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Started By
Message
Attempted break-in last night
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:27 pm
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:27 pm
Mandeville, pretty nice neighborhood. Crashed on the couch in the living room (because had a stogie late night and didn't want to stink up the bedroom).
About 4:30 am, back door opened, slowly, but door fits tight enough and with enough vacuum that it made a distinct sound that woke me up, even from a deep sleep. Groggy, but looked up and saw a silhouette through the door window and part of the opening (door open about 4 inches). Wasn't a head and shoulders, but after recreating it (about 20 times) someone trying to quietly open the door wouldn't have presented such an image, but more of a slimmer side view that I saw. Went from zero to max almost instantly, I think I yelled "What the frick?!?" and flew off the couch at the door.
Ran out, swept right, then left, then back inside. Wife met me in the living room saying she heard a loud thud (still not sure what that was), told her someone was trying to get in the house, made sure everything was secure inside, then armed myself and went out again. Swept the perimeter, all clear.
At this point, I'm honestly wondering if I imagined it somehow, being in deep sleep, maybe vacuum from AC made door open or something else, then checked cars and found that my keys were missing(1) and center console of wife's car was up, but nothing else missing. So, the combination of the two events (back door and cars) made it pretty clear that it was real.
Ok. Catastrophic security failures on my end, unfortunate consequence of living in a normally pretty safe area. As noted above (1), I got in the bad habit of leaving my keys in my car and car unlocked. Outside flood lights not turned on. Rear door not locked. Back yard open on the sides of house (but otherwise enclosed by side and back neighbors' fence). Stayed up till dawn walking the perimeter and spotlighting around here and there (but trying not to freak out neighbors).
Changed out house locks. Put up fence on one side (other side is much wide and will require more time to fence off). Flood lights adjusted better and will be turned on. Even got a door bar for rear door.
If you've read this far, bravo, you're a true OB warrior. What a fricking freaky thing. Clear stupidity on my part, but I never thought it would happen. That won't fricking happen again. Had to really think through a lot of shite.
About 4:30 am, back door opened, slowly, but door fits tight enough and with enough vacuum that it made a distinct sound that woke me up, even from a deep sleep. Groggy, but looked up and saw a silhouette through the door window and part of the opening (door open about 4 inches). Wasn't a head and shoulders, but after recreating it (about 20 times) someone trying to quietly open the door wouldn't have presented such an image, but more of a slimmer side view that I saw. Went from zero to max almost instantly, I think I yelled "What the frick?!?" and flew off the couch at the door.
Ran out, swept right, then left, then back inside. Wife met me in the living room saying she heard a loud thud (still not sure what that was), told her someone was trying to get in the house, made sure everything was secure inside, then armed myself and went out again. Swept the perimeter, all clear.
At this point, I'm honestly wondering if I imagined it somehow, being in deep sleep, maybe vacuum from AC made door open or something else, then checked cars and found that my keys were missing(1) and center console of wife's car was up, but nothing else missing. So, the combination of the two events (back door and cars) made it pretty clear that it was real.
Ok. Catastrophic security failures on my end, unfortunate consequence of living in a normally pretty safe area. As noted above (1), I got in the bad habit of leaving my keys in my car and car unlocked. Outside flood lights not turned on. Rear door not locked. Back yard open on the sides of house (but otherwise enclosed by side and back neighbors' fence). Stayed up till dawn walking the perimeter and spotlighting around here and there (but trying not to freak out neighbors).
Changed out house locks. Put up fence on one side (other side is much wide and will require more time to fence off). Flood lights adjusted better and will be turned on. Even got a door bar for rear door.
If you've read this far, bravo, you're a true OB warrior. What a fricking freaky thing. Clear stupidity on my part, but I never thought it would happen. That won't fricking happen again. Had to really think through a lot of shite.
19
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:30 pm to JakeRyan
Judge. Should. Have. Been. Used.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:32 pm to JakeRyan
Damn. That's crazy. I had a similar situation the other night.
Laying in bed, woke up and saw something in my bathroom. I yelled out HEY! Got up, turned the light on, bum rushed the bathroom....nothing there. My wife said what the hell is your problem.
I correlate it to seeing that deer at dusk when it ain't shite there and I should have gotten off the stand 15 minutes ago.
Laying in bed, woke up and saw something in my bathroom. I yelled out HEY! Got up, turned the light on, bum rushed the bathroom....nothing there. My wife said what the hell is your problem.
