Invasion and Armed Robbery in Suburban Home

[Kleanbore]

There are several things about this robbery that are worth noting:

• It occurred in a good neighborhood.
• It happened during the morning.
• There were two robbers who entered the house, and there is a possibility that a third suspect was involved.
• Someone called the police, who arrived while the crime was still in progress.
• Police believe that robbery was the motive; they said that the victims "kept money and other valuables there and always had 'strange people' doing yard work"; and it is believed that the victims were "targeted".

There is no mention of the victims having a firearm. However, had they kept one in the bedroom as a precaution against night time burglaries, it is possible that they would not have been able to get to it.

The nature and location of the crime gives the lie to the old saw, "if you live where you might think about carrying in your house, you should move".

The fact that there were two burglars in the house, and the fact that the police arrived during the commission of the crime, both have implications on the strategy and tactics that an armed defender might employ.

One can also contemplate about whether there is anything that one does in ones daily life that would cause a robber to target one's residence.

 

[heeler]

Dangerous people.
And hopefully in the coming months the justice system will put them away for many years to come.
Here in Houston just a hand full of years ago home invasion robbery was almost always drug related with the invader going for the dope and money.
But all that has now changed and it is very,very common to read about home invasion robberies practically on a weekly basis and this is happening to regular people.
As far as life styles this has some bearing too.
As an example Houston is an immigrant magnet for both legal and illegal immigrants.
The police recently busted a group of home invaders who would target Asians.
They would identify Asian households in southwest Houston by simply seeing their shoes sitting outside the front door....
Sometimes one can inadvertently draw attention to ones self by being a minority in the neighborhood,being single,and having a nice place with reasonably new vehicles at the house.
That has been my own case.
So you are right that it's just not those bad neighborhoods that have these things happen because Houston is a prime example of both the rich and working poor have this happening to.

 

[Sky]

Does anyone else read these articles and instinctively look at their gun; like a Pavlovian response?

 

[Mike1234567]

RE: Gun in bedroom and victims unable to get to it; I keep a gun within arm's reach everywhere in my home where which I spend any significant amount of time. These are not in open view but I know where they are and access is instantaneous.

 

[TexasRifleman]

One can also contemplate about whether there is anything that one does in ones daily life that would cause a robber to target one's residence.

This is the takeaway for me, more than how close a gun is to my desk.

I am very careful about what people see come in and out of my house. When I go to the range or hunting, for example, I pull my truck into the garage and close the door before loading gun cases. As far as I know, I have never walked outside in public view carrying a gun case. None visible inside either, on the rare occasion I have a repairman etc inside the house.

No gun books or pictures either, and my TV would make a thief feel sorry for me rather than target me

It seems that in almost every case we read about, the home invaders knew their victims, or knew someone who had seen something in the house. Truly random home invasions do happen but more often than not they don't turn out to be random at all.

 

[Jonah71]

I've got to get a safe. Living in a small town where this sort of thing doesn't happen has made me a bit too complacent. I still have at least one gun within reach or a step or two away. It's when I'm not home that worries me.

 

[Unistat]

I often tell people who live in "safe" neighborhoods, "Bad guys can get guns, they can get cars too."

Especially in Metro Detroit, where the distance between the ghetto and a really ritzy area can be as little as 10 minutes.

 

[ldhulk]

The problem that worries me, as far as keeping guns within reach in the house, is the chance of a thief coming in when no one is home, finding one or more of the guns, and later using it to shoot someone else, making me somewhat an enabler to his crime. Also there is the possibility that one could come home while the intruder is still there, bringing about a dangerous encounter with a sneak thief who is now armed and scared. You can lock away all the guns when you leave, of course, or have them is a quick-access lock box all the time, but how many do?

 

[Fred Fuller]

If you pick a pistol and carry system that allows you to carry comfortably from pants on till pants off, and you will CARRY from pants on till pants off, a lot of the problems described above suddenly become non-problems. IF it's legal where you live, of course. If it's not, then other solutions have to be sought.

Where I live, in both states (AL and NC), it's legal. It was legal in both states when I carried on an NC permit, now I carry on an AL permit and it's still legal in both states. The only real difference now is that I can't carry in SC on the AL permit, where I could on the NC permit, and every time I go from NC to AL and back I have to go through SC.

For those who are interested in the subject, safe discussions here at THR usually happen in Firearms Accessories at http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=25

 

[heeler]

Idhulk,the fact that the thief broke into your locked home in my opinion completely absolves you of all responsibilities of his felonious behavior.
He could easily steal your steak knife and do mayhem to someone else some where else.

 

[sidheshooter]

Based only on my own experience of regional anecdote: it seems that back in the day home invasions mostly happened to people who hung around with sketchy characters doing things of questionable wisdom. Of late, however, I have seen an increasing number of invasions apparently based only on Perceiving things of value; a shiny, late model Acura that caused some college students to be targeted; an open garage with tools and his n' hers cruiser motorcycles in it, etc. Each neighborhood in the US will have its own version of the shoes outside the door, to be sure; we need to figure out what it might look like and not do it.

My takeaway remains much the same.
Lock your doors
Get a dog, any dog
Get a safe (It is amazing how much more peace of mind I have now that I finally have a good cannon bolted down in the back room)
Carry something eminently comfy when out and about, not just for out and about, but for coming home and doing home stuff. I gave up on my micro .380 in favor of a Ruger SPNY-not because I see either as any sort of first choice for repelling multiple invaders, but because they can both go where I go (or sit and relax) and I was ultimately more comfortable with 38 +P or +P+ than .380. A fast response in hand beats a better response in the back room, and all that.

