Before It Happens: A Detective’s Lesson in Proactive Protection

It was a warm July evening in 2021 when my phone rang at 10:45 PM. On the other end was a police dispatcher, her tone was steady yet marked by concern. As the on-call detective that night, I was asked to contact a sergeant who had just arrived at the scene of a home invasion.

Within 45 seconds of speaking with him, I knew it would be a long night.

After preparing a quick cup of coffee and gathering my equipment, I slid into my white Tahoe and headed toward the crime scene. Upon arrival, I received a preliminary briefing from the sergeant I spoke with on the phone. Then, as I conducted my initial quiet, methodical walkthrough, visually scanning the forced entry point, patterns, and the smallest pieces of evidence.

Once I completed the initial canvas, I sat down with the victims. The moment I entered the room; the emotional weight was palpable, fear and disbelief lingered in the air. The victims shared how they were enjoying a quiet evening when the peacefulness of their home was shattered (literally) by the sound of their back door being forced open. The husband went to investigate after a few moments, startling the intruders, who thankfully fled without attacking him. But before escaping, they managed to ransack the primary suite, stealing what would later be identified as several hundred thousand dollars worth of fine jewelry.

This wasn’t my first time investigating a high-end residential burglary. Unfortunately, even in affluent neighborhoods with years of low crime, professional patrol coverage, and beautifully maintained surroundings, safety is often assumed leading to homeowners failing to implement residential security measures.

Luxury living requires a sophisticated security standard. Proactive security planning must go beyond basic deterrents. It involves understanding the nuances of an affluent lifestyle: travel routines, estate staff, digital visibility, asset documentation, and multigenerational wealth. This level of protection isn’t driven by fear—it’s a product of foresight.

High-net-worth individuals aren’t targeted randomly, they are targeted intentionally. Criminal organizations are increasingly sophisticated, leveraging technology, social media, and data aggregators to map out targets before they ever set foot in a neighborhood. By the time a threat arrives, it’s often the final move in a well-planned sequence.

Security, like insurance, is rarely appreciated until it’s needed.

Unfortunately, most homeowners only invest in security after a breach. But by then, the damage (both material and emotional) has already taken place. The hard lessons from that warm July evening continue to resonate with me. As a retired detective, it’s difficult to forget the weight of cases that could have ended differently had just a few preventative measures been implemented. Despite eight months of exhaustive investigation, all leads were eventually exhausted, and the case was closed without resolution. This serves as a stark reminder: taking a proactive approach to security can mean the difference between devastating loss and a thwarted criminal attempt.