Valuable topic. Ironically one I never thought of until I left my airline career. Now in my current business I'm a 24hr target. 3 business break-ins in the last 2 years. Nothing stolen due to alarms. Just damage. At the home front alarms, cameras, firearms and some type of weapon in every room. Greet anyone I don't know at the door with my personal protection choice an XD-45 in my hand. (2 in the last month) Watch tv with it on the coffee table. When I arrive home from work (sometimes at night) I'm armed in hand and ready to shoot as I pull in my driveway. Also have Rem 870 with heavy shot personal defense shells. In the last year had someone in my boat and in the backyard.
My dog of choice, pit-bull. "Nothing stares you down and inflicts terror on a would be assailant like a Doberman', my pit bull does. He warned me of both people and was jumping so high to get in the backyard he was nearly touching the ceiling. The guy in the boat ran and the one in the backyard was watching me lift the locks on the sliding glass door. He ran then said, "oh ********************" when he heard the sound of my dog running across the yard. An 80lb all muscle pit bull sounds like a horse galloping when they sprint. This guy escaped through the acre wooded lot next to me. So I now have barbed wire strung between the trees and three strands across the top of the fence. The rest of my fence is 8ft high.
For your family when your not home.
1 Dog
2 Alarm
3 Firearm for your wife (mine carries concealed an airweight hammerless S&W .38+p)
Constant vigilence of your or her surroundings is #1.
Jesus H...Where do some of you people live? Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Rotwilers? Ever overheard the neighbors say, "Well, it used to be a nice neighborhood?"
If I was the robbin' type, you better believe i'm walking in carrying a 8 shot sawed off pump 12 and a 13 +1 Sig .228 with hollow points. If I hear as much as a woof, steel will be coming down rainge.
Have a nice day, ladies.