Local home invasions are increasing!

I will not be taken captive in my home.

I had an ND in my kitchen awhile back. No one in the neighborhood called the cops. That's when it really hit home for me that whatever happens in my house is pretty much off the radar for the rest of the neighborhood. And THAT means that once I'm a prisoner in my own house, there's not much chance that anyone will figure it out until the criminals have accomplished their purpose. Even if they shoot someone, and no matter how much screaming goes on, it's highly unlikely that anyone but the people in the house will notice.

I guess I could HOPE that they'll just take stuff and leave, but I don't believe that depending on the humanity and mercy of criminals is very wise.

Talk of "escalating the situation" only makes sense if one assumes that you already know the outcome. That is a false assumption. You have no way of knowing the outcome until it happens, and by then it will be too late. Maybe these guys are the same guys that have been robbing, or maybe they're not robbers at all, they're BTK copycats. Or maybe they are the same guys and after getting away with it for so long they have decided to up the stakes a bit and find out what a rape or murder is like.
 
Does anyone know if these home invasions are happening in neighborhoods where houses are close together? Or are they happening in more remote areas? I think this would be something that would be hard to do quietly. I would think this would discourage criminals from choosing more densely populated areas.

Of course in reality, I'm pretty sure someone could fire a gun in my house at midnight and none of my neighbors would notice. And they're all of 20 feet away measured house to house.

I carry in my home. If I'm carrying it all day at work to protect my own sorry butt, why unload it and lock it up in the safe when I get home and have the responsibility of protecting my precious wife and boys? A snubby in a pants pocket is discrete enough. I don't come across as a rambo or anything- I'm just another dad.

I used to have problems with my wife opening the door whenever someone knocked on it. She grew up in this neighborhood, and just feels safe here. She forgets her grandmother was attacked in the house next to us by someone who pushed his way in the door. Bad things can happen anywhere.

She's getting better about checking the door before she answers it nowadays. I let the Mormons in on her one day and they won't leave her alone. :p
 
Re Home invasions

Hi
The thought of a home invasion brings great fear and apprenhension. The criminals have this working to their advantage. May I recomend the following things.
DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR TO ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW DAY OR NIGHT.
KEEP FRONT AND ALL OTHER DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES.THIS GOES FOR SLIDERS AND FIRST FLOOR WINDOWS AS WELL
MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE A GARAGE PARTICUARLY AN ATTACHED GARAGE KEEP THE GARAGE DOOR DOWN AT ALL TIMES. I live in Florida and the open garage door is a favorite point of entry for home invaders. These mutts cruise neighborhoods looking for open garage doors and other vulnerabilities.
INSTALL GOOD QUALITY LOCKS AND MOTION SENSITIVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING; HALOGEN IF YOU CAN.
A MONITORED ALARM SYSTEM WITH THE PANIC BUTTON FEATURE IS KEY.A BIG DOG IF THAT IS FEASABLE. A FULLY CHARGED CELL PHONE(PHONE LINES ARE CUT SOMETIMES)
GOD FORBID THAT ALL THIS IS CIRCUMVENTED AND THEY GET IN. GET YOUR FAMILY INTO A SAFE ROOM WITH A STURDY DOOR. SAID SAFE ROOM WOULD BE EQUIPED WITH THE SECOND12GA PUMP SHOTGUN THAT IS TRAINED AT THE DOOR BY YOUR WIFE OR WHOEVER CAN FIRE IT AND CYCLE THE ACTION.MOSSBERG 500 IS WHAT I HAVE. YOU ARE BETWEEN YOUR FAMILY AND THE HOME INVADERS WITH THE 1ST 12 GAUGE FIRING AT THEM. GET A LARGE CALIBER HANDGUN LIKE A .357 REVOLVER WITH A 4'' BARREL OR A .40 OR.45 SEMI AUTO SUCH AS A GLOCK AND CARRY IT AROUND THE HOUSE IN A FANNY PACK. Good luck. You and your family be safe.
Steve:D
 
