From JAYBIRD78:
I find it hard to believe that everytime someone hears a suspicious sound or unfamiliar noise that they hit the "jodie foster" panic button and hunker down calling the police. Going to have to raise the bull**** flag on that one. I'm sure the local enforcement officers would tire of showing up at your house 3 or 4 times a month/year.
I don't think anyone could reasonably disagree with that.
Perhaps this may make sense to you:
If the sound clearly is indicative of an icemaker or dishwasher problem, a broken water line, logs shifting in the fireplace, or an unfastended screen door blowing in the wind, I'll go to it, and I will not arm myself.
If the sound comes from a smoke alarm or a CO detector, we have different drill--leave immediately.
If the sound is indeterminate, but could be a flexible lamp shifting, a book sliding off the arm of a chair, or a bag falling over, and it does not recur, I most probably would not go down. And if I did, I most probably would not arm myself. I would, however, listen for a while to assure myself that things are OK.
If an ongoing sound indicates that someone is in the house, I will arm myself, call for help, tell them where I am and that I am armed, conceal myself, and shout a loud warning.
Now, someone has suggested a remote camera system, and that sounds like an excellent idea to me. Apparently quite inexpensive.
Your thoughts?
By the way, my house is about the same size as yours--two story.