From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Home Invasion Prevention Tactics Wanted
Date: 12 Jan 93 22:18:18 GMT
Organization: Circle 'C' Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, California

In article <9301121516.AA10441@slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com> rliles@spuds.mlb.semi.harris.com (Ray Liles) writes:
#Within the past week, there have been 5 cases of home invasion in the Orlando,
#Florida area.  The incidents occur in the early evening, when everyone is awake
#and typically watching television.  The *invaders* violently crash or break in,
#using the element of surprise.  All have been armed and there are generally 3
#or more.

I presume that they are crashing in through a door, since getting 3
guys through a window in a hurry could be a bit challenging...

This gets back to the issue of 'hardening the target'.  You want to
remove their element of surprise.  To do this, replace the doors with
steel core doors with dead bolts.  They will try to 'crash in' and you 
will hear a loud 'Wonk! Oh, Owe, oof' from your front door ...

For bonus points, have a second dead bolt that is a 'turn bolt' and
only mounts 1/2 way into the door (i.e. there is NOTHING on the outside
of the door to show where it is mounted, since it only has a turn handle
on the inside and does not penetrate the outside door skin.)  This 
prevents them from shooting the lock out, since they don't know where 
to shoot (or at the very least, they have to shoot out 2 dead bolts...).

Make sure you get a steel door frame or at a minimum, a steel door frame
reinforcing for the bolt area.

The doors DO NOT remove the threat.  They buy you time.  Time to 
grab a shotgun and get positioned.  Time for the family to head 
for the safe room.

Me?  If I lived in that area, I'd be willing to keep a couple of 
magazines by the couch and a gun in a lockbox inside the end table...

I have no idea what the best tactics would be to handle 3+ invaders
at one time... perhaps a narrow hallway and something with a severe
overpentration problem??  1/2 ;-)

I can see a theoretical advantage to a semi-auto 'assault gun' like
an SKS/AK/M1 Garand ...  Something that puts a bunch of fast heavy
slugs into/through an advancing column of folks in a hurry.  But 
you MUST eliminate their 'suprise' advantage for any gun to be 
helpful.

If they are coming in through the windows, you pretty much have to
go with bars or fancy security windows (metal frames with small
panels of lexan.  No panel large enough to get a body through, 
so they have to break a frame element (steel!) and they can't
get to the latch until they break a lexan panel.  This would be
expensive and hard to find, but would look nice.  Bars and shutters
are easy to find, but look, um, tacky to some folks...
 
 ...
#the stats, but in at least 2 incidents gun fire was used by the invaders, even
#when the victims were not armed.

Were the guns used to blow the locks out?  Or to blow people away?
It makes a difference...

#Yes, I have protection and security devices, but I don't profess to be RAMBO.

Have you got a steel door with a blind deadbolt in it?  (one not visible
from the outside).  Have you got motion sensing lights that could be
wired to light up an inside light as well?  (Person coming up the walk
lights up your inside hall light, giving you notice ...)

#I would appreciate *practical* solutions and tactical recommendations for 
#handling the situation.  This is obviously beyond the typical, single intruder,
#sneaking into your house.

Concentrate on providing notice that removes their element of surprise.
We added a front yard fence/gate.  What I am doing next is putting a 
switch on the gate that buzzes in the house when the gate opens.  While
this is to keep track of the kids playing in the front yard, it also
provides notice of visitors BEFORE THEY REACH THE FRONT DOOR.  I have
a motion sensor light on the front door.  I'd also consider wiring it
to light up an interior notification light.       

By this time I've had plenty of notice that someone is coming.  A video
camera outside (cheap for B&W, couple of hundred, max.) and a cheap B&W
TV (another $60 or less used) and I can see who they are.  This gives
plenty of time to be waiting with 'assult rifle' in hand when they
bounce off the door ...  If they come through it, they get shot.
Family is in the safe room by now.

My guess is that shotgun or 'assult rifle' in a small gun closet in the
living room/den is your best bet, with a high capacity semi-auto handgun 
in a quick open lock box by the couch for those in-attentive moments ...

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.

[MODERATOR:  To sum up Michael's key assumption here (and also echo
Cooper) ... if you are unaware when attacked, then you have pretty much
lost already.  Don't skimp on detection mechanisms, then then don't 
forget to pay attention.  Be aware.  Remember that discussion of home
defense tactics is predicated on the assumption that your *strategy*
for safety has failed.... so don't skimp on THAT plan either!]