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  #51  
Old 03-16-2014, 12:56 PM
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An unanswered knock in Texas is not an invitation for anyone to break in.
Breaking in on someone who is home is an excellent way to get shot.
I am under no obligation to let anyone know whether I am at home or
not regardless of where I live. But then I would not live in any state that
did not have a strong castle doctrine law. Me not opening the door as
far as I am concerned carries no risk.
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Old 03-16-2014, 01:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMSgt View Post
In S. FL (and many other areas of the country, I assume) an unanswered knock is an invitation for a break in. Armed heavier than 101st Airborne or not, that's an incident I can avoid by responding in some form. I refuse to let anyone control my life.
This has been the pattern here in Western Washington for several years.

"Kids" wearing backpacks will knock on the front door. If you don't answer they go around back and kick in a door. They are looking for easy pickings. Laptops, tablets, jewelry, guns etc.... Anything they can sell or pawn.

If you don't take the opportunity to let them know you're home and turn them away, then it's could turn into a home invasion. Which is the last thing you and they want.

Suburban homes are being broke into in record numbers. And it happens during daylight hours. They know that there either isn't anyone home or an older person may be.

The notion that random crime only happens in the big city is no longer valid. Everyone is a target. Especially older folks.

As I've stated many times, home security should be layered. Locked doors are your last line of defense. So why open it?
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Old 03-16-2014, 01:47 PM
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We have a "must inform" law in Texas if your stopped. We have no law requiring us to announce whether we are home or not. But if one is really determined to let them know when your home and when your not, one could put up a sign to tell
them, homeowner gone on Saturdays. That way the could return on Saturday to load all your household effects. Of
course you could file that on your home owner's insurance later
to partially recover the costs. Since I am now an old person
I prefer they not know that too, since that seems to be an attraction for some bent on home invasion of they think there
is an old person only inside. I cannot think of a reason I would want to let them know anything. At my residence someone is
home almost 100 percent of the time. So its going to be
slim pickings trying to take anything that belongs to me.
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Old 03-16-2014, 04:07 PM
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Years ago I returned home for just a little while and left my truck unlocked. (Lancaster California). My neighbor came over and said he had just seen someone looking inside my truck. I drove down the street and found a illegal type putting fliers on doors for pizza. Of course he couldnt speak "The english". Even so I made him empty his pack sack to see if he had anything of mine. What cha going to do? I caught him about two blocks from my house.
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Old 03-16-2014, 04:16 PM
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I fell for something once years ago that was a joke pulled on me, all the same it could work well to get you out of your house. Some stranger called me and insulted me. I got very mad and asked him where he was. He was calling from some bar I had never been in and I stupidly told him to wait right there and I would "Clean his clock"!
I am/was real fat and didnt even have a T shirt on. I was so mad I just jumped on my harley and drove through town with my tits flopping!
I get in this dark bar and beller out DAVE or whatever name he had given me! The place was fairly crowded and I didnt hear a word! I really made a fool of myself! Hope I aint giving thieves idea`s here.

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  #56  
Old 03-16-2014, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SMSgt View Post
Not difficult--Call the cops. Let them deal with the process server or anyone else.
I get to Lucky # 13 before hearing the voice of reason.

Tell the person THROUGH the door (If wife answering door: If me, I'd be taking the pawncop approach - "door open w/left hand, right hand behind my back out of sight with .45") that you are calling the police and will be happy to talk to her once they arrive.
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Old 03-16-2014, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Kanewpadle View Post
As I've stated many times, home security should be layered. Locked doors are your last line of defense. So why open it?
Next to last. But I hope I never have to resort to the last line.

I have a window in the steel door to my apartment, which helps.
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  #58  
Old 03-16-2014, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by feralmerril View Post
I fell for something once years ago that was a joke pulled on me, all the same it could work well to get you out of your house. Some stranger called me and insulted me. I got very mad and asked him where he was. He was calling from some bar I had never been in and I stupidly told him to wait right there and I would "Clean his clock"!
I am/was real fat and didnt even have a T shirt on. I was so mad I just jumped on my harley and drove through town with my tits flopping!
I get in this dark bar and beller out DAVE or whatever name he had given me! The place was fairly crowded and I didnt hear a word! I really made a fool of myself! Hope I aint giving thieves idea`s here.
You really, really need to write a book
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  #59  
Old 03-16-2014, 09:33 PM
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My front door has glass on each side. When someone knocks or rings the bell I will answer the door - but it doesn't open unless its someone I know or am expecting. In either case my .40 cal is in my hand but out of sight.
Even though I live in a historically safe neighborhood (and city), EVERY neighborhood could make that claim...until an incident occurs. Trouble comes on its own - why invite it?

