Just had an attempted break in...

[epijunkie67]

We just had an attempted break in. I typically work nights but happened to be off tonight. My wife and I were sitting in bed watching TV and goofing off on our laptops when someone tried to open our front door. And I don't mean they just turned the doorknob. The door shook forcefully for a couple of seconds.

Fortunately we had the deadbolt locked and the dogs started barking right away. By the time I grabbed a gun and made it to the front door they were gone. I actually went out front to check outside even though I know I shouldn't have.

Our property is set up in such a way that the ground slopes down from the front to the back so both our front door and our basement door open out on the ground level. I wanted to make sure they hadn't gone around the back of the house down to the basement door. Despite sweeping the outside of the house I never saw anyone.

I wonder what would have happened if our door hadn't have been locked? I wonder what wouldn't have happened if the dogs hadn't started barking? What about when I go back to work? I suspect this was an attempt to test our security but if it was it was a pretty bold one. What was their plan if the door had been unlocked?

Lessons learned? I usually keep a pistol in a drawer but we recently had family visit and I'd placed it in the safe and not returned it to its usual location. I had to grab an alternative weapon from a different location instead. We had the door locked but didn't have the alarm set because we were still awake.

It makes me wonder what, if any, changes we need to make.

 

[Centurian22]

So sorry to hear of your scare. I can only imagine all the "what-ifs" I'd be going through as I am an Obsessive over-analyzer. Try to balance the what-ifs with the "thankfully I was prepared because of....'s". This reminds me I need to look into security lighting for the house when I get home. We've got the dogs, locks ect and live in a relatively low crime area but I still want lights.

Best of luck as you try to learn from the experience. Does anyone think it would be beneficial to make an "awareness" call to the local authorities?

 

[Sky]

Glad u guys are O.K.

Dad ( 86 yrs old ) just had his place broken into in Oklahoma City while they are at the lake cabin in Minn. They cleaned the place out to even include his WWll discharge papers, guns, and medals. I do not have a very warm feeling for people willing to violate the sanctity of someones home.

 

[Inebriated]

epijunky, that's rough. Good thing your family is ok though! I'd start (and I do) keep some handguns and a flashlight in various spots. I know you said you had family over earlier, but as soon as they leave, through the guns back in their spots.

Sky, that is as low as it gets. It's a good thing your father wasn't at the house at the time, though.

 

[ccsniper]

Do you live in the country? Did you call the cops? Does your wife know how to shoot and have the resolve to do so if she has to? I'm not gonna tell you what you SHOULD have done, just what I have already decided to do if/when the need arises.
1. Call the cops
2. Shout loudly "STAY OUT OR I'LL SHOOT" and make sure the dispatcher hears it, yell it into their ear.
3. Wait for the cops to arrive
4. If they break in, SHOOT.

My house has been broke into three times over the years, I wasn't home for any of them and the cops think it was just kids. Yet still I have the same mentality no matter who it is breaking into my home, I don't know why you're coming into my house without an invite and I don't care, I am assuming you mean harm to me or my family and are thus a threat.

 

[WardenWolf]

Glad u guys are O.K.

Dad ( 86 yrs old ) just had his place broken into in Oklahoma City while they are at the lake cabin in Minn. They cleaned the place out to even include his WWll discharge papers, guns, and medals. I do not have a very warm feeling for people willing to violate the sanctity of someones home.

There's a special place in hell for people who steal things like that from veterans.

 

[krupparms]

Things are getting worse all over the U.S.! The local justice (injustice) system & L.E.in the county have all but shut down! They let all but 6 prisoners out of the jail at the same time! Home invasions are up from 34 so far to 155!

A business man was almost run down in his parking lot, it took S.D. 5 days to contact victim! Even though city P.D.was not affected they lost use of jail (?) & now issue citations for court. This includes felony charges. A local home owner was charged w / brandishing after robbers left his res. & called S.D. (it took several HR.s for S.D. to show up!).

We are in limbo No one to stop the BGs, but citizens aren't supposed to do anything! I called P.D. about citizens arrest & was told it was legal, but not to, as it was not worth the hassle! The Sheriff just appears on the news, shakes his head & says there is nothing to do!

It will not do any good to try & help; too many at the top have lost moral direction. Guns & Ammo selling like hotcakes! Getting hard to find some, AR.s & 1911s mostly.

With the government went on vacation (something I have not since?) Seems like an interesting fall coming up! Good luck to us all.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Do you keep your car/s in the garage? Did your house look just like it looks when you're at work?
Doesn't sound like kids.. kinda sounds like someone had cased/knowledge of the place and were just hoping the house was unlocked.
I'd give them doggies some extra bacon this morning and keep locking the door, etc.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Credit your dogs for keeping him from trying the back door or the windows.

 

[ArcherandShooter]

This is not a "you should", because it sounds like your security worked as intended:

1) doors locked including deadbolt
2) dogs barked, which is both alarm to you and threat to BG
3) you knew where and how to quickly get a backup weapon when (surprise!) your primary was not where you expected.

