Question About Family Safety While You're Gone

[SpaceBall 1]

With the security systems, make sure they are monitored and the Mrs. uses it! Most systems are equipped to put a code in, as if you were disarming the alarm, that will send a silent alarm to the monitoring company. That would be helpful if an intruder got to you just before or as you entered your home.

A dog with a mean bark. Ours is a 40# lab mix, but he has a big bark. He's scared of his own shadow, but somebody rattles a door knob and he sounds ready to rip someone a new a#*hole.

Outside Motion activated lights. A well lighted neighborhood does wonders, but bad things happen there as well. In rural areas, a outside security light.

Install a single sided deadbolt in addition to the regular dead bolt. You can't pick what you can't get to.

Some kind of firearm. I like shotguns. Great for the Mrs. Can the lady at home really take the time to accurately aim a pistol/rifle in a stressful situation? A 12 gauge auto is my choice. Forget the slide racheting sound. The only sound I want them to hear is BOOM!

When out and about, a Concelled Carry Permit and a good PDW.

 

[cynic]

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.

Steal an alarm sign from your neighbor?

 

[Critter717]

Floatplane mentioned it and I could not agree more. A video system or an inexpensive game camera (discretely placed) is a great way to see who has an eye on your house.

 

[Simon Says]

If you don't have a home security system here is a free alternative.

If you have a car that has a remote key entry then chances are that it also has a panic button that makes your car honk its horn. Keep the keychain next to the bed. If the wifey gets uncomfortable at night and thinks someone is breaking in, hit the panic button on the key chain. Your car will start making a racket. Then call the cops. Makes it easy for them to find your house, plus the noise will probably chase the intruders away.

That is what my wife does when I am away.

 

[SBD]

We adopted a police dog(German Sherpard) retired. She's about 7 years old but still a deterent when it comes to people just walking by our house. Great with our 2 year old son. As far as everyone else said, "Shotgun is the way to go." Took the wife to firearm course at ShootStraight here in the ORL area. Wife is ready and armed when I leave for my trips. Security for your family is #1 when you are away.

 

[Tweaker]

BRAVO!!!!

You guys gave nearly two pages already of 24 carat quality advice! I have not much to add, but one correction and one comment to reinforce.

12 Gauge shotgun ammo - The ex-cop bolloxed it up. #5 buckshot doesn't exist. He was also in possession of the finest piece of advice yet offered in regards to shotgun defensive loadings.
#4 buckshot NOT #4 BIRDSHOT offers the most desirable balance of death dealing vs. minimal interior wall penetration. You will have the best chance of stopping a human threat to you while giving those on the other side of a drywall structure minimal damage in the event of shot thru projectiles. Federal makes a load specifically for this purpose, and they do it one better by COPPER COATING THE PROJECTILES. They will better survive the trip down the barrel without deformation and improves the downrange results. GET SOME, YEAH!

Birdshot - That crap is one of the most common and most incorrect of all defensive firearms misconceptions.
1-You will hit without needing to aim - FALSE. At interior firefight distances, shot patterns from all shotguns but a Judge will be so small as to completely miss a target that is not properly aimed! A .50 caliber Desert Eagle fires a 1/2" single boolit. A shot pattern does not get bigger than your palm for over 10-15 feet! How big is your biggest room? Exactly. Accurate shot placement is the first and most important requirement.
2-Birdshot will hurt them - True, but insufficient. You are shooting to end a threat to you and yourn. Not to kill, and not to scare or wound! Birdshot will nearly never stop a threat soon enough to prevent a determined attacker from continuing to do you harm. If you have to wait for shock to wear off, or him to bleed out, HE HAS MANY MINUTES TO CONTINUE HIS ATTACK!
3-I don't WANT to kill someone, but I will most likely face less chance of complications after a "good shoot" if the attacker is no longer among us. Dead men tell no tales and whatnot. Birdshot will not accomplish much in this regard. No warning shots are EVER a good tactical decision. Shots that do not contribute to the goal of stopping a threat then, must be in the same category.

 

[Captain X]

When it comes to home defense weapons, you'll get 1000 different options. Here's one more:

12 Gauge -- Remington 870SP or Mossberg 500 with
Federal or Hornady Home Defense ammo (2 3/4" #1 Buck, or 00 as a second option)

Closed-hammer 9MM revolver with
Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P ammo
(Crimson Trace Grips would be a nice addition unless one pulls the trigger frequently for practice)

Lastly, both weapons need to be charged and readily accessible and not require a light on to do so. If you need to hit the lights to rotate the dial on the safe, you've just signaled an intruder to your presence and illuminated yourself as a target. If your safe has a keypad with sounds, disable them.