Be vigilant...be safe
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Old 03-17-2014, 10:04 PM
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Just make up your mind not to open your door to a stranger period! The problem with good people is they are often conflicted with not wanting to offend or be rude. The bad guy is not conflicted and will prey on this.
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  #61  
Old 03-17-2014, 10:40 PM
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Just make up your mind not to open your door to a stranger period! The problem with good people is they are often conflicted with not wanting to offend or be rude. The bad guy is not conflicted and will prey on this.
I have no issue with appearing to be rude!
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  #62  
Old 03-18-2014, 12:04 PM
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Default I've posted this before but it bears repeating

This is the opening post to this thread

Good Video By M. Ayoob "Don't Answer That Door".

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Massad Ayoob "Don't Answer The Door!!!" - YouTube

I’ve seen this discussed on other forums and it seems to cause a lot of debate when it comes up.

I found this video by Massad Ayoob on youtube in which he explains how he deals with a stranger at his door and there’s not much I can add to it except maybe my personal experience.

I am convinced that I stopped an attempted robbery at the front door of my home several years ago by simply not opening the door.

A stranger showed up at my door around 9 pm saying that he wanted to give me a free Denver Post. This was back when I owned a home and I looked through the front window and he had no newspaper in his hands.

He spent 10 minutes trying to get me to open that door; nothing else was going to do. I finally ended the conversation by telling him I was calling the police. I am aware that there are any number of things I could have done better but it was almost 10 years ago and I’ve learned some since then.

I believe it’s prudent not to open the door to a stranger if for no other reason than I don’t want to hear a pitch for meat or a vacuum cleaner or encyclopedias or magazines or an invitation to your church. By not opening the door for anyone I don’t know I automatically am never faced with a situation where I open the door to a criminal.

If it is a criminal I want every advantage I can have. Why put myself in a position where I have to fight them at the door when I can just not open the door and avoid the fight entirely?

ETA When I say don’t answer I don’t mean “ignore” because that might entice a criminal to think you aren’t home and try to kick the door in.
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  #63  
Old 03-18-2014, 12:57 PM
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My wife never answers the door unless you call first, never.
My mother used to answer door with a three D cell maglight, even during the day. Cop showed up one day to her house because the fool could not read the number on house i guess. The cop got told off with her holding the maglight. Lmfao. She said the cop kept apologizing and asking her to have a good day...

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  #64  
Old 03-18-2014, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by SMSgt View Post
Not difficult--Call the cops. Let them deal with the process server or anyone else.
Except in my area cops are anything from 10 minutes to 2 hours away. I'm in the county. The sheriff deputy might be at the other end of the county from me.

That said we usually meet people who drive up outside from the high ground of the porch. Dogs alert us to anyone coming up the driveway 1/4 mile away and we are prepared. The dogs are much MORE aggressive sounding to anyone on foot.
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Old 03-21-2014, 08:45 PM
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I'm a Private Investigator and I have provided process serving services to my clients. That lady is not going to last long in the business. To go on somebodies property and DEMAND to see their face is stupid. The occupant, whether it is the person to be served or not, has no obligation to comply. I would have advised I was calling law enforcement and stayed inside.

Well armed.
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Iam retired and do process serving now. The woman I agree is not going to last long! As for how were paid completed service or not I get paid but I do have to make 3 or 4 attempts . Depending on the attorney or the judge the case has !

Iam polite get my business done and leave . sounds like pounding on the door and asking to see her face was way beyond the pale ..... sure would be for me .

Mostly process serving is boring but being as I do it in The Detroit area and even in Detroit now and then it can get lets say interesting .
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  #66  
Old 03-22-2014, 10:38 PM
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I get very few knocks...the "Alligator Farm" sign out on the front fence usually keeps folks away

Have been debating a sign for the front door that says...
"One Ret. Army Sgt and One Ret. Marine Gunny live here...do you really want to bother?"

