So, I almost got robbed today.

[William33 110]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

In the USA, an intruder inside your house, can be stopped with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house becomes an investigative case.......Where all are suspect.

Edited March 20, 2009 by William33

[GueraKristina 1]

wow, he probably saw signs that you were home. cause believe me, if he was really interested in robbing you (and had thought that no 1 was home) he probably woulda football kickd ur pug, good thing ur dog warned you tho. Always lock the doors, you coulda been raped or worse. Everytime my husband leaves (we just got a new apartment so he is kinda paranoid) he tells me to lock the doors, he will shut the door, and walk away, and if he comes back and the door is still open, (he literally walks down the hallway, turns around, comes back andtries the door, haha) he glares at me. I would report it to the police, and mke sure all windows doors and everything that can be locked is.

Meh, honestly? I'm not so sure. I tend to leave the sliding glass door unlocked when I go to class. I don't have a car -- hubby does. Based on the general behavior of robbers in the area, I think he was expecting an unlocked apartment with (at least) a caged dog, no one home.

I think someone was casing the place on Monday. Hubby didn't even tell me but someone walked into our apartment, Monday morning, on his cell-phone and was like "oh sorry, wrong apartment."

Had that happen twice with really drunk people, but yeah.

Well maybe you have some 'nice' robbers where your from. I know the ones where i live dont care about a little dog, im betting he saw you, or saw the lights on (unless u were sitting in the dark), I dont know, i wouldnt need a second lesson like this 1 to tell me to lock stuff up, whether your going to class or visiting a neighbor or w/e. I dont know, sounds like u still might be a bit too trusting after this incident. but thats just me.

[HannahP 119]

Keep the gun close to the 1st floor doors.

Glad it all worked out safely!

I think I'd keep the gun where I am most often. (I don't have kids, btw!) By the first floor door -- that's where the guy was trying to break in to. Had I needed to use the gun....I don't think I'm the type of person who would be able to charge into a room, take a gun, and then turn it onto someone else. I'm not Chuck Norris!

Perhaps an advanced course in home defense may be in order? You would be surprised at how fast you can bring self defense (guns) into action, when a threat is imminent.

Maybe if I were in the military? I am /very/ well-versed in guns, hunting, etc. I could probably field-strip an AK-47 faster than a lot of people.

Mostly, my feelings during this were: confusion, why is someone coming through my back door right now? My hubby can't be home this early. The neighbor who pops in a lot -- my dog wouldn't be mucking around with her. Oh ######, who is it?

Lasted about twenty seconds.

[fozzie 41]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

The laws are quite different in the USA. If an intruder is inside your house, you can stop that threat with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house is a different story.......

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

[William33 110]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

The laws are quite different in the USA. If an intruder is inside your house, you can stop that threat with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house is a different story.......

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

I edited my above post for clarity.

Outside the house = no go (call the Police).

Inside the house - Protect yourself. Unarmed or otherwise... How would you know anyway? If someone appeared in my house unexpectedly (doors are always locked), they would get shot dead.

Edited March 20, 2009 by William33

[Ban Hammer 12,897]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

The laws are quite different in the USA. If an intruder is inside your house, you can stop that threat with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house is a different story.......

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

look up the castle doctrine.

although i don't think too many burglars will be running away inside a house.

repeat after me "ï was in fear for my life"

[fozzie 41]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

The laws are quite different in the USA. If an intruder is inside your house, you can stop that threat with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house is a different story.......

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

look up the castle doctrine.

although i don't think too many burglars will be running away inside a house.

repeat after me "ï was in fear for my life"

I'm not denying you should have the right to defend yourself in your own home, I was just shocked that such a litigation culture as the US would not have some precedent for suing in this situation.

[William33 110]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

The laws are quite different in the USA. If an intruder is inside your house, you can stop that threat with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house is a different story.......

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

look up the castle doctrine.

although i don't think too many burglars will be running away inside a house.

repeat after me "ï was in fear for my life"

I'm not denying you should have the right to defend yourself in your own home, I was just shocked that such a litigation culture as the US would not have some precedent for suing in this situation.

Quite sure people have sued (likely the surviving family members), but they almost always lose their case. There are some blind judges out there.

[Wis-Can 0]

Honestly, I'll probably call the cops tomorrow. We had a few weird run-ins (neighbors ftw) with them so I'm kind of leery of cops, but I don't want anyone else to be robbed, obviously.

Wis-Can -- you definitely need a dog! Tell him to fence his yard, whatever. My dad is a huge gun person but he still says that the best protection that you can have against intruders is a dog. Especially a big dog.

I'll have to print off this post to show him...THANKS! I am working on him. He is a big time gun owner....love hunting. I don't like having them in the house, but I've never been around them till I meet him. He's buying a gun safe to make me feel better about them being in the house. He tells me he's going to teach me to shoot...that should be interesting. To the OP I would call the cops to. You may not be the only one that its happen to in your neighborhood.

[almaty 19]

that snapper earned his keep..i am glad you are sage..lock all doors...

[Ban Hammer 12,897]

any updates to this?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Glad you're ok. I agree - dogs are the best home security you can have.

[milimelo 4,268]

Your dog was a very good deterrent! Extra treats for her should be coming

We live in a house with the alarm but still I don't feel overly safe (yes, we have a weapon in the house, I know how to shoot but don't think I'd have time to get the gun and bullets in time to defend myself).

Hubby has weekend and then 10-20 day trainings away from home so I am often alone with cats (army wife).

We recently had a safety presentation at our work and after everything I heard I am now in process of getting:

http://www.amazon.com/50246-SmartHome-Door...ref=pd_sim_hg_1 (can be set for the sliding door as well)

http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Clad-Alarm-Secu...2998&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Halter-Keychai...ref=pd_sbs_hg_2 (several - one for key chain, one for car, several more for house - you never know).

[HannahP 119]

any updates to this?

Aw, I'm flattered!

I filed a police report over the phone. The guy taking the report said that he didn't know whether there had been others in the area. There was a string of them when we first moved in two years ago and the police eventually posted a circular about it.

The dog got to sleep on the bed last night, much to the chagrin of my do-nothing cats.

milimelo - thanks for the links! I've bookmarked them. We're moving into the city in two months, I like the keychain idea a lot.

[Heracles 417]

Glad you're ok. I agree - dogs are the best home security you can have.

I wish this sort of stuff happened to me. He would be one dead SOB.

I prefer these. Sig and Glock

Edited March 21, 2009 by Constellation