Home invasion and you

[Fred Fuller]

Discussion - http://ordnancecorner.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/home-invasion-and-you/
Home Invasion and You
Posted on March 14, 2012

Newspaper article - http://www.weeklycitizen.com/newsno...d-in-connection-to-brutal-murders-in-Gonzales
Five arrested in connection to brutal murders in Gonzales
Weekly Citizen
Posted Mar 07, 2012 @ 08:07 PM

snip///
Aikens, who had worked for Irwin Marchand at some time in the past, was aware that he kept a significant amount of cash and antique coins in a safe at his home. It appears that Aikens and his accomplices went to the Marchand Residence to rob them but the encounter turned violent and the victims were brutally attacked and killed.
///snip
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All too often the easy assumption is that people who are subject to home invasions were involved in something they shouldn't have been, and it caught up with them. But that's not always the case.

Home invasions do happen. And they can be very dangerous. If you run or work in a business that handles quantities of cash, or valuable merchandise, you may well be targeted for home invasion. Sometimes the easy way for a criminal to get into a safe or vault, or through a locked gate and locked doors, is to have an accomplice show up with a spouse or child of the intended victim, who has been kidnapped for 'leverage.'

Think about your vulnerabilities. Plan accordingly. Paranoia is unhealthy, but proper precautions are not. Note the suggestions offered in the blog entry linked above. If you've read here very much at all, you've seen similar advice offered over and over again. There's a reason for that...

 

[Shadow 7D]

Where is SM for his pointers (and it's worth checking out his threads), a truly conscious man right there.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Well, what are the vulnerabilities?

1. If you don't have an alarm system, that's a vulnerability.
2. If you have one, and don't keep it on when you're at home during the day, that's a vulnerability.
3. Why would a team target your home? Workmen or other visitors taking an interest in what you own is a concern.
4. Why would a team target YOU? A popular invasion technique is to follow a person home from the store (especially a grocery store), knowing that on arriving home they will turn off any alarm, have both arms full, and probably be focused on getting in the door.

As you think of additional vunerabilities, additional safeguards can be thought of to counter them.

 

[mbt2001]

One more thing to think about, kidnapping while traveling.

http://www.eturbonews.com/28016/disappearing-travelers

 

[fallout mike]

From my 15 years of dealing with these types of things , all home invasions I've been to were totally random incidents. The homeowners were tied up and put together in one room. They either had no alarm or a old inoperable one. Again, this is just my experience. Just an alarm turned on will give you a head start. I do know a family that was bruttaly murdered in one. They knew the guys.

 

[gallo]

A little something I learned from the wife. She always backs into the garage and turns off the engine after the garage door has been closed. I asked her why and she said because if I have to run over someone, I will.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I live in the rural South and home invasions are exceedingly rare here because it is widly known that most homes contain guns. We have our share of break-ins but they usually happen during the day while people are at work. The few home invasions that I am aware of all involved people being robbed by someone that they knew.

 

[Crusader103]

Good info on the home invasions and good links.

I have responded to my fair share of home invasions. I would have to say that the vast majority had some criminal element link to them that precipitated the home invasion itself, but then again I've spent a lot of time patrolling the drug infested streets of north Seattle.

That being said, I have also been to a fair number that were either random opportunities in nice neighborhoods or had victims selected based upon the type of car parked outside. It's happened enough that I carry a gun while mowing the lawn in my upper middle class neighborhood and while inside as well. An off-duty Las Vegas officer was confronted in his own open garage just a couple of years ago. While he ultimately perished he did fend off the attackers and protect his family.

One place that, especially travelers, should consider is hotels and motels. During a move a couple of years ago our last chance opportunity to stop for the night was in a not so great off the freeway motel. I parked our nice vehicle (at least compared to the others present) and watched as 5-6 other "guests" refused to take their eyes off of me from about 10 doors down. I always carry concealed but that obviously wasn't apparent to them. probably looked like an easy target with a young child and 6 month pregnant wife. These guys watched as I made several back and forth trips with bags. I happen to speak their native language, though my skin color wouldn't seem to indicate it, and I found their conversation to be less than friendly.

When I finally open carried my M4 to the hotel room their attention changed directions. Having watched me for a good ten minutes, they immediately disappeared. I enjoyed a very quiet night. I'm not saying that they were for sure going to do anything, but I can say from experience in responding to the calls that motels are subject to "home" invasions as often or moreso than traditional residences.

