Home Invasion Prevention Suggestions

[adwjc]

Home Invasion??

Your use of the term "home invasion" is not strictly correct, you were possibly the victim of attempted burglary, via the window from that roof top individual.

The person(s) at your front door don't qualify either, in fact as far as you have described, not criminal act was YET performed, except for the threat made by you.

A home invasion, per se, is the forcible entry to commit armed robbery, and other crimes that may present themselves - in other words, they come looking for a possibly fatal fight. These are often seen in drug house robberies, etc.

A Burglary is generally a breaking and try to commit theft, although the term is defined differently in many places, finding a victim at home, and using force or being armed, can raise the crime to robbery.

In some states, if you are not being threatened with death or serious injury, you have a duty to retreat, if safely possible. You should learn the laws in your state.

 

[CB3]

I think this is less of a gun issue (solved already to the OP’s satisfaction, although I agree with others that a number of 12 gauge shotguns secured throughout the house is an even better option than handguns) and more of a “hardening of the target” issue.

The home must look like it’s not worth attacking. Being that way is even better. The layered approach others have referenced is correct. Being isolated in a rural setting will influence some priorities.

Envision your home from the criminal’s mind. What would deter you? Have you left a ladder outside that’s readily available to put up to the second story? Do you have tools laying around that could make breaking in easier? These and many other “signals” tell a thief pretty quickly how serious a homeowner is about protecting his home.

Getting a bunch of guns is like spending money to put an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff instead of a fence at the top. It is neither the more effective nor really the less expensive solution (if you ever do have to shoot). It is A last ditch solution. Already accomplished, so move on to the fence.

Assuming the OP is not dealing drugs or letting everyone know he has large amounts of cash, gold or silver in the house—which would set him up for a true home invasion, not just a single burglar casing the house—such trespassers are after some stuff to grab, carry and sell for cash.

What they are not after is getting caught or hurt. Lighting and recording cameras let the trespasser know (or believe) his chance of getting caught goes way up. If the outside of the house is forbidding, it’s likely the inside is also. Go to the next easier house. No guns involved.

#1 ***RING DOORBELL/CAMERA with recording subscription***[for other doors too?]
Motion activated floodlights
Alarm system with yard signs and a visible exterior horn and a flashing light pointed at a neighbor’s home, if applicable
Outside (motion activated) recording cameras
Driveway alert sensor
Blackout curtains and shades, and close them at night
Double locked solid core exterior doors (deadbolt and handle locks)
Reinforced door mounting hardware and frames to prevent kick-ins
A big, outside dog. Meaner than inside pups. An ankle biter is no deterrent whatsoever. May as well have an attack cat. At the very least this is an outside alarm.

Get at least one fireproof safe for inside the house. The bigger the better, but secure it so it cannot be moved.

Not all of the above suggestions need to be fully implemented, and of course cost is a factor. But bang for your buck starts with the doorbell camera and some exterior lights, then the outside cameras. Besides peace of mind and possibly lowered insurance premiums, these items will help a rural home sell and will likely recoup their cost. Taking such steps do not mean you are a prisoner in your own home, and you will worry a lot less about your security. THAT is very valuable. You probably will never know how many potential thieves decided not to attack your house, but such a metric is not really important to peace of mind and feeling secure in your own home.

 

[Telecaster]

A home invasion is simply a burglary when someone is in the home. Know your state's laws on deadly force. Bluff all you wish, the bad guys don't know or care that you're not legally allowed to shoot through the closed front door, and that's what matters. Just don't actually do it until they enter. But don't take chances with your life; bluff with a functioning weapon at hand.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm going to take a slightly different stance here: guns are not going to help you.

As stated in the OP, you already had the best home defense gun, but it was upstairs in some storage location. If the gun isn't within arms reach, you might as well not have it.

So, if you're not going to carry the gun with you, the gun won't help. Absolutely no point in discussing ammo here.

There are many other aspects of a secure home. Solid doors, well lit yards, alarms, dogs and so forth. This is a much deeper discussion. Look for the NRA class called Refuse To Be A Victim. This is an excellent class and more in the arena of what you're looking for.

 

[bulletslap]

If I were going to prepared for a Home Invasion I would select a easy to operate semi-auto high capacity hand gun, and a short easy to operate pistol caliber high capacity carbine. A 20 or 12 gauge shotgun could be substituted for the carbine.

 

[Jeppo]

I’ll just tell you how I’ve faced a similar living situation. I’m also out in the country where LEO response times are lengthy.

No matter where I am in the home, I am within a few feet of a loaded handgun. In one strategic location is a loaded 12ga pump. Assuming I’m able to get to the shotgun, that’s my preferred way of greeting uninvited visitors. Otherwise, they’ll face one of numerous pistols.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

INVASIONS

Plenty of good advice above so I'll try to be pithy.

