Yes, the 12 ga would prevent the crime at that time. But would the sheriff arrest you if the vandal/robber was shot, or he filed a complaint with the law? And how long would it take another thief to return knowing that you were locked up as a threat to society? Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t, just like Zimmerman found out.
Don’t you have a “Castle Doctrine” Law in your state? Or a “S-S-SU” unwritten one?
“But would the sheriff arrest you if the vandal/robber was shot, or he filed a complaint with the law?”
The sheriff in a county here held a public press conference and urged women to buy a pistol and learn how to defend themselves. The local liberals had a fit. The sheriff told them to buzz off.
A few weeks later a local good ol’ boy blew away two burglars. Two shots, each smack between the eyeballs. The sheriff called it good shooting.
If you don’t have a constitutional sheriff in your county who supports the 2nd amendment, get one as soon as possible.