense barrier for homes, retail stores, or high-risk areas, offering peace of mind without sacrificing modern aesthetics.
