Master bedroom downstairs, kids upstairs, house alarm goes off

[Richard.Howe]

Anyone else out there in this situation?

My master bedroom is downstairs and the kids (3yo and 1yo) are in their own rooms upstairs. The bottom of the stair is in the middle of the house, in an area common to the foyer, living room, and kitchen. My front door is in the foyer and back door is off the kitchen.

If the alarm sounds at 2 AM, I'm in the nasty position of needing to clear my way to the stairs before proceeding up. I would lock my bedroom door behind me on the way out, since the wife heads to our closet in the master bedroom and sit with the cell phone (dialing) and SW686.

My concern is the part where I effectively need to clear parts of the house to get to my kids. Once at the top of the stairs, I (and the kids) should be OK assuming BGs didn't sprint to the stairs at the sound of the alarm.

House-clearing is a deadly activity for someone who's actually trained, and except in my wildest dreams, I'm not. Does anyone else have this quandary, and what are your plans?

Thanks!
Rich

 

[Sweatnbullets]

I have worked this in FOF. The main goal is to get to the kids room and barricade there. Slow methodical clearing got the home owner dead every time. We found that what you need to do is clear the bare essentials and sprint the rest. The sprinting home owner was never shot.

You could setup reflective surfaces pictures or mirrors in the advantagous areas, so you can see around corners. Some video cameras in the rooms that you are going to have to work through, with the monitor in your bedroom. Listening is a very important skill before you make the move.

 

[lawdogso]

My house alarm tells me what zone has been set off. I have no delay so the instant something opens I know where it is. The dog goes out first and I follow.
lawdogso

 

[1911 guy]

Anybody or anything between me and my son.

First off, can you arrange furniture or anything else that would make it nearly impossible for someone to get in a likely access and get past you?

Second, I agree wholeheartedly with the "sprint" idea. If the BG is ahead of you, taking your time isn't good because he's between you and your kids. If he's behind you, you have longer (in seconds or minutes) to barricade in your kids room.

This is by no means legal advice, but if I get anything resembling non-compliance from an intruder between me and my son, someone's getting shot.