GunSlinger
Master
At around 1:40 a.m. this morning I was confronted with LOVEMACHINE's scenerio re: sounds outside.
My wife and I are night owls. It's not uncommon for us to be awake until sometimes 2-3 in the morning. We enjoy the quiet time and are usually reading...her a book, me likely the 'net (read INGO)
We were just talking about a new to us home we're looking to buy when all of a sudden the car alarm on our Jeep goes off. I will say we live in a rural area. Our nearest neighbor lives about 250 yards away. Our next nearest neighbor is about a quarter mile away, and both are elderly and go to bed a bit earlier than we do.
First thing I did was to go to the nearest window facing our driveway and yes indeed the horn was honking, lights flashing etc. I might add here that we have a security light (100 watt metal halide) mounted on a utility pole right beside and a few feet in front of the Jeep. The area is WELL lit.
Next step was to grab my 9mm S & W and a flashlight at the same time telling my wife to call 911 which she did. I watched carefully from inside our home checking out of each window to see if I could spot anyone. After we "turn in" we keep our lights throughout the house off with the exception of perhaps a reading light or low watt task light, and I left the lights off so as to minimize any chances of being seen as I checked the windows. I observed no visible threat so I did not use the flashlight to try to see anything outside (didn't want to give away my location in the event the BG was still lurking around and watching). Did not even turn on outside porch lights.
Being that there was no visible threat and that the car alarm was still blasting in the Jeep I just kept vigilant (as did my wife) until the county deputy arrived...which was less than three minutes after the call...great response time! I remained in the house until such time as the deputy had checked the Jeep and the area around it and approached our front door. I placed my 9mm on the kitchen table and met the officer at the front door. At that time a second deputy arrived. I went outside with the first deputy and learned that indeed someone had grabbed the drivers side door handle of the Jeep thus setting off the alarm. This was quite visible as the dew had just settled and you could see the finger and hand marks on the door and door handle.
Both deputies thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, checked our property...garage, house, barns, etc. and didn't find any further evidence of an intruder. The grass was also covered in dew and it was very evident where the deputies had walked. We saw no other tracks and kinda came to the conclusion that the BG(s) accessed the Jeep via the asphalt driveway. The grass around the drivers door did show signs of at least one person having been there.
Both deputies told me that there are three teens living "up" the road from us that had been getting into "mischief" lately (no parental supervision) by stealing a pickup and joy riding around the county. All three are not yet old enough to to have a beginners permit...one is only fourteen.
Both deputies then left saying they were going further up the road to the vicinity of where the teens lived and would be driving by our home a couple of more times through the night, and that the trio was probably quite scared after the alarm went off...I'd bet they were. No further incidents the rest of the night, and I slept in until 9:00 a.m. which is very unusual for me. I'm normally up at 6:30 - 7:00.
Take aways from this incident:
1. Asses the situation, with no immediate threat stay inside - call 911 immediately and take a defensive posture.
2. Don't light up the area - if there is someone lurking around outside it will most likely send them into hiding and if you go outside you could very well become the target. Preserve the environmment inside and out.
3. Let the cops do the work they are trained to do. DON'T go outside to meet them! This will only distract them and put both of you in a compromised position...besides if you appear coming from the house the cop may draw on you...not a good thing. Once the officer approaches your door DON'T greet him with anything in your hands.
4. Go outside only if you are told it's ok to do so...leave any weapons inside. Inform them of any potential hiding spots that they may not be aware of...let them check them out.
5. Give a full detailed account of the incident (where you were when the incident occured, what you observed, etc) when they ask for it...again don't distract them with a bunch of running off at the mouth. When they're confident with securing the area they will ask.
6. Don't be a rambo or a mall ninja. They don't care about hearing how you grabbed your grenade launcher and was prepared to break out your 'heavy artillary' and turn the BG's into ground meat. Be as calm as possible and convey you calmness via your interactions with them.
7. Once the incident is over be sure to thank them. I know this sounds very basic, but they need to know that you appreciated thier response. After all, they never know if what they are running into will turn bad.
One last personal observation:
After all was over and secured this morning I couldn't help but consider what would have happened if one of these teenagers (and that's precisely most likely who they were) had approached the house. I'm absolutely certian that had someone tried to get into our house I would have defended, and may have even shot someone. I could have seriously wounded of killed someone...possibly even a 'neighbors' underage teen child. Now that would be tough to deal with. Mind you I'm not going to ask the age of anyone coming through a door or window, but to discover an underage teen lying dead or bleeding out on your carpet as a result of you defending (very rightfully mind you) yourself would be a very hard thing to live with.
Keep vigilant and safe, and if you're ever confronted with a similar or worse incident than this keep calm, observant, defensive and most of all clear minded...if you can.
