Arm yourself and learn how to shoot!
2 days after moving all my furniture & belongings into my new residence, [1985] I opened my front door to find everything stolen......I mean everything. The only item in the entire house was a small cushion from one of my couches, left on the floor & a toothbrush.
They took all the clothes even, and the dog was outside in the backyard. I did not leave him there, they did. This was a broad daylight invasion.
To say I was Pi$$ed off is an understatement. Police were useless, I did my own investigation & found the thieves home only 2 blocks away.[that's another story involving canvasing the neighbor hood myself & offering cash...no questions cash rewards for info.]
Armed with a 45 Glock and a dirty Harry attitude, 2 shots through their front door, and another in the ceiling once inside, after facing off with several assailants, they knew the next one ,was for one of them.[yes I have a carry license ].
They were arrested 2 males, a female, and 2 kids were put in child care. I held them at gunpoint to the police arrived. I did call them before hand, telling I knew for sure where my stuff was BUT was told the case had to handled by detectives and would take at least a week of investigation to get a search warrant. I politely informed them I was headed over there NOW , was armed and would make a citizen arrest.
I waited outside for half an hour, for the police to arrive, getting madder & madder then did my thing. It was only after neighbor hearing the gunfire that the police arrived in force.
Funny thing is though, ALL my belongings were taken away as evidence and held in Police storage till the trial a year later before they were returned. Yes all of my stuff, 2 bedrooms, dining room, living room, kitchen & clothes!
Word quickly spread around the neighbor hood about my actions, I was armed, and not afraid to use deadly force.
Burglar bars, steel doors with double deadbolts,[ key needed to open from both sides] were installed.
All was well for about 2 years.
Then IT happened.
I was eating dinner and heard noises in the garage out back.[detached & broad daylight again] Grabbed my pistol and headed out there. There were 2 of them, and I was not in a mood for a peaceful capture. They both saw me, froze for a moment and I began to fire. You have never seen anyone run as fast as when they are dodging bullets. I chased them for 1/2 a block, unloading 6 shots, and let them go, not wanting to hit any bystanders. One thing for sure...I'm a hell of shot, but when adrenaline kicks in, you have a hard time keeping steady aim, probably lucky for them.
The moral of this story:
You can do everything possible to protect your home, but if someone wants your stuff bad enough, they will try to get it.
You cannot control when or how this will happen.
But if you are armed & dangerous it will increase your chance of success 100 fold & sleep peacefully at night.
You must learn how to use a weapon and NOT hesitate for a moment to use it. If you pull it out, you better be prepared to pull the trigger.
