So I get woken up by my wife this morning at 5am, she hears noises upstairs in my loading room. There is a dog door on the room, so thinking maybe a raccoon or something? Then notice the door slightly ajar. Kick the door all the way open ,my ,flashlight in one hand and 44 bulldog in the other, and heres a person in full camo standing about 7 ft from me.. It was a women , she was ordered to get on the floor. Told my wife to call 911. Seven police cars show up about 25 minutes later.( I am in a rural area on acreage) She was arrested and booked for burglary. When they were loading her into police unit, noticed it was my camo jacket and boots she was wearing. I am a little more shaken now than when it happened.! Well, happy Birthday to me!!!
Damn. Hell of birthday for sure. I'd talk to her or the cops that do and find out why she targeted you and what she was looking for. Just my $.02 Damn a thief.
No, not hot. My first thought was maybe my wife got me a hooker for my birthday!, but not hot. More like tweaker. ! I think she was targeting another house that's for sale and empty,about 600 yds away! She picked the wrong house, could have easily been shot ! If she had any type of weapon in hand, would have been a whole different outcome.
That was a crappy birthday surprise, but you're lucky that you and your wife weren't harmed.
Breaking into an occupied home suggests that the woman was either an amateur or desperate. I wonder why she picked your rural home? A neighbor or "friend" of a neighbor setting you up?
I'd bet that your adrenaline level went through the roof the second after you discovered her, good cardio workout!
That's a brand of excitement I don't want. "Happy Birthday" is coming out of it alive with you and your wife unharmed and the perp behind bars. Not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all.
kenster99, That is hell of way to be greeted on your birthday, it's my birthday also, for a wake up call my friend Miles Patton called at 5:00 am, I was up and drinking coffee, enjoyed a great morning visit with Miles, Next was ED, to many letters and his bride Kat, what a great way to start the day, happy to hear all is well with you and your wife, you were lucky keep that .44 handy never know when you will need it, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rio7
just saw your location. Wonder if she was a local tweaker or one from down the hill?
Glad all are safe, hopefully her actions aren't considered a non-violent crime and she gets released after booking because of the Corona.
Is it thought the gal entered thru the dog door? And you must live on a hillside in order to have a dog door in an upstairs room. or did I read that wrong?
Not for burglars, but possible four legged visitors, we put the lid on our dog door after the kids have had their last break around nine. We don't want a skunk or coon in the house,should they somehow get in past the fence.
Happy birthday, now go buy yourself a couple of presents, first a real dog , new door locks and some motion detector lights for all sides of your house.
When son was 3-4 he would get up in middle of night and go downstairs to play with stuff in kitchen. Put motion detector alarm to watch stairs. It woke us up next time he did that. He complained that it wasn’t fair!
Thanks! Everything turned out good, but re-living it now, I realized I did a lot of things wrong. The noise came from an upstairs reloading/ gun work area. Sometimes I have firearms up there I am cleaning, mounting scopes, etc. Didn't even take into consideration what was there at the time. Access is through a carport to outside staircase. The room wasn't locked, (mistake). We live on 10.5 acres, only had a trespasser once that I saw in 20 years. So I get up at around 5am to use the restroom, didn't really hear anything. (pretty much deaf from gun shooting and drag racing). I go back to bed,my wife gets up for her turn in the bathroom, comes back out,and because totally dark, says "are you in here ?"