My wife works at an intercity police department, and the officers that she works with are trying to convince her that she needs to own a handgun to prudently react to the possibility of a home invasion. Unfortunately, such events seem to be on the rise in our city.
I would like to get feedback as to whether the officers’ recommendation is a good one, or not. Other than keeping the doors and windows locked, what other kinds of deterrents are useful, other than having a handgun in the house? What about having a fake gun (looks like a real gun but won’t shoot)? That might act as a deterrent, and no one could get injured or killed in the process. My wife says that the officers would laugh if she told them that she had a gun that wouldn’t shoot.
You beat me to it Em. My thoughts exactly. GET A DOG!!! Ideally one with a big bark- doesn’t have to really be big- ( Skyes sound bigger than 30 lb dogs, plus they have big teeth and jaws to go along with the bark and the sense to know if it’s someone that need’s bitin’.)
Plus, dogs are fun.
I’ve heard and read many times that former criminals say that the sound of a dog in the house tells them to find another house to break into.
Fake guns are a problem because they’ll have a real one and shoot you.
Real handguns are a problem because you can’t hit anything with them if you’re excited, unless it’s an accident, in which case you’ll kill a loved one.
It’s hard to miss with a shotgun, plus it makes that nice kachunk noise which may be enough of a deterrent that you don’t have to use it.
Even easier, get a motion-activated barking dog recording device. Dogs ARE very good deterrents to criminals, but they (dogs) do require a lot of upkeep.
I love 'em, mind you, but not everyone has the time or space required for a REAL watchdog. Just the sound of vicious barking might be enough to scare away many intruders.
I don’t want to get on a soapbox here, but I have a little background with guns. Let me make a few simple points.
You need serious training with a strong focus on safety. I think guns are like shop tools: very effective and safe when you follow a few basic rules ALL THE TIME. After you get the training, you need to commit to certain amount of practice to remain safe and effective. (I guess I don’t have tell people on this board about practice. )
You have to be willing to use lethal force to protect yourself and family. Under stress, it’s hard to fake this and the bad guy probably will see through it. That’s another reason why a pretend gun is not a good idea.
If you are unfortunate and need to use a gun to save yourself or a loved one, you often need to defend yourself a second time in court. Plus criminals can and do sue their victims. Consider it another part of your training.
Not to discourage anyone, but owning a gun is just the start. Oh, and know how to store firearms safely. Keep the shop door locked too when young ones are in the house.
I would spend money first on the basic deterrents like locks, alarms and lighting. The stuff about having a good dog holds true even with a gun.
If you are NOT absolutely sure you WILL use the gun with DEADLY intentions - do NOT get a gun! Period. Just you asking probably means you are not a good candidate for a gun for self protection.
As to making your home less attractive to intruders:
Get a dog. If you don’t want a dog, get the “accompaniments” to a dog - a bowl, some toys, “borrow” some neighborhood dog poop, whatever and leave all of this around your yard.
Make your outside less attractive. (this is called the SARA model by Problem Oriented Policing groups) Have outside lighting at night. Keep your blinds closed on your ground floor. Don’t have thick bushes or trees close to the doors or windows - have visibility from the street. If your back yard goes into woods or such, have a fence. Even something small - just so it breaks up the “getaway”. Don’t have easily transported electronics visible from windows.
Try to not be so “predictable” in your coming and goings. Most of our breakins happen during the day when people are at work.
Most of the breakins in our area are also “smash and grabs” and the person is in the house less than 90 seconds.
Always have your cell phone at your bedside, especially if your land phone lines are at the bottom of your house. Remember it takes approximately 5 minutes in a metropolitian area for a 911 response.
If you ARE in the house when someone breaks in, remember, it’s just stuff. Stuff can always be replaced. Your life cannot.
Remember, someone who “breaks in” in the nite with a weapon of their own (most likely) IS AWAKE! ALREADY! probably high on something, too.
YOU, on the other hand, are asleep, drowsy, disoriented, scared, indecisive, or all of the above.
My mother in law who’s DEAF once shot a hole in the floor because she “thought” she heard a noise, she could just as easily have killed my brother in law, who was coming in late that nite from a DATE.
Just one of those “hilarious” family stories now.
Yeah, right.
Get a device that will turn on radio/lights at random times and turn it on when noones home. (Make sure radio doesn’t turn on when all lights are out) : This is a signal to the thief that someone might be home. And on a street with 10 houses, he/she will go for the ones with no noise or lights in them.
ALWAYS close and lock all windows and doors when you leave the home. NEVER keep a backup key outside and near the house. (Make a few and make sure each family member who lives in the house has one, this way you have backups handy)
Try doing a round where you “think like a criminal”. Test your defences. (This includes the locks on windows, the backdoor and any entrance to a basement/garage)
That’s just the basics. You might want to consider a noisy alarm system. (If someone breaks in and a very loud alarm goes off.. well.. take a guess)
Doug - I seem to recall you have allergy issues, but I agree with many posters that a good dog is one of the best burglary defenses. This link has a list of dog breeds that a vet recommended for folks with allegries:
Our two dogs (one of which is a wheaten mix - he doesn’t shed, ever, but does have to go to a groomer) create a sound so wild you’d think there were 3 to 4 dogs when they hear something outside…my wife sleeps soundly when I’m out of town.
Now…why are her police buddies recommending a handgun because of home invasions? Are they common in your neighborhood/city/area? Burglaries can and do happen (remember when they were just “break ins” and not the fear inducing, media created “home invasion”?), but if you’ve made it this long without a gun is there really any reason to think you’ll need one now? We’d all be better off with a nice M-16 or M-1 Abrams in case of military invasion, better off wearing bike helmets 24/7 because you’re much more likely to hit your head falling down stairs or when driving your car than elsewhere, and on and on.
I agree that a dog would be a good deterrent, however, my wife is a serious cat person with cat photos (no cat, though) all over the house. Several years ago I did live with a Wheaten Terrier for over a year. I should have paid closer attention to the comments at the Humane Society where we got Murphy. Shall we say that Murphy had a problem with her nerves and liked to find the most expensive rug in the house to relieve herself. Yes, I remember, she did bark at every sound. However, I didn’t like $75 bills for the periodic clipping that was required, and I also didn’t especially like carrying a little plastic bag of dog poob with me on our frequent walks in the neighborhood. I can see why people like dogs, though.
Thanks, everyone, for telling me that I am an idiot to even think that a fake gun might possibly be a deterrent. Probably the most original suggestion that I have received came via a personal message from a chiffer who recommended that I leave two-foot-long pieces of pvc pipe laying all over my house at appropriate places to use as a club. All joking aside, thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. I have never had a gun in my house, and I don’t think that our present security situation warrants getting one.
We backed our outside motion detector lights with a professional security system inside.
We also replaced all our basement windows with glass bricks, planted unfriendly plants under some windows, have various lights around the house turned on and off by timers, and never leave the house without leaving the TV turned on in the livingroom.
My neighbors bought a dog to protect their house.
I’m afraid that if I got a gun their high pitched barking and yelping all day dog would be dead and I’d be in jail.
Our house was broken into awhile back and the police recommended a big backyard dog.
To avoid a home invasion, I’d opt for a dog, outstanding locks, a security system, and the good sense that I know you already have to be very cautious about answering the door.
and the sense to know if it’s someone that need’s bitin’.)