Still a bit shaken from a potential home intruder experience. :(

thanks Chris, will you give me ride too ;) j/k. I appreciate it.

well, the update is researching new alarm system and also like the police said better to call them than to be sorry--maybe I was just being paranoid mother - but just in case, they told me to keep spare set of keys up in the bedroom (in case I need to throw them out the window if they can't get in without shooting or something) and also a spare phone. so those are good tips to remember too.

it's been an adventure-and all quiet now, and better stay that way otherwise I will have to kick some intruder energy ass!

The grip on the pump works for me, just not on the shoulder. I just found that the kick was hurting my right wrist, while my shoulder would not only fix that problem, but it would also allow me to have better aim rather than a hold by the hip hollywood style shot. If it's on my shoulder, I can track the target and have a better chance of hitting it even if he's running. Of course the buckshot helps too. lol

I don't know why people recommend a hand gun for home protection. Unless you REALLY know how to use it and have training, I think in a state of panic, you won't hit or stop your target. A shot gun is going to put down just about anyone. Plus it's damn scary looking.

Better than any man:

Glad you and your daughter are safe Lori!

They're not very expensive, either.

That's very true... I'm a very good shot (former USMC scout sniper and primary marksmanship instructor) so I only buy 9mm since they're generally more accurate and more reliable. 2 in the chest and one in head happens very quickly :P

But yes... shotgun, all the fucking way. Nothing will scare the shit out of a burglar like a shotgun even if he's got a handgun That pump noise from the shotgun can be heard through a door and whoever's on the other side it going to be turning and running.

Glad you guys are ok.
I wouldn't recommend a gun either having a kid running around the house.
Get another dog, a big one, and make sure people will know what they're getting into upon entry.

Hey chick, I was shocked to hear about this and am glad that you & ya girl are safe!
I understand the whole energy thing as I have had several experiences with things like that myself. As for a home intruder, the night of my 8th birthday I actually had someone trying to break in through my bedroom window while my sister and I were sleeping....my older sister froze completely and it was me who ran to the door to scream bloody murder for my parents. Cops were called and they investigated the window and sure enough there were knife marks around the trim & hinges. I guess if had waited a min or 2 longer he would have made it in. It took me 12mths of sleeping with my bedroom light on and additional 2yrs after that with the hallway light on before I was confident enough to sleep with out it.
Sure is a scary thing to have to experience but it is a learning experience also. You must protect the most important things around you from harm (your daughter) and if you don't like guns (which I don't approve of) then get the alarm and this may sound funny but get a paint ball gun! It isn't gonna kill no body but it sure as hell will hurt them!

Talk about an adrenaline rush!

Worst advice ever. You get a pet because you want one. If you have to resort to "replacing" said pet with something to protect you, maybe you should rethink your location, not your animal.

That being said, invest in a Rott, Pit, Doberman, something to protect you, like thehand said, Elvis was a good dog.

Good to hear you and your daughter are safe.

Could have been the tooth fairy...
Check your daughter's mouth!

All jokes aside- glad u are safe.
Having sold alarm systems with my bro and father for years-
I can say it gives u piece of mind and having a mobile panic button on your keychain or on your wall of your bedroom will work- but only when monitored.

Systems are cheap- they give them away these days it's all about the monthly monitoring.
$20 a month 5 years is standard.

Hit up Christian's cousin Ashley he works selling security systems - he does mostly commercial, but he can refer you to someone.

The dog could probably use some training. For most people, dogs should be trained
to bark an alert, but NOT to attack. Attack training should really be reserved for special
circumstances and the training done professionally. Most dogs can be trained to bark
to alert the owner, though, and cause the bad guy to consider maybe going elsewhere,
where there is no dog. So no need for a different dog, but just some training probably,
depending on the dog.

Firearms for home defense are great for some people, not for others. Pump action shotguns
have that distinctive sound which will scare of many intruders. I once had a digital recording
of a pump action shotgun hooked up to a motion detector. Some of the ideas about shotguns
for home defense don't pan out in the real world, though. Assume a 11x11 foot room. The muzzle
of the shotgun couldn't be any closer than 8 feet from the perp. At that distance, the spread
pattern is two inches at best, probably closer to one inch, so it doesn't maker any easier to
hit the target. It's also sometimes said that a shotgun won't penetrate walls like a pistol
bullet will. That's only true with smaller shot, like birdshot. Buck shot will go right through
drywall, and a slug will go through several layers of drywall. In fact, though, medium sized
shot will normally stop an intruder faster than 00 buckshot will, which seems counter intuitive.
A projectile can stop a perp in three ways - psychology (damn, I'm shot and it hurts), mechanically
(severing a major nerve or joint damage from a slug), and hydraulically (bleeding out). The
odds of hitting just the right spot to take them out mechanically are near zero except for the
top snipers. Bleeding enough to cause them to pass out takes many minutes or even hours.
So the best way to stop them quickly is psychologically - make it hurt like hell. Just like road
rash, a shitload of #4 birdshot turning your chest to mush will hurt a hell of a lot more than two
pieces of 00 buck. The larger shot is more likely to kill them eventually, but we're not trying to
have them die two hours later, we're trying to make them stop right now. Also large 00 buck
will go through a wall or two with enough energy left to kill a good guy on the other side, just
as larger pistol rounds will.

