A storm door outside your regular door is a good idea. It helps keep the hot and cold out too.
If you get one with a central mail slot, it allows you to accept or pass out small items without unlocking the door.
Posted on 10/04/2013 9:21:23 AM PDT by riri
Yesterday as I was doing some work and surfing Free Republic, I got a knock on the door. I never answer the door when home alone and didn't yesterday.
I didn't think much of it initially as we get a lot of solicitors, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.
The individual kept knocking rather aggressively and ringing the bell. I looked out a side window and saw a car. Because there can sometimes be lawsuits at my husband's company, my immediate thought was that perhaps he was receiving a summons for a court case that needed his testimony. While this has never happened before I know it is a possibility.
So, while unnerved, I just thought it was an overly aggressive summons server. I was getting a little rattled but no much. I live in a very nice, quite area which is predominately Mormon. I generally feel pretty safe here. Especially at 10:30 am.
I was home with my teenage daughter at the time. Normally, my husband works from home, right near the front door with a firearm.
My daughter and I went to look at the car again when we heard an enormous bang--sounded like the whole front of the house caved in.
We locked ourselves in the front room, locked the door and jumped out the front window. We ran down the street and called 9.11. About ten minutes later we could see four young, hispanic(ish) youths making out the door with our computers, etc.
9.11 actually put me on hold for three minutes or so. They were able to catch them though before they made it out of our subdivision because they got lost.
The officer that came by today said it was purely random. They tried a house around the corner and the door didn't give as easily so they moved on.
We were extremely lucky in that we made it out of the house. I was extremely stupid for not assuming the worst and getting to a firearm, at least, and not calling 9/11 the minute any radar went off.
The officers said this is a common tactic and sometimes if you answer they will make up a story and go away. Sometimes they will force their way in.
Just thought I would share this with Freepers, especially you women who might find yourselves at home alone. Be armed, be prepared and be vigilant. Our society is falling apart.
Get a revolver, nothing to remember or forget except where it's pointed.
No safety, no magazine, no takedown lever, no wondering whether there is a cartridge in the chamber, there is.
We have a heavy 8 foot door, the door held up fine. It was all the stuff you cited.
On our previous house we installed a Titan Security door.
But we still have three other points of entry and windows.
Your not stupid,I had 2 men knock on the door and I had the screen locked and the one guy was not making any sense so I closed the door.As soon as it turned dark they came back.They could see me calling the police so they ran.Cop found them and got all their info and said they won’t be back.Yea sure-I was alone here so I got my husband’s shot gun and laid it on the couch.
And a gun in a safe does not do any good in many instances.
I know. LenaingRight had inquired about non-firearm methods to defend one’s home and life.
We have a window to the right of the front door. I never open the door, I always open the window because it’s easy to slam shut.
BTW, if you have a double door, make sure both top and bottom locks on the left door are plenty secure. The wind blew open the doors the other day because the left door was loose from when we removed the Christmas tree.
One caution: when replacing the sc rews, do not drill them down too tightly, you will takje the door out of plumb. Use 3 1/2 inch decking screws allows for deep connection without overtightening. Replace ONE screw at a time by leaving the other screws in place while installing one-at-a-time to ONLY the countersink space in the hinge at each screw site.
That IS exactly what I took out yesterday. Slept with it right near me.
Glad you and your daughter are okay, riri!
bfl
Criminals look for "soft" targets. A home that has a "hard" front door may be "hard" in other ways, so the criminal is more likely to keep moving, looking for a softer target.
I don’t have GSDs, just an 85 lb . Pitador and a 110 lb. Great Dane, but my love puppies still do OK, especially when backed up by me with a .40 Beretta Model 96.
Same thing here: Hispanics walk up to a door, ring the bell, if no one answers they try kicking in the door. Locals call it a “Bash-n-Grab”. We also call it “Targets of Opportunity”. Several neighbors have been able to not answer the door but wait for the idiots to start bashing in the door and then draw guns on them. Been quiet ever since word got out that a bunch of crazy white guys are laying in wait to shoot invaders.
if it doesn't immobilize them, they'll at least be blind for 20 minutes.
A storm door outside your regular door is a good idea. It helps keep the hot and cold out too.
If you get one with a central mail slot, it allows you to accept or pass out small items without unlocking the door.
I watched the documentary “The Cheshire Murders” yesterday.
That horror could have been avoided with a couple of dogs like that. Even my late Shelties would have alerted someone.
What a world.
.
Bookmark
I knew they were up to no good as son as i saw them; hence ran for the gun thinking how dumb I was not to have taken it with me in the first place.
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.