1. You will go to jail if you shoot someone through your closed front door.

2. Constructively speaking, this makes no sense:




If you practice with your guns use jacketed ammunition. Not much in the way of cleaning issues. Cleaning your guns because you shot "bare lead" to stop a home invasion should NEVER be a consideration.

But whatever gun you use, buy high quality defensive ammunition for the house and be done with it. Don't look for some special bullet. Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Golden Saber, or similar top quality self defense ammunition is what you need to stoke your handguns with and, for your shotgun, quality shotgun ammunition. If recoil is an issue don't use heavy recoiling buckshot.

3. If you can take care of dogs you should have two but they are a responsibility and you must be able to shoulder that responsibility. Some dogs won't bark no matter what; most will. Most will NOT attack; some will. A yappy little dog is a good alarm but useless in a fight. A booming big barker might also be good in a fight. Maybe.

4. It's the 21st century. If it fits your budget, get some kind of a security system. Cameras. Alarms. Whatever. You're isolated - you need all the protection you can get.

5. Every window and door should be locked at all times. Period. The only time they are unlocked is when you go in and out or, since you are in the country, you're letting in fresh air.

6. Get a small handgun you can carry around with you all the time in the house. Never be without it. I don't think any jurisdiction that permits you to own a gun bars you from having it on your person in your house.

Not as pithy as I promised. But close...……..

Plenty of sound advice here. However, since I did not see a reply, I will also state this. DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT chase anyone down the driveway, or any where else. At that point YOU are the aggressor and it will be down hill from there. It is said, you should be able to make contact with your defense weapon in something like 10/20 seconds. Upstairs just doesn't get it. JMHO -- say safe.

 

[flagman1776]

Your weapons have already been discussed at length. They'll do. I'd suggest steel door frames & solid doors. Strongly installed both sides. Sliders can be blocked with a dowel or broomstick so it can't open even if the lock should fail. Be sure the "fixed pane" of sliders is actually screwed in... often they are not!
Heavy locks on windows especially ones over the garage... which appear to be a likely point of intrusion.
Peep holes are old school... never fail... but beware people have been shot through the peep hole. With the advent of reasonable cost electronics... door bell cam, security cameras. Install motion lights that cover any dark spots... include the garage roof! Wireless motion detectors... "Driveway alarms" are available... at least cover any obvious approaches... can be wired to a doorbell or buzzer.
Lock up your ladders or put them inside.
Do not EVER go out to confront someone, who may not be alone or may turn on you. Stay inside where you can control the environment.

 

[pittpa]

You can fortify the doors all you want, I think a burglar will follow the path of least resistance, a window. 2 ways around that are glass break detectors and motion detectors (those are inconvenient when you are home).
The advantage of the Ring Doorbell, is that many crooks will approach the front (sometimes the back to avoid being seen) door first to see if anyone is home. You can be notified on your phone if anyone even approaches the door for a look-see.
I would like to share my friend's experience. We both live in the same very safe suburb. He believed that just a security alarm sign alone would deter most burglars and he is probably right. So he got just the sign. He does not leave his home at regular times, but one day when he was gone, someone broke in through the rear window. They pried the canopy-window frame out of the brick home, and so would have defeated any glass-break detector or window magnet. It is believed the person was in the home less than 2 minutes, enough time to steal a revolver from the bedroom and narcotics from the bathroom. Even if an alarm had been triggered, the police never would have been notified in time to arrive while the burglary was in process. After diligent research, he settled on Simplisafe and is very happy.
We both lived in ranch houses. I chose an alarm, because I worked every day and was out a lot and did not want to be surprised by a thief in my bedroom or greeting me on my arrival at home. I added extra magnets to my double hung windows so I could leave them open a few inches for ventilation while the system was armed. I put wedges on the windows to prevent them from being pried (cheap, probably at Home Depot or Lowes). and put empty pop cans in a trash bag under the windows so they would make a racket if stepped on or moved. I had no dog but placed a tall doggie bowl holder by the back door, the kind a big dog has for easier access to the bowl.

 

[bigl1911]

The sad thing about all this - we should live well in relative safety not as if our existence is always on the edge of danger. Unfortunately, this is not how the world works but one can hope for more. The last thing on my bucket is shooting someone. My first suggestion is anything within reason one can do to avoid firing on another make it so. Forgetting for the moment some of the great advice some of our experts have shared referring to the law and how fast someone can scream the word "brandish", there is one truism: "If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim that can do it. The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury. Therefore he must be taught to fear the victim". Jeff Cooper.. Alarms, motion detectors, cameras and clear signage – “you are on camera and the home is alarmed”... This is the best way to start and should eliminate 95% of the problem. Some of us are capable of handling a firearm; however most people don’t know what they are doing and in turn become a greater danger to themselves and others. The worst part is even those who are trained must deal with the fact it is perishable skillset. My advice when it comes to protecting those we love and ourselves the best way to roll is by using common sense first.

