House SD

[Agent Starling]

There have been lots of threads on SD for one's person...what about your house? Do you have an SD plan for it, and what is it?

For me, this is a work in progress...but I want to hear your thoughts first!

Agent Starling :D

[David Lowry]

All lights will stay off, and I will bring the "beat down" with a lightweight 1.25" diameter hard rock maple "stick" and a Surefire to blind them while they get beat down. :)

The way my house is set up, there could be a very interesting situation (in my favor) should someone come up the stairs to the 2nd floor. :D

[Dr. Snubnose]

Someone enters the front door who is not supposed to and a floor mat triggers off 81 Ronins which swing from the ceiling in all directions at different levels...if that doesn't work....and they run into the hallway there is a trap door which opens and drops them into the basement where three lions and two tigers and one fire breathing Dragon are waiting for dinner....me....I'm hiding under the bed!!!!:eek:Doc:D

[tonydahose]

first off i live in a decent neigborood with a ton of cops and firemen in the neighborood...my house is well lit...i have the adt sign (i have it and use it...if you don't i suggest getting alarm signs anyways)in the front of the house, motion sensors lights in the back....decent locks and door. since having kids my wife was really freaked out about my old sidearm...so it is in a safe, unloaded in the closet...just in case somebody made her open it up the magazine isnt there...i keep one loaded in a pocket in a pair of shorts hanging on the closet rod. next to my bed i have a good flashlight and a spydie karambit and the phones..cel and landline...i am not really trained in any sd but i figure i have fought in enough street fights that it would give one of my punches enough UMPFFF to give me an edge..hopefully i wont ever have to put it to a test.

[yablanowitz]

I don't really have a plan, but I do keep a couple of 100+ lumen flashlights, a couple of 10mm Glocks and a 12 ga. pump loaded with #8 birdshot handy to improvise with.;)

[Water Bug]

Well, I'm ensuring the doors are locked, and that there' a baseball bat, a large Mag-Lite or SureFire 6P, and some :spyder:s readily available.

[The Mastiff]

It comes down to the dog and I reacting to each scenario the best way I can, preferably with a firearm for self defence. I do have a few in different places , along with flashlights parked in areas where I spend most of my time.

Any real bad people ( the kind that do multiple armed bad guy home invasions) wouldn't likely invade here unless they got the wrong address. I don't have the things they would want.

A burglar blundering in, not knowing about the dog, or me being home are far more likely. If they were to run away I'd be happy to let them go.

I do think Tony's idea of having your cell with you in the bedroom while sleeping is an excellent one. A connected alarm service is nice if you can afford it too, as is at least a sturdy door and lock in your house that will designate that room as a safe room for the family. Typically the parents room. The more preparations , the better. No "mantraps" though for what should be obvious reasons.

I have double ought in my shotgun. No birdshot for me. I have witnessed failures to stop with #4 buck. I wouldn't try birdshot on anything over 7 to 12 feet, though I know a choked shotgun does make it lethal at farther ranges. I just don't believe in birdshot for self defense purposes. Just my personal preferance. Joe

[224477]

I tend to sleep in a light way, so I guess a not obvious noise "should" wake me up, dont count the "after-chilli" noises, well, lol! :D
The rule is not to forget to lock the front doors. Not really paranoid that much.

[The Deacon]

Decent neighborhood, police station a short block away, loud gruff voice, and an apartment so small that my "last resort" coach gun is never more than a couple steps away.

[Peter1960]

Well, I've my dog Aaya (Golden Retriever) and she's extremely friendly to all people. I guess she's the icebreaker in all delicate situations ... No, just kidding ... in the 48 years I lived in Austria I never had disagreeable visitors, I hope I don't need SD, it's a totally different living here ;);)

[raggasonic]

As Peter said about Austria, living in France, especially in mountains, is real different than for many of you, in USA.
My car is always open, and it has never been "visited" yet.
I just lock the front door, and just in case, my bokken, katana, 250 lumens SF6P and of course :spyder: are at least about 3 meters far from my bed :D
I also own a Maglite 3D to throw on "invaders", that's the way it's the most effective, lol :p

But I'm real confident I'll never have to use them that way :cool:

[Billy]

My first line of defense is my dogs - a 90# American Bulldog and a 50# Pit. They are about as surefire as they get. If anyone manages to get past them, I will be waiting with a flashlight and my Para-Ordnance P-10 .45.

