Tips for the Homestead: Situational Awareness

Recently I was able to assist a higher profile gentleman who believed he had a stalker, and with good reason (there was substantial evidence and threats).  Once I had discussed the details with him my immediate reaction was to ask him to get the local authorities involved, based on my assessment of the situation there was a high chance that this stalker might try to contact him at work (he had already tried twice) or at the home.  Obviously this is a much more dire scenario as family comes into play.  Keep in mind this person I was working with had never owned a firearm, much less fired one.  His initial reaction was that he should buy one to protect himself and his family.  While that certainly is his right, simply owning a firearm is not like some magical force field – especially if one has no training.

With that in mind we discussed some other options which would help to give him and his family a little peace of mind, especially around the house.  What follows are some simple tips  for the homestead / arriving home and should not be viewed as an all inclusive list, additionally techniques could vary depending on the area an situation one is facing.

Setting the Conditions

This could depend on the area, neighborhood, home or apartment, HOA requirements and any number of factors.  Yet there are still a few constants that can hopefully be observed while setting the conditions for success.

Lighting:  Good lighting around the perimeter is key, think motion or standard type flood lights.  That being said places to hide (large bushes et al) should be trimmed back or well lit.

Access:  Limiting access is also critical, this as opposed to wide open spaces that anyone can wander into.  Fencing with locked entry points, designated pathways that are clearly marked for folks who should be there (mail, UPS, visitors).

Signage:  Think of keeping honest people honest here, because if a team of trained assaulters is on the objective (your house) and you are the high value target (HVT), a beware of dog sign (or all that time you spend at the indoor range) probably won’t do much good.  However that sign along with one that indicates there is some form of surveillance on the property can dissuade the casual wrongdoer.  I believe that nobody wants to get bitten by a dog and would most likely move on to a softer target.

Know the Patterns

I live in an area that affords me the opportunity to know if anything is out of the norm very quickly.  There are very few folks who live on my stretch of dirt road and I know all of them, their vehicles and their patterns.  Additionally I know when the garbage is picked up, what time the UPS / FEDEX drivers come and pretty much every vehicle that goes with each home at least 1 mile before getting to my place.

One time I arrived home and saw a strange SUV parked up the way from my place, as I backed down my drive I was observant – probably more than usual.  I shut the truck off and sat there for a moment conducting 5’s and 25’s (more to follow on that) before getting out at which point a voice came from up and around the corner.  It was one of those “does your roof have hail damage, we can fix it and your insurance will pay” type of guys.  Have to give him credit, pretty ballsy move for the area that I live so I took the time to educate him on that before sending him on his way.

Additionally there are other patterns that exist, the most prominent of which is my dogs.  I can hear them barking probably 50 yards before I get to the house as I back my truck down, if there was an instance where I didn’t hear them barking that would be an immediate clue that something was awry.  I’d have to take steps to evaluate the situation and adjust accordingly.

Get off the Phone

This was a big one that I shared with my contact: get off the phone at least 5 minutes before you get to the house.  This will allow you to completely focus on your surroundings, those patterns and recognizable things in the neighborhood before actually pulling into the house.  For me personally it’s not an issue, there is no cell phone signal for at least 15 mins prior to me getting home so the focus is there because there is no other option.

5’s and 25’s

Something that was preached at length for those of use who were overseas and on the road or even before dropping down off of a helo.  5’s and 25’s essentially amounts to checking the area immediately around you and then moving outwards, looking for anything out of the ordinary.  One can do this while sitting in a car before getting out or a variation of this while approaching a vehicle in a parking lot.  It boils down to paying attention and that’s not something that is possible if one’s head is buried in a phone checking the latest social media posts.

In this instance I told my contact to conduct 5’s and 25’s after his car was parked, be it on the street or even in the garage.  Use the mirrors and it doesn’t have to be anything crazy or over the top,  just check surroundings before deciding to pop that door open.

Most Vulnerable Times?

With respect to the homestead I know people go to sleep at night with guns by the bed, doors locked 5 different ways, booby traps in place just waiting for the bad guy(s) to attempt some bad guy things.  Yet, many of these same people can be seen on a typical Sunday afternoon with the doors unlocked, garage door wide open, completely oblivious to reality while in the back yard pounding beers.  It’s an extreme case but if I were an evil doer I think my chances would be better in broad daylight versus 2 AM when the alarm is set and the house in buttoned up tight.

Final Thoughts

More than anything this article is intended to get you to think, evaluate your current status and maybe make adjustments if necessary.  I went through this exercise with a very intelligent person who, although very well paid and a high level member of society, had simply no idea with respect to any of this.  I think all of us have room for improvement so let me know your thoughts in the comment section.