A high-power xenon or LED flashlight is another excellent "weapon" in terms of disabling an intruders vision. Surefire makes excellent ones with serrated ends too. Or you can add one from GG&G (www.gggaz.com).

Training with all of the above.

A dog.

A plan (exit strategy, phone, etc.)

See if there is a local range that does a women's defensive firearms class and then find a local club that does IDPA shooting.

 

[av8tor4239]

A couple of notes from experience that have not been mentioned yet.

When installing lights on my homes exterior I found it expensive and complicated to get the wired lights... I bought motion activated solar powered LED flood lights from Lowes for $99 each. Two of them light up my driveway and front yard well.

Be aware of Dog Signs.. I have two of them

A cheap alternative to a camera "system" is a Game camera.. the kind deer hunters use to photgraph deer in the woods where they hunt. Sporting goods store for around $100. These cameras use SD cards and are motion activated... work great...

Ihave also invested in a driveway alarm... I built a house for the motion sensor using a modified bird feeder from Lowes and installed it under a tree near the entrance to my driveway. Turn it on at night and if anyone comes within 20 or so feet of the motion sensor it rings a bell on the base station in my house.

I put the decorative lights along the walkways and on the rail post to my front steps (solar powered).. the more lights the better!!

I also purchased a storm door for the front of the house from Lowes that is made by a company called Larson. The plexiglass storm door is a "securtiy door" that is guarenteed to be un-breakable (the will pay you up to $1000 if it is broken into).. it is pretty heavy duty with triple locking mechanism.. $400 installed by Lowes.

9mm Glock, Mossberg 500 pump, Winchester 308, and few others... but they are in a locked gun safe because of the children so it probably would not be too effective in a home invaision...

English, Pit, Boxer mix with a nasty bark and growl.. who can clear a room with his farts...

Our biggest problem in the past has been car break ins in our driveway, and in our state you can not shoot someone that is not in your home... even if they were in your home and are running away you can NOT shoot them dead, so I invested in "Dog The Bounty Hunter" style pepper spray.. the big canisters with handles and trigger mechanism.. effective spray about 100 feet.

I have not invested in this yet, but I have thought about a paintball gun with pepper balls for when they break into the cars in the driveway... cant shoot them with bullets but can sure pepper them with pepper balls... (no pun intended).

Call the local police and tell them to patrol your home twice a day.. they actually have a list of homes to patrol, you just have to tell them to put you on their list.. I do this every time I leave the house on an extended trip.

I think it is essential to have a plan... if there is someone in the house you and your wife need to know exactly what to do without having a discussion about it... it is like engine failure at V1.. make it a memory action item...

One more thing... get a couple pair of cheap size 15 work boots from walmart scuff them up and keep them outside by the doors... makes it look like a big MO FO might be home!!

 

[Hawker800]

Yo Tweaker. I have some #5 buckshot for Pheasants. Are you saying they don't make it anymore? Good call on that new home defense ammo. I had forgotten about that.

 

[Ticker]

Lots of fantastic recommendations here.

For the immediate future, any decent gun shop with it's own shooting range will likely have staff of instructors that will most likely include female instructors. The ones by me have a ladies night once a week or a couple of times a month.

My wife and I both grew up with guns all our lives. My wife lived in a state where she was allowed to get a carry permit at age 18. Her dad gave her a revolver when she moved away for college. She and her girlfriends came in the house one evening to find a burglar. Her friends never knew she carried. They found out when she sent the scumbag running from the business end of her gun. She knows how to use it. He's damn lucky he chose flight vs fight.

We now have 3 small children in the house. Every gun in my gun safe with the exception of my black powder rifle is loaded with a round in the chamber and the safety on. The wife and I each have a GunVault pistol safe...each with our own pistol loaded and chambered. It reads your finger print, opens from the front and fits under the bed. They ain't cheap ($300ish) but I would have zero chance of getting to the main safe when SHTF. There was a company that made an under the bed long gun safe that would fit a shotgun and had a spring loaded drawer a few years ago. Apparently out of business now. Too bad. Great idea.

I do not believe in combination (any type) locks or key locks on my immediate access safes. When the door is being beaten in and your adrenaline has spiked, the fine dexterity in your fingers is gone. At that point, your gross motor skills are all you can count on. There is one interesting way to keep your shotgun secure and relatively accessible. Stack-On makes a small safe that mounts in the wall, between the joists and fits nearly flush. Unfortunately, you still need a key to open it. Stack-On In Wall Safe.

