True story - Guy seemingly breaking in through the window

[Dr_2_B]

Suburb of a capital city. Couple weeks ago my dad heard a knock at the door mid-day. Dad didn't recognize the person, so he just didn't answer the door. (I've done the same thing) Well, after no answer, the guy began to fiddle with the window adjacent to the door.

Moments later, he looked up to find my dad, 12 gauge-in-hand jeering at him and telling him in no uncertain terms to un-ass himself right away. Which the guy did. Dad called the police who knew there had been a couple breakins in recent days in the neighborhood.

Long story short, the guy was handyman at the wrong house. He'd been called by neighbors to make their windows more secure after the recent break-ins.

Results: Relationship with the neighbors is a little strained as they now see dad as a bit of a loose cannon.

Question: What would you have done? I'd probably have approached with a concealed handgun, but I'm not sure dad's way wasn't the most appropriate in light of the circumstances. I mean, sure sounds like the set-up to a break-in to me.

 

[dralarms]

Your dad did nothing wrong. I say forget the neibours and get on with life.

 

[security6]

If a neighbor thinks I'm a "loose cannon" for wanting to defend myself in my own home, I could care less if I ever spoke to them again.

I would have approached with a handgun at low ready to check it out, and then called the police if he wasn't coming in the house. I don't see any reason to scare him off so he can go burglar the next house, I'd rather see him caught red handed. Of course, if he got in before the police came I'd let him know he was not welcome.

 

[blackhawk2000]

Dad was in the right. Screw the neighbors.

 

[jt1]

I'd say it was the handyman's lucky day. Your dad did good.

 

[Bezoar]

Hmmm the handy man aint on the up and up when you think about it. What handy man or contractor for that part is going to do the work when no one is around to pay him?

I never met one that would.

 

[qbpc]

I wonder if the neighbor had a BG breaking in if they would want the dad sit on his a$$ and watch?

This is how it would go if my neighbors thought of me this way.
Police "sir did you see anything" Me "yep" Police "Are you the one called 911" Me "yep" Police "sir why didn't you do any thing" Me "I am considered a loose canon and I didn't want to get sued"
In the back ground the neighbor's wife crying cuz all her grandma's jewlery is gone or worse.

Really if there was a life in danger I would act.

 

[Blackfork]

Lucky Neighbors

Your neighbors are dang lucky to live next to someone who doesn't ignore threats to the neighborhood. They are safer for living close to him. I suggest they send over a reasonable gift showing their gratitude to someone who is willing and able to take action to defend all. Flowers would be nice. Wine maybe. A box of his favorite shotgun load at least, or a donation to the NRA.

Let's hope they show some manners. Surely they were raised correctly.

 

[aguyindallas]

The fact that the neighbors DO NOT appreciate him looking out for the community speaks volumes. There is only one way to stop crime, and that is to stop crime! Good on your dad, screw the neighbors. I would have done the same thing, no doubt about it. Nobody has any need to fiddle with my windows if I dont answer the door.

 

[RP86]

I would have done the same thing if I heard a knock and then somebody fooling with the window. This Handyman guy could have just used that as an excuse. Like when a Gynecologists gets caught for prostitution, and says he was just doing yearly exams.

 

[Cuda]

Good for Dad..


C

 

[gotarheels03]

Absolutely nothing wrong with what your dad did.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Good for dad. Heck with the neighbors.

My family was one of the first in the town back in the 1920's. All the neighbors knew each other, used to shut down our road for block parties. Now? I know 3 of the 6 neighbors on my street, one of the neighbors calls my family "lottery kids" We hit the lotto when our loved ones died and left us our house.

It's not like it used to be. Neighbors opinions don't really mean as much as they used too. They don't like what he did, oh well, they don't have to associate anymore. Just write it off and be secure in the knowledge that if the story get's around, they will look for other houses besides his

 

[Bob F.]

I think some of you misread the story, It was "Dad"'s house the handyman was "breaking into", not the neighbors. I'd probably have let him come on in, proned him out and called the cops. I'd probably have to mop the pee up after the cops were finished. Your Dad done good.

