Home Break-in's: HOW? WHEN? and WHY?

[MrsS]

I am sure folks will have differing opinions on this but what I and my husband do is unlock our gun safe every night when we go to bed (the safe is in our room); we have our 12 gauge shotgun and of course our handguns ready in the safe; the minute I wake up in the mornings for work, the first thing I do is secure the safe! I even have a reminder note on the mirror in the bathroom. We sleep upstairs and have 3 yappy dogs downstairs..they are our first line of defense. We have a little boy so that is why at any other time the safe is to be locked...no exception. We carry discreetly for the most part so our little one usually doesn't know when we are armed.

[Seabeescotty]

We had a group of eight drug wackos invade 20 houses, injuring all who stood up to them, and sexually molesting the female victims. They tried to invade a house, during the day, it was reported, and had a shootout with the police, before giving up. Hopefully, they will never see the light of a free day, again. We stayed alert, and kept loaded weapons close, but thankfully never had to use them. All of our kids are grown, and gone now, and I keep several loaded firearms in the house. It's simply a precautionary measure, but there if I ever need it. We live in a very rural area, and it would all be over before the deputies ever arrived.

[cubbieman]

Originally Posted by Pred

Most are smash and grabs. They come through a window or door, take whatever they see in the open, and get out as quickly as possible. My first bit of advice would be to get a dog, even a small one. Any sound and that dog will be barking it's head off. The truth is, as gas goes up, more people lose their jobs, they will at some point resort to this in order, if nothing else, to survive. Make sure to keep your windows locked. Putting up some sort of barricade at night is not always a bad thing. That extra "kick" to knock down the door may be just enough time to grab your gun. Most of time they don't want trouble. I know that sounds funny but it's true. They don't want to get caught, don't want an armed homeowner in their face, or want to do time for assault or murder.

I agree with that post, especially that most burglars want to get in, get your stuff, and GTFO, except dogs aren't always the best way to go, if you get a little one chances are no one will hear it barking, and if you get a big one you'll have to make sure your neighbors will get curious if they hear it barking, the guys on "it takes a thief" get past dogs all the time, one time he ran past 2 dobermans to an unlocked door they were guarding, and one time the neighbor saw him, so he called them cops, then went over and took the keys from the getaway car and locked everything inside it. it kind of backfired though, they had an acura in the garage that he took instead, I guess what i'm saying is neighbors will be more helpful then a dog if you can trust them.

[deadman03]

Originally Posted by TXplt

An alarm/dog/lights is a great idea. This will potentially give you some time to get your family to safety and arm up (while rolling the cops as well). As much as others can assist in helping you, self-defense of you and your family will always primarily be your right and responsibility.

what ever you do, there should be redundant systems. if you advertised that you had an alarm system that could scare away most criminals, also dogs arnt a bad idea, they can do a very good job at protecting you, or at least letting you know someone is coming. motion sensing lights would deter crime at night, or at least be a nice to have coming in at night.

[Brother Bob]

God have mercy on whoever breaks into my house. Two pit bulls, a wife that's been going through menopause for 10 years, a loaded .357 magnum, and two adults trained in self-defense!

[troy2000]

1. Dog. We have big mean ones in the yard, and little noisy anklebiters in the house; no one's getting through unnoticed and unscathed.

2. SxS 12g shotgun, sawed off a quarter inch beyond legal length, and bird-shot loads. Fast and easy to load in the dark (practice!), you won't kill your kid or a neighbor through the wall, and if you catch any piece of an intruder at all it's going to discourage !@#$ out of him...

I repeat: practice! Go to a range or into the hills, and load and fire until it's completely automatic. Then take it home, place the gun and the shells where they're going to be when you're sleeping, and practice actually rolling out of bed in the dark. You want to able to drop two shells into that SxS, swing it shut and flick the safety off before you even finish waking up.

[ArkansasHunter]

lorcin25 If the bad guy's bust in and take you by surprise there's not a whole lot you can do except may be put up motion lights and there only good for night time.

I had a custormer who adapted an alarm to an inexpensive motion light.
He bought the motion light and then went to Radio Shack and bought an alarm and wired the alarm to the motion light.
When the light came on so did the alarm.

Thats a no brainer because you can buy alarms already that way, but what this guy did was run the low level buzzing alarm to his bedroom and the motion detector light was mounted under the eve of his house in his back yard.

He was always alerted when cats and dogs came in his back yard too, but it's a thought to not be caught off gard.

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Here this is in response to the triple murder posted in this thread.

