midnight knockers

[Deleted]

I checked into a security system at one time. It really only protects your house and belongings when you are not home. I was concerned about protecting me. That's when I bought a gun. 

[toomuchreality]

Oct 10, 2021 15:01:25 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I couldn't think of a way to peep out the window without the person seeing me. It's just the way my ranch home is laid out. They would see my shades moving.

Usually I leave my cell phone in the kitchen. I should start bringing it in the bedroom with me in case that happens again and I need to call.

I'm just glad you are safe!

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2021 15:03:02 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I checked into a security system at one time. It really only protects your house and belongings when you are not home. I was concerned about protecting me. That's when I bought a gun. 

My primary concern was also more about protecting me and my children, even though I definitely didn’t want anyone stealing from me or getting inside my house uninvited, period. When I had 2 big dogs living in my house, one with a bad attitude and very protective of his people and our home, I felt like between them and the alarm, it would be a lot of commotion and noise if someone tried to get in my house. The bad attitude dog only weighed 55lbs (standard poodle), but he didn’t play. When he got going, the 110lb dog (Bullmastiff) was there to back him up. Bullmastiffs were originally bred to protect landowners’ property, and she could make you lose your balance by jumping on you, even without a good running start. 

I didn’t feel like any of that would actually stop somebody from trying, but at least I’d get warning vs looking up and some stranger is already in my house. And all I need is a warning.

[Deleted]

When I bought a pistol for protection, I added a laser sight to it. I am hoping, if ever needed, I can just shine the laser sight on the person entering my house rather than pulling the trigger. That should scare them off since I don't have a dog for protection.

Edited to add: I checked into a security system and bought the pistol AFTER my house had been burglarized. That scared me. The police told me the burglars probably rang the doorbell and since no one was home, they broke in. If I would have answered the door, they probably would have asked me for directions or something and left.

[stillmovingforward]

Nope, sorry. If you pull a gun and point it, your next step is to pull the trigger with the intent to kill. Guns are not for scaring people off. You want/hope to scare someone off, get an auditory alarm system. 

In your case, I'd have quietly called 911.

But I have a dog. And as much as I love him, his job is to take someone down to protect me and mine. Anything material item in my house, people can steal if that's their intent. Its just the living things that I'll fight to protect. 

[skeeter]

Oct 9, 2021 14:12:31 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I live alone out in the country in a very rural area. There was someone knocking on my door at 2:30 AM. I did not answer. I stayed in bed until I could hear them drive off. (I am armed and was listening for any signs of attempted entry.)

What would you have done?

Since you mentioned in another thread that your father is your neighbor and that he still drives, is it at all possible that maybe your dad was knocking on your door?

I don't think I would have stayed in bed, but I definitely would not have opened my door to see who it was.

[thyme4change]

Here is hoping it was an honest mistake - an Uber driver who had the wrong instructions, or a guy that could have sworn that was his friend's house - or something crazy like that.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2021 17:01:50 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Nope, sorry. If you pull a gun and point it, your next step is to pull the trigger with the intent to kill. Guns are not for scaring people off. You want/hope to scare someone off, get an auditory alarm system. 

In your case, I'd have quietly called 911.

But I have a dog. And as much as I love him, his job is to take someone down to protect me and mine. Anything material item in my house, people can steal if that's their intent. Its just the living things that I'll fight to protect. 

Nope. Not for me. I have the willpower to point and tell them to get the heck out of there. I might even shoot into the air so they know I am serious.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2021 18:46:39 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Oct 9, 2021 14:12:31 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

I live alone out in the country in a very rural area. There was someone knocking on my door at 2:30 AM. I did not answer. I stayed in bed until I could hear them drive off. (I am armed and was listening for any signs of attempted entry.)

What would you have done?

Since you mentioned in another thread that your father is your neighbor and that he still drives, is it at all possible that maybe your dad was knocking on your door?

I don't think I would have stayed in bed, but I definitely would not have opened my door to see who it was.

I figured it wasn't my dad because he has a garage door opener that he always uses. Besides, he should be in bed at that time. 

[stillmovingforward]

And that is how people get killed 'by accident'. As your self defense gun class should have taught you, 'a gun is not for threats, it's for use.'

[tractor]

The sound of a pump shotgun racking in a shell is also a good deterrent. Very few people wouldn't recognize that sound, and most don't get the opportunity to hear it twice...

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 10, 2021 19:12:51 GMT -5 @beckaroo said:

Oct 10, 2021 17:01:50 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Nope, sorry. If you pull a gun and point it, your next step is to pull the trigger with the intent to kill. Guns are not for scaring people off. You want/hope to scare someone off, get an auditory alarm system. 

In your case, I'd have quietly called 911.

But I have a dog. And as much as I love him, his job is to take someone down to protect me and mine. Anything material item in my house, people can steal if that's their intent. Its just the living things that I'll fight to protect. 

Nope. Not for me. I have the willpower to point and tell them to get the heck out of there. I might even shoot into the air so they know I am serious.

 Unless you are prepared to shoot it and shoot to kill you should NEVER point a loaded weapon at a person.   That is basic gun safety.   Anyone who is too nervous to shoot the gun is someone who shouldn't have a gun.  That's how accidents happen.

[raeoflyte]

For personal protection I really recommend martial arts. Although I think I recommend it for everything.

[Artemis Windsong]

Oct 11, 2021 8:51:01 GMT -5 tractor said:

The sound of a pump shotgun racking in a shell is also a good deterrent. Very few people wouldn't recognize that sound, and most don't get the opportunity to hear it twice...

The correct weapon for home defense.