Sad thing is, I'm the NICE one
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  #67  
Old 03-23-2014, 12:15 AM
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When I started working at home I got a separate land line with a new number. Apparently that number previously belonged to someone who has several people looking for her. That was 12 years ago. At first the calls were daily and now they are down to only a few a year. Can't recall how many times I have had to explain that I am not now not have I ever been Karen J Hall not in fact have I ever been a woman or used a woman's name. And no I do not know anyone who has ever used that name nor do I have any idea where you can find her. But here's an idea, there's this thing called the internet and these things called phone books, perhaps you could use them to find a phone number associated with that name and ca that number instead. The only reason I even answer is because I sometimes get legit calls from numbers I do not recognize. I will soon drop that number altogether.
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Old 03-23-2014, 11:31 PM
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An intercom system would be nice. As would not answering the door especially after dark. Motion lights put up to illuminate key areas will provide you with the ability to scope out the situation as well. And a J frame in the pocket with your hand on it would also be prudent.

As too the plain clothed deputy, walking up on anyone and unsnapping your holster before you've identified yourself is an invite to a shooting! Hopefully his/her supervisor was made aware of this stupidity?
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  #69  
Old 03-27-2014, 11:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by speedyquad View Post
we have owned our current home for 3.5 years. i've only had a gun in the house for 2.5 years. the first winter here, i was shoveling the driveway after returning home from work when i saw a guy in a jeep drive by a few times, staring me down each time. on his 4th pass he parks halfway down the block. my eye is on him the whole time. at about 50 ft, he unsnaps a holster on his right hip, putting me into "oh ****" mode. he introduces himself as one of the county sherrifs and...
Sounds like you've got the walking dead policing your town. Where I'm from the only people who unsnap holsters without identifying themselves...attract bullets. "I was in fear of my life and he had a gun that he was drawing on me. I didn't know who the hell it was and it didn't look like I was going to find out in this life either."

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One afternoon, months later, I was working at home and had my “Road to Damascus” moment. My Labrador, who was at my feet at the time, alerted and then uttered a deep, visceral, low growl. Miss Kate has a gentle nature and this got my attention quickly. I grabbed a handy SiG220 and came out of my back office and down the hall. Round the corner I came face-to-face with a trespasser. Standing in my kitchen, bold as brass, was a freaky looking kid of about 20 with multi-colored hair, outlandish clothes and clutching something in his hands. I put the front sight on him, told him to freeze right where he was and demanded what he was doing in my house. After the color ran out of his face he told me he was following up on the census info, the door was open and he just "thought he'd step inside..."
Interesting similarity there. I was just finishing cleaning my Sig 220 when Joe Druggy burst into my apartment. My girlfriend at the time had just gotten out of the shower and was seated on the couch in towels. Comically enough she starts wrestling with this idiot, the door in between them. I put the sights on him and tell him to leave or I'll have to shoot him. He finally sees me 20 feet away looking down the sights, gives up and is shut out of the apartment. She locks the door and goes to gets dressed. Curiosity got the best of me and I just had to check the peephole. Joe is standing outside the door...still...after all that. So I open the door to the chain lock with cocked pistol in hand trained through the door at Joe and ask him just what's the matter. His reply was something I'll never forget, "Lunch?" This idiot was stoned off his *** and had the wrong door. I told him no thanks and that he'd best move along home. After that fiasco I never forgot to lock the door. The lady was none too happy!
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Old 03-27-2014, 11:54 PM
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A salesman knocked on my buddies apartment door. His wife answered it and the salesman wedged his foot in the door. My buddy just got home from work and was laying in bed listening to the conversation. He got up and put his shoulder holster on with the m29-10 in it. He swung open the door and it was the end of the conversation. Game over the clown left.
The boldness of these people.
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Old 03-28-2014, 12:00 AM
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I get Bill collectors every so often calling on the phone. It seems the previous owner of my phone number is still using my number on credit card or loan applications. There deadbeats and I get hammered with the calls.

The caller asks for them, I tell them it's no longer there number. Then they ask me if I know them. I say how the would I know them?