You do have to ask yourself where was this guys firearm? Bet they didnt have one because they were against them.

Time to admit the 'gun nuts' are right

[alaskamonte]

Originally Posted by troy2000

1. Dog. We have big mean ones in the yard, and little noisy anklebiters in the house; no one's getting through unnoticed and unscathed.

2. SxS 12g shotgun, sawed off a quarter inch beyond legal length, and bird-shot loads. Fast and easy to load in the dark (practice!), you won't kill your kid or a neighbor through the wall, and if you catch any piece of an intruder at all it's going to discourage !@#$ out of him...

I repeat: practice! Go to a range or into the hills, and load and fire until it's completely automatic. Then take it home, place the gun and the shells where they're going to be when you're sleeping, and practice actually rolling out of bed in the dark. You want to able to drop two shells into that SxS, swing it shut and flick the safety off before you even finish waking up.

If you and yours don't have a defense plan same as a fire drill plan then BAD on you! Do some planning!

I'll differ with Troy (two shots?) and mention even Jane Fonda used an M16, good choice! High capacity and easy weapon control make an AR-15 the ultimate house gun.

Even in Bohunk Anchorage we've had home invaders dressed as cops! Anyone can buy windbreakers with POLICE stenciled front and back and I must mention what my middle daughter once asked.....how do you know that it's really the UPS man?

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by alaskamonte

If you and yours don't have a defense plan same as a fire drill plan then BAD on you! Do some planning!

I'll differ with Troy (two shots?) and mention even Jane Fonda used an M16, good choice! High capacity and easy weapon control make an AR-15 the ultimate house gun.

Even in Bohunk Anchorage we've had home invaders dressed as cops! Anyone can buy windbreakers with POLICE stenciled front and back and I must mention what my middle daughter once asked.....how do you know that it's really the UPS man?

I can have another two shots in and ready to go before anyone's head, eyes and ears clear from the first two, alaskamonte, but I seriously doubt I'd need them. In the first place, it's hard to miss with a sawed-off 12g--not impossible but hard, since they'd most likely be in the doorway of my bedroom when I pulled the trigger. And imagine two 12g shells going off in quick succession in the dark, in a confined space. If that doesn't do the job and send any survivors running, I'm at war instead of simply dealing with intruders.

I have war toys I can grab next, if I need to escalate...but I'm not pulling the trigger on any AR15 in my home; I'd be a menace to the wife, kids and neighbors.

How do you know it's the UPS man? Easy; anyone wearing those brown shorts who doesn't have deeply-tanned legs is bogus.

[alaskamonte]

Originally Posted by troy2000

I can have another two shots in and ready to go before anyone's head, eyes and ears clear from the first two, alaskamonte, but I seriously doubt I'd need them. In the first place, it's hard to miss with a sawed-off 12g--not impossible but hard, since they'd most likely be in the doorway of my bedroom when I pulled the trigger. And imagine two 12g shells going off in quick succession in the dark, in a confined space. If that doesn't do the job and send any survivors running, I'm at war instead of simply dealing with intruders.

I have war toys I can grab next, if I need to escalate...but I'm not pulling the trigger on any AR15 in my home; I'd be a menace to the wife, kids and neighbors.
s who doesn't have deeply-tanned legs is bogus.

How do you know it's the UPS man? Easy; anyone wearing those brown short

Try some IPSC/IDPA Troy!


Maybe draw up your own scenerio (sorry, stuck in bold) the idea that one could stop mid battle to fetch another weapon Troy? I can't even attempt to defend the idea that a Shottie is somehow safer than an AR Troy.

Multiple armed invaders pretty much eliminate single handgun defense, happened a few doors down from my well trained daughters place.

Anywho, plan and train for Murphys worst day eh?

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by alaskamonte

How do you know it's the UPS man? Easy; anyone wearing those brown short

Try some IPSC/IDPA Troy!


Maybe draw up your own scenerio (sorry, stuck in bold) the idea that one could stop mid battle to fetch another weapon Troy? I can't even attempt to defend the idea that a Shottie is somehow safer than an AR Troy.

Multiple armed invaders pretty much eliminate single handgun defense, happened a few doors down from my well trained daughters place.

Anywho, plan and train for Murphys worst day eh?

A shotgun is definitely safer than an AR, alaskamonte. A load of birdshot probably isn't going to penetrate the walls and kill one of my sons in his bed, or one of the neighbors in his or hers. But a .223 might. It's also harder to miss with one at close range, and if they're too far away for it to do the trick, I don't need to shoot anyway.

