We had a burglar today...

[p35]

I was going to say that if someone had let the guy know there were people home when he first rang the bell, he would have moved on. He was obviously trying to be sure there was no one home before he broke in. Maybe El Barto's right about being careful opening the door, but even yelling "WHADDAYA WANT?" out a window would probably have done it.

Around here, a call to the cops reporting a suspicious character ringing doorbells and then leaving when someone answers will get a couple patrol cars out pretty quickly to look for and talk to the guy. Even if they don't catch him doing wrong, he'll either spot the police looking for him and take off or decide, after being rousted, that he's in the wrong place for crime. Either way, he's not going to keep trying that day.

Not trying to be critical here, just suggesting another approach. Most burglars are looking for a quick score, not a fight. They know that American homeowners have guns and will shoot.

 

[foghornl]

+1 (OR MORE...) On the dog idea.

One lady I work with is heavily involved in a Doberman Rescue program. Last time I asked, she had her 3 regulars, plus 2 'rescue-foster' hounds. (I frequently ask "How are the Baskerville Hounds?")***

So, she says, "When you ring my doorbell, ya really gotta want to visit"...imagine 5 or 6 Dobe faces peering out the front window right back at ya....


***With aplogies to Edgar Allen Poe

 

[Heraclid]

This kind of thing is exactly why I just got into the world of handguns. A few months ago my neighbor's house was burglarized in broad daylight, in all probability while I was here (I came home earlier than usual that day). I had put my dogs outside and they alerted twice after I got home that afternoon, and I didn't pay them much mind because usually it's over nothing important. Live and learn.

Still wondering about that window choice. Could it be that most people with alarms do not wire the bathroom windows? Particularly ones like that which look too small and too high for a thief to try. And that most folks probably do not have motion sensors in a place that would catch someone going from the bathroom to the adjoining bedroom? And most master bedrooms where the jewelry typically would be are situated in the rear? I think most security systems probably do not have glass break sensors, or if they do many people disable them after other things trigger them and they get annoying. Is it possible that such a "listening" security device would also be likely to be mounted centrally and therefore less likely to go off when a back bathroom window is broken? Is the frosted glass in a bathroom window going to produce a different pitch that ma y not set one of those off? Am I putting way more thought into this than a dumb crook probably ever did?

With my job I sometimes will, as a courtesy, seek homeowner authorization to utilize easements between houses. I have knocked on enough doors to know that there are many people who, when I kmow for sure they're home, will not answer the door. And I'm supposed to be there, they're used to seeing me around every so often, I have a rig parked out in front that tells them why I'm there, have a company name on my shirt. So imagine if it's a total stranger. The thief had a flawed method there.

 

[choochboost]

Could it be that most people with alarms do not wire the bathroom windows? Particularly ones like that which look too small and too high for a thief to try.

Sure its possible, but that's why a security system only works when it actually provides some sort of protection. You can't cut corners. A properly installed system will cover at least all accessible openings. I would definitely consider that window accessible.

And that most folks probably do not have motion sensors in a place that would catch someone going from the bathroom to the adjoining bedroom? And most master bedrooms where the jewelry typically would be are situated in the rear?

Properly installed motion detectors, especially when only one protects an entire floor, should be installed in the central part of the house. Typically point right up the central hallway, cutting off access from one room to another.

I think most security systems probably do not have glass break sensors, or if they do many people disable them after other things trigger them and they get annoying. Is it possible that such a "listening" security device would also be likely to be mounted centrally and therefore less likely to go off when a back bathroom window is broken?

Although glass break sensors are common in commercial properties, they are less common in homes. The only way to get acceptable performance out of them is to install them in the room you are trying to protect. You cannot install a glass break sensor in a central hallway and expect it to protect the windows in all rooms off of that hallway.

 

[the naked prophet]

With aplogies to Edgar Allen Poe

You mean Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

 

[foghornl]

OOOOPS! !

Oh yeah..."The Hounds of The Baskerville" was a Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story.

"The Raven" belongs to Mr. Poe....That what I get for posting before my first daily Gallon of coffee...

However, I still stick to the idea of one (or more) Hounds for a first layer of alert.

 

[learn2shoot]

My dogs bark at anyone that comes anywhere near the house. They can sense things I would never have noticed.

No kidding... My dog was asleep inside the house and at 2AM wanted to be let outside - This only happens when she needs to go, or if she is not feeling well and wanted to eat grass. Well this was different - there was a raccoon (outside the fence) walking down the sidewalk. She scared it so much it froze in place. That was about a week ago - she still checks out that part of the fence every day.

 

[learn2shoot]

Sorry I didn't mean to resurect this... Not even sure why I was looking at it.

 

[Hobie]

I have family in Cantonment. Perhaps your son saved them some crap... Many thanks to your family.

 

[quatin]

I heard a stupid joke that kinda relates to this.

"Wire your dog to the door bell." That way whenever someone rings the door bell your dog goes nuts and who wants to break into a house with a crazy dog?

 

[flip180]

Glad to hear everything is all right.

A great alarm would be to make some toe poppers and put them outside every window , just kidding . Those were my favorite booby trap that I learned to make at JOTC in Panama.