I had some serious words with one collector. If they want to get nasty I can do that...
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Old 03-28-2014, 12:07 AM
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OT, When I was 14yo I worked for Charlie's chips on the delivery truck. I would walk up to the house carrying the basket of goodies. As a kid I never gave it much thought but when the lady of the house answered the door in her night gown I was told to go wait in the truck. When I got older I figured it out.....
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  #73  
Old 03-28-2014, 08:19 AM
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I was once walking my dog in my neighborhood after dark and a couple of blocks from where I live I noticed a car in the driveway with the map light on. I knew that in the morning that battery would be dead, so even though I knew I wouldn't want a stranger knocking on my door after dark, I went up to the front door with my dog at my side and knocked. Based on body language I could tell the guy who answered it had a handgun in hand he was holding behind his back, but as soon as he heard why I knocked, he was very appreciative. I guess these are the times we're living in.
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Old 03-28-2014, 11:02 AM
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Based on body language I could tell the guy who answered it had a handgun in hand he was holding behind his back,
I read variations of this line all the time and I have to ask; if you (generic) are concerned enough to open the door with a gun in your hand why are you even opening the door?
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Old 03-28-2014, 11:24 AM
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I read variations of this line all the time and I have to ask; if you (generic) are concerned enough to open the door with a gun in your hand why are you even opening the door?
If he hadn't, he would have awakened to a dead car battery.
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Old 03-28-2014, 12:33 PM
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If me, I'd be taking the pawncop approach - "door open w/left hand, right hand behind my back out of sight with .45")
I've read this several times, why do you have your pistol behind you?
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Old 03-28-2014, 02:28 PM
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If he hadn't, he would have awakened to a dead car battery.
Not so, he could have very easily asked you what you wanted with out opening the door.

Way back when I was a kid I was riding in a car with my mother one night when she had an accident. This was in the B.C. (before cell phones) era so I ran to the nearest house to ask them to call the police. They said they’d call but they weren’t opening the door and they did.
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Old 03-30-2014, 06:36 PM
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I would have told my wife the same thing. The doors opens for no one unless you already know them. "I need to see your face" RED FLAG! Its time for you to leave please don't come back. Is what I would have said. And if they kept pushing it could have ended up alot worse for them. Angry German Shepherd and that door bell just woke him up from his afternoon nap.
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Old 03-31-2014, 04:21 PM
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Contract process servers have no more status than pizza delivery persons. Our Sheriff's Office uses civilians to serve process, but they have official S.O. ID. They very rarely have any problems, I am told. When I was working, sworn officers served process. All but me worked in plain clothes. I worked a high crime area, and drove a plain car. I decided to wear the uniform for safety reasons. It worked out fine.
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Old 03-31-2014, 04:30 PM
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We live in the middle of 8.5 acres, we keep the area well lit at night. One night at 0130 someone rang the doorbell. My looked through the peep and then woke me up. I opened the door with my 4506 in my hand and said "now what do you want". I could smell alcohol on the young man's breath. He said " Oh God please don't shoot me ". I asked him what the problem was, and he had driven his car into the ditch of the gravel road, and could not get out. I said I know just who to call to help you, and called the Sheriff. We lived in an adjacent county from the one I worked in, and the deputies came and fetched him. I wrote the required report and he must have pleaded as I never heard any more about it.
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Old 03-31-2014, 05:25 PM
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For some reason, our quiet residential neighborhood far from any regular "lines of drift" attracts people pan handling door-to-door. We even had a lady show up with two kids in a stroller asking for change at the door. And just where did you come from?

Because of this I installed a nice steel security door that is always kept locked. No one opens the screen unless it is my wife or myself, and two of my kids are technically adults (noticed I did not say "grown up"). When we do answer the door it is with firearm available.

This sort of backfired one night. The head of our local congregation and his assistant came by for an unannounced visit on night. He did not notice the revolver in my pocket until they were leaving. I have known him for years so he wasn't really surprised but he said "For me?"
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Old 04-02-2014, 03:17 AM
kaaskop49 kaaskop49 is offline
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Here in the Vegas valley, the police advise folks not to open the door to a stranger, but to let the caller know someone is at home. Otherwise, goes their logic, not answering may be an incentive to burglars to break in to what they believe to be an unoccupied home. One way, they advise, is to turn on the porch light.

Should one dial 911 about a potential problem outside, the operator asks, "Do you have any guns?" (Yes) "Lock them up before the officer arrives!" It is an absolute in their eyes. No argument permitted, not even a former LEO with a CCW issued by their department. Happily, police usually arrive PDQ. But it is another consideration in an iffy situation.

