What to do when you awake to find someone Breaking into your house?

In My Humble Opinion
1

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning, you hear a noise you know was not caused by a furnace, or house creek…You hear another one and quickly realize someone is breaking into your house. What do you do?
Those of us who own guns or some type of fire arm, do you arm yourself immediately? I mean you have no idea why someone is breaking into your home, what their motives are etc…etc…

Last night Mrs. Phlosphr and I were awoken to a smashing breaking glass sound coming from down stairs. Immediately I jumped up as did she, I looked at her and we froze. Looking aruond listening for anything, we begin to hear a low grumble coming from down stairs. I go into the closet ever so slowly and get my Glok which I have never had to do before, and we have owned two Glok 9mm since taking a gun control course in AZ 8 years ago. I walked out onto the hall, which is open completely to the down stairs living areas. I heard the gumble getting louder and I knew immediately it was my dog Grissholm who was in the Breezway between the back door and the kitchen. I slowly walked down the stairs and I saw one of Mrs.Phlosphrs Crystal platters was shattered all over the kitchen floor.

My heart was in my stomach but something told me there was no one in the house. As Griss was not doing anything but growling and staring up at the copper cabinet liner where the platter previously was. I look up and see Minmei, our cat staring down at me.

Case closed. However, I did not know anything until I walked downstairs, this is the point of the thread. What if? I know I have a protective Dog, and he would never let anyone break into our house without a serious ruckus. This calms me to some degree but it does not take away the initial feeling I had that our space had been seriously violated…

I know how to use my gun, only because I have taken the course as I stated above, but thats it. Putting practical knowledge to use is an entirely different animal. My main concern was for my wife, who was watching cautiously from the balcony.

Have any of you ever caught someone trying to break in? What did you do? How did it feel? For me it was sobering. I didn’t sleep the rest of the night.

2

When I was 12, I was home alone one afternoon when three teenage kids broke into the house. It should not have come as a complete surprise given the circumstances, but I was pretty naive in those days.

I had been taught never to open the door to anyone if I was home alone and I didn’t know the visitor. So when these kids showed up first and rang the doorbell I assumed they were there to sell something and I didn’t bother to answer - I just went back to doing my homework upstairs. A little while later, I heard the gate to my backyard open, and the kids started ringing the bell on the back door (which was really only there so we could hear my dad when he came home from work - it was not the usual entrance for visitors). The boldness of it ticked me off, but I still didn’t think anything of it and resumed my homework.

About 10-15 minutes later, I heard the distinctive sound of the basement lights being switched on and I started to freak out. I walked down the stairs to see what was going on, and just as I was reaching the bottom of the stairs the door to the basement opened and I came face to face with two of the kids. I was so outraged and angry I yelled, “Get out of here! Get the hell out of here!” at the top of my lungs. The kids in turn were so startled to find someone home after all that bell ringing that they took off out the back door. I went after them and closed the back door, and then started shaking and crying. After I called my mom at work, I sat down and started reading a book while I waited for everyone to come home (don’t remember which one now). What’s weird is I was by far the calmest person in the house by the time the cops showed up, nearly 2 hours after the kids had left.

That whole incident, as disturbing as it was, was nothing like the time I came home from school to discover we had actually been burgled. This time, my sister was apparently the one to disturb them when she came home, although she never actually saw anyone (she realized someone was in the house and took off for the neighbors). The thieves had taken our pillow cases to stuff jewelry and a few odd small items in… seeing my dresser drawers all opened and messed up, and realizing that some cash and not-very-valuable but treasured pieces of jewelry were gone, was terrible. I really did feel violated, couldn’t stop thinking for awhile about the thieves’ hands touching my things. shudder

My mother would never permit firearms in the house, so in the aftermath of those two events my dad took a couple of thick dowels and embedded nails in one end. We joked a lot about leaving distinctive markings on future thieves so they could be easily identified… I’m not sure I could have ever actually wielded one of the things, though.

3

I’ve posted about catching someone robbing us once before. I don’t think I mentioned that we also own a gun. I think my biggest relief came when I confronted the burglar and realized I didn’t need to grab the gun. I’ve been taught if I show a gun, it’s not something to use as a threat. In the way one’s mind covers a lot of ground in just a matter of seconds, I remember thinking to myself, “good, I don’t have to shoot him with the gun.”

I was so angry at the time with our home being violated, I didn’t really have time to be frightened until afterward. I had always thought I would go to a neighbor’s and call the police, rather than confront a burglar (burglars). I also thought that if I found myself face to face with one, I would have no problems shooting that person. Neither of those things happened, and though I don’t recommend my course of action, it did turn out all right, so I’m grateful for that.

I’m glad everything turned out okay for you as well, Phlosphr. Whether there was an intruder or not, it’s still a scary situation to be in.

4

First you need to call someone you know and tell them what is happening.
Quietly of course. You will get an immediate answer as opposed to 911.
Let your friends call 911 for you. You may be too involved with the situation to call yourself. Then call 911 after you hang up with them.

