I live in the country with very few neighbors. Sunday night I had a guy trying to come in my house by kicking the door in. I had time to grab my trusty 870 and I was standing 10 ft. away from the door waiting on it to come open so I could protect my family. Fortunatly, after 3 kicks to the door he ran away, got in a car and drove off. There were 2 people, one in the car and the one trying to get in. My question to you is if you were in my shoes what would you do to help deter these scumbags from even attempting that. I have already installed new, more secure doors. I am also going to install motion lights around the house and at the entrance to the driveway. What else should I do?

Maybe visible security camera(s). Big dog inside or outside.

I have a big black lab but I keep it in the back yard so that it won't get run over. Maybe I should get something so that the dog can't leave the property line but has the run of the place at the same time.

do they have to come down a lane to get to your property?

Just being me i would have loded the car up with lead on its way out. Eff em.

Shoot that fool.. he might have driven down the road and killed a whole family..

No, there is no lane just a big circular drive with a side drive to the garage. The house is about 100ft from a busy Farm to Market road.

i would have peppered the door

hmm, i was going to suggest a gate if you had a narrow lane, but a circle drive off the main road does complicate things.




if you dont mind me asking some questions....

did the bad guys (BG) know someone was home, or did they think the house was empty?

did they pull up in the circle drive or garage area?

did you report this to the authorities? did they have any comments about similar happenings in the area?

do you know if they were armed?

keep the dog in the house. If someone comes in, he can buy you some time and help if you have to fight.

no doubt, shoot first. your family depends on you.

quote:

---

i would have peppered the door

---

sure, as long as you were certain it wasnt a drunk buddy being an ass.



I just want to be damn sure of who is about to get hit with several pieces of 230 grain pain.

[This message has been edited by 35chililights (edited 8/10/2010 10:18p).]

don't ever shoot if you don't know exactly what you are shooting at, rule #1 with a gun, isn't it?

Would have been very similar to the first minute of this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRi34lwKGAg&feature=related

Was it obvious you guys were home? Seems weird that if he knew you were home he'd be the only one trying to get in the house. Usually 'home invasions' involve more than one guy (not counting the getaway driver). I guess what I'm saying is that I would have made it obvious that there were many of us in the house and would have loudly yelled at the guy that he was going to get shot if he proceeded with his plan.

Now, with that in mind. We had our front door kicked in a little over a month ago. We weren't home and the moron got away with next to nothing (the wailing alarm did it's job apparently). BUT, I have taken numerous precautions since then. A) I immediately installed "Strikemaster II's" on every exterior door B) I installed security lighting on every corner of the house and C) (and I realize this is not realistic for most folks for multiple reasons) I contracted a welder to fabricate a 'cage' over our front and back porches. They're very sturdy but of course a bit decorative too for aesthetic reasons. I figured that they can't kick in my door if they can't get to the damn things. Now I know that in 'most' places these are completely frowned upon and even outlawed by HOA's (along with burglar bars on the windows). However, down here in the valley, they are very common....not only for security reasons but I think it's a cultural thing from Mexico as well....some of these things are very ornate and attractive believe it or not.
If you're in the country, it may be something to consider.
I'd also get a very loud alarm, visible surveillance camera's (functioning or cosmetic).

I know it's a horrible feeling. Hang in there and just use your head.



Now the thing that I call livin' is just bein' satisfied with knowin' I got no one left to blame

i would have yelled, "i have a gun" and then if he kept kicking, blasted him as soon as he came through the door.

I would done as you did and stayed inside and waited to see if he came in. I would not have peppered the door.

I think motion lights would be a good deterrent. Along with that; it would probably help to have a camera (functional or not) in visible sight or in the light.

I would also keep the lab inside if possible. The bark alone could be a deterrent.

Were they trying to kick in the front door?

I'm glad you and your family are safe. First thing I would do is invest in very good locks and doors on all entry ways. Next, get lots of light on the property. Motion lights in the driveway and around the doors. I woud also invest in the secuirty film that goes on windows and glass doors to prevent people from smashing your windows.

Talk with your wife and kids if you have any and come up with a plan if this happens again. Practice getting them to a safe spot so your wife can call 911 and have her pistol or shotgun ready.

You did the right thing by holding your ground and waiting for the bad guys to come to you. You know your house better than anyone, let them come to you if they are that stupid.

