A word of caution and asking for advice.

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I live in a conservative town in Florida in a gated community where it’s very hard to get past security. Once you get past security nearly all of the people inside are gun owners, and about 70% are shooting guns on a regular basis and hunting. My next door neighbor’s hobby is hunting elk with a longbow… the only time he’s not in full camo is when he’s dressed up for church. We have to be up there with Ted Nugent’s ranch on places you should probably pass on. 

In MA, you're supposed to run out of the house and let them rob it. If you defend your house, you are the one going to jail. The intruder is the real victim.

[chasy]

3 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

In MA, you supposed to run out of the house and let them rob it. If you defend your house, you are the one going to jail. The intruder is the real victim.

Grabbing popcorn for the obligatory angry response to this!

[El Hoze]

3 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

In MA, you supposed to run out of the house and let them rob it. If you defend your house, you are the one going to jail. The intruder is the real victim.

I think I told this story once on FOH. I lived in San Francisco between around 2006 until 2012 or so. One night my drunk neighbor (IT Stanford geek on top of it) climbed up my fire escape in Pacific Heights and started to push and break a window open right next to my bed where I was sleeping with my girlfriend…smart guy was one floor off. I jumped up and had a loaded HK Mark 23 aimed right at his head as he pushed it open. Having a handgun with a threaded barrel in SF is NOT good by the way. By the grace of God, time moved in ultra slow motion and nothing happened. But the moment he was gone I puked, I was so shaken up. Not a fun situation at all. I joke that some people are “waiting” for some idiot to break in, in reality it’s extremely disturbing. The idea that you would ever favor the person who created the situation vs. the person who was surprised by it and trying to react in a split second is mind-boggling. That’s my angry response but I’m on cigar #2 already. 

[Chas.Alpha]

On 8/22/2025 at 8:23 AM, El Presidente said:

Cameras, alarms, UPS  + a 24hr back to base monitored system.

This still makes me laugh!

[Fugu]

22 hours ago, HarveyBoulevard said:

If no one is home, no amount of security, cameras, alarms, etc. will stop them.

Sure, there’s certainly truth in that. But my hope is, police showing up within 5 to 15 min on a camera-triggered alarm (if they are quick in my neck of the woods…) or us only returning after a day/days could make a huge difference.

[MrBirdman]

I am still debating cameras near entrances only. I find the idea of having them throughout the house more unsettling than the prospect of being robbed. Although after my renovation I’m gonna take a closer look since my homeowners insurer refuses to guarantee they’ll cover CC even if I buy a tobacco and alcohol policy. 

Meanwhile it helps keeping a 15 year old Subaru with body damage parked in the driveway. In a neighborhood with Teslas and Mercedes, it’s the perfect camouflage. Unfortunately, when I do take it out I get enhanced scrutiny from police officers since it looks like something a drunk would drive 😉. 

[MrBirdman]

20 hours ago, El Hoze said:

HK Mark 23

You must have big hands sir. I spent a while looking for one and got rid of it pretty quickly. 

I was robbed twice in college in a three month period. Joke was on the second crew since we had no money to replace anything stolen the first time!

Truth be told, these days I worry more about intruders when I am actually home. I had a stalker at one point who was former military - around then I stopped caring as much about burglary when I recognized that insurance can replace most everything but my life. 

[El Hoze]

36 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

Truth be told, these days I worry more about intruders when I am actually home.

100%!! And yes a Mark 23 is a funny one to have in your nightstand, certainly would not be my first choice! These days I generally have Glock 43Xs. There was a point in time in SF when I was moving back to the East Coast that my home defense system was a Kreighoff K80 my backup plan was a cast iron skillet. 

[BigGuns]

Neighbors. I have a really good relationship with the two next to me and across the street. Nothing is foolproof, but in addition to my alarm and cameras, I feel an additional sense of confidence knowing that my neighbors are aware and will look out for me when I’m out of town, as I do them. 

As for that dreaded thought that something occurs while I’m home, I am well equipped, but will likely create a forensic fiasco with all my vomit mixed in with that poor good for nothing pos’s blood @El Hoze  

43x is awesome, btw. One of many options.

[BrightonCorgi]

18 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

I am still debating cameras near entrances only. I find the idea of having them throughout the house more unsettling than the prospect of being robbed. Although after my renovation I’m gonna take a closer look since my homeowners insurer refuses to guarantee they’ll cover CC even if I buy a tobacco and alcohol policy. 

How can that be? What are you paying for them?

[MrBirdman]

5 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

How can that be? What are you paying for them?

Right now I’m paying nothing for tobacco - 95% of my collection is Cuban, so I only have my wine cellar insured. They couldn’t give me a straight answer on whether they could pay replacement value for Cuban cigars (presumably since a divide between purchase price and FMV isn’t normally an issue with tobacco). But many of my CC are worth over three times the purchase price on my receipts.

If anyone else has had better luck with a different underwriter please let me know, my policy is up for renewal soon. 

[Sandman]

Had an intruder in my house in 2016. He was immediately greeted with an Ak47. He started behaving immediately, cops came and arrested him. Haven't had any problems since. I live in a good area, the guy was a drug addict that walked into the wrong house. We have a couple cameras, front light on at night, guns, and good neighbors that keep an eye out when we aren’t home. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

At my place I have a varying level of programmed responses for our ring cam, and outside lights depending on what is triggered and why.  A good upfront deterrent is a front spotlight set on motion detection.

[BrightonCorgi]

By the time I can get to a firearm, unlock it, and then find the bullets; the police report would already by written. 😞