Our homes are our castles, and it's exceedingly important that we protect our castles and our families that dwell inside these castles. One of the best ways to do that is to have proper home defense strategies in place, to help deter thieves and provide you and your family with better protection in the event of a break-in.

Statistically, a home is broken into every 13 seconds, usually between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm, when you are most likely not at home because of work or school. Now, while this is good to know as your family will be safer, it does not guarantee that your home will be burglarized at that time, and there are many burglaries during the night, as it brings cover for intruders. So what can you do to protect your home and your family? If you implement some home defense strategies, you will be better suited to handle a break-in at any time of day.

Lock your doors. It seems like this one is obvious, but it's really not. For many people, they keep their door unlocked when they are home or even leave their garage door open, which gives an intruder open access into your home. Make sure to lock your doors at all times, even if you and your family are home.

Use a deadbolt. Those small locks in the door handle won't stand up to a good kick, so make sure to use a deadbolt, it will make it much more difficult for someone to gain entry to your home.

Use lighting.Motion sensor and floodlights can be used to your advantage to help aid with your home defense strategy. A well-lit house and yard is going to be less appealing to an intruder, so make sure to keep your doors, windows, and yard well-lit when the sun goes down.

Use cameras. Nowadays, we are seeing cameras in many houses, and it's proving to be exceedingly beneficial. Even if you only have one camera at your front door, it will allow you to see if anyone suspicious is hanging around the front of your house, ringing your doorbell or trying to see through the door. You can also watch for suspicious cars driving past. You are the most knowledgeable on what is normal for your neighborhood, so use that information to your advantage.

Keep plants and bushes trimmed down.You may not be a huge fan of yard work, but it can actually help you when it comes to home security. Larger shrubs can offer a hiding spot to intruders, whereas if you keep everything trimmed down, you don't have to worry about people using them as hiding places. Bonus points if you choose plants that are thorny, and cause a potential burglar pain before they attempt a break-in.

Reinforce your door frame. Even with a solid door and a deadbolt, with enough kicking, they can break the actual frame, so it's important to reinforce it with kick-resistant plates. This can give your door frame extra durability to withstand even the most aggressive intruder.

Use your firearm if necessary. This is a choice that must be made by each person, but if you are comfortable handling a weapon, then this is a great option in case of a burglar who intends to harm your family. Make sure you are familiar with your local laws related to protecting your home, and only use your firearm in a worst-case scenario.

No one ever expects their house to get broken into, but if you have some home defense strategies in place, you can help to counteract a potential threat on your home and family.