Then there is wasp spray.  Strong lumin flashlights.

[toomuchreality]

Oct 11, 2021 15:25:38 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

For personal protection I really recommend martial arts. Although I think I recommend it for everything.

I got beat up by another client, at my 1st lesson. Nope. I didn't go back.

[raeoflyte]

Oct 12, 2021 6:26:59 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Oct 11, 2021 15:25:38 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

For personal protection I really recommend martial arts. Although I think I recommend it for everything.

I got beat up by another client, at my 1st lesson. Nope. I didn't go back.

That's a terrible dojo (and other student) I'm sorry that happened.

[happyhoix]

Oct 21, 2021 11:11:22 GMT -5 jenpen said:

No knocks on the door but.....The window in my 2nd-floor guest bedroom at the front of my townhouse blocks no sound whatsoever. Just after going to bed (in the 2nd floor bedroom at the back of the house) at 2:00 this morning, I heard a male voice.  Couldn't make out the words, and assumed it was someone walking by outside below that front window.  A couple minutes later, I heard it again, and then assumed it was someone lingering in front of my home. I went to see if I could see anyone from that window; when I couldn't then I knew they were either gone or were so close to my front door or the kitchen door (which is the one that got kicked in by a thief several years ago) that I couldn't see them. Starting to get freaked out now, I tiptoe downstairs to look through the peephole on the front door, but can't really see anything in the darkness.  Just as I'm grabbing my phone to call 911 (small town, so they allow non-emergency calls to 911) to ask for a police drive-by, my blue tooth speaker (that I forgot to turn off yesterday afternoon) sitting on the dining room table gives its third and final announcement, in it's creepy-deep male voice:  "Batt-er-y low. Powering off".

Ha!

This reminds me of a news story where a woman called the cops because there was an intruder in the house. Turns out the Roomba got stuck in the closet.

[toomuchreality]

Oct 21, 2021 11:11:22 GMT -5 jenpen said:

No knocks on the door but.....The window in my 2nd-floor guest bedroom at the front of my townhouse blocks no sound whatsoever. Just after going to bed (in the 2nd floor bedroom at the back of the house) at 2:00 this morning, I heard a male voice.  Couldn't make out the words, and assumed it was someone walking by outside below that front window.  A couple minutes later, I heard it again, and then assumed it was someone lingering in front of my home. I went to see if I could see anyone from that window; when I couldn't then I knew they were either gone or were so close to my front door or the kitchen door (which is the one that got kicked in by a thief several years ago) that I couldn't see them. Starting to get freaked out now, I tiptoe downstairs to look through the peephole on the front door, but can't really see anything in the darkness.  Just as I'm grabbing my phone to call 911 (small town, so they allow non-emergency calls to 911) to ask for a police drive-by, my blue tooth speaker (that I forgot to turn off yesterday afternoon) sitting on the dining room table gives its third and final announcement, in it's creepy-deep male voice:  "Batt-er-y low. Powering off".

OMG! I was getting freaked out for you! I don't have anything that talks to me, so I wouldn't have known what it was either. That's a great story, in a weird kind of way.

Question- If you had called the police and they stopped by and spoke to you, would you have kept quiet and let them think you'd really heard someone? Or would you have laughed, telling them about the bluetooth turning off?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

When I lived by myself in San Antonio….not long after the ex bf of the daughter in the family came in and massacred the family……I heard a loud thumping off my patio.  Both cats were sleeping on my bed, it wasn’t them.  Loud thumping again.

I had no weapons but my phone.  I had it in my hand and crept downstairs.  Loud thump.  Looked through the peephole, nothing but another loud thump.  

Turned on the patio light and peeked behind the closed verticals on the slider to my patio.  There was a cat out there, throwing itself at the door trying to get my cat’s attention.  I’m really glad I didn’t dial that last 1!  However, with the adrenalin produced, I was up for the next 3 hours.

[toomuchreality]

Oct 21, 2021 17:40:35 GMT -5 jenpen said:

OMG, happyhoix, the trapped Roomba is hilarious! And that would be seriously embarrassing.

Speaking of embarrassing, toomuchreality, I've been asking myself the same question all day. I'm generally a terrible liar, so I'm guessing I would have laughingly fessed up about the man in the speaker scaring me!  I haven't used that speaker for ages, but it was handy yesterday when I needed music loud enough to mask my neighbor's barking dogs. Totally forgot about those irritating low-battery warnings.

Wow, The Walk of the Penguin Mich, that would be terrifying, given the recent events!  So glad for you that it was just a cat, but what a crazily persistent one! Your story reminded me of something that happened recently. My cat was out on our fenced-in patio when I was totally startled by a huge thump against my patio door and outdoor table.  I turned to look just in time to see a huge owl picking himself up from the chair that sits next to the table and almost touching the patio door. I don't know if he was trying to attack my cat or just accidentally flew into the glass door. It was around dusk so the lighting may have thrown him off. Either way, it was weeks before I felt safe letting the boy back out by himself again!

I'm a terrible liar too. It would have been easier for me to laugh and tell them about the speaker.
Since you aren't used to using the speaker and because you were listening to music, it makes sense that it ran out of power without you thinking about it.
I'm just glad you were safe!

[toomuchreality]

UGH. A few minutes ago (11PM), someone knocked loud, fast and hard on my door. Not a knock I recognized. And I wasn't expecting anyone. My Halloween wreath is blocking my peep hole, so I can't see out of it. Shortly after the knocking, I heard several men's voices and at least one women's voice, but I couldn't understand them. I stood holding my deadbolt, just in case. After a few minutes, they left.

I need to check into getting a lower peep hole installed. Soon.