In NC, we cannot use deadly force to protect property. No law says we cannot hold someone at gunpoint till the 5-0 arrives.
Chances are, some punks are not going to know their laws/rights well enough to know that you cannot legally and justifiably shoot them over property. Hold the gun on them, if they stay, it even more so proves their stupidity, it then run, holster your piece and beat the living crap out of him, then he cannot run... that is not lethal force and non-lethal force is authorized to detain a person who has been witnessed committing a crime.
By all means call the police over trying to confront anyone and youwill live to see another day.
The issue here is not that you want to save the $500 deductable or whatever, it is a matter of principle. Some punk is VIOLATING your property just to make a few dollars.
This happened to me about a month or so ago... During hurricane whatever back a while ago in NC, that night when the power went out, the thieves attempted to steal my FACTORY honda brand CD player. Not only is this player useless to them outside of my car, but it will only work in honda's even if they could get it to work.
Needless to say the F***ers falied. So what did I wake up to? A car full of water, debri, leaves, one broekn driver door window and one severly f***ed up dash. All busted up and worthless. I had had my car for about 3 months at this point...
I almost would have felt better would they have stolen the cd player, at least then I could sleep with the knowledge knowing they had stolen something that was useless to them, but instead, they basically just messed my stuff up...
I have been on watch for a while now, (window fixed, interior still messed up) and they have not returned. My neighbor is a LEO for the city and this has happened about 10 times in the past 2 months here, everyone in my complex is looking to nail this guy. You have to feel sorry for these people though, we will be paying for them in one way or another. Either through our insurance premiums, welfare, drug rehab, or prison. When one $.25 gold dot would end a lot of trouble for many people.
Just my opinion, but I have been in your shoes and I know EXACTLY how you feel. It was almost like they had taken my wallet directly off of myself... One day, they will get theirs, maybe not from me, but from someone...
NCglocker