Three crimes, three minutes and three ways to better protect you and your family.

Armed robberies are happening at an alarming rate at businesses, in parking lots and in your home.

Tulsa Police report 103 home invasions have been reported in 2009. There were at total of 131 home invasions in Tulsa for 2008.

In a Solving Problems investigation FOX23’s Abbie Alford explains how you can protect you and your family from intruders.

Each segment was a re-enactment and no one was in danger. All of the weapons were props. 

#1 Home Invasion 

You’re at home in the kitchen cooking dinner and you have the TV on.

In less than a minute you’re face-to-face with an armed robber in your home.

You hear a knock at the door and when you answer it the robber puts a gun in your face and demands you to the ground.

As he is ransacking your home, he threatens your life if you scream or call 911.

In less than 60 seconds the thief is gone with your purse and other valuables.

"To be thinking you are in the own confines of your own home watching television and the next moment you are bound and gagged on the floor with someone rummaging through your home it's quite an escalation,” says TPD Robbery Sgt. Dave Walker. "The only thing they can do is live through the event and become a good witness."

Police recommend you never go with an intruder. Try to stall him before he can take you hostage.

"We have seen where the victims have fought back and fired back and killed some of our suspects on the porch,” says Walker.

This can also happen in broad daylight. Police say whatever you do, if you hear a knock at the door, look through the peephole or the window to see who is on the other side.

Under Oklahoma law if you use a gun or dangerous weapon in a home invasion that carries up to a life sentence in state prison. 

#2 Drive-By Purse Snatching

Purse snatching will be a crime to think about for the holiday season.

This year there’s a new twist on this old crime: drive-by purse snatchings.

You are on the phone and not paying attention to what’s around you and just as you reach to get your keys out of your purse your life changes in a blink of an eye.

The driver in a car that just drove by in the parking lot isn’t a customer but he sees a woman named Megan not paying attention. She’s on her cell phone, looking down and not up to see who and what is around her.

The suspect has the windows down and as he creeps by her in the parking lot he reaches out and snatches her purse and takes off.

In less than 60 seconds you could be Megan and you’re purse is snatched in a parking lot and so is your identity.

"Don't piddle around, don't smoke a cigarette, don't call anybody else on the phone, lock the doors and leave," says Walker. "Anytime you are in a parking lot you may as well consider that you are in an unfriendly area."

Police say while your identity may be done you can still help police get it back.

Police recommend that you try to get a good look at the suspect and the suspect vehicle, the make, model, color and year.

Also, if there is a security guard patrolling the parking lots ask for their assistance.

Under state law, purse snatching with a firearm is considered a felony crime that carries a minimum prison sentence of ten years. 

#3 Bank Robbery 

Robbery detectives say this year there have been a total of 27 bank robberies in Tulsa. Last year there were a total of 16 financial robberies in Tulsa.

Commercial armed robberies have reached 157 this year compared to a total of 169 for 2008.

You walk into your bank to cash a check and in less than a minute you’re faced with an armed bank robber.

As you’re waiting for the teller the person next to you, who you think is a customer, pulls out a gun and points it at the bank teller and demands money.

This is now a heist and he sees movement and demands the customers to the ground.

Police call this type of robbery a take-over bank robbery which is different from when a robber just hands a teller a note.

Putting up a fight could rattle a potentially violent robber and in less than a minute that could cost you your life.

"Live through it. Don't take any action. Be a good witness. We certainly can't interview a dead person. You're not a very good witness if you are in the hospital hurt,” says Walker.

Walker says if you’re by a door try to sneak out and call police or stand at a distance and observe what the suspect looks like and his vehicle.

Detectives say that one extra layer of protection could keep you safe in any robbery especially a bank robbery.

Bank robberies are considered a federal crime, including those that involve passing a note or attempted bank robberies.

Bank robbery convictions can carry a life sentence in federal prison. In some cases, if a robber commits another crime during the hold up that robber could face the death penalty.