My wife and I are night owls. It's not uncommon for us to be awake until sometimes 2-3 in the morning. We enjoy the quiet time and are usually reading...her a book, me likely the 'net (read INGO)
We were just talking about a new to us home we're looking to buy when all of a sudden the car alarm on our Jeep goes off. I will say we live in a rural area. Our nearest neighbor lives about 250 yards away. Our next nearest neighbor is about a quarter mile away, and both are elderly and go to bed a bit earlier than we do.
First thing I did was to go to the nearest window facing our driveway and yes indeed the horn was honking, lights flashing etc. I might add here that we have a security light (100 watt metal halide) mounted on a utility pole right beside and a few feet in front of the Jeep. The area is WELL lit.
Next step was to grab my 9mm S & W and a flashlight at the same time telling my wife to call 911 which she did. I watched carefully from inside our home checking out of each window to see if I could spot anyone. After we "turn in" we keep our lights throughout the house off with the exception of perhaps a reading light or low watt task light, and I left the lights off so as to minimize any chances of being seen as I checked the windows. I observed no visible threat so I did not use the flashlight to try to see anything outside (didn't want to give away my location in the event the BG was still lurking around and watching). Did not even turn on outside porch lights.
Being that there was no visible threat and that the car alarm was still blasting in the Jeep I just kept vigilant (as did my wife) until the county deputy arrived...which was less than three minutes after the call...great response time! I remained in the house until such time as the deputy had checked the Jeep and the area around it and approached our front door. I placed my 9mm on the kitchen table and met the officer at the front door. At that time a second deputy arrived. I went outside with the first deputy and learned that indeed someone had grabbed the drivers side door handle of the Jeep thus setting off the alarm. This was quite visible as the dew had just settled and you could see the finger and hand marks on the door and door handle.
Both deputies thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, checked our property...garage, house, barns, etc. and didn't find any further evidence of an intruder. The grass was also covered in dew and it was very evident where the deputies had walked. We saw no other tracks and kinda came to the conclusion that the BG(s) accessed the Jeep via the asphalt driveway. The grass around the drivers door did show signs of at least one person having been there.
Both deputies told me that there are three teens living "up" the road from us that had been getting into "mischief" lately (no parental supervision) by stealing a pickup and joy riding around the county. All three are not yet old enough to to have a beginners permit...one is only fourteen.
Both deputies then left saying they were going further up the road to the vicinity of where the teens lived and would be driving by our home a couple of more times through the night, and that the trio was probably quite scared after the alarm went off...I'd bet they were. No further incidents the rest of the night, and I slept in until 9:00 a.m. which is very unusual for me. I'm normally up at 6:30 - 7:00.
Take aways from this incident:
1. Asses the situation, with no immediate threat stay inside - call 911 immediately and take a defensive posture.
2. Don't light up the area - if there is someone lurking around outside it will most likely send them into hiding and if you go outside you could very well become the target. Preserve the environmment inside and out.
3. Let the cops do the work they are trained to do. DON'T go outside to meet them! This will only distract them and put both of you in a compromised position...besides if you appear coming from the house the cop may draw on you...not a good thing. Once the officer approaches your door DON'T greet him with anything in your hands.
4. Go outside only if you are told it's ok to do so...leave any weapons inside. Inform them of any potential hiding spots that they may not be aware of...let them check them out.
5. Give a full detailed account of the incident (where you were when the incident occured, what you observed, etc) when they ask for it...again don't distract them with a bunch of running off at the mouth. When they're confident with securing the area they will ask.
6. Don't be a rambo or a mall ninja. They don't care about hearing how you grabbed your grenade launcher and was prepared to break out your 'heavy artillary' and turn the BG's into ground meat. Be as calm as possible and convey you calmness via your interactions with them.
7. Once the incident is over be sure to thank them. I know this sounds very basic, but they need to know that you appreciated thier response. After all, they never know if what they are running into will turn bad.
One last personal observation:
After all was over and secured this morning I couldn't help but consider what would have happened if one of these teenagers (and that's precisely most likely who they were) had approached the house. I'm absolutely certian that had someone tried to get into our house I would have defended, and may have even shot someone. I could have seriously wounded of killed someone...possibly even a 'neighbors' underage teen child. Now that would be tough to deal with. Mind you I'm not going to ask the age of anyone coming through a door or window, but to discover an underage teen lying dead or bleeding out on your carpet as a result of you defending (very rightfully mind you) yourself would be a very hard thing to live with.
Keep vigilant and safe, and if you're ever confronted with a similar or worse incident than this keep calm, observant, defensive and most of all clear minded...if you can.
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