You did good. You followed the rule of not shooting without being sure of your target. You were well prepared to deal out swift protection of your home and family with a very effective weapon (provided your shottie was loaded with buckshot). I hope you notified the authorities so they can be on the lookout for the thugs. I would install a fence all the way around the house so that the dog can patrol the perimeter. An underground fence for the dog is an option, but you are not supposed to leave the collar on the dog 24/7 due to the prongs on it.

there's nothing better than a big loud dog inside your house



[This message has been edited by Walter Kovacs (edited 8/11/2010 1:47a).]

What schmendeler said. And had the ol lady calling the police.

These threads make my stomach turn. I'm glad y'all are okay.

Thanks for the tips y'all. My wife did call 911 and the sheriff was at the house in 15 minutes. That sounds like a long time but out here that is quick. I did not yell at the guy but I should have. I think that he thought that no one was home. I thought about turning on the porch light but the switch is next to the door he was kicking in. Also I should have yelled at him, however my wife and I were probably talking to each other loud enough that he might have heard us and that is what scared him off. I also did not pepper the door because if I did and he had a weapon he could have started shooting his way in and that in my mind would be worse. I felt that I had the upper hand because when that door flew open he would not have known that I was there except for the flash from the gun in his face. I wanted to make sure that if I shot at someone they were going to be mortally wounded and not just hurt.

Hook up a car battery to the door knob when you go to bed. Once you hear the zap, you know you got the bug. He won't be dead, but he will be very vulnerable for a professional/amature a$$ woopin.

You did everything perfectly. If they came thru the door, you would have had time to yell, shoot, whatever you deemed necessary. You had the tactical advantage being ready, but you didn't mention if you were behind cover or not. I would have been behind a wall or something with the gun on the door. Walls are considered "soft cover", so keep that in mind. Bullets will penetrate them.

[This message has been edited by tx4guns (edited 8/11/2010 7:56a).]

what was the adrenaline like? I can only imagine. Much different than staring at a piece of paper 25 yards away.

you should seriously consider the dog inside suggestion.

quote:

---

I contracted a welder to fabricate a 'cage' over our front and back porches. They're very sturdy but of course a bit decorative too for aesthetic reasons.

---

If the reason for the cage is to keep people out, wouldn't it also be keeping you and your family in if there is an emergency that you need to exit the house quickly, like a fire?

Thread from a couple of weeks ago over on the Home Improvement board...

http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=1656202&forum_id=61

And from your story, I presume you don't have any glass in the door or near the doorway. I HATE that my front door has a freaking window! I also want to switch to deadbolts that use keys on both sides.

I have 4 large sliding doors around the back side of my house. What would you recommend to put on those to help stop openings? Would burglars just break the glass?

I live in the country too.

I take several approaches. First is light sensing lights at all doors and motion sensing lights covering approaches. Next I have halogen lights that cover the entire exterior of the house all rigged to a single switch in the bedroom...hear a strange noise at night...hit the switch, hopefully that runs them off.

I also have burglar bars on all windows and doors. Keys are located in hidden places close to the doors and one of the bedroom window bars is also a door.

Dogs inside at night. Guns. Backhoe.

You did good. Although I would have been tempted to light them up after they where trying to get away...just to send a message. But dont second guess yourself, you acted with clarity, and bravery. Be proud of yourself.

[This message has been edited by Puryear Playboy (edited 8/11/2010 9:56a).]

quote:

---

I have 4 large sliding doors around the back side of my house. What would you recommend to put on those to help stop openings? Would burglars just break the glass?

---

Yeah a determined turd would have no hard feelings about smashing the glass. You have two options. One is to go with storm glass in those sliding doors. The second is to look at some of the various films that are being made for windows to make them tougher to break. With the film, the glass still breaks but is held in place. I suppose they could eventually smash it up enough that it comes unmoutned, but I don't know. Others on here might know more.

glass-break sensors for a security system.

quote:

---

If the reason for the cage is to keep people out, wouldn't it also be keeping you and your family in if there is an emergency that you need to exit the house quickly, like a fire?

---

I've heard people use this argument for double keyed cylinder locks too.
Frankly I don't understand the confusion.
There's a deadbolt lock on the 'cage'. I sleep with the keys next to me on my nightstand. If there's a need to get out of the house, I unlock the locks and get out.


Now the thing that I call livin' is just bein' satisfied with knowin' I got no one left to blame