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.
>>(i’d never assume four hispanics in a junker are up to any good anyway) <<
Never assume four hispanics in a brand new Caddilac are nice people. The car could be stolen. Treat all strangers with equal suspicion!
They stole your FReeping tools??
That is outrageous!!
Death penalty at least!!
Exactly — that is why I am advocating that y’all strengthen your door jambs, hinges, and lock areas.
Careful - think about what those longer screws might stick into. wires. glass side lights? inspect first.
I have a Golden Retriever and a Springer Spaniel. Nice dogs. Terrific watch dogs.
When confronted by strangers, they don’t just bark - they snarl!
Wasp spray works better. It won't blow back in your face and disable you. Also it sticks to whatever it touches and isn't easy to wipe out of their eyes.
Hiding a gun in every room is not the best plan, IMHO. The odds of a child stumbling across it, or even a pet somehow messing with it, are too great.
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All through childhood, and in every house we lived in, there was a firearm accessible in every room except the kids bedrooms and bathrooms. We (as kids) didn’t know the guns were there until we were each around 12, at which point all of us had been taught to shoot (daddy started teaching us at 5 with a Daisy). We never had an accident or even a near accident.
Where and how your firearms are hidden is important, but it can be done safely with a bit of planning - even with kids in the house.
Good for you being in wonderful rural area. Been there - wish I’d never left. When I lived in the mountains most everyone carried either on person or close by (in the truck).
I live in the city now and I carry as well, even in my yard, but I’m not typically packing inside the house (it’s a girl thing). Having a loaded gun hidden in every room means I don’t have to fight my way to a firearm.
Agreed. There’s an 8-ft hedge and fence with a 6-ft gate and two German Shepherds between me and the street. Needless to say I don’t get solicitors :)
That scribbling sound is me taking furious notes...
For home defense, if a gun isn't an option, go for some large bear-spray pressurized canisters. They have a stream that is wider and longer. Distance is your best friend in these situations. Spray and pray, get out of the house. I'm sure hunting/camping supply stores carry them. I'm not sure if Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is the active ingredient in bear spray, but that's the good stuff.
Quite a few years ago a perp was trying to jimmy open my bedroom window at night, until he heard me rack a round. Next thing I heard was feet making a hasty exit.
As you are in AZ where I am now, I love the monster heavy metal storm front doors. Mine is nice looking, ornate, heavy wrought metal and a lock as stout as the main door.
I’d get one and keep it locked. Throwing open the door behind it with a pump 20 gauge in your hands is a good way to greet visitors that seem persistant. I also tell some of them to step out to the curb end of the sidewalk, I can hear you from there.
If you do not have kids then that works well! Good on you!
I don’t have any, but schutzhund-trained rotties are my favorite dog for protection and alert (alert is key).
Good specimens are very calm and relaxed when at rest, yet extremely territorial and extremely dominant (they can “afford to be calm”). There are videos of competitions online to give you a taste of the capabilities; I highly recommend viewing a competition, it’s really quite amazing.
I like them best cuz they’re far and away the most trainable to be responsive to master’s commands. When everything is right, they will always charge ahead towards any attacker on your command (most dogs will not reliably do this) - and will always release on your command.
An untrained / unresponsive dog is not nearly as useful against serious attackers; can be completely useless.
Rottie owners, however, must be leaders and mean business in order to have good control, i.e., never tolerate bad behavior. Then you’d have fantastic team member dogs that love your family and would give their lives to protect you without hesitation.
A while back an untrained, pushy german shepard was visiting a neighbor. Then... came nozing into the yard without being aware of my presence. I took the opportunity to teach it that it was in my territory by simple authoritarian “roust”, which sent the “big bad doggie” back with its tail between its legs. People think they have a dog that will strike fear, alert them, or be of some other use, but unless well trained it’s of little consequence for determined attackers. Many dogs don’t even come back to their masters when called.
No matter what type of dog, you and your doggies want to train as a team. They will love the opportunity to work for you. An armed, trained family with well-trained protection dogs could flush/kill/subdue a surprising number of attackers, IMHO.
We have an arch that leads into a walled courtyard. The wrought iron and gate spans the whole arch top to bottom. Sure it can be taken off the hinges, etc. but would take quite some time. A heckuva lot more time than kicking in the front door.
However, I'm not here too convince you if you are comfortable with your own security arrangements.
Sounds good, especially the dogs.
riri wrote:
“No, while I am not completely at ease with a gun (because I think I am forgetful) I would put a bullet right through someone’s head who came near my kids. I wouldn’t even think twice. I would consider it a good day’s work. “
Dear Riri,
I apologize if I were too harsh.
Being not completely at ease with a gun, is something that can be worked on, in time. (My problem is that ‘in time’, might be a tad too late in today’s world.) I have a dear friend who has taken five years to just allow one within their home! No idea how long to get them to the range, but I have to allow them to get their mind wrapped around things.
There’s that “Mama Griz” thing, but a moment of mechanical hesitation, in an instance where that might be visited upon someone by a particular “Mr. Murphy”, would be overcome, should that “Mama Griz” already know how to overcome that moment, and present the intruder with their ‘dirt nap ticket’.
As I was reminded, hit them between the shirt pockets till they go down.
Good point. Mr. GG2 is a general contracter and he installed 3 1/2 inch screws on the hinge side of our front door and 3 1/2 inch screws on the striker side. Plus a flip lock on the top inside.
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