Situation Tactics?

[TRDBucket]

Recently, a friend of the family was a victim of a home invasion. Three armed males wearing ski masks and gloves approached the victim from behind as he was entering his back door coming home from work, he is a small biz owner. The three men beat him and tied him to a chair and proceeded to beat his wife on the floor. After that they tied his wife to a chair and questioned them, demanding to know where his safe was, even though he kept no safe at his residence. Every time he would answer they would beat him or his wife with a fireplace poker. At one point one of the assailants kept repeating "Give me a reason to kill you, I've killed other people before",while pointing a shotgun to his wifes head. After 4 hours of questioning and abuse they ransacked the residence and left them tied up and beaten. Amazingly his wife managed to make it to a window and yell for help, at midnite a girl who lived next door heard her and got her parents and the police were called.

Even more amazing is that they made it out alive. While your chances of drawing on 3 men already armed is slim, I think I, given the opportunity would have at least tried to put rounds in them. Given the circumstances, what is your best option? The victims made it out alive this time, but I'm sure statistics weigh heavily in the slim to none range of that happening.

Anyone with an opinion? They've since had a monitored alarm system installed, and I suggested a dog, even a small dog, might help.

The people don't arm firearms and I couldn't convince them otherwise, so any tactical suggestions would be for myself. I've since reconsidered my choice of carry firearms. I'm taking my CCW class in about 3 weeks and was going to carry a compact 1911, but I feel somewhat under-ammo'd with only 6+1. So my new choice is a Glock 29 in 10mm w/ a preban mag and one on the belt. I figure 30+ rounds of 10mm should keep me in all but the longest of situations.

Thanks for any opinions.
Anthony

 

[Blackhawk 6]

I would set about rectifying the conditions that allowed three men to get that close to the back door without notice.

 

[Jarhed]

Weight concern

Man thats a lot of weight. Seems like overkill. I'm no expert but most of these situations seem to be over in 3 seconds. When the victim starts shooting they either get shot, run (usually as they are not expecting armed resistance) or shoot back and kill you. If you flatten the first guy the other two will be moving away. I know I can't stand to even carry my .45 that I dearly love.

My personal plan is the same as in Infantry training. Fire and maneuver. Pow, pow, move pow pow move. Make yourself as small a target as you can. You are a self propelled gun turret you know.

Your greatest defense is shock and suprise. The Corps used to teach us, in a bad situation. DO SOMETHING immediately and do the hell out of it, even if you do the wrong thing, its better than doing nothing at all.

If it ain't your day, die with your boots on. These people got lucky, but they'll never sleep a full night again in their life.

Just my .02 worth

Eric

 

[bradvanhorn]

Good comments Jarhed. You flew in $hitters eh? I've spent a few hours in phrogs myself; I try to stay out of both as much as possible these days.

No plan is foolproof, but a little situational awareness will usually go a long way to remaining safe.

I'm just guessing, but since this guy was just getting home from work, he was probably thinking about dinner, relaxing, bed time, whatever, and was caught completely off-guard by the attackers. Whenever I drive somewhere I try to take a few moments after I park to survey the surroundings of my destination, scan the windows, and just look for anything that isn't "right", and it's because of stories such as this that I do so.

As for recommendations, it's hard to really offer much comment without doing some sort of assessment. Useful things to look at might be locks, lighting, fences, vegetation... the list could be never ending really. The police will sometimes do a free crime prevention survey if asked; that might be a good place to start.

I'm very fortunate to live in a quiet and nearly crime free neighborhood, but you just never know when the wolves will try hunting in new territory.

 

[BeLikeTrey]

this can be a good thing...

No flaming or cursing please. This is terrible at first glance, (and second and third) the good thing is that there is a permanent awareness of surroundings that is a part of their everyday activity. I guarantee you that these two will have 360* awareness now. A)They survived this B) They won't be likely to get surprised again. I'd hate to be the unlucky BG that decides to frack with these guys after this.

Now those of us that haven't experienced this should take some healthy amount of fear from this and keep 360* awareness. This should be a lesson for all of us.

Wilford Brimley voice: "I check my six, and I check it often"

Glad they survived by the way, prayers for them....

 

[TRDBucket]

As an aside, this was a middle-middle class, mostly retired neighborhood. About 2 blocks from where I currently live.

On top of all this, the media hasn't touched this story at all. It was in the newspaper 'Crime Log', but no story, no TV media... Nothing..

The same thing happened earlier that week in a different area of town, with a higher crime rate, but the crime had the same MO. I'm really dissapointed in the local media... But than again.. it is Toledo...

 

[Bob F.]

TRD: have you called the media? Ain't much news reporting nowadays. Like everything else--don't make 'em like they used to!!

Stay safe, and armed and aware.
Bob