Given that the spread of a shotgun is a myth at close range, we turn our attention back to
the pistol. My pistol is sitting on my desk right now. Ali, who sits behind me, has hers
in her purse. When I go to bed, my pistol is still within reach. When I take the dog outside
at night, my pistol is again within reach. A shotgun isn't always going to be within reach
like that. Well, some people may carry a shotgun around the house and yard, but most of
those people also wear tinfoil hats. When I had my carry license, and when it get my new one,
my pistol will also be in my car. So there are some advantages to a pistol for home defense -
you can keep it with you at all times, and use the same firearm in the car. Another advantage
of a pistol is that it can be kept secured in the holster at all times, so it's not accessible to
other people. I did that for a while when we had kids in the house. I wouldn't have a shotgun
in the bedroom where they might get their hands on it, but I knew that my pistol snapped
into my ankle holster was always secure. Later we decided we didn't want to have any firearms
for a while - we had the kids and we lived in a safe place. You have to consider your situation,
and for different people at different times a shotgun may be best, or a pistol may be best, or
pepper spray might be better.

When looking at a security system, keep in mind that #1 failing of all security systems.
Most security systems, even very expensive ones, do not provide any protection when
they are needed, for one reason. People stop using them. If it's any hassle at all to use,
you'll probably stop using it before too long, or only use it sometimes, but leave it turned
off a good portion of the time. Look for one that it very quick and easy to use. Do you
ALWAYS lock all of your doors? Now go look and see, to be sure. My mom would SAY she
always locks them, and she really believes that, but in fact most of the time at least one door
is unlocked. If any of your doors are unlocked right now, get in the habit of locking them
before buying a security system. Actually go check them any time you see me post, or perhaps
every time you check your sales stats or whatever. If you find that you forget to lock them
and can't establish that habit, you'll be wasting money on a security system that you won't use.
Maybe consider a cheap passive camera system, the idea being that the bad guy will see the
cameras and go away without you having to actually do anything.

For us, we have the pistols, the dog, the pepper spray, the security alarm, the cameras, and
all doors and windows are always locked. That may seem like a lot, but we also have your
personal information, so aren't you glad we keep the office secure? The security system we
stopped actually using a long time ago. I need to look at what I can do to make it even easier
to use, so we actually use it, and replace several of the motion detectors with window detectors
since we now have the dog, which would trigger motion detectors.

The camera system I started to install, but then didn't finish because of DVR problems.
There are several visible cameras outside, so hopefully the bad guys see them and go
away, but few friends notice them, so bad guys probably won't notice them either. I need
to find another DVR soon and finish the camera system installation.

Glad to hear you're ok Lori. Dunno how you can live these days feeling safe without keeping a gun in your house. I even have all double sided keyed door locks, that way if somebody comes in through the window, either they can go back out the same way or they're fucked.

Lori sounds like that was pretty intense. Glad that you and Faith are safe.

Ok. So lets pretend you had a gun in this incident. What'r you shooting? Nothing? The kitchen? Accidently your dog?

100% of your ordeal would have been identical if you had 100 guns within reach, just be aware.

And on a personal note, my gosh I'm sorry you had to deal with that. Such a violation shouldnt be experienced by anyone. Better locks and an alarm system would have been 100% effective, no question about it.

The camera system I will be promoting is completely wireless. The base unit, control panel and cameras all are.

I went and looked at a setup last night and I can't wait till they get their website up because this thing rocks. The people staffing the monitoring location can send the feed to your cell phone if you want.

more accurate and reliable than what?

We just put in an alarm system a few weeks ago and I love it. If I'm not home, the wifey just puts it on the "Stay" mode and it basically just takes the motion sensors out of play leaving all the window, door, and glass break sensors on.

Glad that you and your daughter are okay. No matter how scared you were if your not comfortable with guns then don't get one. You never want to have a weapon your not comfortable with because its something that can potentially get taken and used against you.

Glad your okay.

I'm not really afraid of intruders, but more worried about someone breaking into my house at night and snatching my daughter. I have a custom alarm system hooked up to a back up battery, and it's usually on. We never answer the front door unless we know who it is. I also have stickers and notices about my alarm system everywhere. I even keep my back gate locked with a padlock, and I unlock it once a week for my landscaper.

Sorry to hear Lori but glad to hear both of you are fine. A mother can do incredible things to protect her children. The police said to run down fast and try and make it to the front door? "To protect and serve (once you get to the front door)"

Hey Lori, I used to have a prowler / stalker when I was renting and lived by myself. He tried to break in several times. He would do crazy shit like cut my phone lines, one time even took a hammer to my front doorknob. Shit can be very scary indeed.

I act the same way too. I don't know why, but even when I'm armed I hunker down. I would just get so scared.

Now I own a home that's well lit and near a busy street. No more prowler. That and my better half is quite the firearms enthusiast, makes me feel alot safer.

