Near Home Invasion (Lessons Learned)

[mydearas]

Learned I can never let my guard down. I have dealt with this before, but it was in much worse parts of the country and expected. I truly believe things will get worse over the next 5 years with the way the economy is going and all the QE money printing the Fed is doing. Inflation is happening, if the sheep wake up, there will be a run on things other than guns and ammo, it will be food next time. That's when you hope your home security is better than your neighbors. My theory is maybe 15% of the population wiped out 100% of guns and ammo on shelves. What if 85% of the population decided they needed to stock up more than a weeks worth of food? Scary thought. Grocery store shelves empty! Hungry people will do anything for a meal!

 

[mydearas]

I did some reading on SHTF School - Real Life Survival Experiences pretty good stuff with regards to home security and just SHTF in general. That site changed a lot of my thoughts on my preparation and planning. He basically says if your house looks like it's already been vandalized you are better off. Of course that would make sense when things get really bad.

 

[gehrheart]

OH is not a very safe place.. Lots of petty crime.
Im North of you in Anacortes. Nice looking old town with very high theft issues! Just doesnt look like it. Start talking with the local P.D. officers and you will quickly learn how rampant the issue is.

The ally behind my house is hit a lot! Cars all the time and the house are quite routine. People think this area is ok so a lot of people dont even bother locking the doors when they leave!
I have had people staring through my living room window and 3AM.. run when they see me coming out of the bedroom.
Plenty of times have had people checking the lock on the back door. (I use a piece of tape on the back screen door. Taped to the door frame. The only way to check the door lock is to open the screen door.. Thus breaking the tape. I then replace the tape. Cheap way to see if there is anyone checking things out. Also have a piece on the Back gate. Small and not really visible, just enough.)

I have had a few "door to door salesmen" who didn't really seem to be selling much or have much of a sales pitch..
I have gotten to the point I will not answer the door with out being armed, and with out seeing who it is first!

Yep the area sure looks nice... Nothing bad looking hear at all..

 

[JAFO]

Someone POUNDING on the door rapidly to the point it wakes up a heavy sleeper in far back bedroom in basement of old heavily built house in the pitch dark at 0600 on Saturday after walking up 20ft elevation, 60ft of distance through grass, not up the driveway in a quiet neighborhood counts for me. Someone was hoping I was not home, plain and simple.

It is still a pretty wild assumption. All you know is that you heard loud pounding. You have no idea what the intentions were of whomever did it.

mydaeras,
Maybe you would have this happen to your family. I couldn't live with it personally:

Connecticut teacher mistakenly kills son after neighbor reports robber - CNN.com

I never said home invasions don't happen. I never said you shouldn't be prepared. I only noticed that you assume you were the victim of a near attempted home invasion with no proof of such. If you had posted saying it was a possibility I probably wouldn't have even commented but you claim it as fact. There are enough victims in this world without people making up their victimization.

 

[CoastRange57]

It is still a pretty wild assumption. All you know is that you heard loud pounding. You have no idea what the intentions were of whomever did it.

Exactly. He had no idea what the persons intentions were. So he prepared for the worst, rather than just walking to the door and opening and going "Yo whats up". Loud pounding on a door will tell you a few things. He knew enough within the frame of his reference that it was not a normal situation and he needed to be prepared.

mydaeras,
Maybe you would have this happen to your family. I couldn't live with it personally:

Connecticut teacher mistakenly kills son after neighbor reports robber - CNN.com

He was wearing dark clothing, a mask and carrying something. Advancing towards him with a mask on and he is supposed to know it is hi son ? Sad story truly, but I guarandamntee you I knew where my 15 yo son was at 1 am. Looks like a very preliminary report that really has no basis to support any position.

I only noticed that you assume you were the victim of a near attempted home invasion with no proof of such. If you had posted saying it was a possibility I probably wouldn't have even commented but you claim it as fact. There are enough victims in this world without people making up their victimization.

He does not need proof of fact. The circumstances led him to a trained conclusion that a home invasion or other crime against his person was about to occur. This is what training ans study will tell you instantly. He set him self up to deal with the situation and I concur with his actions. I have been in the same situation a couple of times, once very recently.

There are specific criminal behaviors that criminals use before committing a crime. Once intent is formed, they use an interviewing process to determine if they can commit the crime. The loud pounding was the first step in the interviewing process. The loud challenge in return was a counter to the first step of the interview process by the criminal. At that point, the criminal determined that this was not a good mark, and they should move on. Wise choice.

