Frightened & Defenseless

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hso said:
The security film on the windows can help prevent break-ins, but so can home installed bars.
Good security "screen" doors can help as well.
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Yes, bars definitely work. But personally I never wanted them because I didn't want to feel like I was in jail. Also they must be able to be opened quickly in case of a fire.
 
shafter said:
Could it be possible that your nephew was imagining things? I've seen young children stop playing and point to imaginary people that weren't there. I'm not saying this is what happened, but it's definitely something that would cross my mind.

It's also possible it was a lost drunk. I've dealt with plenty of those who end up in the wrong house and believe it or not, end up looking in the fridge.

Either way she should secure the house better and consider learning how to defend herself.
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He said there were footprints and a fingerprint.
 
Thank you to those who have presented reality to the reflexive "buy a dog" suggestion.
A dog is living and breathing thing that will also need daily care for the next 10-16 years.

Owning a dog also introduces significant expense between food, veterinary costs, medicine, and training.
A dog can even paradoxically cause inadvertent security issues when it needs to be taken outside at night.
 
3Crows said:
Dog if possible, security system and curtains and better locks on the doors and windows.

Move to a new location and do the above.

A gun is not the answer in this case, if she cannot remember to lock her doors and with small children in the house could she remember to lock the gun in a finger print activated safe?
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NO NO NO to a fingerprint activated safe. You want a push-button manual combination lock and construction not able to be opened by a 3-year old as was demonstrated in some videos a few years ago. After much research I got a Fort Knox. FAS-1 makes very good ones also but at the time I was living in Cali and they were not on the Cal DOJ approved list for compliance with Cali gun storage laws. (Tangent: Getting on the list seems to be a case of paying enough money, you wouldn't believe the garbage on there.) The FAS-1 can be attached to your bed frame, so your gun is right at hand when needed but not accessible to the kiddies. I think you have to drill the bolt holes yourself though.

Pepper spray and a stun gun and a panic button that once activated wakes the neighborhood up with lights and sirens and police notification. Something like that.
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I would worry about using pepper spray inside the house.

This is creepy enough I might consider the intruder dangerous yet.

"Do not live in glass houses," in other words, close the curtains and lock the doors. Seems like good advice.
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Wow, I wonder if although crazy the intruder was actually well-meaning, hoping to scare them into better protecting themselves.
 
DustyGmt said:
She had a pathetic lil kitchen knife so I left her with this: View attachment 986676Razor sharp endura. She said she has been carrying it and it makes her feel somewhat better.

I will take her shooting, since she said that's what she want to try and since I have the means to do it why not. I think alot of you guys gave good advice, hardening the defenses in terms of making it difficult to enter with an emphasis on religiously locking doors behind you, etc... is a great way to start. But I think she would feel better if she had some kind of weapon, so I might buy her one of these. I think it makes a nasty defensive tool and should be confidence inspiring....View attachment 986677just so she has some options God forbid this happens again.

It's getting really nice out and I'll try to make it a point to take her out with a .22lr handgun and rifle maybe sometime this week. I'll post back on how she does. Will be visiting a hardware store for some security improvements, etc...
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I wear one of these 24/7:
https://topqualityknives.com/spyderco-ark-frn-handle-h1-steel-plain-edge-fix-blade-neck-knife-fb35pbk/?msclkid=7bbd96265ccd13a5d116f67f54cc8426&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Top Quality Knives&utm_term=4576785886677532&utm_content=GSAPI 602d4330af77f
For me a folder is clumsy to deal with. Plus you have to keep it somewhere. The ARK is on a chain around my neck. Note that the release is designed for a right-handed shooter.

I consider it my last resort, I much prefer a gun. Not least because to use a knife you have to be up close and personal; as an old lady a fraction of an inch over 5' not a position I want to be in.
 
There's been some studies and simulations that found it's 50/50 that the typical house dog will defend you or challenge the bad guy. Would have to google it. There are funny videos of guys in dog red man suits breaking into a house and attacking the homeowner. Lots of time the dogs did nothing. Sometimes the big, fierce dog ran away or out the open door. Some little dogs did go to the defense.

Blue Jays is right on.
 
old lady new shooter said:
Wow, I wonder if although crazy the intruder was actually well-meaning, hoping to scare them into better protecting themselves.
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I doubt it. But unless he comes back and is interviewed it is all speculation as to motives or mental state or under the influence of something.
 
old lady new shooter said:
I wear one of these 24/7:
https://topqualityknives.com/spyderco-ark-frn-handle-h1-steel-plain-edge-fix-blade-neck-knife-fb35pbk/?msclkid=7bbd96265ccd13a5d116f67f54cc8426&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Top Quality Knives&utm_term=4576785886677532&utm_content=GSAPI 602d4330af77f
For me a folder is clumsy to deal with. Plus you have to keep it somewhere. The ARK is on a chain around my neck. Note that the release is designed for a right-handed shooter.