Baddog, do tell about this home protection unit! I am intrigued.

Just hit them with your enormous penis

Wow...Beyach...that is some fucked up shit. Wondered why you've been outta sight.
I am thankful you and your daughter are ok. Also, I am sending you some very loving and protective vibes. Anytime you need a scary Lezbo around to fend off some entities or thugs..just call my name...i'll be there...

lol at some of these replies so gun happy, I'm suprised someone hasn't suggested trip mines

yes, I didn't care about the dog being afraid as much as my daughter being afraid and locked in a bedroom with me with hammer in hand, cel phone in other and watching for shadows under a door.

for those that know me as the mother that I am, anyone comes near her and they have never seen a mother as fierce as me. So yea I was frightened but I was also prepared to fight to protect. NOBODY FUCKS WITH MY DAUGHTER, not even 3rd grade bully's LOL. (that was the mother in Lori Z. coming out ;)

I am a business woman, but watch out as me as a mother. The Lion!

and thanks for all the alarm tips, totally researching it!!! you guys are the best and thank you for your concern and posts!

hey Lori,
wow that sounds terrible. Having to protect your daughter would have been the most terrifying part of the whole experience I would imagine.

We had a guy bust into our office with a small knife a few years back. I managed to scare the guy out before he did any damage to anyone. The guy was obviously a crack head looking for something to steal.

Your story sounds way scarier. I hope you guys are ok.

I think an alarm system would be the immediate concern, given the fear factor of not being protected probably gnawing at you.

Then you can work on a relationship knowing that if the guy doesn't work out you can still tell him to fuck off without having to worry about security ;)

if my dog did that, I'd kill the fucker

time for a new dog who isn't a pussy.

we didn't get a dog just for being a guard dog, we got a dog for my daughter to grow and have fun with. didn't think I needed a guard dog, but perhaps we will consider getting another. I cannot blame this on the dog.

I am riding them to get a site up ASAP. As soon as it is I will bump this thread, and maybe start another.

yes, let me know when it is up tooooooo

Very cool, looking forward to that.

I'm pretty secure where I'm at now, but you never know.

scary shit

So nothing was stolen?

Sounds scary. Glad to hear things worked out in the end. Beef up security a bit and lock those windows.

Personally I let my rotts handle anything downstairs. If someone is good enough to get past them then they have to deal with me and a shotgun.

No, pump your shotgun and yell to them they have one chance to exit the house. You'll find out pretty fast if someone is in there or not. That pumping sound will scare the shit out of anyone.

btw, when it comes to robberies, a gun is a good thing to have if you are going to barricade yourself in your room, if they come in breaking the door, their intentions arent good and you better start shooting... But hunting them down in the house with your gun isnt a good idea imo... Chances are they had no intention of hurting you in the first place, but if you go on and point a gun at them, and they are armed themselves, perhaps they are going to shoot at you and if they are 2 or 3, you'll need alot of luck...

Good you are safe.

glad you are ok....

im torn because i do like guns, but after reading alot of these posts (some of them really dumb advice)...people are so easily overcome with the "kill kill kill" mentality....come on ppl, think about this and lets think about Lori...this isnt hollywood...its not all rambo style vigilante....id rather see you go and get that alarm system Maddog is talking about...its a safer route that you wont have to worry about accidentally shooting your dog, child or anyone by accident...or if you have it and an intruder overtakes you, uses it on you....if you want to take lessons on guns and want to have it locked away and are willing to shoot someone, then i recommend a hand gun....a shotgun will knock you off your ass...but remember bullets are forever and one mistake will effect you waaaay more...

guns dont kill people, people kill people...but if you arent comfortable with a gun.....get yourself a good old wood baseball bat and tuck it near the bed...plenty of my female friends have one near the front door as well as one in their bedroom closet...its safer, wont go offer accidentally and if your daughter gets a hold of it, you dont have to worry about it hurting her...or the dog or you....

i am all for guns and owning one, but to go and buy one in the state of mind you are in currently i believe you might not make such a rational purchase...

Maddogs recommended alarms system
Baseball bat
Lock the doors & windows
THEN if you want a gun, make it with a clear head and get lessons and a lock....

thanks so much. Everything is great now! Took the power back LOL-nobody messing with us lately. ;)

You people are all retarded. This was just a raccoon that got into the house, most likely from the kitchen window which she said herself was open/unlocked. No evidence at all here that the noises were from a human, who most likely would have got out once the dog and all the noise upstairs was started. The fact that some "noise" continued even after her presence was known makes it all the more likely it was simply a raccoon or other critter in the kitchen. Duh....

even more reason to get a really big handgun.

those racoons go apeshit and carry rabies. if a raccoon got into someone's home i would expect them to shoot that sob with a full magazine before it attacks the children

glad that you and your daughter are ok

"Finally, the police tell me only way to do it is I have to run down the stairs, as fast as possible, with my daughter and get to the front door and run out while they run in."

WTF? What cop would tell someone to leave a locked room, run through the house, with a child for that matter, when there is a potentially harmful burglar inside? Crazy.