Yikes!! Prowler Episode JUST NOW!!

I'm the Original Poster checking back in...

While I agree with most of the criticisms, suggestions, etc the ones I'm not quite in agreement with are 1) the idea that it is wrong to call out and ask for identification, and 2) the idea that I should call the police before checking things out for myself.

Regarding #1), if you don't call out and ask "who's there?", how else is the homeowner supposed to know whether the person knocking is friend or foe?

Regarding #2), maybe it's your neighbor who came to ask for some help, or maybe it's a friend of my daughter. In either case, the visitor coming to the back door (instead of the front) would admittedly be a little odd, but hey, maybe they just weren't thinking. My daughter and her friends come and go at all hours of the night, so, except for the fact that, in this case, she was out of town, having someone at the door at 1:00 am wasn't that strange. My point is, calling the police just because we have a visitor -- before checking it out myself -- seems a little premature, given that 99 times out of 100 the visitor will in fact be a friend, and not a foe.

Geez, I hope this doesn't happen 100 more times.
 
Fortune smiles with you

I will add my voice in the "I'm glad you and yours are Okay" category. Don't be too hard on yourself though. As you said, you were prepared physically (equipment, etc.) but unprepared psychologically (Never thought it might actually happen)

Many people have this happen to them and they get hurt in the process. Should a similar event ever occur, there are several people in this forum including yourself, who will master their fear better in the future becuase of this post.

I spend a lot of time trying to "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best" but I have never been faced with an imminent danger situation outside of my workplace (I'm a CO) and even then the types of danger are different than they might be if I were watching the Lakers get schooled in my living room.

Live and learn, sounds like you managed on both counts...

W. Perkins
 
You did make a few tactical misjudgements as have been previously pointed out, but you didn't get hurt, and you were prepared to do what needed to be done. Seek out some additional training and get comfortable with your weapons, it seems like you've already got the determination to take care of you and yours. And yes, if at all possible call the police first, IF you have the luxury of time... if you don't, handle buisness and we can come do the clean-up.
Click to expand...

#1



The OP was visited by a bad guy and he did OK.
 
the point about calling out was that in doing so you exposed your possible location.

this goes both ways as verbal commands are one of the first steps in the use of force continuum. understand im not insinuating in any way you have to go thru steps in responding to an intruder[ unless your state says otherwise in which case i suggest you move]. im just saying that a case can be made both ways on telling the idiot he is picking a predator to attack not a victum.

you most definitely need to identify if you know your attacker. that's the first step in both engaging and determining if your in danger. this can be done easily as they enter the door. screaming out gives them a direction to key on if they decide to shoot thru the door as you were considering. same goes for the idiot standing there and knocking. he was exposing his possible location. knowing how stupid criminals are i can bet he was standing right there.

the point about calling the police is for several reasons. one is you wont exactly be able to while engaging, two some prosecutors have a funny way of deciding things based on who calls for help first or the fact you feared for your life enough to call for help with a prowler, three is to get help on the way, four is to have a recording of the incident. again here is where you dont want to mis act screwing your self legally. if it turns out to be not an intruder just say thanks i dont need you anymore. this seems of little chance as family and friends dont do things the way this guy did.

again im just trying to draw a fine point on others suggestions.
 
Keep in mind that this guy might come back so be ready. Now you need to expand your protection ideas to you being home alone, home with family and your family home without you around there. There are two other things to consider...

#1. There is a slight possibility that what was making the noise was a raccoon or other animal. True, it's probably a long shot but it is still possible.

#2. If you have a teenage daughter, that tapping could quite possibly be a friend of hers, generally a boyfriend, trying to make subtle contact with here late a night. More than once I've gotten prowler calls at houses only to catch a teenage girl's beau trying to sneak around to see her. I would hate to see you shoot a kid who was trying to see a friend instead of a rapist.
 
Things like that happen somewhat often here in ElPaso. About 4 weeks ago I was sitting at my computer surfing the net when I heard footsteps in the gravel (our home has desert landscaping) right outside my window. We have security bars on the window so I leave my bedroom window open a bit to allow proper A/C circulation. I smiled, reached over for my 12ga "Persuader" (which is loaded with 000 mags) and said loudly, "you have until I get to my front door with this shotgun to be gone Mother*****" and loudly jacked one into the chamber right by the window so he could hear. I grabbed my mag-light off of the bookcase and bolted for the door. The porch light was on and I could see that there was nobody near the front of the house, went out and holding the light in a tactical position (along-side the barrel) I began to work my way to the side of the house just in time to see his a$$ rounding the corner of my "well lit" street at a dead run. He hasn't been back!

Since you couldn't see who was there it is probably a good thing that you didn't fire. NEVER fire at what you cannot clearly see! It MAY have been a burglar or similar predator -or- it could have been a raccoon or other animal up to mischeif in your yard. Since you couldn't see then there is no telling what or who it was. Once, I heard LOUD noises in my front yard and at my door at 3:00 am (we used to live on a farm) and grabbed my Smith 9mm. NOBODY should have been there and I was concerned to say the least. I asked, "who is there?" and heard a somewhat muffled voice say a name (I forget the name). I went out the back door and snuck around to flank my unwanted visitor only to find that it was an old Hispanic man with alzheimers who had gotten lost in the night and couldn't find his way home. I brought the man in, gave him a blanket to wrap himself in and a cup of hot coffee (it was the dead of winter and he was freezing) and then called the police to come and get him. THANK GOD I identified him BEFORE I considered pulling the trigger!!! I would have felt terrible for shooting that poor guy and probably would have gone to prison for it since he obviously posed no threat at all to me!

Of course, I would stay on the alert if I were you and just a little suggestion ... you might consider putting a motion detector on your back porch light. That way, nobody will be able to "sneak-up" to your door at night without setting it off.
 
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