Re Home invasions

Hi
The thought of a home invasion brings great fear and apprenhension. The criminals have this working to their advantage. May I recomend the following things.
DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR TO ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW DAY OR NIGHT.
KEEP FRONT AND ALL OTHER DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES.
MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE A GARAGE PARTICUARLY AN ATTACHED GARAGE KEEP THE GARAGE DOOR DOWN AT ALL TIMES; AND THE DOOR BETWEEN THE GARAGE AND HOUSE LOCKED AS WELL. I live in Florida and the open garage door is a favorite point of entry for home invaders. These mutts cruise neighborhoods looking for open garage doors and other vulnerabilities.
INSTALL GOOD QUALITY LOCKS AND MOTION SENSITIVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING; HALOGEN IF YOU CAN.
A MONITORED ALARM SYSTEM WITH THE PANIC BUTTON FEATURE IS KEY.A BIG DOG IF THAT IS FEASABLE. A FULLY CHARGED CELL PHONE(PHONE LINES ARE CUT SOMETIMES)
GOD FORBID THAT ALL THIS IS CIRCUMVENTED AND THEY GET IN. GET YOUR FAMILY INTO A SAFE ROOM WITH A STURDY DOOR. SAID SAFE ROOM WOULD BE EQUIPED WITH THE SECOND12GA PUMP SHOTGUN THAT IS TRAINED AT THE DOOR BY YOUR WIFE OR WHOEVER CAN FIRE IT AND CYCLE THE ACTION.MOSSBERG 500 IS WHAT I HAVE. YOU ARE BETWEEN YOUR FAMILY AND THE HOME INVADERS WITH THE 1ST 12 GAUGE FIRING AT THEM. GET A LARGE CALIBER HANDGUN LIKE A .357 REVOLVER WITH A 4'' BARREL OR A .40 OR.45 SEMI AUTO SUCH AS A GLOCK AND CARRY IT AROUND THE HOUSE IN A FANNY PACK. Good luck. You and your family be safe.
Steve:D
 
Keep in mind, ladies and gentlemen, that those that commit home invasion EXPECT someone to be home. They are many times more likely to be armed, and are expecting violence. The situation had escalated before you knew they were there. Although I do not have the statistics in front of me at the moment ( I believe you can find them on the DOJ website) as I recall, there is a significant likelyhood that at least one occupent will be assualted or killed. They will know you have a dog, expect it to be killed and understand they will be "pumped up" from doing so.

This being said, yes , take care of your family, be prepared to defend them with a moments notice. But avoidance is the key to safety. Many good suggestions were given, and I will add (or restate) more :

1. Motion activated lighting near every entrance, not just constant lighting. A constant light will allow someone to be seen, an activated light DRAWS attention. Also, if possible, keep the light out of reach when installing them. It will be less likely they can disable the lights.

2. Watch the goings on in your neighborhood, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Know what is out of place, and ask your neighbors if you see strange cars around. Communication is key. An active neighborhood watch can be invaluable.

3.Walk around your house. All doors and any windows with the windowsill at or below nipple level is a security risk. Keep all hedges trimmed to AT LEAST 1' to 2' BELOW the sightline from the street. Make any intruders expose themselves to gain access.

4. Double and triple pane windows make a "BOOMING" sound when shattered. It may scare the criminals off, but it WILL alert you and your neighbors that something is wrong.

5. If you have a security system, have an external strobe light added. It draws a great deal of attention and helps responding Polie to quickly locate your home.

6. Remember, most people do not have the training or on hand backup available to safely "investigate the noise at night". The concept of a "safe room" is sound. If something happens, gather your family in this room, and stay put while you wait for the Professionals, don't let them in this room, defend it. Keep a cordless phone or cellphone nearby, even at night.

7. Talk to the local officials. Police and Fire Department personell will be able to help you in keeping your home from being a viable target. Ask for their advice, and follow it.