 

[alsaqr]

Too many people are prone to associate home invasions with dope.

A home invasion can happen to anyone: It happened to my former wife and i twice. We came out unscathed both times.

 

[Averageman]

How many times have you heard of a SWAT Team showing up at the wrong house?
Why would a bunch of stoners do any better?

 

[MachIVshooter]

A little something I learned from the wife. She always backs into the garage and turns off the engine after the garage door has been closed. I asked her why and she said because if I have to run over someone, I will.

On the other hand, if an assailant slipped in while she was positioning to back up, she has now sealed off her route of escape.........

 

[NOLAEMT]

If it came to that, driving through the garage door would be easier in forward than reverse.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Yeah, BUT there is less risk to you and a much smaller chance of disabling your car in reverse, think about which way does a destruction derby driver ram.

 

[leadcounsel]

You know, I think about this often.

I have debated hiring a handyman and/or a housecleaning service to help me catch up on things around the house, but just don't feel comfortable hiring someone who may ultimately be an underpaid laborer who spies something cool in my house and either uses that information directly or simply sells the intel to someone else. Intel such as location, entry points, diagrams, work schedule, etc.

Be cautious when hiring help for the house and monitor them closely.

 

[Pilot]

^^^^^^ I think that is really good advice. Sometimes you can't help having service people come to your home to fix something. If I do, I watch them very closely. You can often get a vibe from someone with ill intent. Also, having cleaning people come in on a regular basis can pose a risk. I limit the amount of strangers I have coming into my home.

 

[gallo]

@MacIVShooter,

We keep the garage clutter free so it's hard to sneak-in and hide anywhere. And that risk would still exist regardless oh how she parks in the garage.

@Shadow 7D,

By backing into the garage all she has to do is drop the car into Drive and leave.

 

[mcdonl]

One more thing to think about, kidnapping while traveling.

http://www.eturbonews.com/28016/disappearing-travelers

Having just spent time in the central park area of downtown La Ramona, Dominican Republic I can relate to this article big time.

Needing to be in "condition red" the whole time, and due to being on a cruise with the family unarmed I had my head on a swivel the whole time. People would literally grab you and try to convince you to go for a cab ride to "see the island". Police carried 870's but were greatly outnumbered.

We got our cigars and souvenirs and promptly got back on the tour bus where we were then only at risk of "mass robbery" which is also becoming prominent.

I knew this prior to travelling, so I made sure to understand the frequency of busses, looked at and made sure I could identify credentials and researched where I could get my product and was able to return on the next shuttle bus 30 minutes later, but it seemed like an eternity.

Everyone should try this, it is a good practical way to have a vacation and practice situational awareness

 

[JustinJ]

I don't believe that all, or even most, home invasions are the result of nefarious activity by the victim however i have no doubt it skews the statistics just like it does with all violent crimes with the exception of rape. Murder is most likely the most skewed but the problem with home invasion statistics is there is no clear definitition of what constitutes one for statistical purposes. Regardless the chances of being the victim of a home invasion is quite low. In my view it certainly does not warrant continuous carry in the home with the possible exception of a few areas with extremely high crime rates relative to the rest of the country.

 

[GEM]

Well, in my view - following your advice one can end up with your family raped and set on fire in a nice CT neighborhood.

You fail to understand that the average does not guarantee that the average will be what happens to you.

You need to plan for what is a reasonable risk in the tail of the risk distribution.

Having a J frame in your pocket or LCP type isn't hard.

Never used our two fire extinguishers either. Rare event for the house to burn down.

 

[Onward Allusion]

leadcounsel
You know, I think about this often.
I have debated hiring a handyman and/or a housecleaning service to help me catch up on things around the house, but just don't feel comfortable hiring someone who may ultimately be an underpaid laborer who spies something cool in my house and either uses that information directly or simply sells the intel to someone else. Intel such as location, entry points, diagrams, work schedule, etc.
Be cautious when hiring help for the house and monitor them closely.

Pilot ^^^^^^
I think that is really good advice. Sometimes you can't help having service people come to your home to fix something. If I do, I watch them very closely. You can often get a vibe from someone with ill intent. Also, having cleaning people come in on a regular basis can pose a risk. I limit the amount of strangers I have coming into my home.

Both of you gentlemen can't be more correct. I truly hope I am not offending anyone, but many of the handymen, landscapers, & house cleaners are doing those kind of jobs for a reason - no background checks or easy to hang up a shingle.

