Thought I Was Safe

[chefkristian]

There is no such thing as a safe community any more... I used to live in a limited access building here in Austin, but there were a few break-ins and an attempted home invasion (on me!)... A determined criminal will aways find a way in no matter what...

[Excaliber]

There is no such thing as a safe community any more... I used to live in a limited access building here in Austin, but there were a few break-ins and an attempted home invasion (on me!)... A determined criminal will aways find a way in no matter what...

A determined criminal will always attempt a crime somewhere.

However, these folks are not the type that thrive on steep challenge. They're a lot like electricity - they follow the path of least resistance.

The harder you make it for them, the less likely it is that they'll make that attempt on you, and well thought out plans and preparations greatly diminish the chances that any attempt made anyway will succeed.

[PUCKER]

Gated apartment complexes are a bad joke at best. It's quite easy to get in. Just follow the car in front of you, in most cases. I used to deliver pizza in college, we didn't have time to deal with all the hassle of the gate, if someone was driving in, we followed them in. Used to date a gal with a gated apartment complex...same thing, follow the car in front of you in.

[Dragonfighter]

I was reading the last set of FBI crime statistics and we have about a 1 in 6 chance of being victimized in a violent crime (assault, rape, armed robbery, murder, etc.) As I was discussing this with my wife she says, "That's the average but you know better than anyone that there are some areas where it happens more often." I then reviewed OUR history as singles and then married and we figured we exceeded the national average about three to one.

I am one who has a "past" that involved less than desirable company so it kinda figures for me, but not for her. The bottom line is, there is no safe place or a safe type of person. As has already been posted, you can chose when to carry, but you cannot chose when you'll need it.

[Stupid]

Most, I do mean vast majority of criminals work based on convenience - as per my research of course. In addition, they often pray on each other or their own families, friends and acquaintances.

[ELB]

Heads-up -- the website that Excalibur points out (nononsense) has a lot of interesting info, but my anti-virus software detects a virus everytime I go there...

I'm using the latest version of Norton and I don't get any warnings.

What software are you using and what virus is identified?

Microsofte Essentials

It identifies "TrojanClicker:PHP/Veetsif.A" with the following details.

Category: Trojan Notifier

Description: This program connects to the Internet in the background.

Recommendation: Remove this software immediately.

Microsoft Security Essentials detected programs that may compromise your privacy or damage your computer. You can still access the files that these programs use without removing them (not recommended). To access these files, select the 'Allow' action and click 'Apply actions'. If this option is not available, log on as administrator or ask the local administrator for help.

Items:
file:C:\Users\Eric\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\T1L18UVU\nononsenseselfdefense_com[1].htm

I just went there right now, and it popped up immediately.

[connectme3504]

Well my dads friend lives in The Woodlands and lives in a very nice apartment complex that is gated and the monthly rent is more then my mortgage. About a year ago he was robbed at gun point and shot once in the stomach with a 9mm. He lived and guess what, he was a CHL holder and was carrying on his person at the time of the shooting. He never had a chance to draw his SIG P232. He still carries to this day even though he thinks there was little or nothing he could have done to stop the attack. The BG had the element of surprise and his gun drawn at point blank range. Like Bill said "it can happen anywhere".

I am glad you Dad is OK....God knows I could not make it without his awsome Pizza!

He should now have a .380 in a wallet holster and if this happens again he can get the drop on the BG. He is a target because he is a business owner and people probably think he has cash on him always. Did he know the perp?

[Venus Pax]

I'm glad you're gathering information on keeping yourself and family safe, OP.

I did the same thing a number of years ago, and was ridiculed by certain people close to me (still am, somewhat). However, we are ultimately responsible for ourselves and our minor children (if any).

Mars & I lived in several different apt complexes in our early married years. One such place was a gated community. I found it peculiar that everyone in town new the access code.

[davidtx]

Mars & I lived in several different apt complexes in our early married years.

That seems awfully inconvenient

[maximus2161]

Kat welcome to the forum first off! Sure happy to have you with us. One thing you will see here is a lot of members can contribute real world experience. Granted we all have our own views and opinions but you are going to find some helpful stuff here.

One thing I have learned is it doesnt matter where you live, the bad guys can lurk anyplace. Sure crime may be more prone in bad neighborhoods but the criminal doesnt care where or how nice of an area we live in. If they are determined then its a problem. If a criminal sees an opportunity they will take it. I consider my neighborhood a nice area. Its not gated but the houses are nice and most people who I have met seem nice. Do I feel safe because of these of these factors? Not really. Sure its quiet here. My house is set down in a cul-de-sac. Not a lot of traffic here. It would not provide a quick getaway to be down this far when there are houses closer down the street that are close to a main road. Does that help? Maybe. I casually wave to my neighbors but I dont really know them. I dont know the teenagers in the neighborhood or their friends. So many factors.

Im not a paranoid person. I just try to be prepared as i can be. But I KNOW if a bad guy kicks in my front door and is armed or not that have seconds to get to my weapon. So I always have a gun close by. I sit up late (like now as I write this) and I have a gun within reach. literally about 20 inches from my hand. I also like to sit up ad watch DVDs late at night. I will tear into the latest DVD boxset I have and watch it. And yes I have a gun nearby. You just never know. I have a wife and child to think about and someone breaks into my house my only priority is to protect my family and stop any threat as fast and efficiently as possible. If I have visitors coming over I know in advance. You just dont show up to my house without warning. So when someone rings the door bell I have my weapon on me. Its common to get solicitors knocking on doors and such which I dont like.

My godfather a retired police captain lives up in Montague county on about 200 acres To get to his house you have to travel off a main highway, go down a paved road a ways, then travel down a gravel road to get to his place. Everytime I go visit him he comes to the door with a pistol even if he knows I am coming. We will hang out at and talk and he too keeps his firearm next to him. Now for one thing he does have wild animal running around like feral hogs, coyotes, etc. that have gotten up close to his house. He is not a paranoid person. He is always very relaxed and calm but he is prepared.

The point is it just doesnt matter where you live or where you go. Criminals dont care. A person can go from having a nice time someplace to being a victim in seconds. Even if the person is armed they may not have time to defend themselves if they arent paying attention and living in condition white all the time.

[striker55]

I used to have a condo which was located on a fenced property. One morning around 4am I was having my morning coffee on my patio. I saw a guy come running through, he had a bag over his shoulder. I watched him launch himself over the 8 foot security fence, one hop and he was gone. I called the police, when they got there they found about 5 cars had been broken into. I did not have a discription of the guy, it happened too fast.

[stevie_d_64]

This has been a pretty good discussion...I have nothing pertinent to add...(The forum goes WILD!!! )

My question(s) is this...Did the woman find her dog???

And was the person who kicked in their door caught???

[ChattyKat]

My question(s) is this...Did the woman find her dog???

Yes, the other day I saw this woman walking her dog in the apartment complex and talked with her for a moment. She was very grateful that the dog was returned unharmed, although he was found near a busy intersection more than 1.5 miles from home. (I guess he had a microchip or ID tag.) Of course she's extremely lucky that she came through the incident unscathed. The lady said the intruder was expecting to find someone else in that apartment (i.e., he broke into the wrong apartment), and he was startled to find her instead and was yelling his drunken head off. Weird stuff sure does happen.

[ELB]

Glad to hear the dog is OK.

... he broke into the wrong apartment... and was yelling his drunken head off...

The fool is lucky. This can be a fatal mistake.