Each of our children are regularly exposed to firearms and and allowed to touch/hold them unloaded if they ask (they rarely do after the 1st-2nd time). Takes away the mystery. When they are old enough (one is just this year), they will be able to shoot if/when they want to.

Start a neighborhood watch. You may only get one or two takers but with the break in's you describe, you may get more. You can set up a meeting with your neighbors and your local Law Enforcement and have an informal meeting right in your living room or neighborhood clubhouse (if you have one). Also, you can get started and research here...USAonWathch.

 

[Cowboy75]

Home defense: Remington 1100

For the road: Trunk monkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rFvR7Bv9Fk

 

[30West]

Years ago some gangbanger punk broke into my neighbor's townhouse a few doors down, and had a rather unfortunate encounter with a 100 pound Rottweiler named Lars.

 

[NEDude]

Steal an alarm sign from your neighbor?

Yeah, a bit funny. In a thread about protecting your family and home from crime, the suggestion is to commit a crime on your neighbors home.

 

[michael707767]

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.

Typical liberal anti-gun BS. Yes there is a chance that the bad guy can get the gun. The way we see it, without a gun the odds are zero that she can defend herself.

BTW, the Glock is in a gun vault under the bed. You would have to be awake enough to unlock it to get to the handgun.

My wife is trained and very proficient in handling a gun. She has a CCW permit and carries on a daily basis. Frankly, I would not mess with my wife. She, and I, are perfectly willing to use the gun to defend our home and our family.

 

[IBNAV8R]

I'm assuming if you employ a firearm as part of your home defense plan, you are actually committed to killing another human being. It is essential to know what you're getting into as far as local laws, responsibilities and possible consequences (justified or not) of using lethal force. You need to have a general plan regarding safe rooms, communications, lighting, trajectories/over-penetration, legal help afterward, etc. A good defensive firearms course covers this and is a must for all who have access to said weapons. The U.S. Concealed Carry Assn. is an excellent source for information as well as links to various reputable training academies.

 

[Tweaker]

Yo Tweaker. I have some #5 buckshot for Pheasants. Are you saying they don't make it anymore? Good call on that new home defense ammo. I had forgotten about that.

I'll wager that it's buckshot? I have never seen that referenced and certainly not on an online catalog for purchase. It has occurred to me that I may not possess complete knowledge about this and a great deal of other topics.

Buckshot is actually rarely used for deer hunting (bucks), as it can really tear up the meat and make a damnable mess for field dressing. Ineresting?


No one has mentioned this, so I will. Especially for a solitary female, but still the best practice for a man, in the event of a suspected home invasion, do not go hunting them down! You have many disadvantages even in your own home. A team with many weeks of training together is the only feasible way to do a home sweep, as the complexities and variables are just to great. Men, do yourself a favor and just do what the ladies should do. Sit tight in the most secure location and cover the entrance. Await law enforcement and make them aware of your location and your weaponry at the ready. It is hard for a man to accept, but this is the advice of those who train professionally.

Get a solid core master bedroom door, deadbolt that thing and prepare a nasty surprise for someone fool enough to come messin' with your mamma grizzly!

 

[FSIGRAD]

Nothing against guns, I own quite a few, but there is a high probability of the Ms. actually shooting you. Turn gets canceled and you show up unexpected at 3am.
I suggest the dog. My Bullmastiff is 160lbs. He is great with kids and a increadible judge of character. Anyone trying to break into our house will most likely lose a limb.

 

[701EV]

There are 200 homes on my subdivision. Every neighbor knows where the 90 pound Doberman lives. You can't get within 50 of my house without my wife knowing it. If you get past the Doberman. The wife is well versed in the use of the Mossberg 500.

I don't like the motion lights. When an animal walks by the driveway the lights come on. We always leave the front porch light on. That way you can look out any window and see who is at your front door.

 

[Chubaka]

From what I've seen on MaxEx, buy your wife a tazer.

 

[GINCHBLASTER]

Our German Shepherd has great protective instincts. He knows when people are walking down the street, 2 houses down. He's a great protector and friend.

Also, you can't teach your shotgun to fetch cans of beer from the fridge!

 

[COOPERVANE]

I believe in a layered defense. Lots of motion lights, security sign at least, Dog. Serious solid door with good deadbolt.

Best advise I ever heard was to install a solid wood door as your bedroom door and a put a good deadbolt on it.

This is my wife's plan if I'm out of town.

