Deterrent: 2 Large dogs who aren't afraid to let me know when someone isn't where they're supposed to be. Locks/deadbolts on outside doors. Locks on windows. Motion sensor light in back of the house.
Legal: Dogs bark, if it sounds like someone is in the house, call 911. If it was just myself and girlfriend, stay holed up in my bedroom.
Problem: My sister and her 16 month old, (my niece) are currently stay with us in the spare bedroom across from our own. In the case someone attempts to break in while they're still staying with us I'm not sure what would be the best course of action. Any advice?
Defense: Glock 19 in nightstand MVB500 safe.
Last edited by BlackFlag; 04-22-2012 at 01:24 AM.
One can always learn more. I was an infantryman in the USMC in the 1990s, I spent a couple of years after 9/11 as a USN Anti terrorism Force Protection instructor, and more recently I spent a number of years in Afghanistan working as a contract security officer for a United States Government Agency. When it comes to defending my home I feel I have a decent amount of experience.
Layout/floorplan would be quite relevant.
Maybe drill your sister to seek cover with the baby in the bedroom as her IA.
Maybe shift your missus into your sisters bedroom as her IA to reduce the rooms you need to protect to one.
And maybe covering/dominating the corridor with minimal exposure of yourself TO the corridor.
If laws allow, reduce any threats entering the corridor to increase the time and space between your missus, sister, and niece and any threat until the cavalry arrive.
Just an amateur suggestion.
That is why I say in sequence
body armor is the last thing I would grab, only if time permits
The reason of using shotgun as primary weapon was a precaution of over-penetration. I have very thin wall and next door is close.
I will attend formal shotgun training in a few month.
As I live in a country where burglary and home invasions are quite prevalent and often result in rape or murder , we follow this route:
Physical violence ie. confrontation , discharging a firearm should be avoided at all costs if possible. Avoiding this prevents all the ramifications both legal and impact on your home life.
As burglary is mostly a crime of opportunity , remove the possibility of it happening. Here comes in play both physical barriers and stand-off deterrence.
The obvious physical barriers will be as mentioned before deadbolts and lockable windows. Here we are a bit more comprehensive in also using security fencing like this:
https://www.google.co.za/search?q=pa...A&start=0&sa=N
as well as burglar bars on windows coupled with laminated security glass in windows. All external doors should also have additional security gates.
For stand-off security light and noise will always be the best ally. As Blackflag mentioned movement sensors coupled to security lights and alarms. Burglars' number one priority is to not get caught. They would much rather run when assaulted with lights and noise.
Do not put too much trust in dogs. Working around a dog is actually not that difficult if you know what to do and we have had plenty of poisonings around here. This is why the primary physical barriers are so important. To prevent access to you property in the first place.
Gaining access to a house is not that difficult either as there are weak points designed into houses , like gaining access by lifting roof tiles. But this will mostly fall into the planned burglary attempts.
Even if somebody gets in we also have lockable steel gates in corridors.
The problem with most burglaries is time. The burglar wants to get in , take and get out. With all these barriers , this is not so easy anymore and therefore not worth the effort.
Only after all this is breached , will we resort to self defense only if attacked. Let them take what they want and sort it out with your insurance.
And never , ever go outside if you hear something or a light goes on. Let the various police forces handle that.
i live in germany, and for now, i dont have my gun owning licence yet,
so the main way to go for me is, a mix between, a blank firing gun loaded with CS-rounds, a pepperspray, and a telescopic baton.
everythin ready right under my bed...
i also gave my dad a paintballgun, and some pepperballs, as well as a telescopic baton...
it wont be the best compared to a handgun, but chances in a worst case scenario are higher for me to survive, or take advantage over a situation than completly unarmed.
sure, i will need a higher level of aggression, and some balls, but with an element of suprise and some camping, iam pretty sure i could handle such situations.
training also helps...