I correlate it to seeing that deer at dusk when it ain't shite there and I should have gotten off the stand 15 minutes ago.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:34 pm to Fap-n-Nap
quote:
got in the bad habit of leaving my keys in my car and car unlocked.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:34 pm to Fap-n-Nap
Was well armed inside. I guess I'm 1) rambling to ramble, and 2) maybe CSB to be secure even if you think nothing will happen. After talking to people (cop friends, etc) most likely 2 people, 1 working cars and other poking around back, person in back tried door and wanted to peek in to see if anything valuable in sight, couldn't see me from there and freaked the frick out when I jumped up and shouted, took off and second car stopped and also took off when he ran out.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:34 pm to Fap-n-Nap
Holy crap... we're in a bad habit of leaving the back door unlocked too. Hell I usually don't even lock the front door when leaving the house.
Really need a reality check for my head and family... thanks for posting and glad noone got hurt!
Really need a reality check for my head and family... thanks for posting and glad noone got hurt!
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:36 pm to Dodd
quote:
Laying in bed, woke up and saw something in my bathroom. I yelled out HEY! Got up, turned the light on, bum rushed the bathroom....nothing there. My wife said what the hell is your problem.
I correlate it to seeing that deer at dusk when it ain't shite there and I should have gotten off the stand 15 minutes ago.
I truly wanted to believe that I imagined it in my sleep. But the more I went through it all, no way it didn't happen.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:36 pm to Meauxjeaux
Yeah, some pretty bad moves on your fault.
Idc if you live on an island by yourself, lock your damn doors.
Idc if you live on an island by yourself, lock your damn doors.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:37 pm to Meauxjeaux
My front and back door: locked
Ghettolife4life
Ghettolife4life
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:38 pm to JakeRyan
Scary stuff. I live way off the hwy and keep every thing locked very good. Good idea changing locks quickly.
Getting a squatch to guard the front gate soon.
Getting a squatch to guard the front gate soon.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:44 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:shite ton of things through my head all day and lessons to be learned, even aside from the obvious and previously mentioned...
Really need a reality check for my head and family... thanks for posting and glad noone got hurt!
Shitcan ratings for security and preparation.
High ratings for alertness and reaction time.
React of running out...mixed bag, thought was clearing the possible threat, but if the threat was hardcore, I could have run right into shite. I wasn't totally stupid for doing so because I'm pretty well trained (ex-mil and H2H combat), but still, let's not be foolish about how you're going to defend against a weapon or more than one attacker.
Also, once I was outside and armed, needed a cooler head about addressing whatever I might have seen, legally. I know not to shoot someone in the back running away, but I had a lot of rage going on.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:46 pm to JakeRyan
Lock you God damn doors.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:47 pm to Fap-n-Nap
As a person who has read tons of defensive stories and carries daily, I'll try to harp on your event to make sure you have a good course of action if you have that situation again. This isn't legal advice or anything, but it's a scenario I've gone through many times in my head and actually in my house.
First things first; just because an area is considered "safe" doesn't necessarily mean it will always be that way. That's like saying you shouldn't wear a seat belt because you're a good driver and have never been in a wreck. Granted, if you're comparing your neighborhood to north Baton Rouge, there is a clear distinction. Regardless, it's always good to be prepared.
And also from a legal standpoint, and a case study we did in our CCW class, you should NEVER walk out of your house onto your lawn or surrounding property unless you fear someone in that area, be it a friend, daughter, son, wife, etc., is in imminent danger. Even if you are clearly justified in using deadly force, the law and a jury will come down on you as a vigilante seeking violence. It sucks, but that's just the way it is.
Stay put in your home and make sure everyone in it is secure. If you have a problem with someone coming in and taking your possessions, than you could possibly leave your bedroom and stop them, but it's strongly recommended that you lock yourself in your room, call authorities, and let everything unfold as necessary. If it is a home invasion, they will come for you and you will be clearly justified. Living with only one roommate, as long as we are both secure, I see no reason for me to leave my bedroom if someone were to break in. If I had kids, obviously I would leave my room to make sure they are secure as well. It's best to be on the defensive rather than offensive in these situations because you could be put behind bars for bad reason.
Regardless of all that, I'm glad it all turned out ok and you and yours are fine. Hopefully my comments don't come off as me being a dick as I am genuinely trying to give good advice. Take or leave what you want, but I've thought about these things extensively to cover my arse in case I ever have to do one of these things.
Glad you're safe
Now lock your doors, dumbass.
