Home invasion, lessons learned

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 07:56 AM

Ten years ago tonight our family were subject to a home invasion. In the middle of the night 2 assultants wearing ski masks broke into our home in Port St Lucie, Florida. Our front door ramed open. Debbie and I were confronted by a black masked man standing at the base of our bed pointing a gun at us no more the 5 feet away demanding money. He grabbed Debbie handbag. Next my son in law tackled the other one and we heard gunshots. Luckily they missed him and wound up with 3 bullets in our entry way! Back then I had all my guns locked up so they were useless! My young Grandson lived with us. Lessons learned now to those who live alone. Now I have two 9mm one in bedroom, one in the other end of the house. I can't describe how helpless you feel while in bed accousted my a masked thug pointing his gun at you and your wife in the middle of the night! Learn from our mistakes. Eric & Debbie.

mikedavid · 11-03-2012, 09:36 AM

I also have grand kids, I use to keep all my guns unloaded and locked up. I kept a 9mm next to the bed in a small gun safe that could be opened by pressing the correct buttons. One night I heard a noise downstairs and tried to push the buttons on the safe to get to my gun, but it's dark and I still was not real awake, I couldn't get it open. I went downstairs to find two hooded men cutting my sreen door and window, one guy had one leg in the house. They took off and the police caught them and both were armed. A gun does no good if you can't get to it fast and easy. Now I keep a 410 single shot shotgun next to the bed with shells for it on the top of my door frame. I also have a loaded pistol in three other rooms of the house, hidden and high enough that no kid can reach. It's a lesson learned.

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 09:42 AM

Its just like a fire drill. See how long it take to get your hands on a weapon. Once a #$%^& bag is in your room its already too late! Eric

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 09:56 AM

Ps The Port St. Lucie Police Department Police Department were Useless! We found a woolen mast accross the street. It took them 2 weeks to pick it up!!! It never went anywhere!

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 10:03 AM

The shotgun is evan a better idea!!!!Tks

lugersrkewl · 11-03-2012, 11:53 AM

talk about a horror story ,sheesh.

mikedavid · 11-03-2012, 11:55 AM

I like the 410 shot gun for close defense. The one I use is a single shot. Its easy to load, just push the button to break open, load in one shell, close and pull back the hammer. Easy and safe. I dont want to kill them just get their full attention!

nukem556 · 11-03-2012, 12:03 PM

If you don't kill 'em, they'll do a couple months in county lockup on the taxpayers dime, get out and do it to someone else.

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 12:19 PM

None of us felt safe in that house. We let it go into forclosure!!! Now safe and sound. Since then Florida issued a protection to any owner or resident can use Deadly force against anyone who breaks in or is breaking in! Finally!

Curly1 · 11-03-2012, 01:26 PM

If you are going to point a loaded gun at them shoot to kill or you may not live past the 1st or 2nd shot and that lesson will be tha last one you ever learn..

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 01:30 PM

Hopefully he is not wearing a vest! Head shots are a little harder!!

LWaali · 11-03-2012, 02:08 PM

We are 3 middle to late age women living out in the middle of nowhere. We keep 2 mossberg 500 20ga pistol grips located around the house and a 9mm by each bed in the 3 bedrooms. Even mom practices semi regularly and she is in her 80's. I have lived all around the country and even a few years over seas. I have been broken into 3 times and each time the invaders have left immediately when confronted with the sound of a shotgun racking. All our firearms are loaded and available. We warn friends that if they see a gun in the house then it IS loaded. We do lock them up ONLY if there are small children over and only until they leave. Dad was a career cold war officer and he trained us to shoot starting around age 10. The only time I have been helpless was in a county that had very strict gun laws and I will never live in those areas again.

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 02:14 PM

I commend You and your family, Our safety first!!