Flip

 

[wdlsguy]

I have a shih-tzu

+1 on the Shih-Tzu. We have a Shih-Tzu / Lhasa Apso mix and nothing moves in the vicinity of our house without us hearing about it.

 

[tubeshooter]

Glad everybody was OK and none of your family got hurt. Also glad they caught him.


The violated feeling only goes away over time, as others have said. Takes longer for some than others.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Sucks about the window but it sounds like the kids and the missus got it right, congratulations you just found out that some of the training you that you have passed to them has been tested and passed in my opinion. Its also great they caught the guy but he probably wont get in to much trouble.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

Wife and two grown men in the house. I'm curious as to why they didn't answer the door.

Probably would have prevented his half-assed burglary attempt, and saved you the cost of a window.

 

[fiVe]

I'm curious as to why they didn't answer the door.

Probably would have prevented his half-assed burglary attempt, and saved you the cost of a window.

You are probaby right, and if there is blame to be placed, I guess it goes to me. Our neighborhood is quite & semi-secluded and we rarely get un-announced visitors. I just prefer that we allow the few solicitors we get to leave without our answering the door. I don't mean to seem rude or uppity, but 99.99% of the time, I won't be interested in whatever they are selling. The other part was the way he rang the bell--very rapidly at least a dozen times. This sort of set everyone to a cautious state. He left and then shortly returned and again rang the bell the same way. He left and they thought he was headed to our north-side, next-door neighbor, but he circled around to our backyard. If they had answered the door, it is possible he would've been scared off, but I'm still glad they didn't.

******* UPDATE *******
It cost just over $100.00 to replace the window, and after a few days, my uneasiness left. I now notice ANY noise that is (or that I think is) out of the ordinary. I'll pause to listen and then re-listen. Many times I interrupt whatever I'm doing to actually go check/look/etc. I'm a hard sleeper, but I will wake up if a vehicle happens to drive into the cul-de-sac by our house. I considered myself to be aware before, but I'm more vigilant now, and I that's a good thing.

We get info notices periodically from the State Attorney's office. The latest (dated 6 Oct 2006) states--
Docket/Plea Day: 11/29/2006
Trial Week: Week of 12/04/2006 at 9:00 a.m.

Everybody stay alert and be safe.

R/fiVe

 

[KC&97TA]

How does the Castle Doctrine work, regarding say, you caught him as he was climbing in the window? Would that be covered, or would he have to be in?

From my understanding it works like this.

You have the right to defend your Castle, thus if you are in fear of you life... which if anyone is entering my home through a window and doesn't run when they see me and a gun pointing at them... then I'm in fear. So you have the right to defend yourself with out fear of being charged with a crime.

For what the Castle law is worth, as long as you don't shoot them in the back while they're unarmed, you're good. Now if they are Armed and you shoot them in the back, you still have good grounds, expecially if they're in your home.

As far as blasting them on your property, I think that's only legal in Texas and Minnesota.

 

[wdlsguy]

As far as blasting them on your property, I think that's only legal in Texas and Minnesota.

 

[Black Knight]

Good job. Could things been done differently? Of course they could but they should learn from this. In this case a 95% is still an A. Take the family out for a steak they earned it. Now I don't want to rain on the parade but if this comes to trial your son will most likely be called to testify. He will tell what he saw. The defense attorney will have tell what he may not have seen. Defense Attorney,"Did you see my client remove the screen and break the window?". Just bringing this up so you will be ready and won't be blind sided. Hope the perp pleads out, it will save your son from testifying. Good luck. Again they earned that steak.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Dogs can not only save your life but can save the life of the scumbag trying to run through your house in the early morning hours. A year ago or so I awoke to my back door open, which makes a loud noise when opened. By the time I realized what I heard and grabbed my gun, my german shep, lab and yorkie were all going crazy with the german shep on his heels out the door. He is lucky I have dogs because he'd be dead today if I didn't.
My advise is get a dog and give your boys a great big fatherly hug and pray at the dinner table tonight for God's good grace.

 

[ceetee]

Just in case anybody missed the idea of having a nice hedge of thick, thorny plants under the window...


Security Plants

 

[tubeshooter]

I now notice ANY noise that is (or that I think is) out of the ordinary. I'll pause to listen and then re-listen. Many times I interrupt whatever I'm doing to actually go check/look/etc.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm still the same way, and it's been 5 years or so. And I didn't even have any family present or anything during the attempt as you did.


Even though you'd rather the event not have happened, the increased awareness is definitely a good thing. I agree.

 

[Tag]

Keeshond's from what I under stand from My nieghbor who has them were bread to be walking intruder alarms for castles. Not a yapper and not a BG but a bundle of niose

Yes, my god. My neighbor has one of these little beasts, and nothing moves out there without our knowing about it. They have the most annoying bark also...

 

[The_Antibubba]

Now the nightmares are going to start again...

You ought to see how people react when my 7 pomeranians get going.

Brrrrrrrrrr. I'd rather face 1 Doberman than a pack of Poms. Those things are pure inbred viciousness. If you go down you are NOT coming back up. Only Spitz dogs are crazier, and I've never seen more than two together.

 

[gak]

Funny looking hole he made in the window, and just wide enough for an 870 barrel to poke out into his face when he peers in...