 

[DrDoctor]

Muss Muggins,
Moving to a town in the mid-west is one of the prime reasons we’re leaving the east.
Double Dipper,
. . . call the police 1st, and the lawyer 2nd – excellent advice.
HardToHandle,
. . . document training practices – also excellent advice. As for the positive correlation between age and gun recoil – I’m also in the “[older ≈ > recoil (±)]’ statistical formula.
Donn,
As I mentioned, the threat of shooting thru the door was just that – a threat. As for the guns – she has a .38 Lady Smith, we “share” a Taurus Judge loaded with self-defense .410 shells, and I have the 460V, but I’m only going to use lighter load/self-defense .45 Colt’s.
Murphydog,
Cogent comments . . . The 2 potential intruders were of the same ethnic persuasion, so they may have been the same person, or maybe knew one another(?). Who knows. But, no repeats in the last couple of years, but I’m not resting on those laurels.
Pittpa,
Delaware.
Dirty Harry Callahan,
Our Taurus Judge is the 2½” cylinder version, so the kick should be less than what you might experience from the 3” cylinder version, but that difference may not be significant. We now keep the guns “at the ready” at all times. Regarding you comments re: dogs – we agree.
ISCS Yoda,
As I mentioned, the threat of shooting thru the door was just that – a threat. I appreciate your recommendations for .45 Colt self-defense ammunition, I’ll be looking into that. We can carry in the house, but not concealed (because we don’t have CCW’s) – crazy, but true.
Adwjc,
OK, “attempted” home invasion. As for knowing the laws of the state pertaining to this, I do know them, and have confirmed my options/alternatives/castle doctrine/etc, with the state police. I’m a lot of things, including an MD, a PhD, and an imperial researcher, but I’m not stupid, nor uninformed. EDIT - that sounded snotty, and I apologize. Your comments were cogent, well-intended, and didn't warrant such a reply from me. . . sorry.
Telecaster,
Agreed . . .
Rastoff,
Agreed . . .
Jeppo,
Agreed . . .
J R Weems,
Agreed . . . Chasing anyone outside of the house wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had (that would be an exception to my above-comment about education/informed v stupidity) especially with a worthless lump of gun.
Flagman1776,
Agreed . . . Doors and door frames are steel, windows secured (as well as a glass triple-pane window can be , , ,), no sliding patio-type doors. The guy who got onto the roof brought his own ladder with him. We keep the outside clear of anything that could assist an entry.
The only weak link on the physical structure of our house is the windows, and there isn’t much one can do about those, unless we want to convert the house into a fortress, and we’re not too keen on that. When the doors are shut, what with the dead bolts, the pins integrated into the hinges, the steel of the door and the frame, and the mounting of the frame, the state police tho’t it’d take a car ramming a door to knock it open, but the car would have to go up about ½ dozen steps to reach a door, and they can’t get a sufficient run at the garage door get thru it.
Great comments/suggestions from all who took the time/effort to respond. Our sincere appreciation all of you. Warmest personal regards from us to all of you.

 

[CB3]

Great response.

I would add that hardening certain windows can be done by applying an interior film that keeps them from breaking apart after even a dozen strikes with a bat. Very frustrating for a thief. 3M (and other security films) makes such a product and when applied it is invisible. Adding the window stickers announcing such a product is another deterrent for those who know what it is.

 

[EdinDenver]

I've sat through a few presentation from police officers and security experts. They all have the same presentation on this topic in one form or another....here's what I can reply and remember....

Security comes in layers.

First line of defense - good outdoor lighting and landscaping. If you've got hedges or bushes that cover up the windows or obstruct the access to your home, trim them. Leave a light on at entrances to doors.

Second line of defense - deterrents. A couple of dogs are a great idea. I happen to like Blue Heelers and have had them for many years. They are extremely loyal, they don't go running off, and some of them look like coyotes (which might not be good if you have neighbors that shoot coyotes). I don't recommend this breed for you because you are a bit more mature and you mention you are physically challenged - these are herding dogs and they are constantly at your feet and can trip you up. I recommend a similar breed...and an adopted, more mature dogs. I recommend two - for the reason that they keep each other company when you're gone, and because when confronted, they can come at different angles. If you don't have a dog, then install a few alarms around the outside of the property - train horns, bells, whatever you're neighbors can hear and respond to if you feel threatened. Call it a panic button when you see a threat. If someone is knocking on your front door and you're yelling back and forth, don't be afraid to hit the panic button on the key fob from your car (if you have that). Make noise.