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 02:24 PM

Various firms give a false sence of security. A former bad guy I represented told me they only broke into home the had a security sign in the yard as they were protecting something worth pretecting. Usually they had 10-15 minutes. A firearm gives me peace of mind. Don't hesitate to shoot the scum!! Open game!! Eric, Esq.

padredan · 11-03-2012, 06:37 PM

Just in case anyone might breach the alarm system and the renforced doors , at that point they encounter my second line of defense and it will go down hill from there.

cirelaw · 11-03-2012, 06:41 PM

Now thats an option!!!

padredan · 11-03-2012, 07:29 PM

A very good option, the boston terrier is pete, he is the thinker , he will stand on the back of the doberman , Deigo, to observe things. If you are looking in one of the windows you see pete and his pontie ears, and would think how cute, untill his 100 pound buddy pops up and pete tells him sicem.

lew1 · 11-04-2012, 06:37 AM

I have been broken into a couple of times. Fortunately, no one was home. But we could have been. Other houses nearby have been broken into during the night and the day. So I keep loaded guns around - usually pistols.

When my kids were small, we kept them in places where it would be hard for the kids to get to the pistols. Plus training of the kids. Now days, when the kids come into town to visit, the first things they do is look for and move all of the pistols. Basically this is for the younger grandchildren as the older ones are proficient. One grandson took his first deer when he was 11. He is now 12. His older brother was as proficient. The ones 7 years old and under are the reason why the pistols are moved higher.

cirelaw · 11-04-2012, 07:00 AM

You trained them well!!

lugersrkewl · 11-04-2012, 05:41 PM

closed security cameras are inexpensive as all get out nowadays too.

11-03-2012, 07:56 AM	#1
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Home invasion, lessons learned Ten years ago tonight our family were subject to a home invasion. In the middle of the night 2 assultants wearing ski masks broke into our home in Port St Lucie, Florida. Our front door ramed open. Debbie and I were confronted by a black masked man standing at the base of our bed pointing a gun at us no more the 5 feet away demanding money. He grabbed Debbie handbag. Next my son in law tackled the other one and we heard gunshots. Luckily they missed him and wound up with 3 bullets in our entry way! Back then I had all my guns locked up so they were useless! My young Grandson lived with us. Lessons learned now to those who live alone. Now I have two 9mm one in bedroom, one in the other end of the house. I can't describe how helpless you feel while in bed accousted my a masked thug pointing his gun at you and your wife in the middle of the night! Learn from our mistakes. Eric & Debbie.

11-03-2012, 09:36 AM	#2
mikedavid Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lockport, Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	I'm with you! I also have grand kids, I use to keep all my guns unloaded and locked up. I kept a 9mm next to the bed in a small gun safe that could be opened by pressing the correct buttons. One night I heard a noise downstairs and tried to push the buttons on the safe to get to my gun, but it's dark and I still was not real awake, I couldn't get it open. I went downstairs to find two hooded men cutting my sreen door and window, one guy had one leg in the house. They took off and the police caught them and both were armed. A gun does no good if you can't get to it fast and easy. Now I keep a 410 single shot shotgun next to the bed with shells for it on the top of my door frame. I also have a loaded pistol in three other rooms of the house, hidden and high enough that no kid can reach. It's a lesson learned. __________________ Mike D

11-03-2012, 11:55 AM	#7
mikedavid Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lockport, Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	I like the 410 shot gun for close defense. The one I use is a single shot. Its easy to load, just push the button to break open, load in one shell, close and pull back the hammer. Easy and safe. I dont want to kill them just get their full attention! __________________ Mike D Last edited by mikedavid; 11-03-2012 at 12:03 PM. Reason: word used did not print

11-03-2012, 01:26 PM	#10
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 111 Thanked 702 Times in 364 Posts	If you are going to point a loaded gun at them shoot to kill or you may not live past the 1st or 2nd shot and that lesson will be tha last one you ever learn.. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

