Sneak up or scare them off?
August 12, 2008 8:10 AM Subscribe
Why sneak up on a burglar?
In TV shows and movies, when a person hears what sounds like a burglar, invariably the person grabs a weapon and sneaks around to catch him in the act. I admit to doing this when something goes bump in the night.
Wouldn't it be better to make tons of noise and light to scare the intruder off?
In TV shows and movies, when a person hears what sounds like a burglar, invariably the person grabs a weapon and sneaks around to catch him in the act. I admit to doing this when something goes bump in the night.
Wouldn't it be better to make tons of noise and light to scare the intruder off?
It depends on what your goal is.
(The goal of people who make TV shows and movies, for example, is usually entertainment and/or profit.)
posted by box at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
(The goal of people who make TV shows and movies, for example, is usually entertainment and/or profit.)
posted by box at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
All of this really, really, really depends on which (if any) family members are in the house, the time of day, and so forth. It really depends. I live out in the country, and I can see some scenarios where the burglar is blasted with 12 gauge shot, and some scenarios where the burglar's vehicle outside has slashed tires and the sheriff is on his way.
posted by crapmatic at 8:21 AM on August 12, 2008
posted by crapmatic at 8:21 AM on August 12, 2008
"Sneak up or scare them off?" Neither. Get the hell out of there ASAP, undetected if possible.
posted by nitsuj at 8:30 AM on August 12, 2008
posted by nitsuj at 8:30 AM on August 12, 2008
If the burglar is a raccoon, making tons of noise is your best bet. If it's a human, you're better off finding out as much as you can about them (hence the sneaking) before you jump to the conclusion that they'll run away when you make a noise.
Of course, the best thing would be to grab a cellphone and call the police first, but nobody on TV or movies ever remembers they have a cellphone.
posted by mmoncur at 8:37 AM on August 12, 2008
Of course, the best thing would be to grab a cellphone and call the police first, but nobody on TV or movies ever remembers they have a cellphone.
posted by mmoncur at 8:37 AM on August 12, 2008
What if he's not scared by noise and light? You've wasted two tactical advantages (surprise and the better position, which you've quietly maneuvered yourself into.)
/not remotely qualified in any sense to discuss these matters
posted by callmejay at 9:12 AM on August 12, 2008
/not remotely qualified in any sense to discuss these matters
posted by callmejay at 9:12 AM on August 12, 2008
If you're not sure what's making the noise, you want to go see. In case it's a burglar, you move quietly to keep from tipping them off. Usually it's just the cat.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 9:15 AM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 9:15 AM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I don't know if wfrgms is just fucking with you or being sarcastic, but it is certainly NOT true in all of the US states that you are free to simply shoot and kill an intruder in your home. (whether it SHOULD be is left as an exercise for the reader) In Florida you'd be clear - home intrusion is considered, in and of itself, a threatening act. In Virginia, not so.
I concur with the "it depends" answer, though box is most right on the nose for an actual answer to the "why." If a burglar would almost certainly have to know that the house is occupied then making noise will do you no good - they knew that when they came in and - for whatever reason - are not concerned about the fact that you're there. Letting them know where you are in that circumstance is at best doing no good and at worst letting them know where you are.
If, on the other hand, they don't want a confrontation then making noise might cause them to run off. Racking your shotgun - or using the gadget you have that makes a noise indistinguishable from a shotgun being racked - will probably get you the best result: them running off.
Personally my #1 action - #0 is "be somewhere safe" - in that kind of circumstance is to dial 911, even if all I feel I can safely do is drop the phone and not say anything.
posted by phearlez at 9:17 AM on August 12, 2008
I concur with the "it depends" answer, though box is most right on the nose for an actual answer to the "why." If a burglar would almost certainly have to know that the house is occupied then making noise will do you no good - they knew that when they came in and - for whatever reason - are not concerned about the fact that you're there. Letting them know where you are in that circumstance is at best doing no good and at worst letting them know where you are.
If, on the other hand, they don't want a confrontation then making noise might cause them to run off. Racking your shotgun - or using the gadget you have that makes a noise indistinguishable from a shotgun being racked - will probably get you the best result: them running off.