I consider it my last resort, I much prefer a gun. Not least because to use a knife you have to be up close and personal; as an old lady a fraction of an inch over 5' not a position I want to be in.
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You have very good taste. How does your edge hold up on that? I guess I'm hoping you have it primarily for a just in case defensive scenario, but if you do happen to use it for cutting tasks occasionally, you may find it it really hard to put an edge on that H1 steel. Not saying it's junk, it certainly has its application, but I have a fair bit of experience handling and sharpening knives and the H1 I can't for the life of me get to take and hold a good edge. There are better men than me that probably can with better equipment, but I completely failed with the equipment I use......
 
DustyGmt said:
You have very good taste. How does your edge hold up on that? I guess I'm hoping you have it primarily for a just in case defensive scenario, but if you do happen to use it for cutting tasks occasionally, you may find it it really hard to put an edge on that H1 steel. Not saying it's junk, it certainly has its application, but I have a fair bit of experience handling and sharpening knives and the H1 I can't for the life of me get to take and hold a good edge. There are better men than me that probably can with better equipment, but I completely failed with the equipment I use......
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You can thank THR member John Shirley, he designed it. :) The first time I saw a picture of it I just went "That's my knife."

I actually don't even know how to sharpen a knife. I've never used it to cut anything (I keep a folder in my purse for the odd occasion when I need a knife for some non-defense purpose while out and about), but recently John told me it may have lost a bit of sharpness just from practicing drawing it.

When I bought it I didn't realize it also came with a serrated blade. Had I known that I would have chosen that, just because I hugely prefer serrated knives in my kitchen. The one with the serrated blade is now being (or has been) discontinued from production, John alerted some of us who have the smooth one and I got one of the last serrated ones. Being the World's Greatest Procrastinator I haven't yet switched over to it.

Anyway, if you have questions about how the edge holds up you can PM John. :)
 
hso said:
It is, but it is down the list of them. Pepper spray ranks much higher, air tasers are higher. None of them require much skill to use and they have greater "stop" ranking than a folder. Also, that Spyderco Civilian requires a lot more technique to use properly than a straight blade and the Emerson Wave is designed to work when drawn from a pocket. As a spooky looking talisman it excels (I have the bright blades in serrated and plain), but a good spray and/or taser are far better at stopping an attacker/intruder.

BTW, I'm trained on knives (lots), sticks(lots), spray(some), and tasers and I'd recommend OC and Tasers over sticks and knives for most civilians. Most women don't carry folders so I recommend small fixed blades since they can be carried as neck knives.
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Yeah, I didn't really care for the wave function, or Emerson knives for that matter. I would have got the non waved, non DLC coated blade as well, the DLC coating makes it a lil rougher opening until it gets very worn in. Very tough coating, pretty much unnecessary if you maintain your blade. As far as the fixed blade, good call, that and for her, I believe a knife is lower on the list but she said she felt a lil better with it so idk. But if she is at the very least priming herself to think of herself in a defensive scenario and considering what her moves would be, I think is a step. Absent training and all the other preventative measures, nothing is likely going to help unless luck plays into it somehow.

I've not really got alot of spare time or expertise to go much further than teaching her some basic gun handling and marksmanship, and maybe a few other things, the rest takes alot of time and practice, and money too honestly. The home security measures are most practical at this point... the other defensive stuff, she may or may not need but all of it combined should at least give her a sense that she can fight back if ever needed. Lots of good stuff here to think over and make some kind of a plan....
 
That and for those who have insisted upon locking the doors to begin with. Thank you. I was actually aware of that, as she is now but an excellent point all the same. I believe the rest of the discussion steering into the use of defensive tools, CC monitoring, beefed up locks, etc, is because she had an unnerving experience that resulted because she made a mistake. I have to forgive her for that because I know why she didn't think better of it, she thinks we live in maybury and alot of folks around here think the same way. But the reality is, it could have been much worse and at least now she is thinking ahead. Another reality is, that guy was evidently going to be a weirdo lurking shadow creep going by her house anyway, locked or not locked. It's possible he has been around before. Nobody knows but at least in this case he afforded her an opportunity and now she might be a lil proactive and she didn't have to learn the "really" hard way.
 
tark said:
Wasp and hornet spray. Shoots a concentrated stream of nasty chemicals 25 feet. Takes no training to use. Aim for the head and I guarantee the last thing the intruder will be thinking about is harming you.
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Plus you don't need a background check, or a waiting period. My daughter was a teacher and she kept some in a desk drawer, just in case of wasp attack. Like wheelgun said of his wife, I live in the sticks, but I have trained and you never know when a situation is about to happen. Keep your tool on your person, whether you are cutting the grass, many times with headphones on or earplugs, keep your head on a swivel. Glad she and the kids weren't harmed, but tell her that may be her only warning and to take heed of how easy it is to become a victim.
 
For the love of all that is good...people, please STOP with advice to use wasp spray or oven cleaner!
Those are not the right tools for that job and there are much, much, much better choices to be had.