11-03-2012, 02:24 PM	#14
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	I commend You and you family Various firms give a false sence of security. A former bad guy I represented told me they only broke into home the had a security sign in the yard as they were protecting something worth pretecting. Usually they had 10-15 minutes. A firearm gives me peace of mind. Don't hesitate to shoot the scum!! Open game!! Eric, Esq. Attached Images

11-03-2012, 09:42 AM	#3
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Its just like a fire drill. See how long it take to get your hands on a weapon. Once a #$%^& bag is in your room its already too late! Eric

11-03-2012, 09:56 AM	#4
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Ps The Port St. Lucie Police Department Police Department were Useless! We found a woolen mast accross the street. It took them 2 weeks to pick it up!!! It never went anywhere!

11-03-2012, 10:03 AM	#5
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	The shotgun is evan a better idea!!!!Tks

11-03-2012, 11:53 AM	#6
lugersrkewl Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ussr Posts: 425 Thanks: 198 Thanked 75 Times in 58 Posts	talk about a horror story ,sheesh.

11-03-2012, 12:03 PM	#8
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	If you don't kill 'em, they'll do a couple months in county lockup on the taxpayers dime, get out and do it to someone else.

11-03-2012, 12:19 PM	#9
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	None of us felt safe in that house. We let it go into forclosure!!! Now safe and sound. Since then Florida issued a protection to any owner or resident can use Deadly force against anyone who breaks in or is breaking in! Finally!

11-03-2012, 01:30 PM	#11
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Hopefully he is not wearing a vest! Head shots are a little harder!!

11-03-2012, 02:08 PM	#12
LWaali User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 99 Thanks: 67 Thanked 20 Times in 9 Posts	We are 3 middle to late age women living out in the middle of nowhere. We keep 2 mossberg 500 20ga pistol grips located around the house and a 9mm by each bed in the 3 bedrooms. Even mom practices semi regularly and she is in her 80's. I have lived all around the country and even a few years over seas. I have been broken into 3 times and each time the invaders have left immediately when confronted with the sound of a shotgun racking. All our firearms are loaded and available. We warn friends that if they see a gun in the house then it IS loaded. We do lock them up ONLY if there are small children over and only until they leave. Dad was a career cold war officer and he trained us to shoot starting around age 10. The only time I have been helpless was in a county that had very strict gun laws and I will never live in those areas again.

11-03-2012, 02:14 PM	#13
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	I commend You and your family, Our safety first!!

11-03-2012, 06:37 PM	#15
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	Just in case anyone might breach the alarm system and the renforced doors , at that point they encounter my second line of defense and it will go down hill from there. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

11-03-2012, 06:41 PM	#16
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Now thats an option!!!

11-03-2012, 07:29 PM	#17
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	A very good option, the boston terrier is pete, he is the thinker , he will stand on the back of the doberman , Deigo, to observe things. If you are looking in one of the windows you see pete and his pontie ears, and would think how cute, untill his 100 pound buddy pops up and pete tells him sicem. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

11-04-2012, 06:37 AM	#18
lew1 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,108 Thanks: 82 Thanked 204 Times in 112 Posts	I have been broken into a couple of times. Fortunately, no one was home. But we could have been. Other houses nearby have been broken into during the night and the day. So I keep loaded guns around - usually pistols. When my kids were small, we kept them in places where it would be hard for the kids to get to the pistols. Plus training of the kids. Now days, when the kids come into town to visit, the first things they do is look for and move all of the pistols. Basically this is for the younger grandchildren as the older ones are proficient. One grandson took his first deer when he was 11. He is now 12. His older brother was as proficient. The ones 7 years old and under are the reason why the pistols are moved higher. __________________ charlie

11-04-2012, 07:00 AM	#19
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	You trained them well!!

11-04-2012, 05:41 PM	#20
lugersrkewl Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ussr Posts: 425 Thanks: 198 Thanked 75 Times in 58 Posts	closed security cameras are inexpensive as all get out nowadays too.