YMMV.

 

[mgkdrgn]

The nature and location of the crime gives the lie to the old saw, "if you live where you might think about carrying in your house, you should move".

I carry in my house all the time. Where would I move to? What place is absolutely free of all crime?

You can find yourself with a need to protect yourself and/or your loved ones no matter where you are or what time of day/night it is. To think otherwise is foolish.

 

[bikerdoc]

I live in a semi rural area with relatives as neighbors

Docs rules.

Always carry at home.
Nobody does any work in my home that is not family or vouched for by family.
We live simple, no display of money, possesions. 10 yr old trucks. Neat but understated exterior.
Keep your mouth shut about what you have.
My dog, No make that extremely protective dog.
Good relations with the local patrol officers.
Got a rep for being the frugal, cranky old man who does not tolerate sillyness.

 

[HOWARD J]

We have a monitored alarm system on the house & saparate garage.
It is very easy to forget to turn it on when we leave the house. Our kids & grandkids are in & out every day--that really screws it up.
If we are gone most of the day--it makes me feel better.
BTW: Everyone in our family has a CPL(CCW)
Children, grandchildren & little old me.

 

[Kleanbore]

Update

I have been told by a credible source that a former, or soon to be former, in-law evidently knew of the valuables and engaged some ex cons to obtain them.

The items were of the kind of things that most people would keep in a safe deposit box.

One more lesson for us here....

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Does anyone else read these articles and instinctively look at their gun; like a Pavlovian response?

yes

 

[jbrown50]

The level of complacency amazes me.

People choose to just ignore the obvious, deny and pretend it doesn't exist.

It doesn't matter how safe you rationalize your neighborhood to be, not all criminals come straight from the ghetto. Your neighbors can have relatives, friends, contract workers and other associates visit them who have nefarious intentions. All it takes is for one career criminal or a group of them to target you, your home and/or your family and the direction of your life is changed forever.

We give entirely too much credence to the news media and FBI statistics. They're to be used as tools that's all. They never really tell the whole story and can be twisted to fit any agenda.

 

[alsaqr]

I keep a gun within arm's reach everywhere in my home where which I spend any significant amount of time. These are not in open view but I know where they are and access is instantaneous.

Excellent.

There are five S&W model 10 series revolvers stashed out of sight in the living areas of this house. My Sig 210 is lying on this desk right now cocked and locked.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I have been told by a credible source that a former, or soon to be former, in-law evidently knew of the valuables

That happens pretty often. Keeping your business to yourself is a really good idea. Only your accountant and perhaps your attorney should know for sure. Let your hairdresser wonder* .

*http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-miss_clairol_hair_color_.html for those too young to understand...

 

[Kleanbore]

Update II

Seems that the victim had been on a cellphone and had put it down when she heard a noise. The person to whom she had been talking heard the breaking of glass and what transpired afterward and called the police.

Not that it matters. The lesson is that the police, however summoned, may arrive while the crime is in progress. That's good, unless one happens to be walking around inside or out with gun in hand

 

[Mike1234567]

Does anyone else read these articles and instinctively look at their gun; like a Pavlovian response?

yes

+1 !!!!!

 

[sm]

From the link in original post:

...police say they broke through the glass sliding doors...

We have discussed numerous times here on THR about how vulnerable these sliding glass doors are. We have shared tips and suggestions on how to fortify these, especially for Apartment dwellers.

My take is, replace the darn things! Some very nice conversions with good quality doors are available. I do suggest using good locks as well.

Re: Advertising.
Don't!

One has to understand some folks, including family, and close friends, though "legit" can and do go through situations that require money. Alcohol, drug addiction, gambling debts, etc. Another thing is folks don't mean to, but they blab things they should not.

One never knows when "illegal" ears are listening and "illegal" eyes are watching.

 

[heeler]

What sm says about the sliding glass doors is quite true.
Why just last Monday after coming home from work I went to let my very protective Blue Heeler dog out of the house through the sliding back door.
Well the neighborhood squirrels were out and about in the backyard and once she keyed in on them she just could not wait for me to fully open said sliding door and rammed it so hard she knocked the door right off the bottom track....
So even though I have burglar bar steel doors on all exterior doors as well as windows I am now contemplating removing the whole sliding door and having it walled off and putting in a steel insulated door.
Of course the burglar bar door will definetly remain as the first outside secure door.

 

[sm]

Does anyone else read these articles and instinctively look at their gun; like a Pavlovian response?

No.
A gun, whether it be a sidearm worn "pants on/pants off" or one(s) stashed about a home or business is A tool, not the only tool.

Perusing the article over and over again, I "read" numerous other tools that could have been employed in the prevention perhaps.

-Perhaps having good doors with lock instead of sliding doors might have deterred.

-Not advertising, be it keeping things "out of sight-out of mind" to keeping mouths shut.

-Alarm system with the "day mode" set.

-Dawg. I don't recall reading in the article the folks had a dawg.

Granted I "fired" family too long ago. I understand some folks have "good kin" but I gotta wonder how many crimes and other problems might be alleviated if folks just fired family.

 

[mortablunt]

Mom, I told you it could very well happen to us!


Things that could attract theives:

Having stuff
Seeming unprepared
Being ostentatious
Not taking any precautions