Question About Family Safety While You're Gone

[SpoilerFault]

I agree with all of the above posters. A good dog will always alert you to intruders. (Boxers are awesome and gentle with the kids) I too live in a good neighborhood that has been experiencing break-ins and other problems, perhaps it accompanies the bad economy. Also, there have been a number of problems with fraud relating to people having their mail stolen. Stay vigilant, there are always dirtbags wanting to steal what you've worked hard for!

 

[AKAAB]

1. Big, loud dog.
2. The Judge - handgun for home defense - shoots .410 shotgun shells so aim doesn't have to be that good to do the job.


http://www.taurususa.com/video-theJudge.cfm

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I added a home alarm at my wife's request. She didn't like being home alone with the kids while I was on the road, and it gave her some peace of mind. Hopefully the police won't be too far behind if the alarm goes off.

If you don't go with an alarm, steal an ADT or BRINKS alarm sign from a neighbor and stick it in your front yard.

 

[michael707767]

We have a big dog, a Glock under the bed and a Remington 870 in the closet.

 

[Mickey D]

I think that one of our most vulnerable areas of the house in relation to safety and potential home invasions is the garage door. Some close friends of mine got invaded after pulling into their garage. All it took was the garage door being open for 20 seconds for two armed thugs to make it into their house. Maybe making sure that area is close to flood-lit with a motion sensor would help. These folks never saw it coming.

I agree with the post about Facebooking and tweeting your whereabouts when out of town. Good advice-- I will now have to refrain from posting things such as "I just found the best taco stand ever" on my LBB overnights.

 

[Dan Roman]

We have a big dog, a Glock under the bed and a Remington 870 in the closet.

Bad idea with kids in the house, perhaps the shotgun with birdshot in it would be the way to go. The thing to remember about a gun, besides being potentially lethal to kids in the house, is if there is a breakin and a wife home alone does have a gun, she has to be prepared to use it effectively , there is no guaranty the bad guy won't get it from her. It's essentially throwing a gun into a her vs. the intruder(s) contest with the victor getting the gun.

Can't go wrong with a dog and a good neighborhood watch.

 

[stb]

Couple of cheap ideas.
1. Go to a security company and buy some "This house is Protected/Monitored by...." yard signage.
2. While there buy some small window stickers that say the same thing for all your windows.
3. Get a door brace for large sliding glass doors. About $25 at Lowe's or Home Depot. Put it 4'-5' off the ground so it can be visible from outside the home. Broom stick in the slider rail does the same but the burglar is already at your door. You want visible deterent.
4. Motion detection lights outside your house.

Front door advertisements or business cards left at the door is a mark for the house. If left in on the door for 24 hours, more than likely no one is home and no dog. Someone has to let the dog out if there is one in the house.
Same goes for things left on the driveway, newspapers, empty garbage cans etc. Sometimes bottles and cans are left very convenient for home owners to pick-up in the yard if they are home.

The new approach is the paper advertisement in a baggie with rocks thrown on the driveway by a car. Same concept but the crooks dont have to walk the neighborhood less conspicuous, it is faster and cover more neighborhoods.

If someone wants in your home, they will get in. The key is to make your home not as easy as your neighbors.

 

[Floatplane]

1. Dog-Akita or German Shephard.
2. 12 gauge Shotgun.
3. Phone by bed.
4. Alarm system.
5. Motion sensor exterior lights.
6. Video monitoring with recording. (Pictures are worth a thousand words!)
7. Hand gun. 9mm or 357.
8. Neighborhood watch.
9. Lock your doors and windows.
10. Shoot first and then ask why the hell someone is in your home!

 

[cynic]

get a dog

 

[MrSky]

My personal system:

1. Lights, motion and landscape.
2. Locks, not the cheapo kwikset crap.
3. Teach spouse not to open the door if you don't know who's there. Get a good through door viewer.
3. Alarm System and Signs. Con's look for the security signs
4. Gun's, Loaded & easily accessible to Adults.
5. American Flag, Con's equate people who fly Old Glory to people who are ARMED (just look around your neighborhood, I bet the people that fly it will or can, shoot you if you enter their home uninvited).
6. Cell phones are useless in an emergency, most dial the local Highway Patrol. Get an Old Fashion phone from Ma Bell for $20 bucks a month, you need one for most security systems anyway.

Remember, Cop's are just there to do the paperwork, they cannot help you, at least not in time. You need to defend yourself!

 

[Dan Roman]

I forgot, another factor to consider if you are thinking about guns, if the intruder(s) are armed, it could mean a shoot out. No guaranty your wife would win.

 

[Patriot328]

1. Big, loud dog.
2. The Judge - handgun for home defense - shoots .410 shotgun shells so aim doesn't have to be that good to do the job.


http://www.taurususa.com/video-theJudge.cfm

If you're going to get a pistol, get a decent one.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm


The Judge has HORRIBLE self-defense characteristics...

Same thing with the people advocating using bird-shot. While I wouldn't want to get shot with ANYTHING personally, birdshot does NOT provide adequate penetration to stop an attacker. If you want to stop an attacker, you are going to need something that will unfortunately be able to go through drywall. Simple physics. Plan your shots carefully and know your background.

And the racking the slide? If the intruder is lucky, he might hear the safety clicking off.

 

[A1FlyBoy]

FYI... Alarm companies wont' 'sell' you a yard sign unless you are a paying customer. Don't waste your time or money on buying a 'bogus' alarm sign online from a fake company. Criminals know alarm companies in your area and will know if it is bogus. As Stiffer's Mom receommended, take a yard sign from a well known local company from a neighbor's yard.

A real alarm company sign in your yard is CHEAP protecton.

 

[Hawker800]

As an ex instructor on this subject for many years as well as ex law enforcement, I still recommend a shotgun loaded with #4 or 5 buckshot. As was previously mentioned it will reduce the chance of going through rooms and injure your family members nor through exterior walls and hit your neighbors. Heavy stuff like 00 and slugs will. 18-20 inch barrel length depending on your state laws. Learn to use it properly. Good dog with a nasty bark is good. Also take your car keys and put them on your night stand. Pushing the panic button on the remote will cause a noise disturbance and attract attention. Home security system installed. Your choice to survive or become a victim. The bad guy made the decision to commit suicide. He knows the risk. Good luck and stay safe everyone.

 

[dillfer]

If you're going to get a pistol, get a decent one.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm


The Judge has HORRIBLE self-defense characteristics...

Same thing with the people advocating using bird-shot. While I wouldn't want to get shot with ANYTHING personally, birdshot does NOT provide adequate penetration to stop an attacker. If you want to stop an attacker, you are going to need something that will unfortunately be able to go through drywall. Simple physics. Plan your shots carefully and know your background.

And the racking the slide? If the intruder is lucky, he might hear the safety clicking off.

They also make the judge in 3 inch now as well. I always thought the judge with birdshot for the first shot and .45 long for the rest would be decent. Alot of people can't hit anything under pressure and at least with the first shot you'll hit them and it'll probably hurt. Just getting a shot off might be enough to scare someone anyway, without killing your neighbor while he's sleeping in his bed. And if the intruder keeps coming, he's probably on drugs and you can get him with the .45. A lot of people don't like the judge though.