( House is only750 sq ft) I say, 'yes, I'm in bed ' . Comes into the bedroom and whispers,"somebody is upstairs, moving things around!" We have a small cut out in the wall where our cat can get out of the weather, so I am thinking raccoons, or something of that nature. Armed with my flashlight and a revolver, proceed up the stairs. My wife is standing at the bottom of stairs with phone in hand.There is a small landing at top of stairs, about 3'x4' When I get there,I notice things don't look exactly right,like the cat blanket is gone. Then I try the doorhandle, and its locked! I know I didn't lock it the last time I was up there! This is when I should have retreated, and called 911. But didn't. Looked at the door, and although locked,wasnt fully shut.I shove open door with my foot, with gun and flashlight pointed, see this person 6or 7 ft from me standing there! It was surreal, almost like a dream. Ordered her to not move, or I would blow her f'ng head off. Told wife to call 911 and tell them I am holding person at gunpoint. Having some small talk with her, I asked if there was anyone else in the room with her. She said no. I was thinking,if she charges me, or someone else in the room does, I would get a shot off, but will also be falling about 8' to the concrete ! The first officer arrives, and asked me if I still had the gun, then asked me not to shoot him! LoL I guess. Runs up the stairs,he knows her, places her in cuffs, and escorts her to car. Then 6 other units arrive, a whole platoon! She was booked into county jail for felony burglary, $100.000 bail. Have some more to this story, but starting to ramble a little! Mainly as to why I think she was there? Sorry for so long a story, but thanks for the well wishes! Ken
Thanks! Everything turned out good, but re-living it now, I realized I did a lot of things wrong. The noise came from an upstairs reloading/ gun work area. Sometimes I have firearms up there I am cleaning, mounting scopes, etc. Didn't even take into consideration what was there at the time. Access is through a carport to outside staircase. The room wasn't locked, (mistake). We live on 10.5 acres, only had a trespasser once that I saw in 20 years. So I get up at around 5am to use the restroom, didn't really hear anything. (pretty much deaf from gun shooting and drag racing). I go back to bed,my wife gets up for her turn in the bathroom, comes back out,and because totally dark, says "are you in here ?"( House is only750 sq ft) I say, 'yes, I'm in bed ' . Comes into the bedroom and whispers,"somebody is upstairs, moving things around!" We have a small cut out in the wall where our cat can get out of the weather, so I am thinking raccoons, or something of that nature. Armed with my flashlight and a revolver, proceed up the stairs. My wife is standing at the bottom of stairs with phone in hand.There is a small landing at top of stairs, about 3'x4' When I get there,I notice things don't look exactly right,like the cat blanket is gone. Then I try the doorhandle, and its locked! I know I didn't lock it the last time I was up there! This is when I should have retreated, and called 911. But didn't. Looked at the door, and although locked,wasnt fully shut.I shove open door with my foot, with gun and flashlight pointed, see this person 6or 7 ft from me standing there! It was surreal, almost like a dream. Ordered her to not move, or I would blow her f'ng head off. Told wife to call 911 and tell them I am holding person at gunpoint. Having some small talk with her, I asked if there was anyone else in the room with her. She said no. I was thinking,if she charges me, or someone else in the room does, I would get a shot off, but will also be falling about 8' to the concrete ! The first officer arrives, and asked me if I still had the gun, then asked me not to shoot him! LoL I guess. Runs up the stairs,he knows her, places her in cuffs, and escorts her to car. Then 6 other units arrive, a whole platoon! She was booked into county jail for felony burglary, $100.000 bail. Have some more to this story, but starting to ramble a little! Mainly as to why I think she was there? Sorry for so long a story, but thanks for the well wishes! Ken
You did alright.
Bad guy/gal is in jail, you and your wife are safe, and you won't have to face a Grand Jury for killing her. I call that a win for your side.
Hindsight is 20/20, and in this case will just make you better prepared in the future.
Ken, glad that things turned out well for you in ole Pville, everything we think will happen, won’t sometimes! That is why I got a mean dog, he hears what I can’t.
And couldn't tell if she was "hot". She had on my hunting boots and camo hunting jacket, way oversize! In my conversation with her, I asked why she was there.She said isn't this for sale? The realtor sent me. Our place is up for sale, and so is my neighbors house, about 1/4 mile away, but on same driveway. Their place has been vacant for about 7 months. One of the deputies told me some people find listings, and when vacant ,just move in. Maybe she got the wrong house? Maybe so tweeked out, she didn't notice the 2 vehicles in the carport, and the other 3 outside the house?? Who knows. Investigator from the DA office was out today taking pictures, trying to figure if its residential burglary or commercial burglary.
