Interesting B&E last night
- Thread starter Rett Skutt
- Start date
Many years ago when I had my gun shop on our farm in Maryland I had some "people" drive up to the house at 0 dark 30. Met 'em with a shotgun and a battery powered phone. Held 'em in their car hands where I could see 'em and called 911. Told the dispatcher I needed a cop now and she said it would be at least 30 minutes. Told her I didn't need the PoLeece then..just send the coroner cause if anybody moved I was gonna kill 'em all..and I didn't think all 4 could keep still that long. I got a what they called "resident trooper" in 5 minutes. I heard him leave home and he got there with his cop shirt a pair of Bermuda shorts and a gun belt...with slippers on. True story. The driver had a sawed off on the floor. Living in the country (like I do now) can be more dangerous than most realize. When seconds count...the police are only minutes away! Glad you didn't have to shoot anyone and didn't have anyone hurt at the house.
Not dissing the police..they can't be and usually aren't at a place right when needed. especially at those 0 dark 30 times. I'm glad we have 'em..
BTW..those labs just have to get close 'nuff to a porcupine most every time. Ask me how I know..they like skunks too
Not dissing the police..they can't be and usually aren't at a place right when needed. especially at those 0 dark 30 times. I'm glad we have 'em..
BTW..those labs just have to get close 'nuff to a porcupine most every time. Ask me how I know..they like skunks too
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twodog max
Member
I have lived in the country nearly all of my 63 years. I found out LONG ago that as well intentioned as the local law may be they are to far away to do you me any good except for after it is all over.
Be prepared!
Be prepared!
My kind of Cop. Once on a rare day off I heard a "BOLO" for a vehicle involved in a kidnapping of a mother and a small child. Later I head the lone on duty deputy advise he was behind the Bolo Vehicle and "10-24". In my under shorts I grabbed car keys, uniform shirt and gun belt and responded "Code 3". Naturally the Stop was on a busy highway with me wearing under shorts, uniform shirt, gun belt, and slippers.
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A cautionary tale, thank you for sharing. You showed remarkable restraint, and did the right thing, by not opening up on the perp while he was fleeing. That would have most likely ended badly for you. Surprised at the dog, allowing the perp to get so close before sounding off. Hopefully your daughter is well prepared for the future.
Wondering how many vehicles were visible to the perp when he came up?
He probably knew someone was home.
He probably knew someone was home.
snowman
Member
Let me say that I too am glad that both of you escaped this incident unharmed. I hope that your daughter wasn't too traumatized by it; there are folks who wouldn't be emotionally capable of continuing to live in the house after such a thing had happened to them.
I lived in a rural area most of my life, until moving into a nearby small town around ten years ago. Whenever it's appropriate I tell other rural dwellers that they are more vulnerable to criminals than I am, since it is far less likely that perpetrators will be seen or heard when neighbors live at a distance. Many seem surprised when they hear that.
Best wishes to you and your daughter,
Andy
I lived in a rural area most of my life, until moving into a nearby small town around ten years ago. Whenever it's appropriate I tell other rural dwellers that they are more vulnerable to criminals than I am, since it is far less likely that perpetrators will be seen or heard when neighbors live at a distance. Many seem surprised when they hear that.
Best wishes to you and your daughter,
Andy
Mike G 0351
US Veteran
you should of fired a couple rounds into the ground, just for effect....
Rastoff
US Veteran
I'll bet it wasn't actually 440 yards, but yeah, it's possible with some of the lights available today.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
I have 4 neighbors, we all have acreage and it all abuts. We all know that WE are the first responders. Lotsa BEs and missing farm equipment out on the highway. Never down our road. Most thieves are locals and they know our road and don't even turn down it. Our road is a "dead end" road. They don't like one way in and one way out. The end of the road guy, when called, just pulls his truck across the road, the lost folks wait until we all get there, then the deputy arrives and we all find out what they were doing down our "dead end" road. Word travels fast amongst these types and they never are seen again. You MUST have a plan.
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
Hi John,
There is no real garage. We just park along side the Big red barn away from the animals. No lighting out there, and very dark. The perp may not have even seen the cars. If he ran away the same way he approached the farm, the cars would have been on the other side of the barn. I don't know if he knew some one was home or not. He just seemed to barge in, like he was asked in. He was not subtle about it at all.