Also, glad she now recognizes value of securely locked windows and doors to provide extra margin of safety.
That is simple behavior that can be modified instantly and carries absolutely zero additional financial cost.
 
These situations can tie a knot in your stomach. The old saying applies here, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Locks and dogs work really well. A gun in the hands of a timid and untrained person is useless. Police departments often provide free assessments of security needs for private home owners, particularly in this case. I'm guessing they offered to increase routine patrols in your area. Stay safe.
 
Sniper66 said:
These situations can tie a knot in your stomach. The old saying applies here, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Locks and dogs work really well. A gun in the hands of a timid and untrained person is useless. Police departments often provide free assessments of security needs for private home owners, particularly in this case. I'm guessing they offered to increase routine patrols in your area. Stay safe.
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No they actually didn't offer that. She called them back to follow up and whoever she talked to was quite brusk apparently. To the troopers credit, it wasn't the troopers that responded to the call, likely a dispatcher or something, whoever picked up the phone was a lil out of patience. She doesn't want to bother them again. Which sort of irks me because she was just trying to be helpful and follow up. She had seen some Facebook posts after the incident about people posting about a creep in the area with photos, etc and she wanted to share the possible connection. I guess they weren't interested or whoever just didn't want to pass it along.

Might just be a case of working long hours, over worked, underpaid. Idk I can't imagine the volume of nonsense those people hear on a daily basis and maybe they don't always appropriately assess the call. I told her not to hesitate to call them if she feels she is in danger, etc...
 
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DustyGmt said:
edge hold up
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Just for everyone's benefit, if you carry a knife for self defense don't use it in everyday tasks so it is kept sharp for when you need it.

If you carry a knife for every day tasks you will need to maintain it, including sharpening. If you don't know how to sharpen you can usually find a local sharpening service.
 
mmb617 said:
I agree that dogs can do a variety of jobs, but you need the right dog for the job.

If I wanted to protect my home while I'm away I'd think a couple or three big mean dogs would get the job done in most cases, but I wouldn't want such animals as family pets.

But I think the subject at hand is more about protecting a home from invasion while you are present, and in that case a dog can be useful as an alarm more than anything else. The dog doesn't need to be big or mean to fulfill this function. It can't be one that barks at absolutely everything, but instead one that will bark if someone were breaking in. If someone were trying to get in a door or window while I was sleeping I'm sure the dogs would sound off and wake me.

My dogs have always been very friendly. I wouldn't want to live with any other type. I don't expect them to come to my defense if someone breaks in, although they might do that. I always look at it as the dog's job is to warn me of the threat, and it's then my job to deal with that threat.
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Not sure why you quoted me! I was just supporting another person's statement on the generic use of using DOGS. And further stated I prefer a watch dog not a guard dog.
I have two very large Alaskan Malamutes, they are WATCH dogs, wouldn't hurt any human. THEY DO NOT BARK; never have probably never will! That is what I have that is what I want. Someone breaks in, believe me, I have no problem making sure they never break into anyone's house again.
 
The only tangible benefit to using wasp or hornet spray for self defense is you can get it in more places compared to pepper spray. That is all and it. All bug pest sprays say on the back that it is against the law to use those sprays for non-intended uses like self defense. If you are going to go the spray route of self defense, do the research and get the right stuff. For inside a home, I would recommend a gel that won't make your eyes burn weeks after spraying inside.
 
hso said:
Most women don't carry folders so I recommend small fixed blades since they can be carried as neck knives.
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Here are some alternatives. These are all "T" handle push knives (punch knives) that can be worn around the neck. They are pulled from their holster around the neck with the "leg" of the T going between your ring finger and your long ("universal salute") finger and you basically "throw a punch" at the attacker. Most are metal blades but there are a few that are polycarbonate (nonmetallic) and may not be detected by a metal detector.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/gerber-ghostrike-punch-2-5in-blade-knife.html
https://www.opticsplanet.com/blackhawk-xsf-punch-dagger.html
https://www.osograndeknives.com/catalog/fixed-blade-push-knives-33-1.html
 
JTHunter said:
Here are some alternatives. These are all "T" handle push knives (punch knives) that can be worn around the neck. They are pulled from their holster around the neck with the "leg" of the T going between your ring finger and your long ("universal salute") finger and you basically "throw a punch" at the attacker. Most are metal blades but there are a few that are polycarbonate (nonmetallic) and may not be detected by a metal detector.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/gerber-ghostrike-punch-2-5in-blade-knife.html
https://www.opticsplanet.com/blackhawk-xsf-punch-dagger.html
https://www.osograndeknives.com/catalog/fixed-blade-push-knives-33-1.html
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Just for the record, I went with a slashy one partly because I don't know if I have enough upper body strength to stab properly. My plan is to just keep the knife moving so BG gets blood flowing from multiple locations and decides to go find a different victim. It's my understanding that there are a lot of good blood vessels right under the skin on the inner surface of the forearms, which would be easily reachable in the event of a hands-on attack.
 
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