Before letting anyone into my home, I make sure I lock everything down and hide everything. Sounds a bit over the top, but you'd never know who wants that nice laptop that you just got. Hide all references to shooting sports as well. Finally, I NEVER let my wife deal with workers alone (i.e. for an estimate or watch 'em on the job). I schedule it around my work or just work from home on those days. The life you save from a serial killer, rapist, or violent criminal may be your own or that of a loved one.

 

[Onward Allusion]

JustinJ
I don't believe that all, or even most, home invasions are the result of nefarious activity by the victim however i have no doubt it skews the statistics just like it does with all violent crimes with the exception of rape. Murder is most likely the most skewed but the problem with home invasion statistics is there is no clear definitition of what constitutes one for statistical purposes. Regardless the chances of being the victim of a home invasion is quite low. In my view it certainly does not warrant continuous carry in the home with the possible exception of a few areas with extremely high crime rates relative to the rest of the country.

It's not that low. It's like 1 in 2,000. Of course it depends on where you live. Before you ask where I came up with that number, go do a search on TFL for one of my posts. My fingers are getting tired typing the same stuff.

BTW, we just had a home-invasion a mile from where I live. In a middle class residential neighborhood. Forced their way in when the lady answered the door. Pistol whipped the family members and tied them up.

I'd suppose one could call 'em "lucky" 'cause nothing else happen and they all lived with just the lost of cash and valuables. - and no, it wasn't dope related. The husband traveled a lot. The wife had a security system installed. Husband comes home from a trip and flies off the handle because the little lady didn't get his permission. Husband has the system un-installed and the home-invasion happened right afterward. Pretty dang sure it was an inside job (i.e. installer guys or acquaintances).

 

[Onward Allusion]

JustinJ

Quote:
And the gun digs into your flesh. Learn how to carry one.

If you lay on your side or stomach with a large object between you and the bed or couch at the position a pocket places it you will feel it pressing into your body. If you've figured out a way to overcome this law of physics i'm all eyes.

I will carry a 915, P11, or a P32 around the house depending on what I am wearing or the time of day. Sure I can definitely feel the weight and pressure of a full size steel 9mm, but when I'm carry the P32 in a pair of workout shorts, I don't even know it's there. There have been times when I went to put a gun on and didn't even realize I already had one on! The P11 falls somewhere in between, of course. Some might say, what good would a P32 do ya. Well, it gives me the extra 3 seconds to get to my other gun(s).

 

[gallo]

A home invasion is a low probability event. But probability means nothing to the unfortunate family that experiences it. When the door gets kicked-in, do you want to have your weapon on you or inside your safe? There is no right or wrong answer for this one as the consequences of your actions will only affect you and your family.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Calm down, y'all.

Justin, some people have good reason to carry at home as well as away from home. While each one here is entitled to hold and express their own opinion, it's not for me - or for you, or anyone else here, by the way - to define what is reasonable or justifiable for someone else to do (so long as it's legal) in the light of different life circumstances. It's still a marginally free country, and we're all supposed to be reasonable adults here. Let's leave that one go without further intensity, please.

 

[1911Tuner]

In my view it certainly does not warrant continuous carry in the home with the possible exception of a few areas with extremely high crime rates relative to the rest of the country.

As you wish, according to your own perceptions.

I'm not so naive. One invasion tactic is to catch a homeowner puttering around in the yard, and take him or her on the pretense of asking for directions, etc. Not long ago, on a well-traveled road in the business district...on the good side of town...in Winston-Salem NC, an elderly shut-in answered the door at 1130 to a young couple with a baby, asking for a drink of water and a place for the mother and child to cool off for a few minutes. Being the kindly gentleman that he was, he allowed them in. After all...how much of a threat could a young family complete with cooing infant be?

When he turned his back to get the number for a towing service for their "disabled" car...dad hit him with a heavy object to knock him down, and proceeded to beat him to death in his own kitchen. They were helping themselves to a sandwich when a meals on wheels volunteer and his wife showed up with his lunch. Dad invited them in and proceeded to shoot both of them, killing the man, and seriously wounding the lady...took their car and left. They were apprehended a week later in another state, holed up in a motel room.

I live out in the boondocks, on a private road a hundred yards from the main road. I have two neighbors. One is at work all day, and the other is an 87 year-old guy who naps a lot and doesn't hear very well. If I'm vertical, I'm armed.