Lock the doors and leave a night light on?

[Clipper]

www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x1274026827/Live-in-Whitestown-Lock-your-doors-keep-night-light-on

I think I would sit in the dark with a loaded shotgun. A little birdshot in their ass might teach them a little about respect for other people's property. That is the way they do it in Tennessee, haha. My truck wheels have my initials engraved on the back side. A $20 engraver from Big Lots makes it easy for me to engrave identifying marks in hidden places on all my valuables.

[Deleted]

I guess the area is changing for the bad. Seems like all these politicians come up with ideas for cutting crime but it will never work. When people can steel the tires right off you car then no one is safe. Next thing people will be steeling your false teeth right out of your mouth.
I carry a knife and pepper spray with me at all times when I am walking in the area. I am trying to find a cane that the handle can be taken off to reveal a nice sharp knife.

[Clipper]

The heck with a knife. Just get a cane that is a cattle prod in disguise. Don't kill em, just melt the fillings in their teeth and rattle their jewels. LOL

[clarencebunsen]

At first I was going to make a joke, then I checked:
www.defensedevices.com/rattan-sword-cane.html

[firstamendment]

Hey, a little bird shot won't kill 'em so at least you can say you didn't use deadly force. They will either think twice or come back with a bigger gun.

[Clipper]

Hmm. I would have to move up to something a little heavier. I have a 30-06, a 243 Winchester, a 30-30 Winchester, an Ithaca 12 gauge semi auto and slugs to load it with, a marlin22, an old octagon barrel Remington 22, and a Buck stopper 50 caliber black powder gun. I only keep most of them because if I ever move back to NY I will hunt again. Otherwise I could sell all but about two of them. lol

A guy has to exercise his 2nd amendment rights ya know. I have given some of my guns away. I gave my son a marlin 30-30 and a 22, sold an 8mm Mauser and a couple of shotguns. I love to shoot, but it has gotten expensive just like everything else.

[Ralph]

Lock the doors and leave a light on?
So they can see better whilst you're sleeping?

Motion detector lights give an element of shock to those entering your property, coupled with a close proximity motion alarm makes a nice touch.

I just installed a camera system so my wife can see what's going on when I am gone.......this way she knows where to point the shotgun.

Knife and pepper spray Alan? Watch they don't take the pepper spray away from you for their tacos and stick the knife in your eye. Unless you really know how to use a knife, you are better off with a good size 2X4.
First rule in a knife fight is you're going to get cut....and most folks have an aversion to bleeding.
Besides, most of the baddies around here will look at a knife and then cap your ass and then use your pepper spray for breath freshener.

Stick with a 2X4 and pretend you're Babe Ruth......and their head is the ball.

[JGRobinson]

If you scare them away without knowing it (Motion light, visible Cameras, big dogs, Trip wired Claymore's), you will be better off. Wake up, have your coffee and read about your neighbor being robbed instead. Secondary is a good firearm but only if you are willing to use it without hesitation!

Bruce Lee used to make throwing stars, knives and other hand tools look like ineffective toys; unless you can move like he could, get a big gun instead!

Ralph is giving excellent advice, Your weapon of choice in any defense should be at least twice the size and ferocity of the perp's and you must be prepared to deploy it brutally with no exceptions. No knives unless they are 2' or longer and sharp as a razor (Samaria is a great choice)!

Make sure you don't institute your protective posture while their back is facing you if they are not in your house, way too much paperwork!

[Clipper]

The ideal scenario would be to hit them with a tranquilizer dart and when they go down, tie them to a post with their hands behind their back, pour heet liniment on their crotch, turpentine on their butt, and pepper spray in their faces, wait a half hour while they "marinate" and then call the cops.

[Deleted]

A few month ago there was a class held at the senior center on how a senior can protect themselves using their cane. I always forget the name of the nice man that showed how to do it, He is a blackbelt in self defense. I think the first name is Clif.
I was mentioning this because last year I had stopped at the Bank of Utica to make an ATM withdrawl on a Saturday afternoon. Nice day so I thought I would take a short walk to downtown. Well I was followed and almost attacked. I was lucky that there was actually a car waiting for the light at the corner where it occured. The guy got away but damn was I shook up. I don't go downtown on a Saturday anymore, not safe. It was then I decided to get a cell phone.

[Clipper]

It breaks my heart to know that on a fine sunny day, one cannot walk downtown in a city that brings back so many pleasant memories from my youth, that will NEVER be possible again, due to the degradation of the city and the criminal element that seems to OWN the streets in late years. Hopefully Chief Mark Williams will have a serious impact. He grew up on the 1500 block of West St and has a vested interest in saving the city, other than just a job and a paycheck.

[bobbbiez]

A damn good alarm system is worth the price for one's piece of mind and safety whether you're home or not. Wouldn't be without one no matter where I live. Much better then worrying about what weapons to use where you might be the one who loses out in a battle.

[dgriffin]

You are right, Bz. If you plan to use a weapon, make sure you can get to it first, know how to use it under pressure, are willing to kill someone before they take it away from you, and know how to interpret your state's "castle doctrine" so you don't get yourself charged with murder when you shoot someone on your porch and it looks like he was leaving.

I have both guns and an alarm system. I hope I never have to use the gun.

[Clipper]

We have both. I would not WANT to shoot anyone, but at my age I am not letting some pond scum dirt bag harm me or Kathy, nor am I going to stand by and let them steal my property. All I can say is that when the motion lights come or the alarm system on the windows, doors and the shop goes off in the house, the perps better be hauling ass, because the next thing they are going to see is a fat old man looking down the sights of a weapon aimed at their sorry ass.

We live in a semi rural area, and with the armed knuckleheads that wander the earth these days, and the closest police protection 5 miles away at best, I am not taking any chances.

[bobbbiez]

We only had one time when we first had our alarm system put in that someone tried a window when we were sleeping and let me tell you whoever it was did "haul a**" cause it woke up the whole neighborhood and scared the sh*t out of us. I'm positive whoever it was wiped his a** as he was running away.