These are just a few points for avoiding being a victim. Remember these words of profound wisdom:
" The best way out of trouble is to not be there in the first place" - J. Teeter
 
In response to an earlier question, yes these are taking place in moderately to densly packed areas. It is not hard to do quietly at all if the home owners wakes up to find themselves surrounded. While buying a shotgun/rifle is not hard in NY state a handgun is a major hassle.

While in the more rural areas of NY gun ownership is fairly common on Long Island ownership is the exception, not the rule. In 95% + of those homes that are "armed" it is almost always an unloaded .22, deer rifle or shotgun kept in a closet I would wager. My best friend had major concerns with his wife's abusive ex-husband who had made multiple threats and was out of jail again. While he got a pistol permit and two guns (380 sig and 9mm Taurus) but he never practiced. After the one time I got him to a range, two years ago, he still hasn't cleaned the weapons! He seems to figure stainless will be alright... Now that the ex is locked up for 25+ years both guns are locked up unloaded and out of reach if needed in a hurry at night. The sad truth is the majority of people, here especially, just do not take the threat seriously...
 
A lot can be said for fortifying your home to make forced entry more difficult, take longer, and cause more noise. All this works to the homeowner's benefit. I am not advocating iron bars or anything as I know living in a self-made prison is not acceptable for many, but little things like a solid front door securely attached at the hinges (not the crappy 1" screws it was originally mounted with) and a good deadbolt that latched into a reinforced door jamb to make it significantly more difficult to kick in. And how about a decent storm door on top of that with a deadbolt. Does not have to be a 'security door' per se as I am guessing that most violent crooks will want to come in the door anyway and anything that takes more time and makes more noise is good. The windows are more for burglars than robbers I would think though that certainly is not without exception.

A flood light or two with auto-on sensor are cheap these days and easy to install at entrances to the house and might also buy you some time. Security camera at the entrance and/or a buzzer that lets you know someone is there before they knock or try to kick your door in. I never answer the door unarmed unless I was expecting someone. I do not carry in the house per se, but when there is a knock on the door I go in the opposite direction at first and retrieve my carry piece before even looking through the peephole - takes maybe 15 seconds longer to answer the door and I figure if it is anything even remotely important they can and will wait. I also have an unloaded AK stashed away 'somewhere' that I can get to quickly (but no one else can I might add) and a few loaded 30-round mags are also in a few spots throughout the home on top of kitchen cabinets and a tall grandfather clock. That will be for when if a whole gaggle of crooks decides to do a home invasion on me. It is precisely because of home invasions that I dropped the 12-gauge pump as my home defense weapon. If there are 5-10 crooks coming into my home I do not think a low capacity pump is the best answer.

I went to high school a woman who was cold-bloodedly executed, and two other people as well, during a robbery after fully cooperating. They were killed with, of all things, a 22LR pistol because they laid face down on the ground as they were told to do. One punk with one small gun then executes three people with shots to the back of the head at point-blank range. That absolutely cemented it with me - no cooperation, no surrender. I probably would have cooperated and done what I was told as well had that been me and I would have been executed as well. It is a terrible tragedy but at least one can learn from such things. I'd happily give up the valuables if I knew they'd take just that but I will not gamble my life on someone else's mercy or lack thereof. I strongly advocate deterrence combined with violent offense if the deterrence fails. I would fight unarmed anyone with a gun before I'd let them take that degree of control. At least if you can get up close you can cut down angles and even if you get shot you increase the odds it won't be a well placed shot (unless the crook gets lucky of course).
 
7. Talk to the local officials. Police and Fire Department personell will be able to

DocFox:
Respectfully, I'd like to say that since these folks are in New York, on Long Island, consulting the authorities up there would probably result in them being told to hand over any defensive weapons immediately in order to "get more guns off the streets."

