How to handle this situation...

Likely, what you're asking for is what action do you take based on the initial indications and whatever assumptions made.

The answer, however, is not a concise, definitive act. Rather, the correct answer is a PROCESS.


In troubleshooting, say, an electrical system that isn't working correctly, there is a systematic process called "The 7 Step Process". Let's use this to explain. Those seven steps are:

1. Symptom recognition. This is the first sign that something isn't "right". For an electrical system, this may be as simple as a warning light or a failure to operate correctly in some way. In your example, this is an alarm indication that a window is open.

2. Symptom elaboration. This is where you start to gather some more information to elaborate on the extent of the problem. For an electrical system, that might be looking over all the alarm and warning indications, observing how the equipment is otherwise operating, what procedures were being followed at the time of the initial fault. In your example, this might include checking the alarm system panel for fault indications, listening for unusual noises, seeing if the family pet is disturbed by what's happening.

3. Listing of probable faulty functions. This is where, based on your understanding of the system and how it works, you start listing major things that MIGHT be causing the problem. For an electrical system, if everything appears to be operating properly but the system isn't providing the mechanical function it's supposed to be doing (like opening a door), then you know the fault likely lies in the portions of the control circuits which open the door. In your example, you may have a faulty sensor, faulty alarm system, or an actual event which opened a window.

4. Localizing the faulty function. This is where you start actually troubleshooting...doing something to check/test your hypothesis on where the problem is likely located. Is it a window sensor? Is it the alarm panel? Is it an actual open window?

5. Localizing the trouble to a faulty component. This is further troubleshooting...you know what's causing the alarm (say, a window is actually open), now you're looking for what CAUSED the window to open. Was it a child? Was it a burglar?

6. Failure analysis. This is the point where you evaluate a couple things: Does the cause you found actually match the symptoms you have? Is the cause you found the ONLY problem you have, based upon the nature of the cause and the symptoms you know? In your example, say a child opened a window. This obviously matches the alarm symptoms you have. However, is there any OTHER problem you may have which might also be included in the symptoms? Like, did someone else actually enter the house after your child opened the window?

7. Retest requirements. You found the problem...you fixed the problem. Does the system now work normally?


THE WHOLE POINT of all this is to point out that the actions you take are predicated in large part by the details that emerge along the way during the investigative process.

And, like troubleshooting electrical equipment, there are precautions to take as you perform all these things. Electrical equipment requires me to invoke electrical safety measures, operating procedures, coordination with other people, etc. Likewise, you will have to take analogous measures here: coordinate with other people (wife, children, maybe outside agencies through 911), various safety measures (lights, weapon, dog, cell phone, buddy system), invoking various procedures and training along the way.


So...what would I do?

The first thing is start gathering information so I can decide the appropriate action(s) to take.

Simple, gather everyone in a single hardened room. And either call 911 or wait for the alarm company to do it. Nothing in your home, except your family, is worth even a minor scratch. But if the intruder gets to the door of your secured room, all bets are off.

If it was me, it would involve some very aggressive one-man CQB with a light-equipped handgun on my part, to locate and move the kids to the one room I am pretty sure is safe (the one I woke up in). This of course would violate many if not all of the principles of CQB I have been trained in, but this is a situation where I would just accept the risk, and try to mitigate it through my knowledge of tactics and the terrain as well as speed and violence of action. The wife would be in the static defense, holding the piece of terrain and maintaining communications with first responders. The ultimate goal would be to have all friendlies accounted for and in the master bedroom, with all entryways under direct observation and covered by small arms.

Balrog said:

That is kind of my problem. I dont see how to gather everyone into one room. Two kids are upstairs, and one is in a split bedroom away from the master bedroom on the ground floor. No way for them to move around, or me to get to them, without potentially running into an intruder.

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Any decent alarm system should give you sufficient time to grab the kid downstairs and make your way upstairs. Harden one of those rooms.

Remember, you want to also make it difficult and time consuming, not to mention noisy, for anyone to enter your home. You don't need bars, but strategically place thorny plants and good windows and screens (heck they now have screening material that is quite hard to cut through) will slow the intruder down enough to get everyone together.

Also, get a large dog that has free roam of the yards at night. A barking dog is likely your very best safeguard/deterrent.

This wasn't covered in your thread "Bump in the night belt"?

Seriously, no one here can be better at making your plan for you than you are. Things like the layout of your home, your training and experience levels (and those of other family members), your in-place security measures, your other equipment, and the overall determination of any aggressors, will all come into play. So will your ability to communicate with any LE responders (should such response be deemed necessary), and their actual response.

As with any situation, your response should be based on the analysis of data you immediately process. In such a scenario as described, that data will need to be processed and analyzed very rapidly. There is no "blanket answer."

Cameras in certain places might have merit. I just can't see fumbling with phone or keyboard and computer in a situation where seconds count.

There was one detail which would be helpful to know, and that is does everyone sleep with their bedroom doors closed, or who doesn't.

Just based on the scenario as described my wife and I would execute plan A. Starting with her using the phone to call 911, and then she would accompany me to 9 year old first acting rearguard. Then upstairs to others acting rearguard.

Once the upper floor was clear remain up there and cover staircase.

More to it than that, but that would be the overall.

Whatever, and however, make sure the kids are safe.