I'd say that if I'm so swarmed over a shotgun won't handle the job, and I don't even have time to drop it and pick up a pistol, I'm dead anyway. I'm not set up to singlehandedly withstand a determined, military-style assault on my home by a well-trained and well-armed group willing to take casualties. But I also doubt it'll ever come to that, and I am prepared for more likely scenarios.

[Seabeescotty]

I live in such a remote area, that I don't have to worry about neighbors being caught in the crossfire. And CGO is the only other friendly in the house, so I keep my Bushmaster loaded, with a goodly supply of extra mags handy, but my first grab will be a Ruger GP100, loaded with magnum JHP's. And yes, I have practiced, and I keep a few other aids in the house, except when we have company. Then, I gather and lock everything away, after first unloading. In the summer, you will find me carrying the Ruger, full of snakeshot, at most times. I keep an eye on what's going on around me, and rise at odd hours, as does CGO. We would be a difficult pair to surprise!!

[Rambo]

Most breakins happen while you're away from the home. Petty thieves don't want company. Invasions are rare, unless you're dealing drugs and then they become commonplace as bad guys like to rip off bad guys. More likely, you'll be accosted by someone that knows you. That makes it hard to shoot them. Training for these types of situations is good, but when it happens, look out! It's over in a flash.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Rambo

Most breakins happen while you're away from the home. Petty thieves don't want company. Invasions are rare, unless you're dealing drugs and then they become commonplace as bad guys like to rip off bad guys. More likely, you'll be accosted by someone that knows you. That makes it hard to shoot them. Training for these types of situations is good, but when it happens, look out! It's over in a flash.

With a little luck, I'll never have to deal with such a situation. But if I do, I hope I'll have practiced enough that I won't be fumbling around too much.

[TXplt]

Taurus Judge is good for our situaiton; live with other houses nearby. Bird, buck, .45 Colt to follow.

Limits potential overpenetration in the first couple of shots; after that it's less of an issue.

AND securable but ready for fast access w/5 shots.

[Deersniper]

A motion sensor that plays a recording of a shot gun being racked would be a good deterrent.

[patrick70]

I live in a semi rural area,I have a 5 ft chainlink fence around the house with a couple of dogs.Dogs are great ,no one will be able to sneak up on you.Then I have motion detectors in the back yard along with a security system in the house.In my bedroom my wife has a compact 9mm on her side and I keep a .357 magnum on mine.I also keep an SKS under the bed with several loaded stripper clips,just in case it got real bad.Home invasions are something to really be prepared for.There are alot of violent gangs out there now on the streets,and the police won't get there in time.It can happen at any time ,but be especially careful after dark.

[Mad Hatter]

Armed home invasions have been on the rise near me a lot, especially on Long Island and in Westchester County NY and the few we have had in CT over the past year were deadly. According to police the increase is due to the fact that criminals no that virtually every bank, gas station, convience store etc. have cameras, but most homes do not.. The invasions around here have been during the day, dinner time or night.

[ezearln]

Sadly home invasions are on a sharp rise in many parts of this country, folks they ain't as rare anymore as some here seem to believe. When I can watch the morning news and hear about the latest one having occurred 2 or three times a week at least IMHO they have become the new real threat to citizens much like carjacking has come to be that may have to have a federal law aimed at enhancing the penalties for those committing them (remember there is NO parole from Federal prisons) so far this week alone there have been 2 and 1 attempted in surrounding communities. AND what makes this crime of special concern is these scum bags know or assume you're home they just ain't after "Stuff" they're after you and you're loved ones.

My "alarm system" is three very vocal dogs, they go one alert anytime a stranger enters on our property, my defensive system a fully loaded (8rds) cocked and locked M1911A1 for me, a .38 Special with Hydra shocks and semiwadcutters for the Missus and a 12 SxS with #4 buck just in case they come with a full fire team.
My training, I was a Small Arms Instructor, a high risk core instructor for the United States Navy I am a Navy Expert Pistol Marksman and rifle marksman, I hold certification in every small arm category the Navy had up to my retirement in 1995, I am night fire qualified as well as having taught that course of fire. I am CQB qualified as well as having a USMC Pistol Combat certification. I have instructed my wife on many of the tactics I used to teach in the Law Enforcement Academy. I feel we are as prepared as anyone can be.
But to back up and reinforce Troy2000's statement, GET THE TRAINING and then practice, practice, practice until everything is ingrained as muscle memory and you can do it in the dark and under stress without thinking. And then practice some more!