Six in three minutes!

[Old Guy]

Sunday night, midnight, very quiet, me reading. Very loud CRACK! then a lesser crack, and a sort of shushing sound like a slipper sliding over the tiles, downstairs. Then a distinct click. Me and Glock 19 top of stairs, flashlight on base of stairs.

"Leave the way you came in, and you won't get shot"

Asked my Wife to call 911, I told dispatch what I heard, 3 MINUTES LATER!
"The Officers are outside, please secure your firearm and let them in".

They checked downstairs, in the garage, nothing!

I felt a bit silly, six of them! Orange County Deputies, a couple knew me as well.

Off they went, I wondered around trying to analyze the sounds I heard... then the light came on, some one had pulled the locked screen door open! All the noises fit in then, but there is a light outside that door, and one at the edge of the garage, someone, who ever, had walked down my short walk, and pulled the screen door open! Well illuminated!

The act of pulling the screen door open when it is locked, unlocks it, which it was, and I had locked it prior to hitting the sheets.

First time I had called 911 since moving in 5 years ago, where they ever quick, real quick ,dispatcher very professional, no, the were not laughing at me.

 

[Eschaton]

I am in no way an expert or anything, but I don't think I would have announced my presence or the fact that you were willing to shoot them. I think it would be better to have stealth, surprise, and the personal knowledge of your own home on your side than announcing your presence. But I'm 19 with no formal training at all. Just my two cents.

 

[Old Guy]

I would have just as soon they left! No ear muffs, and blood all over, might have been mine! Not a lot of time to ponder, no one there, that was my wish as well! Interesting response by the Deputies, incredibly quick.

And all's well that ends well.

 

[Yo Mama]

I think it would be better to have stealth, surprise, and the personal knowledge of your own home on your side than announcing your presence. But I'm 19 with no formal training at all. Just my two cents.

Very good though for being 19. The force is strong with this one.....

Old Guy, maybe think about strengthening the door in question. I know you said you have it illuminated, obviously someone didn't care.

We used to alarm our screen doors, but now we have security doors. I'd install one if given the choice as an option.

 

[308win]

Might be worth getting info on police reports in your area; quick response could mean increased enforcement in your area because of high criminal activity/reports or could be a coincidence. The local news around here doesn't give a lot of coverage to high crime areas - can't be upsetting the citizens you know.

 

[Six]

I am in no way an expert or anything, but I don't think I would have announced my presence or the fact that you were willing to shoot them. I think it would be better to have stealth, surprise, and the personal knowledge of your own home on your side than announcing your presence. But I'm 19 with no formal training at all. Just my two cents.

Maybe it was sheer luck, but in this case, it worked well as the perp left without any damage to person or property. It's hard to see any better outcome than that.

Good post Old guy, and don't forget the thank you note to the department for their prompt and professional response.

 

[z3ro]

My question is; how do you feel know?

 

[bigfatdave]

Impressive response time!
If you do beef up security, don't just improve that one door, whoever was attempting entry knows that way didn't work already. They also know you might be armed, so that either helps, or tells them you have at least one portable black-market friendly item ... I'm not sure which side of that coin is more significant.

 

[TimboKhan]

I am in no way an expert or anything, but I don't think I would have announced my presence or the fact that you were willing to shoot them. I think it would be better to have stealth, surprise, and the personal knowledge of your own home on your side than announcing your presence.

I am split two ways on this. In the past I have said, and meant, that woe be upon the fool that breaks into my condo. On the other hand, I have no inherent desire to shoot anyone. I say in this case, the encounter was successful because whoever it was left, and that is a good thing. Perhaps announcing yourself isn't the greatest idea, but what else was he to do? Lay an ambush down and smite whomsoever walked in front of him? If you have good cover and a knowledge of that cover and your firing lanes, then I say that telling someone to get out before they get shot is OK, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Darkninja]

I am in no way an expert or anything, but I don't think I would have announced my presence or the fact that you were willing to shoot them. I think it would be better to have stealth, surprise, and the personal knowledge of your own home on your side than announcing your presence. But I'm 19 with no formal training at all. Just my two cents.

Ah, a fellow 19 year old. Nice to know there are others here that can't defend themselves outside of the home or in the home with anything with a shorter than 16" or 18" barrel. Or rather that isn't good at all.

