A scare that made me think

[MedWheeler]

A STRANGER WALKED INTO HIS HOUSE UNINVITED.

I missed this in the OP; I had read it as "to the front door."

I had an incident once in which a stranger did indeed enter my unlocked home while I was in another room. The stranger was a very attractive 19-ish year old girl, who entered calling out the name "Tara". I knew of a neighbor who had a daughter by that name, but by the time I got to the girl, she was on her phone calling the party she was trying to locate. She was mortified to come face-to-face with me, and asked me about "Tara".

Turns out I had two neighbors, in opposite directions, with daughters named "Tara". The second one had a SUV that was of the same make/model/color as mine, and the visitor had been given directions that included the tip to look for that vehicle.

 

[Havok7416]

I missed this in the OP; I had read it as "to the front door."

I had an incident once in which a stranger did indeed enter my unlocked home while I was in another room. The stranger was a very attractive 19-ish year old girl, who entered calling out the name "Tara". I knew of a neighbor who had a daughter by that name, but by the time I got to the girl, she was on her phone calling the party she was trying to locate. She was mortified to come face-to-face with me, and asked me about "Tara".

Turns out I had two neighbors, in opposite directions, with daughters named "Tara". The second one had a SUV that was of the same make/model/color as mine, and the visitor had been given directions that included the tip to look for that vehicle.

Well THAT'S a whole different story there! Why doesn't that ever happen to ME?

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Near two years back my wife & I were in Danville ILLinois. About 30 minutes before dark on a summer evening, three older teens walked up into my neighbors backyard and were messing with my neighbors large dog. I knew the neighbor was not home so I went outside my rear door and asked them what they were doing. One stated they were from some animal cruelty society and were checking on the dog. I sugested they return later and speak to the owner first.
About two hours later my wife said.. Those teens are back. I placed the 9mm Mak in my back pocket and returned to my back door. There were only two next to the dog and started looking for #3. I sked the two what they were doing and one said they had an order to remove the dog to a safe enviorment. I turned and yelled for my wife to call the police. The two then faced me and asked to see my ID. I told them to leave the property and the police have been called. As I turned my head to the right to look for #3 he was approaching from my right rear with a club. I stuck my hand in my right rear pocket and handled the P63. Told #3 to get off my property and drop the club. He complied watching my hand motion, joined the other two teens leaving shouting insults. The police arrived about 5 minutes later. Officer took the 3 descriptions and stated they were trying to catch up with 3 young mails who were stealing dogs.
So maybe crime is dropping in some places... I will still have an equalizer handy.
Violent crime in Aequipa, Peru is growing steadily. From what I read Danville, ILLinois is not getting better either. Eternal vigilance has it's reward.
Mike in Peru

 

[Panzerschwein]

Look your doors man!

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I carry guns all day long at work. If I don't carry one when I get home, I lean. It's a matter of balance. I have had grown people back 10 feet away from an unlocked door when my dog "alerted," which is shorthand for goes nuts at the door. Keep your doors locked.

 

[Warp]

I carry guns all day long at work. If I don't carry one when I get home, I lean. It's a matter of balance. I have had grown people back 10 feet away from an unlocked door when my dog "alerted," which is shorthand for goes nuts at the door. Keep your doors locked.

Dogs, especially big dogs, are great. Deterrence, awareness, and probably in the worse case time-buyers to let you get to whatever you need to get to.

 

[Bezoar]

a piece of sheet glass with a handle is not a door. its called "hey hunny, i think i heard something.."

 

[Armored farmer]

Huskerguy
I'm glad it turned out ok, and you were able to learn from it.
I had a tense moment or two a few years ago that changed everything about when and what I carry as a ccw. My learning experience turned out ok too btw.

 

[Leanwolf]

HUSKERGUY - "... We live in a fairly small town of around 50,000 in Kansas. Generally not to worry about ..."

The Clutter family lived in an even smaller town, Holcomb, Kansas.

Do a search for "Perry Smith."

L.W.

 

[Ignition Override]

One of our federal agencies recently released about 1,000 felons out onto the streets.

They were convicted of crimes ranging from burglary to rape to murder.
But because they were illegals, their release was needed to help relieve overcrowding.

We had plenty of thugs and psychos already on the loose, even before that group was set free to resume their careers as predators.
Unlocked doors? We should close a garage door even while out on a very short bike ride. I'm guilt of this, but the system is armed if nobody else is at home.

 

[Twiki357]

Old habits are sometimes hard to break. I live in a pretty safe area now, but spent the previous thirty+ years living in Los Angeles with a high gang area nearby. Wrought iron on all the windows and doors, etc. I don’t keep a gun on my person anymore, but I do have one within arm’s reach everywhere in my house, including next to the front door: one of the advantages of living alone. And one in my pocket when I’m in the garage or yard.

I also don’t look through that little peep hole in the door. Had a neighbor years ago who got shot through the door when he looked through it. Since then I’ve had a security screen door so I can crack the front door and see through the screen while standing to the side.

It’s not a matter of being afraid, it’s a matter of being prepared. It doesn’t matter where you live, these days there are just to many crackheads, gang bangers and illegals running loose.

 

[TRX]

We quit answering the door 20 years ago. Anyone we want to see has our phone number to call ahead; anyone else can write a letter.

 

[Warp]

O

I also don’t look through that little peep hole in the door. Had a neighbor years ago who got shot through the door when he looked through it.

