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Still waiting on my CHL, but I do carry in my truck under the motorist protection act. I live in a not so great neighborhood and have had many run ins with local kids associated with what they think is a gang. They draw their symbols on my garage and the side of my house and I always immediately paint over them as well as my neighbors (with their permission of course). The kids no I do this and they don't like me very much.

My wife got home a few minutes before me today. As soon as she did, she saw two men run out of our backyard into an abandoned neighboring yard. Once I got home about 2 minutes later, I checked all the doors and windows to make sure they were all secure and entered the house. I cleared the inside before bringing in the family. I then called the police and informed them of the situation. I alerted my neighbor who is also a card carrying member of the NRA and we proceeded to check the premise of both of our houses as well as the abandoned neighbor's house (Long story on the abandoned house, but we both know the owner and have his permission to be on the property. He lives several hundred miles away. I frequently mow it to keep it from becoming to run down.). We both sat outside talking for almost 2 hours waiting on the police, but they never showed up. From our vantage point, we could clearly see both the front and back drives.

I called the police dept (non-emergency) back to see if they were coming to take a report. I was told they had already been there and searched the neighborhood, but found nothing. When I told her I had been outside the whole time, she said I must have just not see them drive by.

Oh well, glad we still have the second amendment. The police don't even bother showing up anymore.

What report were you filing? Sounds like it came out as a suspicious person call. Pretty standard to check the area and go back in service.

Curious what training you have building searching (or clearing as you call it)? Glad everything turned out ok.

As far as training goes, nothing in law enforcement, but I was military. I was a SAR crewman and went through SEER training many years ago. I am not saying that is anything to do with being able to safely clear my house, but if I had been waiting on the police, I would most likely still be sitting out in my car 5 hours later.
As far as clearing, I just checked all the outside doors and windows to make sure they were all still locked, then went in and checked every room, closet and other possible hiding spots in the house. At that point I was certain that nobody was in the house besides me.

As far as the report, it would have been trespassing. I would think that to check an area, you would generally need to go to that area, correct? As I said, I can see both the front street and back alley from where we were standing. There is not a lot of traffic on my street since it is a culdasac and even less in the alley.

bcdudley wrote:As far as training goes, nothing in law enforcement, but I was military. I was a SAR crewman and went through SEER training many years ago. I am not saying that is anything to do with being able to safely clear my house, but if I had been waiting on the police, I would most likely still be sitting out in my car 5 hours later.
As far as clearing, I just checked all the outside doors and windows to make sure they were all still locked, then went in and checked every room, closet and other possible hiding spots in the house. At that point I was certain that nobody was in the house besides me.

As far as the report, it would have been trespassing. I would think that to check an area, you would generally need to go to that area, correct? As I said, I can see both the front street and back alley from where we were standing. There is not a lot of traffic on my street since it is a culdasac and even less in the alley.

SEER...hoo boy, tough gig. I went through an OPFOR but it was just a couple of days and a picnic compared to SEER.

Dragonfighter wrote:

bcdudley wrote:As far as training goes, nothing in law enforcement, but I was military. I was a SAR crewman and went through SEER training many years ago. I am not saying that is anything to do with being able to safely clear my house, but if I had been waiting on the police, I would most likely still be sitting out in my car 5 hours later.
As far as clearing, I just checked all the outside doors and windows to make sure they were all still locked, then went in and checked every room, closet and other possible hiding spots in the house. At that point I was certain that nobody was in the house besides me.

As far as the report, it would have been trespassing. I would think that to check an area, you would generally need to go to that area, correct? As I said, I can see both the front street and back alley from where we were standing. There is not a lot of traffic on my street since it is a culdasac and even less in the alley.

SEER...hoo boy, tough gig. I went through an OPFOR but it was just a couple of days and a picnic compared to SEER.

I went through a few SEER training courses (yes, there's more than one) when I was in the military (nobody warned me when I signed up for recon ). Some of my most miserable weeks EVER. I still look back on them fondly though, I'm just glad I went through them in my late teens/early 20s. My body probably couldn't handle that stuff anymore.

bcdudley wrote:Oh well, glad we still have the second amendment. The police don't even bother showing up anymore.

The police have zero responiblity to protect you, this has been proven time and time again in court.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1976377/posts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That being said, if you have a chance, do a ride along with your local PD. The handful of times I have done it has been a real eye opener. Last time I did one was in the area of Stop Six in Fort Worth. The que on the calls screened stayed full, and frequently lower level calls had to be ignored to get to calls where an actual crime was in progress.