BTW this plan only works if you don't have kids:

If you hear somebody in the house DON'T LEAVE THE BEDROOM!" Call 911 on your landline and advise them you are in the northeast corner bedroom and you have a gun. Don't hang up but do throw the phone handset on the bed to "hear" the following events.

Open a window and fire a 12 Gauge round into the ground. You just let the intruder know:
1)You are awake and know about him
2) You have a loaded shotgun in the house

You just elevated the 911 call from "possible" intruder to "shots fired"

You'll never have to confront any scumbags. The intruder WILL leave.... no doubt in my mind. If he doesn't he will have a hard time getting into the bedroom. If he does NO JURY in the world would convict you for shooting him.

Doesn't work so well if you are sitting in the living room.

I heard about this from a home defense expert. What flaws do you see?

 

[IBNAV8R]

Nothing against guns, I own quite a few, but there is a high probability of the Ms. actually shooting you. Turn gets canceled and you show up unexpected at 3am.
I suggest the dog. My Bullmastiff is 160lbs. He is great with kids and a increadible judge of character. Anyone trying to break into our house will most likely lose a limb.

This is where a phone might come in really handy.

 

[waveflyer]

I love all the pro gun people here thumping their chest- I'm all for preparedness but you guys don't sound like you want to be just prepared- it's your soap opera trying to figure all the different scenarios- you replay them over and over like a kid shooting hoops in his driveway counting down a game clock- it's crystal clear most of you have never seen a body and blood - and I'd bet half of you at least can't run worth a damn much less defend yourself--

so take the drama out-
1- good loud dog guarantee they're more aware in their sleep than any of us or an alarm-
2- dumb not to have a monitored alarm w/ cameras- this stuff is cheap compared to just 10 years ago
3- self defense and physical fitness- you will have a hard time calming yourself and doing much of anything if it's a struggle just to jog or do a situp and pushup- much less being aware enough to put a gun in the mix-
4- awareness is your biggest protector- get your neighbors in on it and have all of you look out for each other- find family or friends you trust that canstop by and check up- a real criminal will stake you out and if there is a flow of people popping in at random times they will move on to easier targets

love the car alarm idea- I still do this in all kinds of situations-

those are prerequisites before a gun
then if you still want it- hit up your NRA training for every person of age in the home- you take the ffdo course bc you can and take every course available-

Just don't trivialize how killing a person will affect you- it's no chest thumping experience and one you don't want to screw up- anyone that tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about

any current or past cops weigh in yet?

 

[at7driver]

We have had attempted break ins and some casing type activity in our s/d the last few months.

BIG dog and shotguns. alarm system is nice to wake you up but the "event" will be over by the time the sheriffs arrive. make a plan for night time invasions ie: where the kids go, password etc etc.. have a safe room for them to go into and STAY until you come for them. You dont want the kids running around a dark house when you have potential intruders.

still a bit nervous when I'm on trips but I know my family is prepared if something bad does happen.

If you can bid daylines you'd be home at night, though we have had two seperate incidents lately during daylight hours as well.

people are getting desperate.

 

[hockeypilot44]

I love all the pro gun people here thumping their chest- I'm all for preparedness but you guys don't sound like you want to be just prepared- it's your soap opera trying to figure all the different scenarios- you replay them over and over like a kid shooting hoops in his driveway counting down a game clock- it's crystal clear most of you have never seen a body and blood - and I'd bet half of you at least can't run worth a damn much less defend yourself--

so take the drama out-
1- good loud dog guarantee they're more aware in their sleep than any of us or an alarm-
2- dumb not to have a monitored alarm w/ cameras- this stuff is cheap compared to just 10 years ago
3- self defense and physical fitness- you will have a hard time calming yourself and doing much of anything if it's a struggle just to jog or do a situp and pushup- much less being aware enough to put a gun in the mix-
4- awareness is your biggest protector- get your neighbors in on it and have all of you look out for each other- find family or friends you trust that canstop by and check up- a real criminal will stake you out and if there is a flow of people popping in at random times they will move on to easier targets

love the car alarm idea- I still do this in all kinds of situations-

those are prerequisites before a gun
then if you still want it- hit up your NRA training for every person of age in the home- you take the ffdo course bc you can and take every course available-

Just don't trivialize how killing a person will affect you- it's no chest thumping experience and one you don't want to screw up- anyone that tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about

any current or past cops weigh in yet?

Lol. I had a teenager try to rob me with a pocket knife a few years ago. When he did it, I might have had a few drinks in me. As soon as he pulled the knife, I raised my voice and went after him. He turned around and ran away as fast as he could. Looking back that was probably a really dumb move on my part. I don't think the thought of me attacking him back ever crossed his mind.