Thanks! Everything turned out good, but re-living it now, I realized I did a lot of things wrong. The noise came from an upstairs reloading/ gun work area. Sometimes I have firearms up there I am cleaning, mounting scopes, etc. Didn't even take into consideration what was there at the time. Access is through a carport to outside staircase. The room wasn't locked, (mistake). We live on 10.5 acres, only had a trespasser once that I saw in 20 years. So I get up at around 5am to use the restroom, didn't really hear anything. (pretty much deaf from gun shooting and drag racing). I go back to bed,my wife gets up for her turn in the bathroom, comes back out,and because totally dark, says "are you in here ?"( House is only750 sq ft) I say, 'yes, I'm in bed ' . Comes into the bedroom and whispers,"somebody is upstairs, moving things around!" We have a small cut out in the wall where our cat can get out of the weather, so I am thinking raccoons, or something of that nature. Armed with my flashlight and a revolver, proceed up the stairs. My wife is standing at the bottom of stairs with phone in hand.There is a small landing at top of stairs, about 3'x4' When I get there,I notice things don't look exactly right,like the cat blanket is gone. Then I try the doorhandle, and its locked! I know I didn't lock it the last time I was up there! This is when I should have retreated, and called 911. But didn't. Looked at the door, and although locked,wasnt fully shut.I shove open door with my foot, with gun and flashlight pointed, see this person 6or 7 ft from me standing there! It was surreal, almost like a dream. Ordered her to not move, or I would blow her f'ng head off. Told wife to call 911 and tell them I am holding person at gunpoint. Having some small talk with her, I asked if there was anyone else in the room with her. She said no. I was thinking,if she charges me, or someone else in the room does, I would get a shot off, but will also be falling about 8' to the concrete ! The first officer arrives, and asked me if I still had the gun, then asked me not to shoot him! LoL I guess. Runs up the stairs,he knows her, places her in cuffs, and escorts her to car. Then 6 other units arrive, a whole platoon! She was booked into county jail for felony burglary, $100.000 bail. Have some more to this story, but starting to ramble a little! Mainly as to why I think she was there? Sorry for so long a story, but thanks for the well wishes! Ken
You did alright.
Bad guy/gal is in jail, you and your wife are safe, and you won't have to face a Grand Jury for killing her. I call that a win for your side.
Hindsight is 20/20, and in this case will just make you better prepared in the future.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS. Exactly
My last episode anywhere near similar to this...I also made a couple serious mistakes in retrospect. However it played out OK too...but I'll not make the same mistakes again!
Me either ingwe. Some crazed vicious drugged up lunatic could have blasted me right through the door! Next time I will send the wife up, and I will do the 911 call! (not really)
People who burgle when folks are home are mentally deranged, typically either from drug addiction or just mentally psycho and do it for the danger, challenge and thrill.
So I get woken up by my wife this morning at 5am, she hears noises upstairs in my loading room. There is a dog door on the room, so thinking maybe a raccoon or something? Then notice the door slightly ajar. Kick the door all the way open ,my ,flashlight in one hand and 44 bulldog in the other, and heres a person in full camo standing about 7 ft from me.. It was a women , she was ordered to get on the floor. Told my wife to call 911. Seven police cars show up about 25 minutes later.( I am in a rural area on acreage) She was arrested and booked for burglary. When they were loading her into police unit, noticed it was my camo jacket and boots she was wearing. I am a little more shaken now than when it happened.! Well, happy Birthday to me!!!
so you successfully convinced your wife that this woman, who is wearing your clothes, broke into your house. that's some fast thinking.
Thanks, but would have done it differently if I had to go through it again! Made some mistakes that could have been costly.
the joy of coming through a unusual/traumatic experience is you learn. no substitute for experience. sure glad you are safe! its a wild world out there no matter where one lives, and sometimes it comes in for a visit.