<on topic>
That is an amazing response time, be sure to thank them for their prompt response time!
As for the announcing oneself I'm torn. I feel as though it is a good idea to announce yourself, however it seems prudent to keep the knowledge that you have a firearm with you a secret. Perhaps a simply, "Leave the way you came I have 911 on the phone and they're on the way" would deliver the message. More to another location, so you haven't given you position away. Then if you continue to hear noise or there is an hostile attempt towards you, you use deadly force.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

While I don't have anything to add to the OP's situation, I'd like to commend the 'younguns' for their thoughtfulness.
Too many of us fall victim to the bravado of youth, charging forward when a cooler head could prevail. Being aggressive definitely has it's place, and something can be said for instinctual actions as well, but IMHO thoughtfulness usually is the better policy. Self defense is serious business, and it's good to see some younguns don't subscribe to 'bumper sticker justice'.

 

[Old Guy]

A little clarification, I had a Glock 19 in my hand, I carry it daily, a Surefire flash light in the other, anybody seeing me, their eyes would do that, 4 yds away, my muzzle is aimed at those eyes, bullets heading out.

You have a choice, go or get shot!

It seems the person was trying to open a vehicle on the Street, alarm went off, they ran down my path. No damaged ears ME! No blood loss, him! Good show.

Not much to think about, three green dots, Press/Press/Press, at least.

Letter on it's way.

 

[B BRI]

I think you "done" good. Let them know what they are dealing with, while ready to do just that.

Most retreat when they realize they are no dealing with the typical everyday "sheep-ple".

Glad to hear it ended well.

 

[tkopp]

Your house is secure, you weren't harmed, you weren't burglarized. No shots were fired, no legal headache, no crying mother telling you about her saintly son who was just looking for something to eat, was confused maybe, went to the wrong home...

Sounds like a win to me.

 

[mustang_steve]

Definate win....situation diffused without going further than a few words.

 

[chaled]

The perp got away with crucial information. now the perp knows you have a gun. now he can watch and wait until everyone is gone and rob you for your firearm. Should've laid right at the top of the steps and took him out. Shoot first, ask questions and make statements after the threat is gone.

 

[Coyote3855]

Should've laid right at the top of the steps and took him out. Shoot first, ask questions and make statements after the threat is gone.

Probably the worst advice I've seen on this forum in a long time.

 

[mustang_steve]

That last bit of advice ignores the basics of self-defense....being in defense.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

^^^Wow, all I can say about the above is I'm glad you've only soiled THR's mission 3 times in one year.

 

[BULLSI]

Get security cameras that record and strategically place them around the entry points and on your vehicles.

 

[Expertowgunner]

wow im yet another 19 year old that uses this wonderful site as well lol. I also agree it is complete bs that in most states you cant arguably use one of the most useful firearms to defend ones home, a handgun. Anyway i agree with most of the folk on here as to what they would have done in your situation old man. Sometimes intimidation will do the work for you if you have a break in but in my situation i would have been a bit more subtle in my approach. It was smart you had your wife immediately call 911 and i would advise you stay in your room behind the best cover you got and cover all possible entry points to your location. DO NOT leave for any circumstances unless your there are others in your home that could be in danger from the burglars. wait for the police to arrive if somebody is breaking down you door announce yourself and tell police are on their way and should scare them off. its up to you to announce that you are armed personally i wouldnt as that would give them the advantage of knowing what they are up against and may open fire themselves through the door. may sound paranoid but as i am the nephew of a police officer i have heard of a instance of that happening from him. Remember key to this situation is staying calm, use tact and stealth, and most of all keep your loved ones and yourself safe. now if you had to search your house that opens a whole other can of tactical worms

 

[Expertowgunner]

oh btw dont know the layout of your house but there is a reason as to why they call stairwells the "funnel of death". Flashlights while useful in most situations can be a hazard as this says "hey im over here shoot me now" and it can be hard to defend oneself in a area like that unless there is good enough cover.

 

[WingRider]

WOW

Ditto the replies to chaled:banghead:

Wile: got a chuckle from your sig line

 

[Old Guy]

I never left the bedroom, to see me anyone in the down stairs would have to show their eyes to me by climbing the stairs, not a very healthy act on their part.

Spoke to one of the responding Deputy's last night, explained noise to him, asked if we had any home invasions recently in my Sector.

Answer, no.

The only way you can fire through my bedroom floor, is from the garage.

Stairs have two small landings, you have to turn right, twice, coming up, I was real safe reference my cover, and shooting platform.

The good news for me... Three minutes response time! And carrying all that heavy ammunition! 45 Glocks.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Impressive response time!

The good news for me... Three minutes response time!

Perhaps.

But even then it would have been 2:30 too slow if any had -really- happened here.

Always remember, the police are there to pick up the pieces =after= all the bad stuff has already happened.