You want to stop burglars from even considering your house. Don’t leave stuff outside or in your car where anyone can see it. Consider adding blinds or tinting windows that face the front. When you buy big items, don’t leave the boxes outside. Use outdoor flood lights, and consider ‘defensive landscaping’ to prevent anyone from getting close to your house. And don’t rely on those cloud-based cameras like Ring—go for real 24/7 security cameras. When preventative measures fail, make sure your doors are reinforced, and there are no windows near them. If someone still gets in, they pose a threat, and you may need to use force.
“What to do about burglary on your property and in your community?” Just move somewhere that actually lets you defend yourself properly.
Look crazy enough that burglars won’t want to risk it. If it were me, I’d throw jars of piss at anyone messing with my stuff.
I feel the same way. I have the capacity, but what happens after? The police come, do their investigation, and then they might turn it on you. It’s messed up, but that’s how it works. The best you can do is shout at them and hope they leave. If they try anything, you can defend yourself, but pulling a gun out could cause more problems.
In a constitutional carry state, we load rock salt into 410 shotgun shells. It doesn’t kill, but it stings a lot.
Darwin said:
In a constitutional carry state, we load rock salt into 410 shotgun shells. It doesn’t kill, but it stings a lot.
That sounds like a good way to end up in prison, even in a stand-your-ground state. All ammunition, even bean bag rounds, is considered lethal. If you shoot someone with rock salt, it could be seen as you intentionally harming someone without fear for your life. I’d strongly suggest talking to a lawyer before trying that.
@Nico
No prison time here. The police laughed and arrested the guy. They said he messed with the wrong house. Luckily, we didn’t send the dog after him. I guess you live in a state that doesn’t have common sense.
@Darwin
All states lack common sense to some degree. It sounds like you’ve got a good DA and sheriff. Just be careful if the DA or sheriff changes; they might see things differently next time. Just because they didn’t press charges doesn’t mean it was technically legal.
I had two attempted break-ins years ago. If you’ve had a break-in before, you can attest to how frightening it is to know someone has no regard for your safety. If you see them, that’s one thing. But often, you’re not aware until it’s already over.