Hundreds of Native American Indians banded together to occupy their former land, which had been taken over by the US Government and used as a federal prison. The occupation lasted 19 months and remains one of the largest watershed moments in the American Indian activism movement.

I had an opportunity to reflect on this a bit after an evening of news stories about kicked in doors and beaten homeowners. In some ways, what happened in 1968 may have to happen in, and around, our own homes. The current state of the times may predicate that we, as the owners and occupiers of our own personal island, may have to take up arms. OK, maybe not take up arms, but at least take a few extra steps to insure that what is ours, remains ours.

Hear what I am saying?

“HIGH POINT — Police say they have broken up a ring responsible for 60 residential burglaries in High Point, Greensboro and Thomasville.

“High Point police said they have arrested and charged nine people after an investigation that started in August. They have been charged with more than 70 counts, including breaking and entering and larceny. In many cases, police said, the suspects knew the victims.”

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“BALTIMORE — Police have arrested two men believed to have broken into at least 15 homes — and possibly as many as 100 — in a five-county area.

“Gary Morley, 28, of Warren and John Roese, 21, of Mt. Clemens had become brazen, knocking on doors during the day to see if anyone was home, then either prying the front door open or breaking in through a window when no one answered, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel said Thursday.

“He said the two worked in tandem. One would wait in a truck and serve as a lookout with a walkie-talkie while the other ransacked the home, stealing pillowcases to fill with valuables. The men targeted electronics, money and jewelry, he said.”

Not one person has stated what I believe to be the obvious. It is going to get worse before it gets better. Remember the discussion about the ice-berg? We are just looking at the tip of this malevolent piece of ice.

OK… so I am preaching to the choir here. How I help you, the reader/home owner/island occupant, from being the “victim”.

Some things to think about

Make sure your home is well-lit: Every exterior door, every place of entry should be lit with at least a 40-watt bulb. Install motion-detecting light sensors. Keep shrubbery cut low. Don’t allow a perp the ability to hide him/her-self. If a thief is illuminated or very visible, the minute he walks onto your property, he’ll keep moving.

Dead bolts: Don’t leave home without them… LOCKED! Double/Triple lock all French/Sliding glass entries. Lower casement windows should have slide locks or pin locks.

Advertise an alarm system, even if you don’t have one: While it’s best to have the real deal, merely posting a lawn sign or a sticker in a window might make a thief think twice about breaking into your home. You have a printer, make up one that looks like the real thing. And make it big. Stick it in all ground floor windows or paste it on the door.

Close shades that are ground/deck accessible: If a thief can’t see inside, he won’t know if there’s anything worth stealing. But keep a few shades open on the second floor if you have one, to make it look as if someone is home.

Put your street number, not your name, on the mailbox: Why put more information out there than necessary. It’s kind of like keeping your gender unknown when you use the Internet by using your first initial of your name and your full last name. Don’t give the perp a chance to find out more about you with information you offer them freely.

Censor your garbage: The box that new flat-screen TV came in announces that you have stuff worth stealing. Cut it up into small squares. Shred mail or application information. If a perp thinks you have something to steal, but you’ve done your job protecting your home valuables, they are more likely to peruse your trash for information.

Put lights and a radio or TV on a timer: People who leave the lights on all day are advertising that they are not home. Look for the type of timer that can be set for random on and off times. Otherwise, it’s too easy for crooks to get wise to the fact that your lights are coming on at the same time every night.

Keep two jewelry boxes and lock up your valuables: It may sound obvious, but thieves know we all like to hide our most important things under the bed, in a coffee tin, or behind a bookcase. So keep passports, Social Security cards, and the like in a bank safe-deposit box or in a heavy-duty combination safe you can bolt to the floor in a closet. Have two jewelry boxes: Store inexpensive pieces in the nice-looking case on your dresser. Stash the good bits in a safe. A thief may be fooled by the “cheap box” and not bother looking for more.

Don’t answer the door after dark: Speak thru the door or window that’s close by. Know the person on the other side of the door before you open it. If you don’t know that person, don’t open it. If something seems amiss, and your gut will tell you, get someone on the phone; cops/911/a close by friend. Make sure the rest of your family knows the rules regarding the knock at your door.

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Don’t be a victim.

Don’t be unprepared.

Be ready to stand your ground and protect what you know is yours.

Above all, your family is the most important thing to protect.

If you arrive home and find the front door open when you know you’ve locked it, don’t play “Hollywood” and cruise into the home asking “Is anybody here?” Stay the hell out of the house and call the police. Make a note of any cars that are suspicious looking. Is there a U-Haul/Van/ truck nearby? Can you call the neighbors to see if they saw anything?

Open your mind and save everything you see to memory. Recall is going to be your best method of finding the low-life’s that may have invaded your space.

Your home is your island. Protect it from things that go “bump in the night”. If you don’t, people won’t put up with the whining and crying about how your home got robbed. And if you don’t share this information with those you live near, you invite thieves to “camp-out” in your neighborhood.

Until next week…