Alert Systems in Home Invasion

[Kleanbore]

The article said she was in her bed when she got hit

It seems that by the time she realized the need, she was handcuffed to a chair in the living room.

 

[dh1633pm]

Siamese cat knows the drill. More self aware than the two Labs and the German short hair. Add that to a light sleeping homeowner and we’re covered. You need something. Shame that you do.

 

[Scrapiron45]

A good example of the need for a defensive plan and not just a defensive weapon. Since the report suggests she was attacked in her sleep, likely not allowing any reaction time, her pistol was basically useless, even if it was within reach, until she had time to regain full consciousness and react to the situation.
A dog would seem to be a good addition.

 

[wayneinFL]

Right, that's why I said she went to her bedroom to get it.

By closer to hand, I mean closer to where she needed it so that she would have been able to get to it more easily during the encounter. As it was, she ended up having to drag the chair to her bedroom, retrieve the gun, then drag the chair back to where he had left her. That apparently didn't leave her any time to dial 911 which could have prevented her from lying on the floor for 10 hours with multiple gunshot wounds.

Closer to where she needed it? She needed it before her attacker got control of her.

My whole point was a gun inches from you does you no good if you don't know the intruder is coming into your house.

 

[JohnKSa]

My whole point was a gun inches from you does you no good if you don't know the intruder is coming into your house.

Correct. The attacker started out by hitting her in the head while she was asleep, so the gun that was inches from her at that point did her no good.

On the other hand, if she had been able to access a firearm in the room where she was being held, instead of having to drag a chair to the room where her gun was, and then back, that might have given her time to also call 911. Or maybe think of a better plan, like barricading herself in a room with a phone.

 

[wayneinFL]

Correct. The attacker started out by hitting her in the head while she was asleep, so the gun that was inches from her at that point did her no good.

On the other hand, if she had been able to access a firearm in the room where she was being held, instead of having to drag a chair to the room where her gun was, and then back, that might have given her time to also call 911. Or maybe think of a better plan, like barricading herself in a room with a phone.

I agree with having contingency plans on contingency plans. Maybe this makes a case for stashing guns all over the house, because she can't predict where she's going to be tied up when she allows a home invader to tie her up. Seeing as how the invader was ransacking the house for loot, he may have gotten to it first.

Barricading herself inside the room would be a good idea. My bedroom door is a little shabby and I'm considering replacing it with a solid door that could be deadbolted.

 

[Risky buisness]

Uhhhmm, how about step 1 being, keep them out of the house.....

 

[wayneinFL]

Uhhhmm, how about step 1 being, keep them out of the house.....

How do you do that when you're asleep? A locked door or window buys you time.

 

[Risky buisness]

How do you do that when you're asleep? A locked door or window buys you time.

Read post # 21.

 

[wayneinFL]

Read post # 21.

Sorry, wasn't looking at your comment in context.

 

[Risky buisness]

No problem whatsoever.
Still the bottom line, keep unwanteds out, give yourself as much reaction time as possible however it's nessasary to do.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Maybe this makes a case for stashing guns all over the house, because she can't predict where she's going to be tied up when she allows a home invader to tie her up.

Not really a good option for someone (like this woman) who lives with a child or severely mentally handicapped individual.

 

[Kleanbore]

Read post # 21.

Should slow them down....

 

[JTHunter]

One way to "harden" your doors is not only have a lock on the door's handle but a deadbolt as well. Then, you remove the short screws that hold the two strike plates on the door frame and replace them with screws the same diameter but at least 2.5" long so they actually reach the wall studs (3" is better). Also, replace at least one screw per hinge with the same long screws. It is unlikely that you can put a screw longer than 2" through the hinge into the door itself but one per hinge helps.
On your outer "storm doors", esp. if they are aluminum, get 2 "eyebolts" and, if you don't mind a small hex nut on the outside, machine threads. Drill a hole about 1/3 of the way from BOTH the top and bottom edges through the door, mount the eyebolt and nut through that hole so the hole is "flat" (horizontal) and put a hook on the wooden doorframe. Either take a drop of epoxy to the threads when you tighten that nut OR use a small oxy-acetylene torch and tack weld the nut to the threaded shank so it can't be easily removed.
Now your storm door has 3 points of attachment making it harder to pry the corners open.