First things first; just because an area is considered "safe" doesn't necessarily mean it will always be that way. That's like saying you shouldn't wear a seat belt because you're a good driver and have never been in a wreck. Granted, if you're comparing your neighborhood to north Baton Rouge, there is a clear distinction. Regardless, it's always good to be prepared.
And also from a legal standpoint, and a case study we did in our CCW class, you should NEVER walk out of your house onto your lawn or surrounding property unless you fear someone in that area, be it a friend, daughter, son, wife, etc., is in imminent danger. Even if you are clearly justified in using deadly force, the law and a jury will come down on you as a vigilante seeking violence. It sucks, but that's just the way it is.
Stay put in your home and make sure everyone in it is secure. If you have a problem with someone coming in and taking your possessions, than you could possibly leave your bedroom and stop them, but it's strongly recommended that you lock yourself in your room, call authorities, and let everything unfold as necessary. If it is a home invasion, they will come for you and you will be clearly justified. Living with only one roommate, as long as we are both secure, I see no reason for me to leave my bedroom if someone were to break in. If I had kids, obviously I would leave my room to make sure they are secure as well. It's best to be on the defensive rather than offensive in these situations because you could be put behind bars for bad reason.
Regardless of all that, I'm glad it all turned out ok and you and yours are fine. Hopefully my comments don't come off as me being a dick as I am genuinely trying to give good advice. Take or leave what you want, but I've thought about these things extensively to cover my arse in case I ever have to do one of these things.
Glad you're safe
Now lock your doors, dumbass.
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:59 pm to bapple
Gold, all of it (even the dumbass comment).
Last night was like the classic strong swimmer who somehow almost drowns anyway...in fact, the main thing that helped me react is that I've gone through that scenario literally 100+ times in my head. I enjoy night nighttime smokes often, so not uncommon to crash on the couch and I think about what if someone tried to come in, kinda paranoid (in a good way) that way.
I'll own every ounce of shame because, well, sometimes that realization is what it takes to make changes, NOT rationalizing, minimizing or making excuses.
On running out, yeah, we're all tough, but I realized that I was the only barrier of protection against my wife and children being harmed, and if I stupidly got taken out, and they really meant harm, then...frick.
Along that line, my wife had been pretty lackadaisical about self-defense, and this situation shocker her into taking a lady beware class, learning to shoot, and getting a gun. I've already given her a basic training on using the guns we have.
So I hope to turn this pisspoor situation into a positive one for us.
Last night was like the classic strong swimmer who somehow almost drowns anyway...in fact, the main thing that helped me react is that I've gone through that scenario literally 100+ times in my head. I enjoy night nighttime smokes often, so not uncommon to crash on the couch and I think about what if someone tried to come in, kinda paranoid (in a good way) that way.
I'll own every ounce of shame because, well, sometimes that realization is what it takes to make changes, NOT rationalizing, minimizing or making excuses.
On running out, yeah, we're all tough, but I realized that I was the only barrier of protection against my wife and children being harmed, and if I stupidly got taken out, and they really meant harm, then...frick.
Along that line, my wife had been pretty lackadaisical about self-defense, and this situation shocker her into taking a lady beware class, learning to shoot, and getting a gun. I've already given her a basic training on using the guns we have.
So I hope to turn this pisspoor situation into a positive one for us.
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:17 am to JakeRyan
was it a gated community by any chance? this doesn't happen often in Mandeville proper.
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:30 am to JakeRyan
Definitely can be used as a positive... only way to look at it.
The only reason I'm not eating a shite-crow sandwich right now is because they went to your house first.
The only reason I'm not eating a shite-crow sandwich right now is because they went to your house first.
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:32 am to JakeRyan
What is the odds that by this time next week you'll have an alarm system installed, have purchased a large dog, flood lights will be on, doors locked, vehicles locked, and your wife will be a pistol owner looking to take some shooting classes.
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:39 am to JakeRyan
yeah, I'm lax on my security too. I live in a cul-de-sac and the street has never had a crime against property reported (we caught this guy derek breaking into a car, but he got hit in the head with a golf club, no police involved)
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:47 am to GreatLakesTiger24
quote:Not gated, but no real threats around. Tucked away in the back.
was it a gated community by any chance? this doesn't happen often in Mandeville proper.
Posted on 9/23/12 at 12:49 am to Meauxjeaux
quote:First time I've ever had anything hit this close. Worst prior ever was a car break-in about 10 years ago when I lived in a big city.
The only reason I'm not eating a shite-crow sandwich right now is because they went to your house first.
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