Consider yourself fortunate if you’ve never awoken in a cold sweat after having a dream about someone being murdered (or any other crime). These gruesome nocturnal visions can jolt you to your core, whether you’re the victim or the perpetrator. But are these criminal dreams just a result of listening to too many true crime podcasts right before bed? Is there a deeper meaning to be discovered?

As with all types of dream interpretation, it’s critical to consider the feelings that arise when we dream about someone being murdered or experiencing some other violent crime — and then analyze where these feelings appear in our lives today. According to licensed clinical social worker Bridgit Dengel Gaspard, LCSW, “a dream is often a metaphor,” which means you can interpret it as a message from your subconscious — aka, something your brain is trying to tell you. According to mystical practitioner Shawn Engel, this is also why dream meanings differ from person to person. While there are general dream meanings that can be applied to everyone, interpreting your dreams based on your own experiences will always be more helpful.

Aside from that, crime-related dreams could be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you’ve been the victim of a crime in real life (or know someone who has), it may be beneficial to speak with a professional rather than attempting to decode this type of dream on your own. “Metaphorical dream interpretations are more for those who have not experienced such trauma in waking life,” Engel tells Bustle. “These correspondences are not applicable to PTSD-related flashbacks.” Working with a trained mental health professional can assist you in determining traumatic events and potentially reducing nightmares.

1. Robbery-Related Dreams

Fortunately, dreaming about robbery does not mean you’re about to become a victim of one. Instead, it could indicate that you’re currently worried about losing something (or someone) in a more metaphorical sense. Dreams about the robbery, according to Engel, usually represent a fear of having something taken away from you. “For example, if you run an online business and are concerned about having your intellectual property stolen, you may have repeat home invasion dreams,” Engel says.

To put an end to these fantasies, consider which areas of your life feel shaky or uncertain, such as your career or relationship, and work on strengthening your foundation so that you feel more secure.

2. Home Invasion Daydreams

When you wake up from a dream about a burglary or someone breaking into your house, it’s safe to say you’re afraid of someone invading your privacy or crossing your boundaries in real life. Consider the image of someone climbing through a window or breaking down a door and what it represents.

It’s not a pleasant dream, so consider what parts of yourself feel “invaded” and whether there’s a way to “beef up” your security, so to speak. Are you stressed out? Are the people in your life disrespectful to you? According to Gaspard, the solution could be as simple as saying “no” when you mean “no” more frequently.

3. Dreams in which you are the perpetrator of crimes

No, fantasizing about robbery does not imply that you are on your way to becoming the next Bonnie and Clyde. If you are the one stealing in your dream, it is possible that you feel something is missing in your life or that you have been unable to obtain something you desire. In a dream, robbing someone else of their possessions could represent the intangible qualities or experiences you’ve been trying to create for yourself but haven’t yet achieved.

4. Car Chase Daydreams

The car in your car chase dream, according to Gaspard, represents your “driving through” life. Are you traveling at warp speed? Are you trying to avoid something? Are you endangering yourself or others? It’ll help to think about how you feel while driving and who or what you’re chasing or being chased by. An out-of-control car chase dream could represent a part of you that is racing towards a goal at all costs, possibly at the expense of your health or relationships.

5. Dreams in which you are attempting to solve a crime

Assume you are the one on the case in your dream, following clues and attempting to solve a murder or other crime. “Whether we are aware of it or not, our psyche is always working on things,” says Gaspard. This type of dream could be another piece of the puzzle, such as something in your life that has been holding you back or a difficult situation that needs to be addressed.

It could also be your sleeping mind attempting to solve a social problem, such as a misunderstanding in your family or friend group.