I know that sound stupid, since the gun isn't "on the street" but I think New York City doesn't even allow you to have a firearm, does it? (Unless you are Chuck Schumer, or some other politician up there that needs protection from criminals)
GMC
 
True, the authorities would oppose you getting a gun her but this is NOT New York City. Any person with a clean record can buy a shotgun or rifle, even with our ridiculous Assault Weapons Ban. You could have a 10 round mag, or pre ban mags. Only NYC has what amounts to a ban with outrageous steps needed to obtain a firearm. I wouldn't live there and am amazed by the sheeple I know who do...
 
re home invasions

Hi Python
I was just thinking that a neighborhood watch may be beneficial. The residents should know "who belongs" and who is suspicious. Additionally; how about a bunch of neighbors chipping in for an armed security patrol in the nieghboorhood. This is not meant to replace the critical role your personal firearms would play in a home invasion but it is one added layer of deterence. I know that you guys have pretty high taxes as it is, (my brother is in Rockville Centre) but the extra money for the security patrol may be worth it. Just another option to consider. Stay safe.
Steve:D
 
$13.00 for a motion sensor floodlight

Install a peep hole in the door...... If you cant see em dont open the door.

If they refuse to answer dont open the door and call the police.

If they are trying to ram down your door it aint the girl scouts selling cookies.

a load of buckshot through the door should suffice to set them on thier way.
 
Thanks for the suggestions Steve, it is a good idea but this is a middle class neighbor, for Long Island anyway, and I don't think the neighbors would pay for armed security, our taxes average about $8000 as it is. We do have a tight neighborhood and all watch out for each other. I personally have called or visited neighbors houses where doors were open, or suspicious people were looking around (they turned out to be contractors and town inspectors, etc). I am going to keep my glock 9mm in a security case by my bed, I am going to call the Suffolk County PD pistol licensing dept to make sure I can legally keep a loaded gun in my premises. Don't laugh, they used to call it a premises permit but now it is called a target license. One day I'll be out of New York all together and into a "free" state, hopefully I'll live that long. Stay safe too. By the way, what's the best defensive 9mm load, never thought I'd be asking that question....
 
I had a Suffolk County pistol license, and I never questioned the idea that it entitled me to keep my handguns loaded at home. Why would you want to bother asking an agency that is CLEARLY VERY ANTI-GUN according to all accounts here? You know they will probably try to steer you into the "call the police to save you" camp with every breath they utter. And why alert them to something you wish to do, on the off chance that they will have a problem with it?

-blackmind
 
Pythonguy, the SCPD will tell you to keep it locked up with the ammo stored in a separate location. This is stated in the little handbook they give you that you can also get from their website I believe. That does not make having a loaded gun in your home illegal though. These are the same people who tell you in your handbook that you are almost never able to take a handgun to another state on vacation, an outright lie.

They WILL NOT tell you that there is no law against having your gun loaded at home. Calling them will only put you on the short list of people they may pay more attention to, especially by suggesting that you think it prudent to keep a loaded handgun about. With the discretionary nature of the permit process I prefer to be as unknown to them as possible while remaining legal.

I live on Long Island as well and know exactly the thought process you are going through. People here are conditioned to believe that unless you are told you can do something it is forbidden/illegal. That is not the case though and in much of the rest of the country the expectation is the opposite, unless told otherwise it is legal. That is the principal our legal system works under.

The SCPD will not help you. Their purpose is to make it as difficult as possible for us to have handguns and do everything possible to keep the ones that are out there under lock and key.

I suggest checking out www.packing.org for information on egal use and carry of a firearm as well as www.nysafe.org for the 2A fight in NY & LI.
 
This thread at www.packing.org deals with some of the issues we are discussing.

http://www.packing.org/community/general/thread/?thread=3579


You do not have a target permit. There is nothing in NY State law that specifies a permit for target.

You have a PROPER CAUSE permit, as coverred under NY State Law, that allows you to carry a pistol loaded and concealed upon your person. There are administrative restrictions, with no criminal penalties whatsoever, that are placed on the permit by the issuing authorities. While most intelligent people see this as an abuse of power the courts have so far upheld the ability of issuing authorities to enact rules beyond those established by law as long as there are only administrative consequences (loss of permit). If SCPD wants to make it an administrative restriction that you keep the weapon locked up and unloaded they may and they may also pull your permit if they believe you are not doing so.

