HOUSTON HOME INVASION
Incidents like this happen all the time. One of the most common tactics criminals use is disguising their identity—sometimes posing as a delivery driver, utility worker, or other familiar figure to lower your guard and convince you to open the door.
The key to staying safe isn’t perfection—it’s getting the big things right, avoiding critical mistakes, and especially taking action when you notice something is off.
I know reviewing these incidents can be tough. I feel terrible for many of these people and wish I could have had a chance to influence their decisions. Some might consider this victim shaming, but my goal is to help prevent this from happening to anyone else. That means an honest, tough evaluation of what went wrong and how it could have been avoided.
Here’s an example of critical errors that could have been eliminated with just a few minutes of training:
Breaking Down the Key Mistakes
1. Mindset: Believe It Is Happening
Do you think this victim ever imagined someone would choose her and her children as targets in their own home? Probably not. But if she had just taken a moment to assess the situation, she might have paused before opening the door and recognized the warning signs.
This footage came from a Ring camera, but like all security systems, they are useless if not used correctly. The whole point of a door camera is to observe who is outside before opening the door.
2. Awareness: See It Coming
This attacker displayed several clear warning signs that were missed:
Hat, mask, and gloves – A full disguise designed to conceal identity. This plus camera avoidance is my #1 indicator that trouble is afoot.
Empty food bag – A fake prop to sell the disguise—but it makes no sense.
Suspicious vehicle positioning – The car was stopped at a calculated distance, likely to hide the second attacker and getaway driver.
Would you open your door for someone like this? Unless it’s the dead of winter, during a blizzard, and they’re carrying the last supply of coffee on Earth—NO!
Failing to notice these obvious red flags is a sign of not looking at all and losing your gift of fear. Even without formal training, a little caution would have kept that door shut.
3. Know What to Do
I recently shared a video on how to answer a door safely—even in those rare cases where you might need to open it.
Here are the basics:
✅ Go to Condition Orange – Assume this could be a threat and be ready.
✅ Have a Phone & a Weapon Ready – Even an improvised weapon is better than nothing.
✅ Observe from a Safe Distance – Don’t just check who’s at the door—look at the surroundings.
✅ Evaluate Before Acting – Don’t rush to open the door—analyze the situation first. Importantly, make sure your kids understand this as well.
✅ Use the “Door Brace Method” – A way to open the door without fully exposing yourself by using the edge of your foot and shoulder to brace against the door.In this case, the correct move was simple: KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. She should have retreated to a safer position—like a safe room—or prepared for a physical confrontation if anything seemed off.
4. Know How to Do It
Because the door was opened, the attackers barged in, tied up the mother with zip ties, and held the children hostage.
A terrifying situation—even for a trained individual.
The ONLY reason this didn’t end worse was because an alert neighbor called 911. Officers responded and engaged the suspects in a shootout—one officer was shot during the incident. The suspects were arrested—and, no surprise, they had prior records.
Lessons here:
Observe from a distance – Ring cameras are cheap. USE THEM.
Interrogate assertively – Start polite, but switch to an authoritative voice the moment something feels off.
Use clear verbal deterrents – "Leave now!" If that fails: "I'm armed, and the police are coming."
Have a response plan – If a family member is present, that should be the signal to escalate into "Red Alert" mode and take action.
5. Be Able to Do It
This isn’t hard, but it also isn’t automatic unless you train and talk about it with your family.
You will get opportunities to practice before a real home invasion occurs. Even today, you’ll have strangers at your door—delivery drivers, salespeople, service workers.
Have a plan. Rehearse it. Rehearse the backup plan.
Stopping the problem before it starts is the best defense.
If they breach your door after a warning, your life is at risk—be prepared to handle it.
What’s Next?
This video is a great example of how simple measures can keep you safe and how big mistakes often stem from an improper mindset and failed awareness. I offer a Home Defense Seminar that I teach in group settings and even to corporations during "lunch and learn" or other events. We also have a hands-on course where we work through tactics and ultimately deal with intruders using whatever tools you might have in your home. I'll be honest—having a gun makes it much easier, but not easier than having a good plan. We have even conducted these courses in students' homes, involving the whole family.
The hands-on training is primarily local, but with the right motivation and resources, we could take it mobile.
If you would like access to the seminar in e-book or video course format for home defense, let me know. I will work on the project. If you want to take your home defense training to the next level, let me know—I’d love to help.Also, for emergency planning, I offer the Tactical Twos Complete Course, which includes an e-book, video lessons, and an MP3 audio file so you can learn at your convenience. You can find it here: Tactical Twos Complete Course. If you order the course, use the code "THREATPROOF50" for 50% off.
Be sure to reply with any questions—I’ll personally respond to as many as possible.
Talk soon,
Trevor
