I got really lucky but shouldn't have made the mistake

[686-380]

I live alone and usually keep my conceal carry vest and firearm on a chair nearby my door.

I had some fiberoptic technicians install a new system in my home.

I SHOULD have put the firearm in my safe but didn't think anyone would notice.

The installers were very observant however, which made me uneasy. When I checked the vest after they left, the gun was on the wrong side.

Please don't be an idiot, like me!!!

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Should have been wearing it imo. Mine is in my pocket 24-7, home or not. My Uncle Chester shucked oysters on the side. He answered the door, gun in hand, one evening to make a sale only to have the door kicked in busting the safety chain. He and the thug fought as the gun got knocked from his hand. My uncle fought the much younger guy off but got banged up pretty good. He was old but his mind was still sharp, he id'ed the guy from a mug book or whatever they used, the cops picked him up, he was banged up too and he eventually went to jail.

 

[GypsmJim]

My gun safes are in a locked room on the second floor. It was designed specifically as a man cave / gun room. When the exterminator comes and wants to spray in all the bedrooms, I tell him that room is not accessible.

All the ammo is in the basement in locked metal lockers. No way to access them. My workbench is right next to them and it has 4 loading presses in full view. When the furnace service guy comes I cover the whole bench with a blanket. While he's down there I manage to fiddle on a small bench that is very mundane looking. One time he asked me what was under the blanket and I said it was my wife's sewing equipment.

It's all about common sense.

 

[Rustyt1953]

We all fall short. Some, like me, have fallen more than a few times.

Props for your honesty.

 

[haywood]

My carry guns are always on me. At night one is next to me. All the rest of them are locked up. If anyone is in my home I pretty much keep them in sight unless I know them. I probably don't have to watch so close. Anything of value is never left out. I don't have many new up to date things anyway. If a burglar got in here he would probably not want the old stuff I have and leave disgusted.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Please don't be an idiot, like me!!!

You are not an idiot if you learned something from it.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Learning is good.

I follow the exterminator wherever he goes and I actually trust him, I follow the plumber, too. I give my cleaning lady the run of the house, I totally trust her, and I leave sometimes, but I don't leave guns in plain sight like that. I can toss anything into the locked safe room if I'm going to be away.

 

[Jessie]

My gun safes are in a locked room on the second floor. It was designed specifically as a man cave / gun room. When the exterminator comes and wants to spray in all the bedrooms, I tell him that room is not accessible.

All the ammo is in the basement in locked metal lockers. No way to access them. My workbench is right next to them and it has 4 loading presses in full view. When the furnace service guy comes I cover the whole bench with a blanket. While he's down there I manage to fiddle on a small bench that is very mundane looking. One time he asked me what was under the blanket and I said it was my wife's sewing equipment.

It's all about common sense.

Why in the heck would he ask that? Had nothing to do with why he's there. If you weren't there he would have probably looked.
Too nosy for me.

 

[pantannojack]

I also live alone and love it. I always have ONE ( 1 ) loaded firearm out of my safe, within MY reach. When rarely I have trusted visitors I bury it or unload it if it is not on me. It is my responsibility to never supply someone else with a loaded FA. If I weren't serious, I would not consider myself eligible to own a FA.

 

[Borderboss]

I live alone and usually keep my conceal carry vest and firearm on a chair nearby my door.

I had some fiberoptic technicians install a new system in my home.

I SHOULD have put the firearm in my safe but didn't think anyone would notice.

The installers were very observant however, which made me uneasy. When I checked the vest after they left, the gun was on the wrong side.

Please don't be an idiot, like me!!!

I hope you reported the technicians to the company that they work for, as they're clearly looking for stuff to steal in houses they go into.

 

[jake1945]

I don't trust any stranger (repairman) or even friends (especally nosy women)in my house! I don't have firearms lying around in the open and I do open carry inside my house.

 

[Dave Baird]

Things like that happen to all of us, me included.

But please know they/he will be back when he feels he "needs" to make some quick cash. Be prepared.

 

[senecaap]

It happens. anytime you do something long enough, you have a mishap. I never let anyone in my house and not have my pistol on me. I don't know them, they could be the next coming of Charles Manson, and trust me, most companies are not vetting employees well. On the whole, I try not to let anyone in my house or on my property, quit a bit of family included.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I don't know, makes me think of the old Family Circus cartoons - who moved that gun - "not me"!

 

[686-380]

I agree

Things like that happen to all of us, me included.

But please know they/he will be back when he feels he "needs" to make some quick cash. Be prepared.

Yep. I figure I used up my quota of good fortune in this incident.

I also realize people talk. We had a firearm collector killed about a decade ago. I'll be especially vigilant for the next few months.

 

[Marshal Tom]

You were lucky this time but they may be back! I used to love the gun cabinets, glass and wood displaying gun collections in people's homes and I still see them from time to time. You just can't do that any more for that very reason. I've been in homes where guns were just left out and around the house. Not a good practice these days.

 

[pantannojack]

I recall the Hill Street Blues episode wherein the property clerk stole from the department a Colt Python, gave/sold it to his Bro In law, then it was lost in burglary, then recovered in a crime. The serial #'s traced and the clerk had some explaining to do.

 

[Kanewpadle]

When I have someone out for service, I'm always armed. You never know.

Sometimes they have to make several trips to their vehicle for parts or tools. Hence the front door is unlocked. Anyone could come in behind them.

I've been in thousands of homes and I'm willing to bet that most were unarmed due to the political climate here.

Not me.

 

[digi-shots]

You never can be too cautious..

My a/c guy is a very good friend (I sold a .45 to him about ten years ago.… he also has a nice collection that he more or less keeps to himself over security concerns). The same for my plumber (he sold me a real nice model 17.. he regretted selling it and now it's back as his house!).

Other than these two folks, not too many repairmen come in…. We had a cable guy here a few months back, but fortunately there was nothing to see in the rooms he went in.

 

[jjrr]

I have a rule about where my gun is when it is not in my pocket or on my belt and that is never leave my gun between me and the door.