Because of the wide say the police have with administrative powers over your permit they may pull it for any reason at all. If they THINK you should not have it for whatever reason you are in trouble. Technically you have recourse under the law but on your own you are in trouble. Better to stay off the radar. After that join SAFE at www.nysafe.org and if trouble begins brewing with the authorities call in the cavalry. SAFE and the NRA made an excellent point that they can do nothing after the problem is done. They need to be involced from as early as possible, like with the confiscations in New Orleans. The head of SAFE provides you with his phone number so that if you find yourself in trouble you can call him.
 
Gary Conner... You are right of course, my list was not specifically intended just for him, but also for everyone here. Each person should know which items they can not implement (obviously speaking to the authorities in San Francisco would land you in prison if you mentioned your handgun). As a whole, the things I posted are sound and effective steps to reduce risks and are things that work.
 
If you're worried about shots penetrating your walls and entering the neighbor's house, I'd suggest birdshot from a 12 gague. There is no guarantee that it won't but it might be better than a 44 Magnum. Plus, there is no sound in the world like that of a 12 Ga chambering the first round.
 
re home invasions

Hi Python
I do not have any 9mm 's so I do not know which is the best round. I am sure others will help you here. I choose my ammo based on what my semi-auto will reliably cycle. I feel for you in wanting to get out of NY. I grew up in NYC (Staten Island) and I was held up at gun point THREE TIMES. First time was outside my then girlfriend's deli waiting to pick her up we were going out to SPEAKS on the island. Anyway I was an unalert kid daydreaming and was quickly jarred from my complacency when a hooded BG shoved a BIG revolver to my head and relieved me of my cash and watch. Second time was at my part- time gas station job while in college. This time they made me and the guy I was working with drive them to a housing project near the gas station and took the nights reciepts; my and my friends cash and then told us count to 100 and they fled. Two armed BGs .I was so concerned they would take my car a 68 Mustang fastback! I guess since it was not an Electra 225 they did not want it! Third time I was going to my car after night classes at the City University. I parked off campus and about halfway to my car a guy asks for the time, (I know now that this is usually a set up) when I looked at my watch he shoved a small semi auto into my ribs and took my wallet and leather jacket. It was about 12 degrees, but hey thank God I am here to tell you of my close calls. That was from 1977 to 1980. During some of this period Mayor Koch had those TV spots that if you are caught with an illegal gun in NYC it is a 1 year mandatory "vacation" I guess the mutts that took me off were not intimadated by it! Just people like you and me you know the law abiding ones. It was at this time I decided to become a defender and promoter of our 2nd Amendment rights. I am currently a Life Member of NRA and am actively involved in writing my elected officials in order to further our freedoms. I have been in FL since 1997 and my brother from Rockville Centre would LOVE to relocate here but he has a great carreer and it would not be good for him and his family at this time. I may be moving to Nevada or Arizona soon. These hurricanes SUCK! We are watching hurricane Wilma as I write this. We got hit with two of them last season but I had just put 3M "security film" on the windows and we stayed in the house thank God no damage and our power was out for only 5 hours. In my subdivision the electric is underground. Well good luck and stay safe. PS did you know that you can get a NON- RESIDENT CCW issued by the state of Florida? It won't help you in the "republic of NY" but it will enable you to carry conceled in many states that have reciprocity with Florida.I beleive it can all be done through the mail. Check out PACKING.ORG for further information. Click on the Florida link and you will see all the information you need to get the permit. You may have to take an approved gun safety course. I am sure there are NRA certified instructers up there. Local gun shop may be able to assist. Here is the link; http://www.packing.org/
Check this link out for Fl reciprocity. http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/concealed_carry.html http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/eligible.html
This last link shows eligibility for Fl CCW You just need to be resident of the U.S. Let me know if you go for the permit. Steve:D
 
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