Question About Family Safety While You're Gone

[your_dreamguy]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

I live in a good and somewhat affluent neighborhood, so to speak. I just found out from my neighbor that someone tried to break in her home at around 11.30 PM last night, i.e. attempted night time home invasion. The potential intruder didn't succeed. The police were called, they didn't find the alleged suspect but a police report was filed.

Our neighborhood is a bit shook up. In addition to my neighbor, some of the surrounding homes have been broken into. There are some vacant foreclosures and we think criminals are going to the foreclosures, posing as potential buyers, landscapers, utility workers, etc. and are then jumping the backyard fences to adjacent properties and breaking into those properties.

So, I am a bit worried leaving for my trips because I'm worried for my wife and kids. Does anyone have any suggestions? What do you do when your away for your trips?

Please no smartA$$ remarks.

Thx.

 

[Flyer1015]

No smart as$ answers necessary.

What state do you live in? Look at Castle laws for your particular state.

Too many effin psychotics in America for too many reasons. Mental insanity, job loss, poverty, crime of opportunity, tough economy, you name it. I don't give a sheet what reasons someone has. They have NO right to break into my home with the intent of stealing from me, hurting/killing me, and/or my hurting/killing/raping my wife.

I've been raised by a responsible father who taught me to use both his handgun (a Ruger) and his shotgun (Remington). I'm comfortable with guns. Currently looking for a personal protection weapon (leaning towards Airline pilot discounts deals with H&K Compact LEM and Kahr weapons). My wife has never used a gun, but I will teach her responsibly. Learn, and learn it well.

And for those you naysayers who think this will will never happen to you, please wake up. Look in past history with mass shooting sprees. Virginia Tech shooter. The Amish school shoooter in Pennsylvania, the Omaha mall shooting, Columbine, etc. etc. etc. You know what all of them had in common? The rampage ended only, and ONLY when the gunman decided to turn the gun on himself. No police shot any of these mass murderers. By the time police get there and attempt a rescue attempt, it is already too late.

....don't let it be too late for you. Be responsible, be safe.

 

[GuppyWN]

If you are comfortable with guns there is NO BETTER home defense weapon than a shotgun. 1st 2 rounds fired are birdshot, 3rd and 4th are buckshot, 5th on up are slugs.

By the time the second shot is fired your boys are either on the carpet or long gone plus the birdshot will not ricochet throughout your house - namely your kids rooms.

Gup

 

[S3sundowner]

Of course, if you back it up a bit, sometime prior to the shootout..

1. Start a neighborhood watch.
2. Install motion activated outdoor lights and outdoor/indoor security cameras. Electronics stores have these.
3. Get a security system.
4. Then get a gun and make sure the young kids can't access it. Older kids can learn how to use it but be sure to restrict access.

Of course, before you go cowboy make sure it's not just your drunk brother-in-law looking for a spot on the couch...

Be safe!

 

[Ronnie75]

1. Home security system.
2. Shotgun.
3. Large dog.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Criminals hate noise and attention. A dog can be a great deterrent. Even a little yippee ankle biter is noisy but i would recommend a larger breed. There are rescue operations that do a great job of screening the dogs for bad traits and they are usually house broken from their foster family. Look at the Akita and obviously the German Shepard. It may cost a little money to adopt but between a dog and a wife trained to use a shotgun I sleep pretty well at night and I am on day 23 of this trip. Far more days out in a row than most work. The weapons training is more important than anything else by far if you decide to go that route and firearms are not for everyone. One must possess the will and the mindset for a firearm to be an option. In the defense of her children my wife seems to possess both.

Good Luck with a problem we all have had to deal with.

 

[RogerMOSA]

My German Shepherd works nicely. Alot of responsibility, time and effort, but worth every hour and penny.

 

[njcapt]

Noisy dogs and a shotgun - just tell the wife to aim above the dogs. The sound of someone in the dark racking a shotgun is generally enough to send any burglar running, but my wife can't be counted on to operate machinery when under stress. I have a 20ga side by side loaded with buckshot shells that she has been instructed in the use of and, after a few scary moments while living in an under-populated off-season resort area, is willing to use.

Having a choke point barricade near any sleeping rooms is a good line of defense. I live in a Chicago bungalow that has a really noisy, narrow stairway to the second floor bedrooms and requires any invader to make a blind 90 degree turn into the upstairs hallway. There they would be backlit and the wife in almost complete darkness.

 

[RJLooser]

Agree on the dog and the shotgun, but make sure the bride is comfortable with a gun. Take her to the range or better yet, get her in a firearms safety course. The NRA has some great courses, especially for women.

 

[scoreboardII]

Best home defense, dogs that bark. German Shepard, German Short hair, Doberman Pincher (see a trend). Small dog? Pomeranian, Some Chiwawa's (-sp).

Nothing is better than a dog, period. Back it up with firearms and a speed dial on 911.

 

[ironspud]

That's what I love about Florida. You don't even have to drag the armed corpse inside the threshold anymore.

 

[MD11Drvr]

That's what I love about Florida. You don't even have to drag the armed corpse inside the threshold anymore.

You have to love living in the South where the Castle Doctrine is Law in most States. Thank God our States allow us the most basic human right to defend ones life and property. Property is secondary, but the way I look at it anyone who may be bold enough to force their way into my home when my family is in in the dwelling is a real and serious threat to life and liberty.

Bear in mind the 5th amendment does not mean you are hiding anything. It is your defense against an over zealous courts or D.A. All you need to say is "My life was in danger and I would like to speak to my Attorney". Thats is all you should say. No, you have done nothing wrong but let things like race and age enter the picture and a D.A. with bigger political aspirations and you may find yourself in a tight spot. I am no Atty. but I have read much on the subject and you are doing yourself no favors by talking without an Atty. present. The L.E.O's or the D.A. are not your enemies but nor are they your advocate.

Just food for thought given the subject........

 

[LearLove]

shotgun

 

[Dizel8]

A dog is a great companion and intruders hate them.

Second option, shotgun.

 

[CatfishVT9]

One other thing I heard recently. For all you Facebookers and Tweeters, don't post that you are on the other side of the country. Save those comments and photo postings for when you get back home so you aren't advertising your empty home.

 

[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.