My house is surrounded by dusk to dawn lights so I don’t have to remember to turn them on. I prefer these over motion activated because it’s possible that when a group of guys on their way to breaking in may tend to just keep trying to break in because no one in the group wants to “chicken out”. If they see the house is already lit up outside they’re more likely to keep driving by.
The ADT signs are easily visible at night in front and back of the house. Even when not armed, it still chimes to tell me exactly which window or door is being disturbed.
All lower level glass is covered with ballistic security film rated for 5 minutes against a steel crow bar.
Need to spend some time thinking through the threats for your given situation. What are most likely; what is most dangerous. Develop plans to counter the threats giving yourself the most advantage and mitigating the bad guys’ advantages. Keep it simple. Also plan for aftermath: First aid; securing bad guys till the police arrive; talking to the police. Lastly the plans need to be communicated to all appropriate and rehearsed.
We had an intruder break in our home on our farm in Isanti county. In broad daylight he jimmied the door lock. My wife was in the bedroom upstairs. I was talking to her heard noises and went to the top of the stairs and was attacked and drug down the stairs ended up in the hallway to the garage on the main floor. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, call 911 there’s an intruder get out of the house Janet!!! Run Janet run! My wife was on the phone with 911, I was able to escape his grip go out the garage. Deputy Book pulled up and the intruder had came out the front door and was sitting down next to a car in the yard. Deputy Book got out of his squad and went up to the perpetrator and treated him like the victim. That was October 15 2021. I now have a felony warrant for my arrest for 3rd degree assault! There talking our rights away and will never get them back! I’m going to do time for protecting my wife my property and myself. Only in America! Dave D.
I have a SimpliSafe Alarm system with cameras. I have a dog but she is a Golden Retriever. She loves everybody so she would not be any help. Right next to my bed a have a emergency safe with a 1911 ACP inside with a full magazine. I don’t have a round in the chamber. I don’t want an accidental discharge. I have a loaded pump shotgun in a safe under my bed. It is loaded with 00 Buck. Again no cartridge in the chamber. Hopefully the distinctive chambering a round would send a message for them to take off.
We have a weapon in every room, and do drills quarterly. It is just my wife and I, so we keep all of our weapons on the ready. If someone were to break in, we can retreat to any room and be armed. Intruders will definitely know they picked the wrong home to invade.
Something doesn’t sound right. I spent some time in law enforcement working in a 3800 square mile county with farms and ranches and seen lots but nothing like this. Did you beat the crap out of that dude? Even so, the charges against you sound excessive and frivolous I’d be curious to read the criminal complaint and officers report.
As a Former Marine Combat Veteran, PTSD is a real and existing mental trauma. Though I have never experienced it, many of my Marine Brothers have.
In your case Sir, I would make you aware that these Thugs have a tendency to leave zero witnesses and what you did surely saved your life and any Family who might have been at home at the time.
Your actions are those of a Hero to my mind. You may have taken a life but the life of an Animal who wouldn’t have thought twice about killing you and loved ones who may have been present.
Don’t Stress Sir. This is Why we possess handguns for self defense. It makes my day Better that you were not one of the many victims in today’s world. Be Well!
I keep my doors locked at all times! I also close my blinds/curtains at dusk. Almost any door can be kicked in, that being said, I use a door guard. They set under the doorknob and extend to the floor like a brace. Once it’s installed (about 2 minutes), it would be very difficult to open the door. They are one of the best ways I know of to keep people out when you’re home. They can be purchased at Lowes, Home Depot and online. They run about $20 each. I have one in each door in my house and I even take one on vacation to use in my Hotel room. It’s cheap protection.
I know of two cases; one a drunk and the other a dementia patient, who wandered into the wrong house and were shot by the occupant. The dementia patient did not survive. I would not want to live with the knowledge that I killed an innocent who mistook my house for theirs.
Idaho law permits lethal force against someone who makes “tumultuous” entry into your home. While tumultuous is not clearly defined in the statute I think a forced door or window would help my case for the subsequent shooting being justified.
This is along the lines of what I was thinking, i.e. that there are legal considerations as well. Even if someone enters your home in the middle of the night, if the doors were unlocked, you may not enjoy the usual presumptions when it comes to self-defense. Obviously, if there are other indications of a threat, that’s a different story, but typically that presumption applies in the homeowner’s favor if the breach was forcible and depending on individual state laws, would not apply if the entry was not forcible, even if unlawful. I also know of a case in Northern VA a few years ago, very close to where I lived at the time. A drunk teenager returning home late at night broke into his neighbor’s house, apparently thinking it was his own house and that he was locked out. He gained entry through a window or some other means (I don’t recall exactly) that gave the homeowner every reason to consider it a threat. Tragically, the teenager was shot and killed, but since the entry was forcible there were never any charges. If the doors had been unlocked, the legal outcome may have gone either way, but if it were deemed justifiable, it certainly wouldn’t have been as simple and straightforward.
Along with locking doors we do a physical security check also. One thing extra we are surrounded by family and usually theres always eye out at any given time. We watch out for each other and our neighbors
Front door is always locked. The barred screen door is locked at night. Also have a alarm that works. And then, if the bad guys really want in, I have the last line of defense. I hope that never gets used.
Not everyone can have an electronic alarm set up. Renters are at the mercy of their landlords and apartment dwellers are even worse off. Not to say it isn’t possible, but not always easy. But EVERYONE can lock their door. It won’t keep invaders out but you will hear them breaking the door open. If you’re like me you have a gun on you at all times, so no time lag in arming myself.
