I think you need to start a new thread - Target Hardening Your Home - it would be very worthwhile to see FReepers’ suggestions.
This boy and the young mother in OK show that a shotgun is the way to go if the bad guys actually come in - but they were lucky to have had warning and time - it didn’t happen while they were asleep, they didn’t walk in and surprise a burglar.
I tell myself I should walk around the house looking for signs of a B&E before I go in, but I don’t - especially in the dark, or the snow, or the rain, I wouldn’t. Just when I’m particularly paranoid - and I do listen to that little voice, just in case.
There is no way to be “ready for anything.” In this case and in the OK case, had the home occupants been doing anything other than what they were doing at the time of the invasion, things could have (and likely would have) turned out very differently.
But, still, there are probably a number of things you could work into your situation/routine that would be helpful.
I think I’ll start that thread tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!