Posted on 01/26/2008 4:07:45 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
Preparing for a Home Invasion -
Today, a man who tried to enter two homes in my neighborhood, was convicted in court and sentenced to 9-15 years. Here's what happened just 3 doors down from me...
It was about 10:45pm. Middle of the week. Man rings doorbell, while two accomplices with a gun and knife wait out of view.
Homeowner looks out the door, sees man alone. He cracks open the front door and the man tries to convince him to step outside. Homeowner smells a rat and hollers to his wife to call 911. Three men flee.
Later that same night, the three are caught 5 miles or so away, based on the descriptions.
Three doors down from me.
And I've read of several other home invasions in my county in the last year. Frankly, having one so close made it way more real to me.
So what's a Freeper to do? That is the question.
Has anyone here put together a "Home Invasion Plan"?
Our first line of defense is an American Bulldog. She's just a puppy, however, so for 6 months, not much protection there yet. I would add, she'll top out at 85lbs or so and I expect good things.
No guns in our home. Haven't hunted in years. I have hunted with a rifle and bow in the past. I've taken marksmanship in college, again with a rifle.
Now, I am rethinking owning one or more guns.
Unfortunately, a gun isn't always in the same room when you need it. In our case, it may not be downstairs when we need it, if we keep it in the Master bedroom.
So I am turning to the best source I know of to ask for your suggestions, plans, wisdom.
Do you have a Home Invasion Plan? Does it include multi- story protection. What else does it include?
Thanks in advance.
ampu
Thanks in advance.
ampu
I should add that I don’t know what happened to the other home that the men tried to enter. Both were too close.
Guns simply aren’t that expensive; there should not be a problem having one on each floor. 357 Cop revolvers used at gunshows are about a $250 item, as are the little Saiga rifles with 16” barrels. No criminalin his right mind would want any part of either.
Star here:
1. Put a big bright light over your doors.
2. Don’t open the door if you don’t know who it is.
1) I NEVER answer the door without a handgun on my person.
2) 12 guage shotgun is within easy reach of the door.
A gun won’t hurt, but keep the kids away. I believe I have heard experts say the best preventive is a dog, which you have already.
I’m relying on common sense on the part of the burglars... My wifes parents live with us and rarely go out ... the house is OBVIOUSLY occupied 24/7/365 , I have a alarm sign from a local top notch security firm ,, motion sensing lighting and I have 2 large dogs ,,, they’re no good for attack unless you are scared of slobber but they are alert and give notice... I have 2 very small children so my wife won’t hear of me having a gun within any reach that could make it useful...
The brainiacs you wrote about are the most dangerous kind ,,, a smart crook would dumpster dive at a car dealer for credit apps and just order up some credit cards or do something else that doesn’t make him “most wanted” and force him into a kill situation..
Your dog is a fine choice for home protection. She’ll hear stuff way before you can, from upstairs or down.
Automatic lights are good, so is a gun - choose carefully, you should get plenty of gun choosing advice in this forum.
We keep a hard-wired phone next to the bed, in case of need when power is out. And a good flashlight. Surefire makes a small, super bright one with long shelf life.
The first thing is to have enough sense not to open the door even just a 'crack'.
Do you have a Home Invasion Plan? Does it include multi- story protection. What else does it include?
And a Freeper certainly shouldn't share any defensive plans over the internet.
I'm never without being within ten feet of a gun in this house.
No, I don't necessarily recommend this course of action to everyone.
Yes, I know how kooky this sounds to people who can't imagine living in such a way.
As the Discovery show “It Takes A Thief” proved, dogs are at best an unreliable form of protection and at worst they will “point out” where your best stuff is for the thief to steal.
In addition, dogs, even trained ones, are easily defeated by an adult male human of average strength who’s thinking. Even unarmed. I’m not going to mention how or why here.
Good firearms aren’t all that expensive, and various different types of security have been invented to keep those weapons secure yet easily accessed by authorized users.
Finally, “armoring” one’s home has become more popular in recent years and no longer means ugly burglar bars on every window - in some cases the only way you know the house is reinforced is by close quarters inspection. The price has accordingly come down, and some insurance companies offer discounts for fortifying your home against burglary. The ability to come home at night, fire up the DVR, and watch some idiot unsucessfully try to break into your house is, I’m told, priceless.
Post #5 has it. Pump action shotguns are inexpensive. Depending on the number of doors, two or more and put’em LOADED and in easy reach. If you’ve got kids, teach’em gun safety (i.e. if you touch these shotguns, and they don’t kill you, then I will). Revolvers for carry on-person (the .357 mentioned is good).
You need to check out the statistics on the rise of home-invasion robberies as well as burglary of an occupied habitation.
The burglars don’t care if you’re home or not, and they’ve learned that dead witnesses do not testify. See the recent horrifying case in CT.
I have to agree. Video-enabled intercom systems for the front door are relatively cheap and add to your safety immensely.
trick or treat
We are a single story household. The only suggestion that I have is to hang a gun in your entry way closet out of sight from kids and nosy guest.
The truth is that most people won't react immediately. It will take a few seconds to come out of a sleep and figure out what is going on, then react to it defensively. I think the best defense is strong doors and stronger locks; such that it takes a few kicks before breaking. Another thing is planting sharp shrubs under windows to discourage them from being breached.
Your wife needs some education. I grew up in the country. Loaded guns behind every door. Parents started safety training at age four (touch it only when I'm around), with actual shooting at that age (kids hand on gun, kids hand in your hand). That experience, even with a .22 revolver QUICKLY teaches the kid the difference between a toy gun and the real deal. My brother and I would NEVER have touched one of those guns---EVER---until we were of an age and training level to be allowed to do so.
I think the best Home Invasion Plan would be to have good doors and windows, good locks, several video cameras and an intercom. Do not let anyone in, except people you are sure about. (Unfortunately, statistically people you are sure about are the most likely to kill you.)
Owning a firearm is of course a good addition to doors and locks, but in most cases a homeowner is not ready to repel the armed and prepared invaders. It is safer to not let them in, especially considering that not all your family members may be prepared to shoot to kill. If you have a handgun, and the burglar inside has a handgun, then you already lost your major advantage. Battling a burglar on his terms would be unwise, especially if the invaders are drug addicts or otherwise crazy - they may not do what is reasonable.
It is amazing what kind of doors and locks are installed in most houses. Only a most stupid criminal can fail to open those. If you are looking for fun, install a 3” stainless steel door that is sliding into the wall. The door opens into an airlock that is only 4’ deep, and there is another door of the same type on the other end. Both doors never open at the same time. If the walls of your house are similarly strong you can survive a major war inside.
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