[Paladin]

Friday night my son was spending the night with some friends for a movie and game night. Since he was not going to be home I set the house alarm to instant on.

About midnight he decided to come home and he set off the alarm. I'm instantly out of the bed and grabbing my weapon from the chest of drawers. As I grabbed the weapon I called my son's name out loud and he answered back. My only tactical mistake (that I'm aware of) was I failed to grab the tactical flashlight from beside the bed and this would have resulted in some needless backtracking.

My wife though jumped out of bed and checked the alarm which said that the front door had been tripped. She headed that way. I'm not sure what she expected to do once she got there but that put her in front of me (the one with the gun). We had a talk about how to handle situations like this.

My girls were in the other part of the house and slept through the whole thing. I had a talk with them and told them that if the alarm goes off they are to stay in their room and wait for me to come to them. If they determine it is a fire they are to go out through their bedroom window and assemble at the front of the house.

My wife said her heart was really throbbing when the alarm went off but I was very calm through out the whole situation. I guess it was my training that took over.

I really posted this to say that while we may know what to do in situations like this we need to make sure our other family members know what they should be doing. While we may be the protector of the house the other members have roles to play and also.

 

[MamaBear]

I'm curious as to why you said your son's name. Would that have left the door open for anyone to answer thinking you would have accepted that? Would you - without a shadow of a doubt - have clearly and distinctly recognized the voice had it not been words but just a grunt of acknowledgment or just a generic 'yeah' instead? Would it not be better for you to train and ask your son to identify himself *first* using his name knowing you would know it was him?

For the children in bed, if it was a fire have you told them it would be ok for them to throw a chair through the window if they couldn't get it open? I have two extra locks on each of the windows in their rooms and it would take too much precious time for them to unscrew them to get out quicker. I've instructed them to take whatever they can to throw through the window to be able to get out *fast*. They are on first floor so diving through a window should not hurt them. Sometimes kids need to know that in certain circumstances it will be ok to break a window.

These are my initial thoughts.

 

[Paladin]

Great thoughts MB.

The girls are 14 & 16 and know how to get out of the window which is on the first floor. They have been very well instructed in this.

A code word or having my Son identify himself is a good idea. We also talked about him phoning from the driveway next time so that I can turn the alarm off. He said that he thought it was on a delay and he would have time to disarm it - I explained that it is always on no delay when we are sleeping.
As for recognizing his voice. I'm pretty good at that. However based on his response such as a grunt or insufficient input to recognize the voice I would have handled it differently.

I've always been good at recognizing voices. You could put my friends in a room and have one of them cough and I can tell you who it is just from the sound. I've always had a good ear like that but you are right it is still best to be sure.

 

[reckless01]

Good story!

I told my wife that if we ever had the alarm go off for her to head straight for Alexis's room (my 5 yr old) with her pistol and to defend that position! I will clear the front rooms and garage! She knows to lock the door and not open it for anyone but me or an identified LEO! We have done 'shots fired' preparedness also!

Shots fired: You are to continue to defend your position NO MATTER WHAT!! If shots are fired you are to take up a position with cover away from the door and with your back to the far wall corner you are facing the door gun trained on door! (the corner is concrete block and there's no line of sight to it from the outside windows) Use the cell phone to call 911, inform them there are shots fired, you are in the far north bedroom with a 5 year old and you are taking fire!

Inform them that your husband is in the house somewhere, he is armed, and he is returning enemy fire. :ak

I told her do not open the door until I tell you to or the LEO's arrive and show ID by way of sliding it under the door, or having the 911 operator confirm they are actually there at the door.

Yea, it sounds a bit "whack job" but I'd rather be a whack job than an unprepared victim!

 

[Soverign]

Marco, polo. Marco, polo

Good thoughts all around for us to think about. Having a plan is critical, then exercising it as to be routine.

 

[Random Shot]

My wife has her flashlight on her side of the bed and ready access to her gun, I have mine. :thumsup

The Lab is the alarm...

 

[GlockComa]

Friday night my ........

good story P..

False alarms like this one can provide some nice hands-on experience for a real break-in.. (what to do/not to do..)