Third line of defense is last resort. You say you are physically challenged so nobody here can tell you what gun or ammunition to use - you need to work within your limitations to be sure you get something that you can keep on target and shoot reliably as a last resort. Don't be afraid to rent different guns at the range or ask your friends if you can shoot one of their guns to compare.


For reference, I was a Hunting Department Manager off of Hawthorne and 164th during the L.A. Riots. It would make me cringe when I saw mature older women come in and want to buy pistol grip shotguns to defend themselves...and they had never shot one. We would try to talk them out of it but we couldn't - they were scared and they were going to do whatever they wanted. Find what works for you and your wife....that's the right answer.

 

[hyena]

DrDoctot
I don't think anybody mentioned this. Don't overlook your protection while out in your yard, mowing or whatever. I live on some acreage myself and always carry when I'm outside on my property. The Ladysmith ought to handle that, or get something that goes better in a pocket.

 

[sigp220.45]

My suggestions for avoiding home invasions, based on 33 years of law enforcement which included investigating home invasions:

1 - Pay your dope bills. If your supplier has fronted you dope to sell, pay him back immediately, with maybe a little extra.

2 - Don’t post pictures of your drugs, guns, or cash on Instagram.

3 - Don’t have a woman in your house who has a husband or boyfriend. Also, ask about crazy ex-husbands, or any attachments to persons recently released from jail/prison.

4 - Don’t snitch.

That covers every actual home invasion I’ve personally worked.

I know there are others, like In Cold Blood and that Doctor’s family in Connecticut. I believe they are extraordinarily rare.

As mentioned, dogs work. I have a free ranging 120 pound Rottweiler who dearly loves about 8 people in the entire world and wants to eat the rest. Granted, he isn’t bulletproof but if a bunch of people come in shooting then I’m in a gunfight and not a home invasion.

If I felt the need to carry a gun in my own house all of my efforts would be towards improving my lot in life so I could move. I understand some folks can’t, but I ain’t living like that.

I have a shotgun by the bed and a pistol stashed downstairs. I have an alarm system that came with my Xfinity but I’ve never alarmed it.

I live in a nice neighborhood in a nice town, but I put a lot of people in prison, many of whom are out now. I live a free life and I don’t worry much about it. I take precautions but if you know my name you can find me on Facebook.

Get a dog and relax!

 

[Univibe]

Dump the Judge. It's a toy for tyros. Get a full size .38 with 4 inch barrel, e.g. Smith 686, Ruger GP100. Load with 158 grain standard pressure loads.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

Don’t forget highly visible address markers. We can’t get to you if we can’t find you. As a cop I have struggled to find the correct house because of unmarked addresses. It’s not always a call for police but often EMS and fire.

If your car has a panic button keep your keys close by. Hitting the panic button may be what scares you home invaders away.

 

[SMSgt]

I would concentrate on slowing down any invasion.

Reinforce all doors, locks, hinges, etc. Whatever the builder put in is insufficient. Make it difficult and too time consuming to break in the doors. Burglars don't want to take excessive time.

Make your windows so they can't be opened far enough to crawl through without breaking out the glass. That makes noise and alerts you.

Harbor Freight, for instance, makes an inexpensive motion detector that will alert you to anyone approaching entrances. They can be annoying, but better alerted than annoyed.

Builder suppliers like Home Depot have inexpensive items that will add security to windows/doors. They work.

Anything you can do to make illegal entry more difficult, take more time, and give you time to arm and defend yourself is good. Choice of weaponry can be debated for eons without solution or agreement. Prevention is cheaper and most often more reliable.

I'm glad your bluff worked, but know that many criminals are totally prepared to call your bluff without hesitation.

 

[DWalt]

About every true home invasion I have read about in the local paper seems to have some real or suspected connection to the drug trade. And they usually occur in the same areas of town. Fortunately, my area is (so far) relatively free of violent crime and always has been.

I have always had one gun stashed away in every room of my house, including bathrooms. I don't want to be caught with my pants down.

 

[Gamecock]

I used to keep a burglar bar on the front door. There were some home invasions in my area.

Paid about $18 at Home Depot. An adjustable length bar propped under the door handle and wedged into the floor.

Front doors in my neighborhood are for show, not security. The burglar bar made it very difficult to kick in my front door. Someone trying would make so much noise they'd be met with my friends Smith & Wesson. Should they take too long getting in, they'd meet Stoner's finest battle rifle. "I pity the fool."