It is no wonder I had installed iron security gates 10' high in front of my outside vestibule/entry to prevent access to my door.
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Old 04-02-2014, 06:52 AM
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Default push in invasion

When a kid a door to door magazine seller tried to force his way into our house while my Mother was at the door. Our normally VERY tame/friendly huge black lab went into full cujo mode & jumped thru the upper screened part of the door to get at the guy when he heard my Mother scream. The magazines went flying, the "salesman" leapt over our 6' stockade fence with the dog right after him on his heels. the guy ran to the end of the dock next door & jumped in when he ran out of dock. The dog jumped right in after him without missing a beat & began swimming after him. A clammer friend of ours pulled the dog into his boat & off the guy & left him in the water. The same dog was later poisoned by a pro burglar that hit our house (and 3 others in a row the same night) with 5 people at home & 2 dogs, nobody even woke up. Luckily the dog survived, but it was touch and go for awhile.
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Old 04-02-2014, 01:16 PM
Springfeildkid585 Springfeildkid585 is offline
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Not difficult--Call the cops. Let them deal with the process server or anyone else.
In this town? They'd laugh at me and tell me to grow a pair. I called 911 to report a pretty nasty fight (curb stomping) and the dispatcher couldn't have cared less. I don't think they even sent an officer.
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Old 04-02-2014, 01:22 PM
hangnoose hangnoose is offline
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Default CALL 911

& TELL THEM WHAT COLOR CHALK YOU WANT USED FOR YOUR OUTLINE.
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  #86  
Old 04-02-2014, 02:27 PM
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In this town? They'd laugh at me and tell me to grow a pair. I called 911 to report a pretty nasty fight (curb stomping) and the dispatcher couldn't have cared less. I don't think they even sent an officer.
I've had three occasions to contact the Cleveland Police Department. In two of the three, I had a similar experience. It's just reinforced me in my well founded belief that if I'm not willing and able to protect myself, that I just won't get protected at all.
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:32 PM
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Should one dial 911 about a potential problem outside, the operator asks, "Do you have any guns?" (Yes) "Lock them up before the officer arrives!" It is an absolute in their eyes. No argument permitted, not even a former LEO with a CCW issued by their department. Happily, police usually arrive PDQ. But it is another consideration in an iffy situation.
Of course neither the dispatcher nor the police have an iota of liability if you're attacked after you've rendered YOURSELF helpless. Anybody who actually followed such "advice" is simply a fool.
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Old 04-04-2014, 05:09 PM
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In this town? They'd laugh at me and tell me to grow a pair. I called 911 to report a pretty nasty fight (curb stomping) and the dispatcher couldn't have cared less. I don't think they even sent an officer.
Wow. You should definitely get in touch with your local Chamber of Commerce for their next ad campaign
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  #89  
Old 04-08-2014, 11:21 PM
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i have a welcoming committee comprised of a male pit and female rott. my two darlings investigate any noises that are out of the ordinary, inside my home or out.

i don't answer the door for strangers, nor do i make attempt to speak with them when they are in attendance at my front door. i'd like to think i keep them guessing.
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Old 04-08-2014, 11:31 PM
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At our house we do not open the door to anyone except someone we have invited (scheduled) there. Period. We have a double dead bolt on the front door that makes it difficult for anyone to easily open the front door.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:43 AM
PastureOfMuppets PastureOfMuppets is offline
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Not even kidding, this is what happened last time I answered the door bell ringing.



The guy actually had the balls to say hello as if he knew me, the cop asked if I knew them. When I said no... the guy actually protested until I asked "What's my name?".

They weren't too happy I took their picture, but I am done dealing with this **** here.

My house looks empty during the day even though it's not.

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Originally Posted by kaaskop49 View Post
Here in the Vegas valley, the police advise folks not to open the door to a stranger, but to let the caller know someone is at home. Otherwise, goes their logic, not answering may be an incentive to burglars to break in to what they believe to be an unoccupied home. One way, they advise, is to turn on the porch light.
I tend to answer, I'm always armed and have a gate thing in front of the door no one is coming through.

This is not uncommon where I live for the doorbell to ring and someone with some bull**** about the wrong house. One afternoon I was in the yard sitting having a smoke, doorbell rang and I left it. A minute or later I heard the gate go and a guy came round the back.

He left quite rapidly.

I am not locking guns up unless I am leaving the house without. They will be out of sight and out of mind of cops though... that's just common sense.

Last time I actually had a moment on this street, I screwed up.

Pulling into my driveway about 1 am and totally missing a guy down the street and a car parked the other side with someone in. I wanted to clean the windshield for the wife so I popped the garage door grabbed the stuff and got to work. That's when I noticed him doing the drift across the road sizing me up thing. He decided to approach with "My girlfriends car has broken down and she wants to know if she can use your phone".