May be nothing, may be something.

First thing I'd do, based on what I can gather, is have the wife call 911 and arm her if she is trained... which she should be (unless you have alot of false alarms with the security system).

It sounds stupid, But I'd clear the house. I'd grab my handgun and light and yell to the kids to stay in their rooms until I come get to them. I'd check the windows and doors and turn on all lights as I go. I know that isn't "operational security", but chances are I'm not John Wick facing a bunch of trained assassins.

I'd work my way to the kids and bring them back to my bedroom with my wife, announcing myself as I go.

Other things worth knowing if this is Balrog's actual home...

What is interior wall construction. Brick, block, sheetrock etc?

Are there any upstairs rooms with windows over a garage or other single story extension? If not, it is likely the breach is on the first floor.

Your 9 yr old should know that if anyone were ever try to, or force open their window they should run helterskelter to your room screaming. This means at least you can go straight to their room reasonably confident there are no badguys in there already in this scenario.

The advice to gather everyone up and put them into one room is good advice. You may also want to buy a 2 chemlights, and attach an exterior key to one. When/if LE arrives on scene put one lit chemlight in the window and throw the second with the key attached to the ground.

First things first, I’m a firm believer that criminals that you randomly encounter are far too lazy to fight for anything except their own life. That said, the alarm should have turned them away, but we can’t assume that. I get up, put the single point sling on the AR pistol over my neck and right arm (secures the weapon to me) and get the flashlight. Flashlight on weak side, strong side hand on the grip of the AR,thumb on safety. I make my way around the lower level looking for the breach if it’s not indicated by panel, light, or audible zoning. Clear low along perimeter then clear upstairs. Kids and wife barricade in place and are ready to fight back with impact weapons. Once cleared they retreat to my bedroom and barricade together until all clear.

Think. Breathe. Listen. Think more. Breathe more. Listen more.

Keep doing the above-listed tasks.

What else? I have not been given enough information. I have cleared plenty of houses, as a night-shift big-city police patrol officer. We search buildings in teams. (An exception would be an “active shooter” situation, when we may act alone, to immediately stop the killing.)

One BIG problem: I see no reasonably-safe way to get all family members together, into one “safe zone.” The most-remotely-located children will have to risk moving to you, or, the rest of the family will have to move toward them. Dividing one’s forces not a best practice.

Rexster said:

[snip]... Dividing one’s forces not a best practice.

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Agreed... in an ideal situation

But in a home defense situation with a wife and kid, it's pretty much not ideal. Either you have to go to your kids, or they have to come to you, or remain separated.

Speaking for myself, my 5'0" 100lb fiance can handle a gun, but I do not expect her to be able to clear a house or be in a physical altercation. Same with my hypothetical children. Now, if my fiance gets into training and loves the idea of "tactical maneuvers", then that's another story.

In the situation above, I'd say dividing forces is the only answer... at least temporarily.

First thing is unleash the dogs....

[QUOTE="Jeff White, post: 10873234, member: 112

I have cleared structures by myself, that is part of the job working in rural law enforcement when backup isn't available and you find an open door responding to an alarm. It's very dangerous.

Get some training in how to move and how to use light to your advantage, then sit down with your family and make a plan on what to do if there is an alarm activation. Don't just talk about it. Do it. Practice it.

Keep in mind that 99% of all alarm activations are false alarms due to equipment malfunctions or operator error. Don't let the false alarms give you a sense of complacency.

I'm going to let you in on a little LE secret. No one is going to run lights and sirens to a burglar alarm. It's also going to be a low priority call if the officers are tied up doing other things when the alarm comes in. False alarms are too common to justify the danger to the officer and the public by making an emergency response. That was one of the first things my sergeant told me when I started in LE way back in 1985. IF you want a faster response you are going to need to get on the phone and call the police yourself, if the dispatcher or alarm company hasn't already called you.

And Kleanbore is right, your time will be well served planning for a fire which is a much more likely emergency then an intruder so don't neglect that.[/QUOTE]

This is true, and things haven't changed. If the homeowner gets on the phone and reports an intruder response time becomes a lot quicker. Don't assume that because you live in a rural area that law enforcement response is going to be 20 minutes out. The odds are slim but you could have a deputy or trooper that just happens to be patrolling right down the road when the call comes in. If you happen to be checking the grounds make sure you don't have a gun in your hand when they show up. It might be a lot sooner than you think.

First things first, focus on the family safety. Check the alarm system as well. Many of them will tell you which sensor is causing the alarm. That can give you a starting point for assessing a potential threat. In an ideal situation, you want your whole family in one location while you determine if there is an active threat to your home. If that isn't possible, use a communication method to the separated members to secure themselves as much as possible. Avoid shouting if possible, to instruct family members to secure the room they are in.

It is unrealistic to call police on every situation where you think there might be a danger to your home. I have been awoken at night thinking a football team was trying to bust into my house or under it. Only to find wild dogs or hogs making noise.

What do you do in the next 5 minutes?

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First ascertain whether the first-born is sneaking out his window (again).

Kleanbore said:

Likely so. And if you encounter them armed in your hally, that is precisely what they will think necessary.

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In a sudden face to face they will likely, if armed with guns, shoot impulsively. Especially if they recognize you are armed.