They're getting braver...

[ileus]

http://newsok.com/burglar-shot-and-killed-in-midwest-city/multimedia/video/1416014349001

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Is it time to rethink how we plan to counter a home invasion?

I know I'm don't always keep a gun or two strapped to my side while at home, it may be time to change that.

I've been giving some thought to a SP2022 in 40.

[Lasher]

1. I used to keep all my weapons locked up in the gun safe.

But because of incidents like this, I now keep two handguns where I can get to them quickly. You don't need to keep one on your person.

[ileus]

3. I have two kids, and lots of neighbor kids running all thru the house.

It's not uncommon for there to be 2-10 kids in the house. Sometimes I come in and there's 2 or 3 I've never seen before running around. If I don't have it on my person I'm uncomfortable leaving mine out of the safe. Except at night when they come out to remain handy.

[Lasher]

7. I only get toddlers on weekends here so far.

So I feel OK to keep one of mine hidden, plus way up out of reach. I normally keep one by my bed and lock that one up on weekends. But there's been a couple of times when I've forgotten to do that and I'm anxious about it. I think I'll lock the bedroom gun up and leave it there just in case I forget again. I'd much rather die by the hand of an intruder than see one of the little ones get hurt.

You can get a quick access mini-safe, which is a metal box that that opens quickly by pressing 3 or 4 buttons in the right sequence. I think I'll get one or two of those. Then I'd probably forget the combo.

[Bonhomme Richard]

10. I keep mine in a minisafe under the bed. It also has ....

the buttons and my code is kept simple, corners, so I can just feel the right ones in the dark.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. I keep mine by my bed. They still have to get through.....

180 lbs worth of dogs before they get to me.

[ileus]

4. I have 30#'s of dogs that tell me when I need my pistol.

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. How would the intruder know that they just get very loud and

excited and jumpy when they think company is coming. The barking alone would probably discourage them when they came on the property.

[jeepnstein]

5. A gun is a last-ditch kind of option.

Think of home security as the layers of an onion. You need to make them earn it to get in. If they can get entry then it's a huge failure. Hardened doors, windows, and other entry points are key. Lighting, landscaping, all that stuff makes a difference. And I want to force them to trip an alarm on their way into the building itself. What you need to do is make your place less inviting than your neighbors. Being armed isn't enough.

[mvccd1000]

6. Agreed

Even if you can't afford alarm system monitoring or new doors, it's cheap and easy to install things like motion lights, thumb screws or wooden dowels to secure sliding windows or doors, and lamp timers.

Just like with open carrying (my preference), you simply need to make sure you're not the easiest target on the block.

Unless you have a reputation for selling drugs or gems, or keeping large amounts of cash on hand, most lazy criminals are going to go for the place that looks easiest to get into. If yours is one or two steps harder than the next one, you'll probably never even know they were in the neighborhood.

(Every time I hear a story about a gang kicking in a door, however, I have to wonder if that house was the neighborhood smoke supplier or something.... it doesn't make much sense to start kicking in a random door in hopes that there might be something in there.)

[jeepnstein]

8. I've taken a few reports over the years like that.

When the homeowner or occupant starts lying to you when you ask "Why would anybody single you out? Who's been around here lately?" then you have a pretty good idea that something is wrong. Thieves like to go for a sure thing because, well, they're lazy.

It's fairly simple to spot someone who was just an easy mark rather than someone who has a connection to the thieves. And even those easy marks are usually cased out in advance.

Layers of security includes safe guarding your information, schedule, and who knows the inventory of your garage or jewelry box.

[safeinOhio]

9. Some things you can do

http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/physical-security/protecting-against-home-invasions/


Also, just google "cheap home security" and you'll find lots of ideas.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. Yep. Discourage. Delay.

First two lines of defense.

Firearms are for 'in case shit', not first line of defense.

[cbrer]

12. Great piece

Pistol, not the thread. Threads ok too. Spend the money on ammo. Become proficient.

God didn't create all men equal. Colonel Colt did...