Someone said it here years ago, but basically without a good dog a burglar/psycho can be at the foot of your bed without you even knowing it...... We have 3 and they usually perk up as soon as they hear a car hit the gravel driveway a couple hundred yards away.
Every once in awhile my wife will “hear” something in the night..... I always reply “are the dogs barking?” Then I go back to sleep. Glad everyone is OK.
I'd like to think I'd have the discipline to not pull the trigger if I walked up on someone in my house. I guess it depends on the situation, if they make a sudden move, seem armed, all of that.
But glad you all made it out safe, and happy you dodged the headache that would have ensued!!
As bad as I hate it when one of our dogs get old and dies, I'll never not have a good dog in the house at night. Our Lab and our Aussie know what is normal and what isn't, no way you could get in the house without them knowing it. They are so used to our daughters and the grandkids coming by they don't even bark, but a strange car turns into the driveway, it's on.
The doors to our house are always locked, upstairs not so much before, but always now.! Thank God she was compliant, and did hear one of the officers who knew of her said he thought she was 5150. As far as response time, yes , our sheriff who I have personally known for several years, has stated to the people in this county, it will be up to us to take care of situations many times, because they always cant be there right away. He is very pro 2nd amendment, and made it so much easier to obtain CCW license over previous administrations here. Also we discovered later she arranged all the lawn furniture in the back yard, as we had them turned upside down out of the weather. Was probably here most of the night I am guessing.
Thanks! Everything turned out good, but re-living it now, I realized I did a lot of things wrong. The noise came from an upstairs reloading/ gun work area. Sometimes I have firearms up there I am cleaning, mounting scopes, etc. Didn't even take into consideration what was there at the time. Access is through a carport to outside staircase. The room wasn't locked, (mistake). We live on 10.5 acres, only had a trespasser once that I saw in 20 years. So I get up at around 5am to use the restroom, didn't really hear anything. (pretty much deaf from gun shooting and drag racing). I go back to bed,my wife gets up for her turn in the bathroom, comes back out,and because totally dark, says "are you in here ?"( House is only750 sq ft) I say, 'yes, I'm in bed ' . Comes into the bedroom and whispers,"somebody is upstairs, moving things around!" We have a small cut out in the wall where our cat can get out of the weather, so I am thinking raccoons, or something of that nature. Armed with my flashlight and a revolver, proceed up the stairs. My wife is standing at the bottom of stairs with phone in hand.There is a small landing at top of stairs, about 3'x4' When I get there,I notice things don't look exactly right,like the cat blanket is gone. Then I try the doorhandle, and its locked! I know I didn't lock it the last time I was up there! This is when I should have retreated, and called 911. But didn't. Looked at the door, and although locked,wasnt fully shut.I shove open door with my foot, with gun and flashlight pointed, see this person 6or 7 ft from me standing there! It was surreal, almost like a dream. Ordered her to not move, or I would blow her f'ng head off. Told wife to call 911 and tell them I am holding person at gunpoint. Having some small talk with her, I asked if there was anyone else in the room with her. She said no. I was thinking,if she charges me, or someone else in the room does, I would get a shot off, but will also be falling about 8' to the concrete ! The first officer arrives, and asked me if I still had the gun, then asked me not to shoot him! LoL I guess. Runs up the stairs,he knows her, places her in cuffs, and escorts her to car. Then 6 other units arrive, a whole platoon! She was booked into county jail for felony burglary, $100.000 bail. Have some more to this story, but starting to ramble a little! Mainly as to why I think she was there? Sorry for so long a story, but thanks for the well wishes! Ken
You did alright.
Bad guy/gal is in jail, you and your wife are safe, and you won't have to face a Grand Jury for killing her. I call that a win for your side.
Hindsight is 20/20, and in this case will just make you better prepared in the future.
Yup!
You did alright. You reacted fine didn't "jump the gun".
One night I woke up thinking I was gonna have to shoot someone and found it amazing that you are instantly able to react with a cool head.