Other than that, I really like the idea of having a cell phone bedside. I guess I'm in the bad habit of leaving it in the kitchen on the counter, but I think that will change since I don't have a house phone in the bedroom like in the "old days." :p

[Shike]

Wife will put son in closet barricade herself in his room with handgun and cell phone and make the call. I will inform her to put gun down when all is clear otherwise anybody walking thru that frame is game. I will try to keep anyone from reaching that room. AR15 with double 30 round clips; 12 ga with 00, slug, 00; .45 acp 1911, a least one blade.

[jeff189]

6 pound chihuahua dressed as Batman. It has worked so far, I have not been burglarized once.

[yablanowitz]

Joe, if I ever had to use the 12 ga. the range would probably be 10 feet, 12 max. I live in an aluminum-sided mobile home between two other aluminum-sided mobile homes, and the neighbor's children sleep within forty feet of where I would be firing from. While I wouldn't miss them if they were gone, I'm pretty sure I would feel bad if I accidentally killed them. That's why the birdshot. I'd rather take three shots to put down a bad guy than put a rifled slug through a child.

[The Mastiff]

Well, if you're that close it will rathole the bad guy unless they are wearing body armor, which is a whole different subject. You have to do what you have to do. I think I would do the same in your situation, though my townhome, despite it's concrete block firewall, isn't much safer. Hopefully our homes will stay safe and this will continue to be a theoretical subject. Joe

[A.P.F.]

We live in a low crime area, but if we didn't, I would take comfort in a 1911 loaded with 230 grain Winchester SXT rounds.

[El Tigre]

I have a Beretta 92 next to my bed, and I have a Taurus 357mag next to my computer.

"El Tigre"

[Jenner 515]

Wife has a Ruger SP101 in .357 in her closet, her and the kids have been instructed to get in there and hide if there's a problem. (It is the furthest spot in the house from any entrance.) My side of the room has a Sig P220, once again if there was a problem - dependent upon threat assessment I may go through the house...probably not though, there is also land lines and cell phones within reach...and a Spydie or two usually within a couple of feet from me or on my person.

The Plan is to barricade and call for reinforcements. Not necessarily Movement to Contact.

[KaliGman]

Shike and Jenner are definitely on the right track. A designated "safe room" that is going to be defended is the way to go in most situations. Room clearings, whether dynamic or slow-methodical in methodology, are best left to professionals. It is always dangerous and should really be done by teams/partners, not a single person. I don't think I have done a single training scenario or real mission building clearance where I felt like everything was done in a manner that made me feel comfortable. I don't know of any foolproof or really "uber tacticool" way of doing this stuff that is not still pretty dangerous. That being said, you do what you have to do during the always changing environment of real situations. It seems like most people who have responded have thought the situation through pretty well.

[LowSpeedHighDrag]

I have a Glock 22 sitting on my night stand with a TLR2 on it. My wife has a Glock 19 sitting in hers also equipped with a TLR2. In my closet is My 870P with 8 rds of 00 Buck in it and 6 rds of slug on the saddle. Along with that, I have a Saiga AK47 with a loaded mag near it and an OA AR15 with a loaded mag sitting next to it also. I also live in a military neighborhood in off base housing. I pray for the poor soul who enters my domain.

[The Mastiff]

I don't know of any foolproof or really "uber tacticool" way of doing this stuff that is not still pretty dangerous

Calling in help and blowing up the building from outside , when you're not in it is the only real foolproof way. How many of us have F16block 52's flying a pattern above our houses waiting with JDAMS though?

In the military, we learned to clear rooms with multiple grenades, or stand off weapons. We didn't use doors, we made holes in the walls. I don't mean stun grenades either. Even FBI HRT, and Op Det. Delta can lose people in room clearings, and that's their speciality.

If you have a safe room, just make sure it has an exit in case of fire.

