Home invasions getting close to home!

[NewShooter78]

So a couple of nights ago I was talking with my mother on the phone. When she had gotten home that day, there was a note on the door (it was on pretty much every door in the neighborhood). In the note there was a description of a home invasion that happened to a resident on the next block down from my parent's. The intruder had broken in through the neighbor's bedroom window, while said neighbor was sleeping in the bed next to it!

Apparently this isn't a one time deal. It seems that there have been a lot of break ins in our neighborhood lately. The thing that worries me is how this burgler, is brazenly breaking into people's homes while they are there asleep, and not even trying to go through a back door. It really worries me because my father often travels out of town on business. He's gone a few nights at least once a month.

I was talking to my father, and he said that he told my mom how to use his revolver, an old S&W mod. 10 .38spl (I believe). I'm tempted to let them borrow the shotty though, as at least that way if her aim isn't totally true, she can still get a good piece of the perp.

Its stories like this that drives me nuts! Things like this never happened in my neighborhood ten to fifteen years ago. But thanks to "low cost" housing (HUD grab ups for the folks being relocated out of the projects the city is tearing down) being offered everywhere around my folks house, it seems the place is getting worse and worse.

I'm hoping that my mom will now finally get a personal firearm so she can confidently defend herself. Both my folks have been talking about getting CCW for over a year now, and they never seem to get around to it. I'm hoping that this does of reality really close to home will get them going in the right direction. I also hope whoever is doing this stubles into the wrong neighbor's house soon.

How many times do people have to hear stories like this before they decide to not depend on the gubmint' to protect them? :banghead:

p.s. - I hope I didn't sound mad at my folks, just pissed because of some scumbag getting away with his brazen crimes.

 

[Standing Wolf]

How many times do people have to hear stories like this before they decide to not depend on the gubmint' to protect them?

Sad to say, an awful lot of people assume government will be there for them until it's suddenly not. I hope your family isn't part of that group.

 

[BerettaNut92]

How many times do people have to hear stories like this before they decide to not depend on the gubmint' to protect them?

They don't. If and when they are eventually victimized, they don't change either, assuming lighting never strikes twice in the same place.

 

[50 Freak]

My ex-girlfriend's aunt had her house broken into by a home invasion back in 94. Three guys tied up everyone and made the mother cook as they raped her daughter. They then robbed the house, trashed it and stole the cars.

That hit just a little too close to home. I sleep with a pistol and surefire new to me and a shotgun in the closet. I don't think I'm being paranoid, I just would rather die than have that happen to my family.

Anyone that refuses to believe it can happen to them is just setting themselves up for a big world of hurt.

 

[TarpleyG]

I would like to add that just getting a gun (from Dad or you) is not enough. She needs to practice. At least enough to where it is second nature. Especially with a shotgun.

GT

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I'm hoping that my mom will now finally get a personal firearm so she can confidently defend herself. Both my folks have been talking about getting CCW for over a year now, and they never seem to get around to it. I'm hoping that this does of reality really close to home will get them going in the right direction. I also hope whoever is doing this stubles into the wrong neighbor's house soon.

Having a firearm does not mean you can confidently defend yourself. Your mom won't gain confidence simply by having such a tool present and unfortunately, there are too many instances of unskilled gun owners feeling secure by having a gun, but unable to use it effectively and sometimes not at all. The confidence will come from your mom getting a gun, learning to use it, then practicing with it on a regular basis - as noted by TarpleyG.

I think you have mixed weaponry with situational context. While your folks have been talking about CCW, CCW has nothing to do with home defense as you don't need a CCW permit to defend your home. Also, most conceale carry weapons are handguns/-sized. Handguns are less than ideal for home defense as they are less than ideal for stopping bad guys. A long gun would be much more of a proper home defense gun than a hand gun.

Also, while home break-ins may not have happened in your neighborhood until the HUD folks moved, there may or may not be a correlation. Cat-burglar home invasions have been around for a long time and occur in all types of neighborhoods. If yours was missed, then consider yourself lucky. Bad things do happen to good people in good neighborhoods. Blaming the HUD folks for these break-ins is awfully premature since you don't know who is doing the crime.

 

[Art Eatman]

True story. Really happened.

Late one night the switchboard operator at a local hospital answered a call from a little old lady (LOL) with a quavery voice. The LOL began to explain that she'd had an intruder start through her window.

The operator queried if the LOL needed medical attention.

"No, no. I'm alright. I just have a question."

"What do you need to know?"

"Well, after I shot him, he fell out of the window. Should I pull him back in before I call the police?"

, Art

 

[standingbear]

having a good hd gun around is a plus.knowing how and having a willingness to use it is key...a dog with an attitude over unwanted house guests......priceless.dont count on the pd to get there if you cant defend yourself and your family until they do.ive installed a remote light switch on the nightstand.its a simple remote from a garage door opener wired into the lighting in the hallway and down stairs.you know the extra buttons on a garage door opener..you can wire them to different lights.lotsa things you can do to minimize the chances of a home invasion by presenting yourself as a "unwanted" target.

 

[Bainx]

Sorry to hear that things are getting so bad in "Coon-??? Country".
I worked there a while and consider Lafayette my second home.

Get your folks sqared-away ASAP.

Note: The board automatically put ??? over part of my description but, you know what I am talking about.

 

[10-Ring]

Hopefully your mom & her neighbors do more than just read those notices! A firearm would be great if the burglar gains entry, but you should try to prevent these low lifes from breaking in in the 1st place...closed windows, locked doors, an alarm system or maybe a light sleeping dog.
Best of luck to you & your parents

 

[NewShooter78]

Well both my folks know how to shoot. They haven't done it for a long time, but they know there way around firearms. Dad was in the military for 28 years, and mom grew up in rural Montana where you hunted to supliment your diet, or went hungry sometimes.

They both need the practice, and since my mom increasingly feels the need to be able to defend herself if the need arise, she is seriously contemplating the CCW. I have told them that if they are serious about CCW, then they can't buy a weapon and not practice using it.

 

[foghornl]

Reports like these are exactly why my 1911-A1 is cocked-and-locked on the bedside table.

Bainx, I know what you mean. Grandfather on Mom's side was (in my best Justin Wilson voice) a "full-bleed Cajun", from the swamps just outside Slidell, LA.

 

[cpileri]

sitting ducks

Happened again in MD yesterday- this time in Silver Spring where I live!

Would it be considered 'premeditation' to be packin' in your home? esp if you can't prove you do so all the time, even to bed and in the shower?

(Maybe I'm kidding, maybe I'm not...)

C-

 

[Gewehr98]

If you ever get comfortable thinking they're never gonna hit your house...

Don't. I made the unfortunate mistake of living in Citrus Heights, CA for a few years, along a certain Greenback Lane. They tried kicking our front door in, and front windows in, on two separate occasions. 870, 1911, and 911, both times. Only later did I discover that the previous occupants of my duplex were dealers. We were in the process of moving out of there to Auburn when I got orders to Florida.

You know what the odd thing is? It was like pulling teeth to get a CCW in Sacramento County, even with the home invasion robberies, especially the Sayonara Drive and Rancho Cordova areas. I had to go to Isleton to get mine. Now that we're in Florida, it's no problem, and the few home invasions that happen often go poorly for the bad guys.