Bump in the night

See the scenario below. Intruders in the house, do you:

  • Collect the kids, dial 911, take cover behind the locked door until LE arrives

    Votes: 24 27.6%

  • Collect the kids, dial 911, climb out the window to a neighbor's house

    Votes: 5 5.7%

  • Collect the kids, leave them and the wife behind the locked door dialing 911, go investigate

    Votes: 32 36.8%

  • Lock the kids in the room, arm yourself and your wife and go take care of business

    Votes: 21 24.1%

  • Go back to sleep, assume it was the wind.

    Votes: 5 5.7%
  • Total voters
    87
  • Poll closed .
hoppes-no9

hoppes-no9

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LoboGunLeather's description of a break-in and the ensuing discussion got me thinking. I wonder how many of us would try to deal with the situtation prior to LE arriving.

Scenario --

Late at night. You're in bed and hear a window break downstairs, followed by a couple of thuds, and voices. Your wife is in bed with you and your two kids are in the adjacent bedroom. No dogs in the house. You've got a loaded handgun in the nightstand and a loaded 12ga in the closet. A cell phone is on the nightstand. The bedroom door is reasonably strong with a lock on it.

Whaddayado?
 
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Probably depends on the nature of one's wife, but, even if she were to be capable with firearms, priority has to be the kids. Also, less chance of shooting a spouse if one stays back with the kids.
 
I'm a cop, so naturally I lock up Mrs GED and Chigger, call for backup and then investigate.

I'd hate to be the one that busts thru the bedroom door and faces her with my 12 gauge SxS Coach.
 
One thing I haven't seen mentioned in either post is when you do get LEO's on scene. If it was the wind breaking your window or even if your door was kicked in, you've got a couple of tense deputies who don't know you're the good guy. They just see someone with a gun. I would think it would be a good idea on the 911 call, to let someone know the home owner is armed and investigating. Then be very careful when the LEO's do arrive.
 
Being there are no kids in the house...
I won't go into details...but, intruders will be completely "neutralized."

I didn't see a thing in the poll for us without kids. :confused:
They'd likely make a lot of noise get'n into this place. ;)
 
I second giving as accurate a description of yourself as possible to avoid a "friendly fire" incident and i wonder if it might be a good idea to have
some sort of highly visible garment as part of one's investigative gear..
 
BLACKHAWKNJ said:
I second giving as accurate a description of yourself as possible to avoid a "friendly fire" incident and i wonder if it might be a good idea to have
some sort of highly visible garment as part of one's investigative gear..
Click to expand...

It could hurt too. It could make you a more visible target to the perps.
 
The wife is a better shot than I am, and keeps a .38 by the bed.

She calls the cops and and stays on the line and watches my 6

I go to the bed room door and wait for targets of opportunity.

She will be unhappy if I get them all and she don't get no shootin'!!
 
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I watched firefighters try to break in to a condo unit identical in construction to mine when there was a fire next door last year. Big strong young men with axes, long-lever pry bars, rams, and etc. raised one hell of racket, and took quite awhile to get through a security door similar to mine. The adjacent windows did not yield to their considerable efforts. If I'm lucky enough to be home when a breakin is attempted, even though in REM sleep, I'm confident that I'll be woken in sufficient time to get dressed and shod, arm myself, have a glass of water or OJ, use the head, and then get about the business of repelling invaders. Showering, shaving, dental hygiene, and coffee-making may be postponed until more pressing issues are resolved...
 
Yup....

Iggy said:
The wife is a better shot than I am, and keeps a .38 by the bed.

She calls the cops and and stays on the line and watches my 6

I go to the bed room door and wait for targets of opportunity.

She will be unhappy if I get them all and she don't get no shootin'!!
Click to expand...

Ya gotta love ole Iggy.
 
I dont have any kids and the wife is fairly proficient with a gun. I dont see as well at night as I used to, but I have no worries of unexpected friendlies showing up at night unannounced, so I would probably empty my 7 shot 870 and let my wife do any follow up clean up needing done.
 
I voted for locking everyone behind the door and taking cover.

Your job in this case to to keep your family safe. Leaving them behind is a bad idea. You heard voices, so there is more than one person in the house. You don't need to be killed leaving your wife and kids to defend themselves.
 
USAF385 said:
I voted for locking everyone behind the door and taking cover.

Your job in this case to to keep your family safe. Leaving them behind is a bad idea. You heard voices, so there is more than one person in the house. You don't need to be killed leaving your wife and kids to defend themselves.
Click to expand...

I agree to a point. It all depends on how your house is situated. Waiting behind a locked bedroom door could be a bad decision.

I secure homes and businesses for a living. I live in a split level townhouse with the bedrooms upstairs. Have a steel door and a steel security door both with Medeco deadbolts. Also have 3M security film on my patio door and windows. No alarm. I don't need one. IF they get in I will have plenty of time to wait at the top of the stairs, or go down and wait for them. Getting in won't be quick and easy.

Waiting for them to come through an 1 3/8 inch hollow core bedroom door is not exactly ideal. Chances are if it is a home invasion or burglary and they decide to come look for you, they will be armed. And there will probably more than one. I don't exactly want to have a shoot out in my bedroom where the rest of my family is.

The most important thing is to have a plan and be prepared. Use the layout of your home to your advantage.
 
No kids, no wife; I keep the Doberman behind me or locked up, and I go hunting. If the noises I hear are from friendlies, they'll announce themselves. Been lucky so far; no confrontations.
I feel I have to go see, "cuz I gots to know.."
Way back when, I'd carry a knife or hammer, now it's something a little more exciting. TACC1
TACC1
 
TACC1 said:
No kids, no wife; I keep the Doberman behind me or locked up, and I go hunting. If the noises I hear are from friendlies, they'll announce themselves. Been lucky so far; no confrontations.
I feel I have to go see, "cuz I gots to know.."
Way back when, I'd carry a knife or hammer, now it's something a little more exciting. TACC1
TACC1
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. I know I probably should'nt go looking but I must. I work too damn hard for what I have.
 
I've got to agree with Kanewpadle. Wife takes phone and protection to kid's room and calls 911. I stake out the hallway with a shotgun and a NY reload. My job is to protect my wife and child, and I'll do that by keeping the bad guys away from them. If I can't kill them, I'll lead them away from the girls.
 
Lock myself in with the kids, the cell, and the handgun, and the WIFE goes to investigate with the shotty:rolleyes:;):D
 
After getting the kids in the room with my wife I'd ease out of the room and set up a hasty ambush with the 12 gague.

J.B.
 
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