The thought of going on the offensive against multiple armed bad guys isn't a pleasant one, and would be only done in the direst of emergencies.

As I said before if the bad guy(s) wanted to leave I sure wouldn't want to stop them. They can even have the TV if they want it. Joe

[ken]

There have been lots of threads on SD for one's person...what about your house? Do you have an SD plan for it, and what is it?

For me, this is a work in progress...but I want to hear your thoughts first!

Agent Starling :D



Don't need a plan... have many dogs.....what ever the dog's leave behind the cat's can have.

If I need a gun it will be a Taurus Judge..to bad I live in california.

ken

[Agent Starling]

Lots of good ones, to be sure...thanks all for your input.

I've also heard of also using psychology, or fake-out defenses, if you will...stuff like posting a Beware of Dog sign when there is no dog, using generic alarm signs. Things to place doubt in the would-be perps mind that yours is not going to be an easy house to hit.

The deal with the generic alarm signs, rather than using a specific company's sign, is to not help the perp out by telling them which company's system you're using, as these people tend to learn them all and you've now helped them out...I never see it done in practice since most people never think along those line, but I think it's a good idea.

Agent Starling

[tonydahose]

when i was going through the police academy i was living at my parents house and we had a string of break ins in the garages on the block. my back yard gate was right next to a light pole so the yard and the garage side door were pretty well lit. i hung a target from the firing range with about 50 holes in the center mass and just as many head shots on the side door, below it read Chicago Police...we never had our garage broken into ;)

[Agent Starling]

when i was going through the police academy i was living at my parents house and we had a string of break ins in the garages on the block. my back yard gate was right next to a light pole so the yard and the garage side door were pretty well lit. i hung a target from the firing range with about 50 holes in the center mass and just as many head shots on the side door, below it read Chicago Police...we never had our garage broken into ;)
Gotta love it! Good going tony! :)

[Echo63]

If something wakes me in the middle of the night i have a few bright surefires, a sharp spydie and a impact tool beside the bed
if whatever woke me is a threat, it will be put in a world of hurt

[MountainManJim]

I’ve have always wondered how I would handle an intruder. Last night I got a glimpse of how it might play out …

I’m a city boy living in a rural mountain community. So, even though the neighbors are out of shouting distance, I’m religious about locking doors (all deadbolts) and windows. Exterior lights are motion sensing. We have four dogs, two upstairs near the bedroom and two downstairs with the chickens (long story). Flashlights and an 8” knife are close to the bed. I have some SD training. No real guns allowed in the house, not that they would have helped me last night …

At about 12:15 AM, I am woken by the dogs. It wasn’t their usual “oh I see a mouse or deer” bark, they were seriously agitated. I am normal a heavy sleeper, but I had just gone to bed. I get up quickly, rush out bedroom. Wife hardly stirs. So, there I am in the great room trying to determine what the dogs are upset about; deer, need to potty, aliens, what? I don’t have my glasses on, I’m in my skives, no flashlight but for some reason I have a Spydie Standard with me (2.5” blade, in the skives, oh I am unstoppable). I did fumble around for glasses, a SD knife or a flashlight because I didn’t want to wake my wife; she gets ticked about that kind of stuff. Then … the light goes on at the front door. We (dog and I) run to the front door. Outside is good size black bear:eek: I then realize, I am not really equipped for this interloper:o

This concerned me a bit because normally, if I was actually asleep, I would have just yelled at the dogs and rolled over. If I did wake up, I would have been useless. I need at least a half hour to become alert or to see straight. I can’t begin to imagine attempting to safely locate a gun or to use it responsible in my half awake condition:confused:

As for the bear, I did not release the dog on the bear at the front door. As much as Willie wanted to chase it, I didn’t feel like driving to an emergency vet at that hour. I got my pants on, the Surefire and the paintball gun, but by the time Willie and I got out the door the bear was across the yard and over the fence. They can move really fast. We will see if we can improve our response time, next time;)

Jim

[Billy]