 

[dillfer]

I love all the pro gun people here thumping their chest- I'm all for preparedness but you guys don't sound like you want to be just prepared- it's your soap opera trying to figure all the different scenarios- you replay them over and over like a kid shooting hoops in his driveway counting down a game clock- it's crystal clear most of you have never seen a body and blood - and I'd bet half of you at least can't run worth a damn much less defend yourself--

so take the drama out-
1- good loud dog guarantee they're more aware in their sleep than any of us or an alarm-
2- dumb not to have a monitored alarm w/ cameras- this stuff is cheap compared to just 10 years ago
3- self defense and physical fitness- you will have a hard time calming yourself and doing much of anything if it's a struggle just to jog or do a situp and pushup- much less being aware enough to put a gun in the mix-
4- awareness is your biggest protector- get your neighbors in on it and have all of you look out for each other- find family or friends you trust that canstop by and check up- a real criminal will stake you out and if there is a flow of people popping in at random times they will move on to easier targets

love the car alarm idea- I still do this in all kinds of situations-

those are prerequisites before a gun
then if you still want it- hit up your NRA training for every person of age in the home- you take the ffdo course bc you can and take every course available-

Just don't trivialize how killing a person will affect you- it's no chest thumping experience and one you don't want to screw up- anyone that tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about

any current or past cops weigh in yet?

Dude, can you ever make a post without being condescending? And by your post I take it that you're not a "pro-gun person." What's the old saying? Lincoln made all men free, Samuel Colt made them equal. This is a thread that puts ideas out there to consider, not a thread to have dad tell people what to do.

 

[waveflyer]

True enough- that post did sound sanctimonious- apologies-
No- I'm pro gun- surprised?

Many of the posts just seem out of order- you should do all of those things- like the previous poster- a layered approach-
The gun is simply the last of many things- I personally find that self defense with a gun is not that useful if you haven't had self defense training incorporated-
A gun doesn't make you equal automatically- you can be a serious danger to yourself and your family if you don't know what you are doing-
Sorry- but I think basic fitness and ability to carry yourself should come first

Nice post above about solid doors and locks and firing the gun in a safe direction so the intruder knows your there-

 

[COOPERVANE]

Many of the posts just seem out of order- you should do all of those things- like the previous poster- a layered approach-
The gun is simply the last of many things- I personally find that self defense with a gun is not that useful if you haven't had self defense training incorporated-
A gun doesn't make you equal automatically- you can be a serious danger to yourself and your family if you don't know what you are doing-
Sorry- but I think basic fitness and ability to carry yourself should come first

Nice post above about solid doors and locks and firing the gun in a safe direction so the intruder knows your there-

I agree completely with you. You simply cant cover all this stuff on a message board.

I don't think a solution to home security is buying a .38 and keeping it on the nightstand.

I am pro gun but I do believe you are more likely to have an accident with the gun than be a victim of crime if everybody in the house (adults) are not trained and proficient.

I have a friend who killed someone in self defense. It was a 100% "clean" shoot and the guy was a scumbag, but my friend still has problems dealing with it. He no longer carries a gun because of it. So yeah, you don't wanna go there. No chest thumping here.

I still think #1 priority is really solid doors and locks. There is no reason why you should wake up startled with someone standing at the foot of your bed as you grab your .38. That should only happen in movies.

 

[pilot error]

big dog, big gun.

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

exactly. an intruder would rather deal with me and a gun than with my gsd.

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.

a lot better odds than if only the bad guy is armed.

 

[murano]

I believe in a layered defense. Lots of motion lights, security sign at least, Dog. Serious solid door with good deadbolt.

Best advise I ever heard was to install a solid wood door as your bedroom door and a put a good deadbolt on it.

This is my wife's plan if I'm out of town.

BTW this plan only works if you don't have kids:

If you hear somebody in the house DON'T LEAVE THE BEDROOM!" Call 911 on your landline and advise them you are in the northeast corner bedroom and you have a gun. Don't hang up but do throw the phone handset on the bed to "hear" the following events.

Open a window and fire a 12 Gauge round into the ground. You just let the intruder know:
1)You are awake and know about him
2) You have a loaded shotgun in the house

You just elevated the 911 call from "possible" intruder to "shots fired"

You'll never have to confront any scumbags. The intruder WILL leave.... no doubt in my mind. If he doesn't he will have a hard time getting into the bedroom. If he does NO JURY in the world would convict you for shooting him.

Doesn't work so well if you are sitting in the living room.

I heard about this from a home defense expert. What flaws do you see?

I freaking love this post.