I say tell your son to do it again in about a week and test your wife's ability to keep herself out of line of sight/fire & execute a tactical plan.

practice makes perfect. :thumsup

 

[Wyrd0]

I'm curious as to why you said your son's name. Would that have left the door open for anyone to answer thinking you would have accepted that? Would you - without a shadow of a doubt - have clearly and distinctly recognized the voice had it not been words but just a grunt of acknowledgment or just a generic 'yeah' instead? Would it not be better for you to train and ask your son to identify himself *first* using his name knowing you would know it was him?

For the children in bed, if it was a fire have you told them it would be ok for them to throw a chair through the window if they couldn't get it open? I have two extra locks on each of the windows in their rooms and it would take too much precious time for them to unscrew them to get out quicker. I've instructed them to take whatever they can to throw through the window to be able to get out *fast*. They are on first floor so diving through a window should not hurt them. Sometimes kids need to know that in certain circumstances it will be ok to break a window.

These are my initial thoughts.

Sounds more dangerous with broken glass to aviod while being scared of burning.

 

[Franklin]

Friday night my son was spending the night with some friends for a movie and game night. Since he was not going to be home I set the house alarm to instant on.

About midnight he decided to come home and he set off the alarm. I'm instantly out of the bed and grabbing my weapon from the chest of drawers. As I grabbed the weapon I called my son's name out loud and he answered back. My only tactical mistake (that I'm aware of) was I failed to grab the tactical flashlight from beside the bed and this would have resulted in some needless backtracking.

My wife though jumped out of bed and checked the alarm which said that the front door had been tripped. She headed that way. I'm not sure what she expected to do once she got there but that put her in front of me (the one with the gun). We had a talk about how to handle situations like this.

My girls were in the other part of the house and slept through the whole thing. I had a talk with them and told them that if the alarm goes off they are to stay in their room and wait for me to come to them. If they determine it is a fire they are to go out through their bedroom window and assemble at the front of the house.

My wife said her heart was really throbbing when the alarm went off but I was very calm through out the whole situation. I guess it was my training that took over.

I really posted this to say that while we may know what to do in situations like this we need to make sure our other family members know what they should be doing. While we may be the protector of the house the other members have roles to play and also.

Sad, but true. Up and until I joined Florida Concealed Carry, when my wife was gone, my front door was never locked (no doors actually) and I also left my keys in my unlocked truck. I know, no lectures necessary.
My wife has always been on the other end. I can't even leave my sliding glass doors open at night when the weather is nice. I know, no lectures please.
At least now, all doors are locked (my wife locks the door during the day too and I'm forced to use my key...which I had made with copies once I joined FCC. Used to just keep the one and only key on the wall.) including my truck.
I keep my loaded .45 in a fanny pack on the top shelf of my closet. My three old dogs, may on a good day, give me at least a one second notice and gain me a little time.
At least you have a plan Paladin...sort of!:rolf:drinks

 

[MamaBear]

Sounds more dangerous with broken glass to aviod while being scared of burning.

I suppose at first glance it would sound more dangerous to go through a window with broken glass but I'm betting that the blinds will take out most of the glass with them.

We probably have 10,000 book in our house so any one of them will be nearby to brush aside any sharp edges. Of course, being the geeky homeschoolers we are, we would *hate* to damage a book like that. [g]

It's understood that all of this must be done in a nano-second.

 

[patrickhenry1776]

I suppose at first glance it would sound more dangerous to go through a window with broken glass but I'm betting that the blinds will take out most of the glass with them.

We probably have 10,000 book in our house so any one of them will be nearby to brush aside any sharp edges. Of course, being the geeky homeschoolers we are, we would *hate* to damage a book like that. [g]

It's understood that all of this must be done in a nano-second.

You lay the large format books across the bottom sash with the broken glass and after exitng you gently remove the book and bring it with you so you have something to read while waiting for the fire trucks.

Funny, but we went over that drill on last Friday. My wife is a former special and regular ed teacher who is now a stay at home mom home schooling our three year old.

 

[Knapper]

Man that's wild, I hope she fully understands the danger she put herself in by getting in the line of fire.
Like the recording said 'if this had been an actual emergency...'

Jess