Now, if it were the neighbors: True story, semi-rural area here (100-300yds between houses). Heard a siren about dark, went onto back porch and siren was South of us not moving very fast, realized not moving at all. Myself and 2 other nieghbors all showed up within a few minutes, all armed. It was a house alarm and the residents weren't home, house secure with their 2# dog inside barking at us. If break-in was attempted and set off the alarm, the intruder probably hit the woods post-haste! Big lights and shotguns make an impression, he's not had any trouble since.

Stay safe.
Bob

 

[gunsmith]

The handyan is the neighborhood culprit

and he has a great cover story.
he "accidently"(SIC) was at the wrong window...wrong only because yer dad was there, betcha!

 

[NavyLCDR]

Only thing I would have done differently would be a Ruger P345 semi-auto chambered with a .45 hollow point and seven more in the mag. Screw the neighbors.

And if I was your dad's neighbor and heard about the incident - I would have bought him a cup of coffee, beer or a box of shotgun shells, whatever his preference.

 

[mbt2001]

Yeah, next time offer the dude coming in through the window milk and cookies and calmy ask him why he is attempting to repair your window, and to see a copy of his work order...

Jeez....

 

[budney]

Your dad was being prudent, and I have doubts about this repairman. If he arrived and went straight to fiddling with the windows, then he's either an idiot or up to no good. A real repairman with half a brain knocks on the door and says, "Mrs. smith? I'm here from Acme Windows to do whatever..."

Unless they already know you, or have a clear arrangement with you, they will not arrive and start swinging hammers without checking in.


--Len.

 

[Geno]

Tell you Father that he did it right. I would have done the same.

Doc2005

 

[Lonestar49]

I would have done the same

...

Your Dad did the right thing, bar-none.

You might, on your dad's behalf, inform the neighbors, that apparently they gave the handyman the wrong address, therefore their thinking process is the loose cannon, OR, that the handyman cannot read, nor direct himself to the right address, "right next door" and his thinking is a loose cannon, and that your dad, acted upon sound reasoning, as he did not blow the guy away, as many "loose cannons" would have done in this same type case.

Your Dad held his fire, while under the pressure of fear, and that shows stability in his pressured thought process of "an intruder, trying to illegally gain entrance to "his castle".. nothing more.



LS

 

[Dr_2_B]

Well, just for the sake of getting the facts straight, this particular handyman was legit because he was soon talking to the police officer and the neighbor who had commissioned him. Nonetheless, I do know that most of these crooks have businesses that give them an excuse to be where they are.

It's a tough situation all-around. This handyman's mistake could've cost him a LOT. Scary.

 

[collateral]

good work on your dads part.
and hopefully that handyman will double check addresses from now on.

 

[The Unknown User]

It sounds to me that your dad is awesome. It also sounds to me that his neighbors are morons. I think they might need a screw or two tightened upstairs.

 

[brolin_1911a1]

I had something similar happen to me several years ago and I still laugh thinking of it.

I'd been on the road for hours and every motel I'd passed said "No Vacancy." I finally found one in St. Joseph, Mo., a run down, seedy place where the night clerk passed your key to you through a bullet proof glass enclosure. The door to my room had a large hole in it covered with thin plywood. The lockset was loose in the door and the wood behind the striker plate was so chiseled out you could see the lock bolt. But it was nearly midnight and the only motel I'd seen for over a hundred miles with a vacancy. A bed and shower were all I needed so I took it.

Shortly before seven a.m., I awoke to the sound of that loose lockset rattling as though someone was jiggling it. I came wide awake with the picture of that boogered striker plate and door frame vivid in my mind. I grabbed my Walther PPK/S from the nightstand and somehow, I have no idea how, swapped ends on that bed, landing prone with my head at the footboard, thumb on the safety, and, while clearly thinking, "Identify the target" a perfect sight picture center of mass on the Mexican maid who came through the door.

She attempted rather unsuccessfully to draw enough of a breath to squeak out, "housekeeping" as I pointed the pistol at the ceiling and said, "Sorry, I didn't hear you knock." She squeaked, "I come back later" and left. I put the gun up, headed for the shower, and congratulated myself on what I felt was a cool, mechanical response to what could have been a very real threat.

 

[brolin_1911a1]

I still laugh at the memory of her trying to breath and my belated realization that the dumb I was staying at probably rented more often by the hour than by the night.