Take care,
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
Hi Sanch,
Okay you got me. I was "guesstimating" at best. Further review of the property today, showed some foot prints disappearing into the tree line. It was maybe about 2+ football fields (250/300 yards). The field is flat and wide open for the horses. All I really saw was a shadow, but I know he could see me. It was more of a warning, DO NOT return.
The light is one of those G700 LumiTact versions. Throws a pretty good beam, with the end being a square. It really works well lighting up deer, coyotes, or any of the "Glowing eyes" in the dark. It's why I bought it for her. When going out to the barn to feed the horses and animals she can make the beam very wide for close work or extremely narrow and focused at distance.
Sorry for my embellishment.
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
I agree. The Daughter and Son-in-law are working on that now. There are only 4 homes on this road, and it does not dead end. To the north it winds around going through some forest area, before coming out on a paved road into the city. To the south it goes about a mile and intersects another dirt road. Not a well traveled road at all. Only the locals and Post Office carrier seem to use it. Lots of large farms in the area.
I do hope their neighbors and them work something out.
Rastoff
US Veteran
Does it include land mines? I think land mines are a good idea.
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
Hi Speed,
To be honest, I'm glad as well. I would have shot him, but luckily I didn't need too.
As for the dog. She was a little under the weather. That porcupine encounter, and pain pills the vet gave her kinda made her sleepy. Once the perp entered the house, she was ALL ears and teeth. That is usually her response to people coming onto the property.
Daughter hasn't been spooked or anything. She feels she can handle herself well enough. But now when her fiancé is at work at night, she will holster and carry her Ruger 9mm.
I think a woman shooting a perp coming into the house will have no trouble with the law or courts. The funny thing that I've been reading lately is that burglars are more afraid of being bitten by a dog than being shot by a gun. Go figure...
Take care,
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
Hi Rastoff,
You are funny! And one of my favorites here on the forum. Land mines WOULD work great. Be tough to explain to the authorities though. Where did you get those? How many did you plant? We are taking you to jail to ask more questions. So many questions to deal with.
Maybe IED's would be better. Set out several with different cell phone numbers. Then depending on where the perp goes, you just lite one off...
Just kidding of course for those who are in law enforcement!The tree line the perp ran into is on their property. It acts as the boundary between farms. Real marshy out there too!
Take care,
Rastoff
US Veteran
This is actually true. It's the same with tasers.
Bad guys are more afraid of tasers and dogs because they know there's no hesitation. They know a policeman will hesitate to shoot someone, but won't hesitate for an instant to tase them. Dogs have no fear of the courts and don't care about anyone but family. So, the bad guy knows the dog will rip into him without compunction.
(Just for the record, land mines don't care and won't hesitate either. They are kinda hard on lawn mowers though. )
I’m so glad to hear that you and your daughter are safe.
I live far out in the country with four neighbors on the same road. One is a paramedic and the rest are farmers and ranchers. We all know each other. We worked out an alert system several years ago in case one of us needs immediate assistance. We use our car or truck alarm. Press the button and let the alarm continue. One or all of the neighbors will come within minutes carrying a gun just in case.
I live far out in the country with four neighbors on the same road. One is a paramedic and the rest are farmers and ranchers. We all know each other. We worked out an alert system several years ago in case one of us needs immediate assistance. We use our car or truck alarm. Press the button and let the alarm continue. One or all of the neighbors will come within minutes carrying a gun just in case.
OP
Rett Skutt
Member
Hi Skeet,
Agreed. When my daughter and her fiancé first bought the 80 acre farm in Tim-Buck-Too I worried about such occurrences. They've live there almost 2 years with no issues. Hopefully, there will be no more! In the county they live in (1,242 sq mi) only 2 Sheriff Deputies patrol from Midnight to 6am or so. Usually there are no problems, but an accident here, a break in there and all bets are off. They can only do so much...
As other have stated and advised my daughter and fiancé are working on some security plans. Those will include outside lights, neighbors, security cameras, and being armed.
As for the dog. Well she has not encountered a skunk yet, but it's early. The real worry is her getting cornered by a pack of hungry coyotes. "They say" there are bears back in the forest area and maybe a mountain lion. Who really knows, but I don't want to encounter either one.
BTW - Thanks for your story. I enjoyed reading it.