5

I’d second jimpatro’s comment.

FIRST, call for help, outside the house. In my case, I’d have my wife do it while I moved to obtain what weaponry I have.

SECOND, once outside contact has been established, I would attempt, as best I could, to find out what I could about the intruders. Armed? How many? Sneaky, or brassy? Possible motives for invading my home?

THIRDLY, assuming I felt it would do some good, I would kick on the lights, and make some NOISE. “SOMEONE IS HOME. SOMEONE IS HERE. SOMEONE HAS ALREADY CALLED THE COPS, AND IS NOW COMING OUT WITH HIS GIANT ATOMIC BELT-FED AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN. RHAAARGH!!!”

Alternatively, I’d barricade the bedroom, evacuate the family through the back windows, and wait for the cops to show up.

Then again, I live around the corner from a police station, too, so I wouldn’t have much of a wait…

6

First thing I’d do would be to dial 911. Beyond that, I have no idea what I’d do.

7

I live in a rural area very close to the Texas/Mexico border. A few years ago, noises from the kitchen/living room area woke me, but I assumed it was Darth Nader who is something of a night-owl, rummaging for something to eat, so I ignored the sounds and went back to sleep. The next morning I wandered into the living room and discovered that the front door was open, the VCR and other portable items were missing, along with my purse, which I had foolishly left in plain sight on the kitchen table. Of course the car keys were in my bag, as well as credit cards, check book, drivers license, etc. There were a pair of battered shoes left on the floor and some of Darth’s shoes and jeans were gone, as was his bicycle, which had been chained to the porch railing. Worse yet, my car was also missing, since I had so conveniently left the keys in my purse. I called my dad and a neighbor and the sheriff. It took an hour for the sheriff’s dept to respond and the only thing that was ever recovered was my car, except it had been stripped and rolled and left in a cotton field. The investigating officer did little except take my statement and say it was probably “illegals” from Mexico who had broken in.

In my case, it was a good thing that I ignored the noises in the night, but I learned to never leave my purse out in the open.

The really creepy thing was that when I went to bed that night, I left my bedroom door open, but when I got up the next morning, the door was closed!

8

Did the dog kick the cat’s ass?

9

Single 26 year old woman who lives with her sister checking in.

I live in a second floor apartment that is laid out on one long hallway, with one room strung after another. In order, from front to back:

Living room
Dining room
Kitchen
Sister’s bedroom
Bathroom
My bedroom

The front door is in the living room, the back door is in the hall just outside my bedroom. All four of the apartments in the building open into front and back stairwells.

I would grab my cell phone off the nightstand and run for the back door. I’d have a good chance of making it. Yes, even with Sis in the apartment. I’d dial 911 ASAP and go bang on my landlord’s back door. He’s a stand-up guy and very good about waking up in the dead of night for tenant troubles of all sorts. The other two apartments are occupied by men who are not only Good Samartians, but who have military backgrounds. I have no doubt they’d hear the ruckus and come to my aid.

I’d hate to do it, but I’d probably leave Sis behind, figuring that no matter what the intruder’s intentions were, that she’d have better chances of being rescued if I got out, called the cops, and raised holy hell with the neighbors.

I don’t own a gun, and my lease prohibits them, but if I did have one, I would probably do the same thing.

Getting out of the house to call 911 has always been my plan. Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve always looked for the nearest exit–and not just in case of fire. Avoiding a confrontation with a potentially violent, armed person is what I think is the best way to handle the situation.

I probably wouldn’t go for a confrontation unless I had kids in the house and thought the intruder might harm one of them. And, then, only if necessary.

10

:confused: You… You took a gun course and bought two Glock 9mm’s? That you never use? Can you send one to me?

11

I strongly, strongly suggest you take the NRA personal protection course. It is free, and available all over the country. Just get in touch with your local branch. They have materials, and will come to you. You don’t have to be committed to using a firearm to take it. Yes, I know for some of you they are the Devil. Take it anyway.

What do you do?

  1. Have a room of your house designated as your retreat room. It should have a phone and a lockable door. Everyone should know about it — kids, all adults. If you have a firearm, it should be there, in a locked firearm safe. If you have kids, they should have gone through Eddie Eagle or something similar.

  2. If someone breaks in, everyone goes to the room, which should be separate from the downstairs rooms, and lock the door. Let them take whatever they want. Call the police. Stay there. Don’t attempt to clear the house. Don’t attempt to confront the thieves. Plan cover in advance. Stay on the phone with the police. Have a key to the house in the room, and let the police know where you are. Throw the key to them out the window. It will save them breaking the door down. Let the police clear the house. You stay there. You stay there. You stay there. Don’t move. Don’t move. Don’t move.

  3. If they break down the door, that is when you use the gun. Only then.

I know of no state where you will be in trouble if you follow these guidelines. Also, you will be safe. Your family will be safe. Nothing, no possession, is worth more than that.

12

What I’d hope to do

Casually whack the bastard with a phone directory, tie him up and wait for the cops.