The only thing we do differently is that we set the monitored alarm just as soon as the dogs come in for the night.

 

[Texan Scott]

I actually went out front to check outside even though I know I shouldn't have.

You KNOW you shouldn't have... good. I'll still be obnoxious about it, but it's because I care... if he'd stepped out of a shadow and hit you with a hammer, you'd have not only opened the door for him, but provided him with a gun to use on your wife (if she didn't shoot him first). Mkae him come to you, if he wants someone to get hurt. Then, feel justified in making sure it's HIM that bleeds.

If you didn't call the police, you should have... and still should. The house he tries tonight or tomorrow night might not have good locks, dogs, or a gun... law enforcement attention is still needed, because your would-be intruder is still out there... and rattling the door hard is not the MO of a 'cat burglar', but of a common thug.

Also, it's good to hear that your focus on locks and dogs as preventative measures made the gun ultimately unneeded.

Glad to know you're ok. Stay safe.

 

[denton]

There are deadbolts and then there are deadbolts.

The kind I like open with a key both inside and out. The key hangs near the door, so we can find it easily but a burglar probably can't.

The better deadbolts have a drawn metal cup for the bolt, and the striker plate and cup are held in place by 3" screws, including one through the bottom of the cup. They will take a pretty good bashing before the door opens.

Dogs are extremely valuable, as your experience shows.

The other thing I've seen suggested is planting roses or raspberries under windows that are likely alternate entry routes.

 

[ArcherandShooter]

planting roses or raspberries under windows that are likely alternate entry routes.

Bouganville (sp?) works really well, too. Very ornamental, won't draw so many creepy-crawlies as berry bushes do, and has really nasty 1-inch thorns.

Only problem with it is that it's darned hard to eradicate if you ever change your mind. Once it gets established, it does NOT go easily.

 

[Creature]

Did you call the police?

 

[epijunkie67]

Before going to bed while walking the dogs we dropped letters off in the mailboxes of our neighbors to make them aware of events. Our neighbor from across the street told us there were footprints in the mud and fingerprints on her windows.

I've considered more exterior lighting and this is likely to be the push I need to install it. We've also talked about cameras. They come pretty cheap these days and many are wireless.

Someone asked about my wife. Although she isn't an active shooter she did ask me years ago to help her find a gun for when she is at home alone. She settled on my FN57 due to it's almost total lack of recoil. I like it because of the 20 round magazine.

I have firearms in the house in a few locations but I'm always worried about them getting stolen while we are gone. Still, I'd rather lose a few guns when I'm gone rather than not have one when I need it. If someone actually HAD just walked in last night I wouldn't have had time to unlock even a finger keyed safe.

We didn't call the cops because there was no one outside and nothing happened. They wouldn't have even taken a report. We live in a upper middle class neighborhood but now days that means nothing.

 

[tekarra]

Glad your security system worked. Learn from your actions should it happen again.

 

[hso]

Make sure the doors have good locks.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Speaking of locks, yes, you'd be well advised to have them anchored well etc.
What I heard though, some time ago, is there's two types of common door locks. One, the very most common, a common picker can breach it very easily and the other, about $5 more?, is essentially unpickable to the very best. They are left to forcing in that case.

 

[RmB]

Very sorry to hear this epijunkie67. You are right, the upper middle class doesn't mean much anymore. But to me, it sounds as though you had the correct security measures in place. Maybe lights are the best next option.
Be safe, be aware.

 

[gym]

I had 2 neighboors who were pretty much anti gun folks, approach me this week and ask if I could spend some time explaining what kind of gun they should get.
I am more vocal than ever before, about telling my neighboors how important it is to have a weapon in the house, "if no place else". Many who just a year ago,were dead set against it, have done a 180, and realized that it's really not a good idea with the recent increase in home invasions and assults that are occuing now.
I do in fact tell them that they need to take some training courses before buying anything. they all seem to know the words "Glock" and "shotgun", which are very dangerous as a first gun to a new shooter of 50+ yrs old.

 

[hardluk1]

What part of eastern tn are you in. We had a some breakins here that were thought to be east tn guys doing it. Been working near the state line areas between erwin and up toward roan mountain.

 

[Onward Allusion]

epijunkie67
Just had an attempted break in...

I'm sounding like a broken record, but wear your gun at home. The economy is still crap. Home invasions are up. Crime is up in smaller towns partly due to massive LE budget cuts.

With regard to your incident; shouldn't have swept outside; call the cops; get your dogs some treats 'cause they done good.

 

[Double Vision]

Sorry to hear this but glad it turned out OK for you.
By all means, a locked door and motion sensor lights are a good first line of defense.
Be safe all.

 

[Apple a Day]

I'm glad you're okay. I'd still contact the police and ask them to keep an eye on the area, patrol through once in a while/more often to discourage goblins.
Stay safe, bud.

 

[hso]

Look at the discussions in Strategy and Tactics on making your home more secure against entry. You'll find great discussions on creating a defense in depth to keep people out of your home so you don't have to depend on a firearm as your only defense instead of being your final defense.