| Prepare to repel boarders!!! |
by DesertRat66 |
2005-03-15 12:37:13 |
Last night an event I have been dreading finally occurred. Dinner was over and we had retired to the upstairs for the evening wind down. I was happily playing Wolfenstein Enemy Territory, my son was watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force on his PC and the Wife was in the bedroom working on her latest story.
Suddenly the Pugs lit up like firecrackers and my German Sheppard Mix went into guard mode; sitting at the top of the stairs, hackles raised, and growling. I checked the CCTV camera for my front door and felt my stomach drop. Someone was crouched at my front door and from the looks of things they were tampering with the door lock! Before I knew it my Compact .45 was in my hand and I was out of my chair. I gave my son the signal for something we had rehearsed but had hoped to never have to do. We had a home invasion in progress.
I immediately grabbed the phone from it's cradle and ferried my son and the Pugs to the master bedroom. While my wife was getting my AR-15 from the ready safe I put the phone's headset on and tried to call the police. There was no dial tone...
Plan B was to grab my cell phone which also has a headset and dial 911 which I did as my wife handed me my AR-15 and an FRS Radio. “911 Dispatch” answered a familiar voice. “<$name>?” I asked, “this is DesertRat I've got a home invasion in progress, it looks like they're trying to pick the lock to the front door.” “Yes it's <$name> DesertRat. I'm dispatching units now, the nearest one is at least ten minutes, will you be O.K?” “I hope so” I responded as I worked the charging handle of my AR-15 bringing the first of 28 Hornady 55gr TAP rounds on-line, and flipped the red filter open on the SureFire 6P Weapon Light. “I don't know how many there are as I can only see my front door with my security camera. I'm not going to turn on the security lights unless they start to get through the locks. That way there's a better chance you'll catch them.” “O.K.” <$name> said “That would be good as we've had a few robberies lately with no signs of forcible entry, I think we know why now. <$officer> reports ETA 8 minutes, he's running lights only.”
At this point My Sheppard mix's growls intensify and what I see at the front door turns my blood into ice water. The deadbolt is turning! “They're through the deadbolt!” I shout as I charge down the stairs. I shout the command to my Sheppard mix and she does as she's been trained and immediately attacks the front door with barks, growls, and snaps. I reach the bottom of the stairs, activate the security flood lamps and throw the deadbolt again for what good it will do me. “They're running!” I hear my wife yell from the FRS. I relay this to the dispatcher and she tells me that the units have been notified. I call my Sheppard off and retreat back up the stairs. True to their word the first unit arrives on scene in ten minutes. After confirming the arrival with the dispatcher I unload my AR-15, hand it back to the wife and head downstairs to greet the officer. In total three units have responded, two are patrolling the neighborhood looking for the perp while the other officer takes down the report.
Because of my unique situation we do not know if this is a random or deliberate act. While there have been a few other robberies with a similar M.O. This one seems a bit odd. I'm on a well lit street that sees a moderate amount of traffic and my yard lights were on. That along with the noise of the Pugs barking and the alarm company sign in the front yard make it seem like someone really wanted in. We found some locksmith's tools in the front yard, but not much else. The patrols all reported no contact either.
I ended up spending a rather sleepless night on the couch in the living room with my Sheppard. Today I am inquiring into having 360 degree CCTV coverage installed, and the wife has decided that she wants her M1 Carbine sooner rather than later. Fortunately I really do have an alarm system in my house, and it has a cell phone backup. Phone company has already been out to fix the phone line. It had been cut.
I'm glad I never needed the gun, just as I am glad I took the time to get to know the LEOs in my area. Ten minutes can seem like an eternity when you have wolves at your front door. It's also a nice thing to always have a well rehearsed plan. |
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[ Reply ] |
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Good for you man! | by wolfenone | 2005-03-15 12:41:36 |
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Me too | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 12:54:41 |
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No fire extinhuisher by the bed. It's in the | by techi870 | 2005-03-15 13:18:37 |
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That's really scary... | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 12:42:10 |
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Mask | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 12:50:46 |
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Any fingerprints on the lockpicks? | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 12:52:02 |
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Haven't heard | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 12:55:43 |
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Isn't it possible that they touched the tools | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 12:58:02 |
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It's a possibility but sometimes | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:07:59 |
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Good gravy man! | by wtfunkymonkey | 2005-03-15 12:45:11 |
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Glad you are safe! | by da-gimp | 2005-03-15 12:49:26 |
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I know I need to make some improvements. | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 12:59:02 |
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It sounds to me like your defense is pretty tight. | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 13:02:55 |
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Improvements? | by da-gimp | 2005-03-15 13:04:52 |
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Not that bad | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:12:28 |
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Are you talking claymores... | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 13:14:00 |
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My guess.. | by wolfenone | 2005-03-15 13:16:33 |
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The ones that say... | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:22:24 |
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If you find some let me know. I'd buy one too. (n/t) | by techi870 | 2005-03-15 13:24:34 |
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My stepfather | by wolfenone | 2005-03-15 13:25:27 |
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I've seen some scary stuff | by da-gimp | 2005-03-15 13:26:15 |
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Yep | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:33:14 |
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Agree on low-key | by Nashville | 2005-03-15 14:06:03 |
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whoa... | by scragman | 2005-03-15 12:59:48 |
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Glad to hear nobody got hurt. And I'm happy | by Peace_man | 2005-03-15 13:06:13 |
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scary stuff DR but I wonder | by Chronos1 | 2005-03-15 13:10:24 |
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Probably wouldn't have had time to be scared. | by shorty82 | 2005-03-15 13:12:17 |
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They would have had time | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:17:16 |
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That's about two options too many. (n/t) | by Nashville | 2005-03-15 14:10:14 |
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DAMN! I'm glad you are all alright. | by shorty82 | 2005-03-15 13:11:02 |
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Glad to hear that you and your family are ok. (n/t) | by techi870 | 2005-03-15 13:19:58 |
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scary. | by Winsmith | 2005-03-15 13:23:32 |
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Thats a quesiton that doesn't need asking. | by pecosdave | 2005-03-15 13:35:07 |
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In a word | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 13:39:17 |
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Anybody ever tell you... | by Nashville | 2005-03-15 14:12:59 |
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Have to be | by DesertRat66 | 2005-03-15 14:20:53 |
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There's an old saying... | by jmaxsohmer | 2005-03-15 13:45:28 |
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for me it would depend on the reason. If I was | by techi870 | 2005-03-15 13:58:16 |
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Very glad you and the family came through alright. | by Feng_Li | 2005-03-15 14:35:19 |
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wow. glad you are safe, and impressed at your | by nebuchanezzar | 2005-03-15 14:49:52 |
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Bet that got the old heart rate going | by tallastro | 2005-03-15 18:26:09 |
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{{DR66}} | by Ravenlock | 2005-03-15 19:12:33 |