Short story long... I should have seen him unless he was up at someones house. I definitely should have noticed the car with someone in it. I did put the car directly between him and me when he approached and told him to stop, which caught him off guard a little. I told him he was welcome to give me a number and I'll call... that threw him off and he paused before going to the car. The car he'd pointed to was quite new and believing two people didn't have a charged cellphone or a charger between them would have been very naive... but having the garage door wide open was a dumbass mistake that time of night. If he had gone for me I was all that was between him and my family. I had the car between us but if the person in the car had gotten out it could have gone very nasty.


Of course when he left, he got in the passenger side of the car and drove off.

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  #92  
Old 04-09-2014, 08:00 AM
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Of course neither the dispatcher nor the police have an iota of liability if you're attacked after you've rendered YOURSELF helpless. Anybody who actually followed such "advice" is simply a fool.
I don't multi-task well at all trying to use a cell phone to call 911 while focusing my attention on whoever is outside wanting me to open the door. Last time one wanted in I did not call the police till after he left without me opening the door. It was enlightening to say the least to find out that he was in jail at least 12 hours before he got out,wanted for armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping.
Now I never answer the door at all if it is at night. If he kicks it down he will be leaking badly.

And he did not learn from that because a year later in a nearby
town he was arrested for the same thing again. So I will focus
my attention on making sure the door does not get kicked in and deal with it myself if it does. Only when it is over or when
he leaves will I divert my attention to my phone.

Just glad I do not live in Nevada, because locking my guns up
is not what I do if I perceive a threat to me or my family.
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Old 04-09-2014, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by kaaskop49 View Post
Here in the Vegas valley, the police advise folks not to open the door to a stranger, but to let the caller know someone is at home. Otherwise, goes their logic, not answering may be an incentive to burglars to break in to what they believe to be an unoccupied home. One way, they advise, is to turn on the porch light.

Should one dial 911 about a potential problem outside, the operator asks, "Do you have any guns?" (Yes) "Lock them up before the officer arrives!" It is an absolute in their eyes. No argument permitted, not even a former LEO with a CCW issued by their department. Happily, police usually arrive PDQ. But it is another consideration in an iffy situation.

It is no wonder I had installed iron security gates 10' high in front of my outside vestibule/entry to prevent access to my door.
i don't believe in broadcasting that i'm home when a stranger knocks. that same stranger (s) may come back another time, and perhaps a time again until they can get my schedule down. if a potential burglar can do the math and get my schedule down, they'll know when to break into my home. if they never know for sure whether there is someone home or not, it's a rolling-the-dice decision whether or not to break into my home.
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Old 04-20-2014, 12:58 AM
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My street is mostly pretty quiet, save for the neighbors directly across the street from me letting their teenage daughter throw parties with Everclear and Bicardi every now and then... There's also one of the projects just around the corner and down the street, but whatever happens there stays there for the most part. It's not perfect, but it's not Camden either.

I remember when we first moved into our house someone tried to break in thinking it was still empty... Our two shepherds decided they weren't going to have any of that, and took chase with me at the top of the stairs with my M&P. After hearing both dogs running outside I went to the sliding glass back door and could see a pair of white sneakers bolting across a few yards. The dogs got a headruffle and some bacon for doing well.

We used to have people try to panhandle or ask for money to get [whatever], all the while twitching out and looking absolutely shady (and smelling it too). My wife made it a point to not answer the door without our old man by her side if I'm not home. I've made it a point not to answer the door without the old man and my M&P.

One idiot thought that because my wife was cordial to her before meant she could try to come into our home even though no one answered the door immediately. An angry protective bitch (literally) and an annoyed armed husband quickly taught her the error of her ways. Nothing violent, but fur and fangs are a pretty convincing argument against entering uninvited, and an armed man demanding to stop and explain herself clinched it. It got quieter after that, and folks around the neighborhood have adopted the same response. We get less panhandlers on our street now.

What really quieted things down was someone trying to break into the house on the corner of my street... I say "trying" to break in, because they were met by the homeowner armed with a 12 gauge. Apparently the person didn't think much of the homeowner telling them off and kept trying to get in. It didn't end well for the robber. It did suddenly cut down on unfamiliar faces walking around the neighborhood though!