I know you called the "non-emerg" number

By the title ... I thought this was going to be a story about Austin putting 911 callers on hold. (On the news last night)
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... ounty_beat" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More than 6,000 callers to Austin’s 911 line received a recorded message instead of a live operator

and
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/t ... fda84.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bcdudley, you should (if you haven't already) consider a video surveillance system.

With trouble you've been having from those thugs, it might pay off one day
if you can capture video evidence/documentation of their future illegal activities.

Both my neighbor and I have put up the fake camera's around the building, but they were knocked down within a week. We have also submitted photo's of some of the troublemakers, including a picture of one of them in the process of stealing a little girls bike across the street. The police have been down to one of the houses on many occasions and they have arrested them on occasion, but that doesn't seem to deter them. Up until last night, they seemed to be staying away, but with the weather warming up soon, they may be coming back out.

Last year, I caught a group of 4 of them writing gang symbols on the back of my garage. I walked out and shewed them off. They told me that since they have lived there their entire lives, they could do whatever they wanted. They started saying some other stuff to me and then something else to each other about me in spanish. I called 911 and told the operator what was going on. As they were walking off, one of the younger ones pointed something at me, but I could not tell what it was. Since there were four of them, possibly with guns and one of me, I stepped into my house and came back out with my 12ga. shotgun. After that, they all took off running fast.

I told the 911 operator what was going on the entire time. The police came out and spoke with me for a few minutes. They then went down to the house where the kids lived and sat them all out on the curb for several hours. They found a black magic marker that one of the kids admitted pointing at me and pretending like it was a gun. They also admitted drawing on my garage. The police told them they were lucky that I didn't shoot, but also told them if I had, they would be the ones going to the hospital, then, if they were lucky, jail.

I hadn't seen anything around my house since that last incident.

Maybe you should have told them you think someone might be in your house waiting to ambush you so the cops might actually stop and clear your house for you. Just a thought and not bashing your decision.

...reminds me of a joke where a homeowner called to report someone prowling his tool shed...and was told they didn't have any units available to respond...he hung up and waited a minute, called back and told them that he'd shot a burglar 5 times...within two minutes, four squads arrived code 3...and caught the burglar...then got mad at him, saying "You said you shot the guy"...he replied "You said you didn't have anyone available"....funny in a joke...not in real life...PLEASE...ONLY give the dispatcher the truth...and accurate information...the officer(s) need to know what they're getting into...lives are in the balance...folks have been charged and jailed for being cute and playing jokes...when you call 911, someone's life is on the line...

I once called the gas company about a gas leak and you wouldn't believe how quickly they showed up.
I've often thought that if I really needed help I would call them first.
J/K

...I've seen that, too...and they don't have redlights and sirens...

I applaud your restraint. I think after the first time I reported it, and the police didn't lock up the vandals, I would shoot them in the act at night and call it assisted Darwinism.

RPB wrote:I know you called the "non-emerg" number

By the title ... I thought this was going to be a story about Austin putting 911 callers on hold. (On the news last night)
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... ounty_beat" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More than 6,000 callers to Austin’s 911 line received a recorded message instead of a live operator

and
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/t ... fda84.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As a 911 dispatcher myself I can tell you that at least 60% of all 911 calls are not emergancies. People don't carry phone books with them, so they just call 911 and try to use it as 411, also the majority of 911 calls come in from cell phones. If there is an accident or a fire, watch out. We'll use a grass fire on the interstate. Every single person with a cell phone calls 911, and I mean everyone. From the time the fire started until there are emergancy vehicles with blinky lights on scene, they call.

I hate having to be on a 911 call with a person who needs directions to get somewhere, while passing numerous gas stations and other businesses. Every 911 call center only has a certin number of 911 lines coming in. When they get tied up with the other crap, the real emergencies get put in Que.

Oh, and butt dialing 911 or a child calling on a cell phone. Remember, a cell phone by law must always be able to call 911. It doesn't matter if the phone has service or not, all cell phones call 911. We get tons of these calls...also tying up the 911 lines for the real emerganices.

Just a little bit of inside information, hope it helps.

As for the OP, when you call the police, if you want to speak with them make sure you tell them that you want to speak with the officer. Most agenices clear the call if nothing is found and there is no meet complaintant.