Haha, funny story Jim! Yeah, up in rural NJ, my dad has had some run-ins with black bears the last few years as they have made a huge comeback up there.
But it does bring up a good point about the "dry run" and how you will react in an actual situation. On several occasions I have been awakened out of a dead sleep by what I thought was a very loud bang (dreamt it maybe?). On those occasions, the instant adrenaline rush slammed me into wakeful alertness and high intensity defense mode. Luckily, there was nothing going on, and the first hint was, no dogs going off. But I was so sure I heard something on those occasions, I still grabbed my .45 and went through the entire house, garage and then to the outside perimeter of the house, the whole time every hair on my body standing up and my eyes bugging out of my head in full-on fight or flight mode looking for the intruder or the sign that someone tried to break in. I think it's good to know you will actually follow through on your plan when it comes down to it.

[Majidoc]

My Chicago home is in the sky. My Michigan home is on the ground and the home which I spend most my time in. Hence I will discuss my Michigan home. A small cottage, 2000 sq. ft. on small lot 80x 110. Start with auto lights, spots...14 of them. Color security cams, 12 of those plus one PTZ, images go to a DVR. I have three monitors inside to view. A monitored security system, both wired and wireless to monitor. Had a German Shepherd dog...recently died. I usually carry a S&W J frame. When I add a Colt 1911 Gov't .45 the J frame becomes my bug. Many Spydercos of course, and SF flashlights. That is my set-up. By the by when I'm in Chicago or anywhere else I monitor the Michigan cameras on my laptop. I will get another dog when I finish grieving.

[markg]

Nothing new to add to the tactic discussion... Early warning (alarm systems, dogs, etc.) "perimeter" defense (lighting, signs, etc) and safe room...

As for my "tools" I have a SIG P229, .40 S&W and one of many Surefire's. I have knives around... But if my home is being invaded and I am knife fighting, it is not a good day...

Two points I would add.

I have 4 kids. Ages between 10 and 15 (some are step-children, no we did not have 4 kids in 5 years!!!). So gun safety is important. I have my SIG loaded and stored bedside in a small GunVault Safe. It is quick access, however very secure. I have had it for years and nobody has gotten into it, and I don't think they even try. It does not secure valuables from theft (you can pick it up and walk away with it), but it does make them pretty much tamper resistant. Best $80 I spent.

Also, with high output flashlights...

I am a flashlight geek... So I have played with many. IMHO, I try to limit my "in home" defensive lights to no more than 120 lumens. I have played with some 250+ lumen lights, that when used in a darkened room not only take away the intruders night vision... So much light is pumped out... it effects even you own. I find this is not as bad with lights below the 120 lumen range. Again... YMMV.

[Agent Starling]

An interesting option I've read about to deter an intruder is the use of a marine air horn. Heck, I guess the right gauge of shotgun would accomplish the same thing.

Agent Starling

[JabFynger]

We have four dogs, two upstairs near the bedroom and two downstairs with the chickens (long story).



I've read through this thread a few times for info/entertainment reasons, and for some reason this cracks me up every time.:D It would be cool to see threads like this (and the related "Car SD" thread) active again. They are enjoyable and valuable to read.

[Jimd]

If it was a home invasion and they just kicked the door in and came charging in, my plan would go as follows:
1. Draw Glock 19 or XDm.
2. Point pistol.
3. Press trigger repeatedly until all bad people fall down.
4. Repeat as necessary.

If it was a night time break-in scenario, it would hopefully go down like this:
1. Our several dogs would go wild barking, waking us up.
2. Open gun safe, insert 30-round magazine into AR-15, rack the charging handle.
3. Light up bad people with Surefire tactical light that's mounted on AR-15. If bad people drop weapons and put up hands, everyone stay happy.
4. If not, pull trigger until bad people fall down, repeat as necessary.
5. After police leave, call cleaning company to clean up the pools of blood and blood spatter on walls, along with body parts.

Combat shooting calls for lots of practice.

[SolidState]

I have weapons near my bed, a window to leave and a cell phone to call backup.

[Dr. Snubnose]

I have weapons near my bed, a window to leave and a cell phone to call backup.