Now the worst I've dealt with has been my neighbor directly across from me... His daughter threw another party that the cops were called into. His wife went over the top Jerry Springer ghetto queen on me (I wish I were exaggerating) and ended up getting her husband. Her husband claims to have been a MotorT Marine who went to Iraq (made that claim after getting verbally aggressive with me before), and showed up at my front steps at midnight. Wife was alarmed and got me and had two of our shepherds by her side while she watched the door. I answered the door with a shotgun and pistol on my hip. He went from being very aggressive to just verbally aggressive, and then realized that he should probably calm down and walk away. The police visited his house again after that for trying to start a fight with me on my property in the middle of the night, and he learned quickly that while I'm polite and don't want to fight I have no issue responding to someone acting aggressively to myself or my wife, and I'll follow up with law enforcement too.

Like I said, it's not a perfect neighborhood, but it's not Camden either. Most of that happened in the first year of living where I am, and it's gotten pretty quiet and peaceful the following 2.5 years. Still, gotta be careful when answering the door or dealing with people who aren't definite friends.
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Old 04-22-2014, 07:43 AM
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My street is mostly pretty quiet, save for the neighbors directly across the street from me letting their teenage daughter throw parties with Everclear and Bicardi every now and then... There's also one of the projects just around the corner and down the street, but whatever happens there stays there for the most part. It's not perfect, but it's not Camden either.

I remember when we first moved into our house someone tried to break in thinking it was still empty... Our two shepherds decided they weren't going to have any of that, and took chase with me at the top of the stairs with my M&P. After hearing both dogs running outside I went to the sliding glass back door and could see a pair of white sneakers bolting across a few yards. The dogs got a headruffle and some bacon for doing well.

We used to have people try to panhandle or ask for money to get [whatever], all the while twitching out and looking absolutely shady (and smelling it too). My wife made it a point to not answer the door without our old man by her side if I'm not home. I've made it a point not to answer the door without the old man and my M&P.

One idiot thought that because my wife was cordial to her before meant she could try to come into our home even though no one answered the door immediately. An angry protective bitch (literally) and an annoyed armed husband quickly taught her the error of her ways. Nothing violent, but fur and fangs are a pretty convincing argument against entering uninvited, and an armed man demanding to stop and explain herself clinched it. It got quieter after that, and folks around the neighborhood have adopted the same response. We get less panhandlers on our street now.

What really quieted things down was someone trying to break into the house on the corner of my street... I say "trying" to break in, because they were met by the homeowner armed with a 12 gauge. Apparently the person didn't think much of the homeowner telling them off and kept trying to get in. It didn't end well for the robber. It did suddenly cut down on unfamiliar faces walking around the neighborhood though!

Now the worst I've dealt with has been my neighbor directly across from me... His daughter threw another party that the cops were called into. His wife went over the top Jerry Springer ghetto queen on me (I wish I were exaggerating) and ended up getting her husband. Her husband claims to have been a MotorT Marine who went to Iraq (made that claim after getting verbally aggressive with me before), and showed up at my front steps at midnight. Wife was alarmed and got me and had two of our shepherds by her side while she watched the door. I answered the door with a shotgun and pistol on my hip. He went from being very aggressive to just verbally aggressive, and then realized that he should probably calm down and walk away. The police visited his house again after that for trying to start a fight with me on my property in the middle of the night, and he learned quickly that while I'm polite and don't want to fight I have no issue responding to someone acting aggressively to myself or my wife, and I'll follow up with law enforcement too.

Like I said, it's not a perfect neighborhood, but it's not Camden either. Most of that happened in the first year of living where I am, and it's gotten pretty quiet and peaceful the following 2.5 years. Still, gotta be careful when answering the door or dealing with people who aren't definite friends.
WOW ...are you thinking of moving?
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  #96  
Old 04-22-2014, 07:51 AM
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Maybe he could think of moving, but then who would take out the trash?

As for me, I have squatters rights, I been where I am at a long time, and I ain't about to move. Besides, if you are short criminals in your area I hear that they are getting ready to turn
loose a lot more of them.

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Old 04-22-2014, 03:20 PM
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We had thought of moving, but we'd take a huge loss that we couldn't afford, so we're kinda stuck where we are. On the plus side, any real crime on my street has gone down significantly since the one idiot decided to argue with the homeowner's 12 gauge. After my one neighbor realized that I'm probably not the pushover he thought I was I've had no issues with him.

For now we're going to sit tight and wait for a chance to find a nicer home with more land for our shepherds. In the meantime, I've still got other great neighbors, and we all look out for each other.
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