What I actually did

Had my first experience of true, visceral fear, roared like a wounded ox, thus alerting the burglar to his discovery, then ran into the street stark naked shouting “motherfucker!”, and upon returning became deluded that there was still a burglar in the house and had to check every last closet before I could go back to sleep.

13

Here’s my plan:

  1. Grab the pump shotgun. Verify safety is on.
  2. Load the magazine with 3 to 5 rounds of 00.
  3. Determine where they’re at.
  4. Rack the shotgun within hearing distance of the perpetrator(s).
  5. Look and listen.
  6. Formulate a strategy.

Hardcore folks will say I don’t have time to perform step #2. They could be right. But we have small children, and I don’t like to have loaded guns around the house. (If we didn’t have small children, all my guns would be loaded.)

14

I was asleep on the in my living room covered in a big blanket and woke up when it dawned on me that the noises I was hearing did not match the dream I was having. I sat up and saw a kid standing in my kitchen looking at the movies my wife had left for me on the kitchen table before leaving on her trip. I stood up and grabbed the almost empty Beer mug sitting on the coffee table and yelled “Hey MotherF***er!” and threw it with all I had. It missed his head by less than an inch, spraying beer on him as it flew by. When the mug slammed into the kitchen door it must have hit just right because it sounded like an explosion when it shattered. That kid dropped the movies and took off like a rabbit.
I chased him out to the street but by the time I got to the end of the drive all I could see were the backs of two heads and the bottoms of two pairs of tennis shoes. Evidently there was another kid in the garage stacking up things to take who must have been scared by the boom from the beer mug shattering and his friend running out.
I called 911 and waited and waited and waited some more until the cops came. I could not figure out how they got into the house and told the officer so and he mentioned that the back window of my truck was open. He then asked if I had an Garage door opener in the truck. When I said yes he said I had left a key to my house in my truck and that is how most of break ins in my part of town occured and it was essentially my fault because I made it easy for them to get into my house.

Lessons Learned:
1- Never leave garage door openers in vehicles left outside.
2- Heavy glass beer mugs will create a big dent in solid core doors if thrown with sufficient force.
3- Scared kids will easily outrun a suprised homeowner.
4- Cops in my neighborhood really don’t care.

15

Well, first of all, never go to bed without your handy-dandy bedside holster (not recommended for households with children),(unless you are absolutely certain you will remove the firearm by day).

Second, call 911

16

Funny, I live alone, except for my dogs (a german shepherd, and airedale and a doberman). I never even lock my house. In fact, I’m getting ready to sell it and I’ll have to rekey the locks because I’ve lost the keys. My brither gave me a handgun a few years ago, but it’s in a drawer, unloaded. I’d get rid of it except it’s a gift. You can’t just give away a gift - it’d be impolite.

I’ve never had anyone come around. I probably should stop leaving my keys in my truck, though.

StG

17

This reminds me of the gadget I saw in a catalog a long time ago, which was a security system that triggered ditigal tape of dobermans barking through a dedicated loudspeaker.

Then there’s David Lee Roth’s idea: a tape of a 12-gauge being racked, and a husky voice saying, “Get out!!”

I don’t have a gun, but I understand pepper spray will put most people down.

18

**

Yourself included, unfortunately.

This subject has been discussed at length and with some rancor in various other threads, including one currently open.

19

Step #4 alone should do it. It worked for a friend of mine when someone broke in. They heard him make the most distinctive sound in the world (a shotgun being racked) and ran out of the house as fast as they could. I don’t think you can beat a shotgun for close-in defense.

I liked hypnoboth’s suggestions a lot.

We have no firearms currently, because of the ages of our children and the fact that we have no adequate storage options. However, a Louisville Slugger is lovely for close encounters, and my hubby swings a mean bat.

I guess I would grab my kids and lock myself in a room with my phone and pray. There is no way I would try and do anything myself when they are in the house with me. My husband would probably kill an intruder who harmed or appeared to have the intent to harm me or our kids. He might feel bad about it later (at least existentially) but he’d still do it.

20

Being in a ground floor apartment (with Neo-Nazi-associated neighbors next door in a trailer park :mad: ) I’m totally along with Crafter_Man, except that you’d have to replace “shotgun” with AR-15. On the other hand, I’ve taken steps mount a flashlight on the foregrip with a pressure sensor, that I can light up anything in my apartment with a quick light if need be. But please, take into account that I also have my daily-duty kevlar flak vest and helmet hanging in my closet.

However, my “preferred first line of defense” would be one of the expandable ASP batons I could at least preferrably whip and crack the SOB upside the shin or head first.

My uncle took the Arizona CCW permit safety course, where he said that “The day you shoot anyone is the worst day of your life,” and I subscribe to that notion. I’d rather break a shin or collarbone for a “warning” than put a bleeding hole in someone. But I reserve certain inalienable rights.

Tripler
My SIGO would be on the phone while I investigated. I wouldn’t go out of the bedroom any further that I couldn’t protect her at the same time.