Any time you prevent a crime from happening against yourself at the interview step, it is good. After the interview process is the execution phase of the crime and that has several steps also. After the execution phase of the crime has started, it is very unlikely that you will be bale to remove yourself from the situation without some type offensive / defensive action.

Looking at the mans training and experience, and all I see you doing is bashing his way of doing it. You stick to your way, he will stick to his way, and everybody can just go on about their day. I for one appreciate his sharing.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

Going outside alone, even with a dog, means giving up some measure of tactical advantage, especially since you are probably coming out of a known egress point, after shining a flashlight and losing your night vision. The dog is no guarantee, I have read that burglars used a family pet as a hostage to gain entry to an otherwise secure home.

Bad assumptions. Egress from my bedroom is in the back of the house from a gazebo around our hot tub. Said 75 pound coonhound guards the back yard and is very unfriendly to strangers in the dark, and not likely to be caught without commotion. And I don't care how much I like my dogs, none of them have ANY hostage value.

Tactical advantage? I know my property in the dark. I'm used to investigating noises and strange animal behavior in my pastures at night. I have 2 developed acres of house and outbuildings. I know where every door, window, fence, barn, hen house, tractor, hay bale, tool, tree, and shrub is located in the dark. I don't need no stinking flashlight, though I do carry one. And remember that all of those fences are electrified. Also remember there is only one way in and out without encountering said fences and/or dogs.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

It is still a pretty wild assumption. All you know is that you heard loud pounding. You have no idea what the intentions were of whomever did it.

mydaeras,
Maybe you would have this happen to your family. I couldn't live with it personally:

Connecticut teacher mistakenly kills son after neighbor reports robber - CNN.com

I never said home invasions don't happen. I never said you shouldn't be prepared. I only noticed that you assume you were the victim of a near attempted home invasion with no proof of such. If you had posted saying it was a possibility I probably wouldn't have even commented but you claim it as fact. There are enough victims in this world without people making up their victimization.

So your argument is that the world really is a safe place, rumors of bad guys and crime are greatly exaggerated, and that strange happenings in the wee hours are usually just benign oddities, and safe to ignore. How is it in the world of fantasy and make believe?

 

[mydearas]

JAFO,
I've been trying to be nice, you my friend are a troll in the truest sense. Why dont you find another thread to pounce. You stated "If you had posted saying it was a possibility, I probably wouldn't have even commented, but you claim it as a fact."

Read the first line of my post:
"This weekend I'm pretty sure I had an attempted home invasion." Does that sound like stated fact? Pretty sure? Now keep your word and quit commenting!

In response to your other story, the kid had a knife, was dressed in black and attempted to break into his Aunt's house next door after midnight, sh#%ty situation, but he made a bad decision and paid the price.

Here's one for you, happened 2 days ago in Chehalis. Guess if I had kept my mouth shut and waited in the house I could have had the pleasure of a man running down my hall towards me and shot him. Like this guy did 2 days ago here in Western Washington just before dawn...hmm:
Listen to 911 call from scene of Chehalis home invasion | www.kirotv.com

P.S. I am not some vigilante, I hope to never have to shoot an invader.

"Making up my victimization" Hilarious, yeah because I need someone to tell me it'll be alright and hold me. Like I said I posted it to share my story and possibly keep people from being complacent like I was. Like COASTRANGE57 said, the knock is the first step. Criminals arent stupid these days, they know a lot of us are armed. They dont just bust in windows unless they are high on meth.

 

[WanderingDan]

Good post with lot's of good ideas for those of us less prepared. I'm with "trekkerpaul" and others: staying inside where you better control the scene seems wiser. Your post does make me want to get a dog again.

 

[mydearas]

Good post with lot's of good ideas for those of us less prepared. I'm with "trekkerpaul" and others: staying inside where you better control the scene seems wiser. Your post does make me want to get a dog again.

I agree staying inside is wise and safer. I have thought about it long and hard, asking whether I would do it again. Like I've said above I just have a hard time knowing that IF their intention was to get in my house they may try again, and if they did it once, they will do it again, if not here, someone elses home. I'm still debating a better option. Other members of my house are armed and trained to shoot as well, but you never know how that will turn out

 

[gehrheart]

Only reall issue I see is going outside...
And im sure I would have done just the same thing, in fact.. I have.

Legaly, if in fact it was a bad guy and you ended up face to face with him outside your house and things happened.... stand your ground gets harder to prove.
Now, that said, I would have done pretty much the same thing.