I don't suppose there is a source or citation for this?

That is one Hollywood stunt I had never heard of actually happening in real life.

What's the backstory? Did the neighbor owe some unsavory characters a lot of money, have a rival gang, etc?

 

[Potatohead]

We quit answering the door 20 years ago. Anyone we want to see has our phone number to call ahead; anyone else can write a letter.

LOL, I like that! That's going to be my new motto dealing with company at the house.

 

[ares338]

I live in an enclosed yard with more than 25 acres and there is a gate on the driveway. I have a sign that says "NO SOLICITING". There are 3 110 lb puppies that roam the property. If someone knocks or rings the doorbell you had better believe I have a pistol in my hand because if they can do that they trespassed. I am old and too fat to fight. I too used to not keep the locked up when home and even went to bed with the doors unlocked but no more. Things have changed and this isn't the world I grew up in!

 

[Onward Allusion]

Warp

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yo Mama View Post
So there are now no victims of violent crime? I just don't understand your point. So crime never happens?

I didn't want to quote/call anybody out, but I was referring to the very common, general belief (thanks to the media) that we are somehow at greater risk today than we use to be...or that crime is higher now than it use to be...when the opposite is true

All y'all do realize that much of the numbers are completely fabricated, right? Case in point, Chicago was recently found to have been making their murder rates drop by pure manipulation. There are a few legit news stories about it, but bad things happen to people who call big cities out. Do you think Chicago is the only big city that does this? Think NYC or LA doesn't do this? Yeah, crime is going down alright. On paper it is.

Not tinfoil. Anyone who doesn't believe me can do some research and come back here 'cause I ain't spoon feeding anyone. The only way a person learns is if they do it on their own.

 

[Orion8472]

I would "ditto" the comment about keeping your doors and windows locked. And I'd have something more substantial than an LCP sitting next to you as well.

I live in an apartment with a card access entry main door. I still lock my actual apartment door. When the days are warm, raising the apartment temp, but the nights are cool, I'll leave my sliding door open with a fan in it. Of course, I'm on the 4th floor of my complex, so I do not worry about someone coming in that way. Still, I keep a couple of guns out [usually]. High capacity 9mm pistols.

Anyway, I hope you don't have any other situations like that again. It's rare for that to happen.

 

[Warp]

All y'all do realize that much of the numbers are completely fabricated, right? Case in point, Chicago was recently found to have been making their murder rates drop by pure manipulation. There are a few legit news stories about it, but bad things happen to people who call big cities out. Do you think Chicago is the only big city that does this? Think NYC or LA doesn't do this? Yeah, crime is going down alright. On paper it is.

Not tinfoil. Anyone who doesn't believe me can do some research and come back here 'cause I ain't spoon feeding anyone. The only way a person learns is if they do it on their own.

Chicago has been manipulating things for a long time, nothing new.

The FBI UCR tells the tale.

This supposed idea that the country is more violent and more dangerous than it was in the past is basically a myth.

Yes, violent crime has been on the decline for awhile.

And no, a few big cities trying to hide their murders doesn't change that fact.

 

[beeenbag]

Small point: You guys realize violent crime has been declining for awhile, right? As in, there use to be more violent crime (per capita) than there is now.

There is only one problem with this... The capita is much higher.

In 1950 there were 151,000,000 (rounded up number) people in the United States.
In 2010 there were 309,000,000 (rounded up number) people in the United States.

Now, even if the violent crime rate would have decreased to 50% of what it was in the 1950s, which is highly unlikely, there would still be more actual violent crimes today than in the 50's.

Yes it has decreased per capita, but with population gaining, there are more actual violent crimes.

 

[Warp]

There is only one problem with this... The capita is much higher.

In 1950 there were 151,000,000 (rounded up number) people in the United States.
In 2010 there were 309,000,000 (rounded up number) people in the United States.

Now, even if the violent crime rate would have decreased to 50% of what it was in the 1950s, which is highly unlikely, there would still be more actual violent crimes today than in the 50's.

Yes it has decreased per capita, but with population gaining, there are more actual violent crimes.

Exactly!

That's what is most relevant.

 

[Aventurero]

What does race have to do with this discussion?

 

[Onward Allusion]

^^^^

Oh boy. It doesn't, and who the heck cares. It's a descriptor. Every time the freakin word "race" comes into play folks get into a tizzy and pounce on it! Gawd! Get over it!

I'm guessing he meant that it was out of the ordinary for a non-white person to be in his neighborhood. The same would go for a white man in the S. Side of Chicago.

 

[beeenbag]

What does race have to do with this discussion?

I think the op might have accidentally let the man know he was not white!

No but really, why do we always have to tiptoe around this stuff? He had a black man walk in his house, obviously this is not a common thing. I'm sure the same level of occurs if a white man walks in a house occupied by black folk in a majority black neighborhood.

 

[Onward Allusion]

^^^
Thank gawd I am not the only one around here with a smidgen of common sense!

 

[Onward Allusion]

Huskerguy

A scare that made me think
I was reading the thread about when and where some people carry their firearm

There are a handful of items a guy should have with most of the time when out and about.
- wallet
- cell phone
- knife
- flashlight
- gun

. . . At home -
- cell phone
- gun - doesn't have to be a cannon

I know lot's of folks will say lock your door, but the truth is when you're running in and out of the house doing yard work or small projects, for example, it is unrealistic.