I have weapons in my bed, a window to throw thugs out of, and a cell phone to call the morgue....Doc:D

[jackknifeh]

The only weapons I have that are easy to get to are a baseball bat and a machete. The machete hangs in a central place in the home kind of hidden by my dog's leash, umbrella and a few other things. I live in the country and have an older home that doesn't look like a great target for a thief. We do have quite a bit of easily sold items though like TVs, computers, stereo, OH and let's not forget my 9 or 10 knives. :) I believe my best defense is to not LOOK like a good target. Plus I don't think my family's life would be threatened by a break in especially when I help them load their truck. The only way I would fight if they were well armed is if I felt my life was threatened. Then I would kill them if possible and grab one of my kitchen knives and put it in their hand if something wasn't already there.

Jack
PS
I saw something on TV once about a woman who had a break in. She got her pistol and shot the guy once. He still got to her and hurt her. The moral is if you shoot someone keep pulling the trigger until they to down. That was the lesson she learned and her statement (paraphrasing).

[Jordan]

From any point in my house... I can have a handgun in my hands in less than 30 seconds, and a long gun in less than a minute. If I can beeline for the firearms, or if I'm in a room close to them to begin with, those times are cut by at least half. I've uh... well, I've checked. Such is the price of paranoia. That's if I have to avoid the most likely points of ingress... or at least, the ones I would use. If someone gets clever and starts using the skylights... I've got bigger problems than not having a gun (such as having evidently made an enemy out of someone who uses skylights to enter buildings). :-P

[Jordan]

Combat shooting calls for lots of practice.

Also... this really can't be repeated often enough.

[SQSAR]

There is a lot involved in home defense that needs to be accounted for when preparing a plan for your home/family. Keep in mind, anyone can make their home Fort Knox, but then how practical would that be? You need to introspectively look at you and your family's 'appetite for security' by looking at the 'risks' you feel you face. Again, risk being: Threat x Vulnerability x Consequence. In other words, you need to look holistically at your situation through these three lenses to determine how to best deploy your efforts and funds.

That said, one way of looking at security is a layered approach. Look at the area where your property resides, then look at your property line, then the perimeter of your house, then, then, then all the way to you and/or the things you want to most protect. The particulars of what would be called 'options for consideration' for each of these layers could fill bookshelves. However, for home security, one good place to start your research is on the principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). Easily searchable on the web, this will help you get an understanding of what you can do in your living space and property to aid in developing your own safety by mitigating vulnerabilities. Also, look up the crime demographics in your area, to see what crimes (Threats) are most likely to occur. These are just a few ideas, hope they help.

[jzmtl]

No guns here, have a shaving sharp 18" machete and hatchet in easy reach, I would imagine either would do some serious damage especially given I'm a big and relatively strong guy.

[gb12549]

First off , the house is tactically situated: 400 feet from the road up a slight hill with a 40yd tree line and a pond along the road facing property. On the left side is about 50 acre plot with cow corn planted, behind the property is about 20 acres of land with a conservation easement and on the right are horse stables.
Inside, I've contracted a brother & sister team for guard duty: a 160lb Cane Corso male & his 135lb sister. From where their beds are, they have sight to all doors and down the driveway, which also has a driveway detector.
Bedside is an authentic ultra sharp katana displayed, and an 18" Kukri not displayed.
No need to open the gun safe!:D

Recommendation? If you can have a dog where you live, Cane Corsos will give you everything you could possibly want - they are as kid friendly as a Lab, will "lap dog" you like a toy poodle, and will guard you better than presidential secret service!

[jimnolimit]

i have a shortened katana (23" blade), among other things.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: My entire apartment is strung with claymore mines. boom. :spyder:

[Buckles]

first thing i do before bed at night is lay my entire micromachine collection out on the floor right inside the front door. Then i go up stairs and set the paint buckets. I use paracord to tie them to the banister. This way if someone does make it in, ill hear them slipping on the micro machines. Then when they come up the stairs, i can swing the paint cans down at them.

If this doesnt work, ive got a zip line out my bedroom window that leads to my tree house. I also keep some garden shears in the tree house just in case they try to follow me across the zip line.

[RIOT]

i have a Glock 9mm with hollow points in my drawer for house defense & of course 80+ Delicas LOL

All my really good guns are down stairs in the safe :(