 

[notazombie]

Mydearas, I just want to say thanks for the thread. It's given many of us something to think about. Glad it didn't get any more serious at your house than an unannounced drill.
One recurring theme that's been brought up is the value of a good dog and it's/their obvious presence. Dog's have an almost supernatural ability to judge character. My 90# Boxer/Bullmastiff has never met a stranger...but, on a couple occasions was the first alert to what turned out to be a potential threat. She was the reason I didn't need to defend myself and my family. She's a great visual deterrent when she's outside. When she's inside, I get one, single (loud and deep) bark when someone comes to the door. Familiars are welcomed. Strangers are evaluated. Strangers seem to be more wary when being sized up by a silent dog than one that incessantly yaps. Ask your mailman which one he's more nervous about. I've had her "escort" a "door to door salesman" off the property before -- leaving no question in my mind that he'd not be returning.
Mine came from the pound and I got really lucky with her. Even if she wasn't so useful she'd still be fun to have around. I prefer dogs to most people anyway. If you don't have a dog, get one. If you already have one, get another.

 

[Burt Gummer]

I would tend to believe that a running generator and external lighting would not be so great IF you were in a near SHTF situation or power was out for more than a few days.

Being a show boat a couple years back and having my lights on, drapes open, enjoying a giant TV and stereo blazing when the whole area was black was FUN. Just to add salt to an open wound I fired up a disco ball led light to boot.

Not too smart for more serious times though.

I'd want myself in the dark and the rest of the area in the light, even moonlight. NV is nice, so are quiet weapons.

The only thing I care about having power for a prolonged time are my perimeter alarm (remotes run for 6m on AAs), some led discreet lighting, and shortwave/other radio. I wish we had better solar options here in Oregon, but oh well. A friend of mine who is an engineer told me to get one of those pedal-power bikes. Damn - Gilligan's Island lol.

Being a bachelor, the food I eat most of the time would qualify as 'camping' anyway. Food out of the can or raw vegetables are fine. Have tons of camping/cooking options.

 

[ATCclears]

Everyone, consider posting a "No Trespassing" sign. We used to have people coming by selling services (a couple did seem legit, others no way), and now we get nothing. Nothing. UPS, FedEx, and the milkman still come. They're all legit. No more unknowns though.

Why? You can call the police and have them charged with trespassing. No bad guy wants this. They will look elsewhere.

I am not saying this is the only precaution one should take - we have dogs, floodlights, and more. We have just found the $2 sign to be surprisingly effective.

The sign is unfriendly, but we told our neighbors and almost all of them have a sign up now too.

Peter

 

[Sgt Nambu]

Sorry about your dog, Weapon! Funny, I had a 110# Rottweiler named Rosco, lost him to a lymphatic cancer. It's hard!

As to security measures, I have at times used the old CIA rat trap and fish line trip wire trap on my back yard perimeter. I'm sure plans must be available on the net. It works,low tech!

PS: Ok, just google, rat trap trip wire, tons of entrys! On mine, I epoxied a penny under the bails contact points, then drilled a hole in each to accommodate a .22 ctrg. Bail hits two rounds and makes quite a bang! I made my blanks by twisting the bullet out of .22 shorts, leaving the powder and plugging with wax or soap.

 

[gehrheart]

I guess one could just push it down semi-warm into the shell.

bingo
doenst take much effort.

 

[erudne]

What I take away:
As in my personal experience(s)
SHTF is a dynamic situation; The agressors are usually as "smart" as you are. Rarely do perps attack in daylight.
It's the 3AM wake-up that is so primal that the US armed forces have an SOP in reguards to waking GIs in deep sleep (stand well away and shake foot, never shake shoulder).
Do what you can, With what you have, too the best of your abilitys, and pray.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

bingo
doenst take much effort.

That's how I did it. Ivory soap works fine too. Remember, I was "shooting" these in a rat trap!

 

[Burt Gummer]

I am so commitment phobic, I can't even have a dog hahaha. Damn, I do love dogs though. Settled for an f-ing cat. Cool cat, but hey, a cat isn't the same. But I can go out of town for four days and not worry about a cat.

The old saying that dogs are men and cats are females is true. Dogs = unconditional love. Cats = let's sit down and discuss what you are bring to the table in this relationship.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

I am so commitment phobic, I can't even have a dog hahaha. Damn, I do love dogs though. Settled for an f-ing cat. Cool cat, but hey, a cat isn't the same. But I can go out of town for four days and not worry about a cat.

The old saying that dogs are men and cats are females is true. Dogs = unconditional love. Cats = let's sit down and discuss what you are bring to the table in this relationship.

If you feed a dog, he thinks, "Wow, he must be a God!"
If you feed a cat, he thinks, "Wow, I must be a God!"