Personally my #1 action - #0 is "be somewhere safe" - in that kind of circumstance is to dial 911, even if all I feel I can safely do is drop the phone and not say anything.
posted by phearlez at 9:17 AM on August 12, 2008
If a burglar would almost certainly have to know that the house is occupied then making noise will do you no good - they knew that when they came in and - for whatever reason - are not concerned about the fact that you're there.
Well unless they are sneaking at night while you are asleep... if you show signs that you have woken up they might clear off.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2008
Well unless they are sneaking at night while you are asleep... if you show signs that you have woken up they might clear off.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2008
Everything is simple in the movies - it's a narrative that is predetermined from start to finish and you are simply along for the ride. The kinds of real questions that someone really faced with a home invasion might have to ask in the 2 seconds they have to make that decision could be:
Is your intruder armed? With what? Do you know this for sure? Are they trained as an intruder? Are they trained with their weapon? Are you trained to confront intruders? Are you trained with your weapon? Is your weapon sure to be functional? Are you impaired in any way (injury, handicap, drugs, nighttime medications, etc.). Is your intruder's judgment impaired? Do you have a phone within reach? What's the response time for law enforcement in your area? Do you have children or elderly in the house? Are they safely secured from harm? What sort of potential harm to them does your next action have a chance of creating? Do you keep a large amount of valuables in your home (i.e. a planned intrusion), or are you the victim of a convenience break-in? Do you have the intruder cornered, or if they choose to run do they have a clear avenue of escape? What is your emotional state? Does the intruder seem agitated?
Really, I think every home invasion is probably different. The best decision might be to just go downstairs and tell them to get the hell out before they end up in jail, or it might be to preempt any further action of the intruder with lethal force.
posted by mrmojoflying at 10:16 AM on August 12, 2008
Is your intruder armed? With what? Do you know this for sure? Are they trained as an intruder? Are they trained with their weapon? Are you trained to confront intruders? Are you trained with your weapon? Is your weapon sure to be functional? Are you impaired in any way (injury, handicap, drugs, nighttime medications, etc.). Is your intruder's judgment impaired? Do you have a phone within reach? What's the response time for law enforcement in your area? Do you have children or elderly in the house? Are they safely secured from harm? What sort of potential harm to them does your next action have a chance of creating? Do you keep a large amount of valuables in your home (i.e. a planned intrusion), or are you the victim of a convenience break-in? Do you have the intruder cornered, or if they choose to run do they have a clear avenue of escape? What is your emotional state? Does the intruder seem agitated?
Really, I think every home invasion is probably different. The best decision might be to just go downstairs and tell them to get the hell out before they end up in jail, or it might be to preempt any further action of the intruder with lethal force.
posted by mrmojoflying at 10:16 AM on August 12, 2008
toastchee: In TV shows and movies, when a person hears what sounds like a burglar, invariably the person grabs a weapon and sneaks around to catch him in the act.
TV/Film != real life. At all. It's just a narrative construct that creates suspense.
Unless you're seriously trained in firearms/HTH combat, stalking anyone in your home is, at best, a bad idea, and at worst another tic in the "home firearm accident" statistic.
THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS CALL 911.
posted by mkultra at 10:39 AM on August 12, 2008
TV/Film != real life. At all. It's just a narrative construct that creates suspense.
Unless you're seriously trained in firearms/HTH combat, stalking anyone in your home is, at best, a bad idea, and at worst another tic in the "home firearm accident" statistic.
THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS CALL 911.
posted by mkultra at 10:39 AM on August 12, 2008
Response by poster: Uh, thanks for the reminder, mk.
posted by toastchee at 10:58 AM on August 12, 2008
posted by toastchee at 10:58 AM on August 12, 2008
Can't have a dramatic confrontation in the light, with the stereo playing while you're yelling on the phone to 911. And really, what fun would that be for viewers.
posted by cashman at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2008
posted by cashman at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2008
god, this is a tough one.
i've had two occasions where i've confronted intruders and gotten them out on my own. hammer in hand i approached these guys and talked them out of whatever they were interested in doing. i'd also called a large gang of tough and rowdy blokes i run with to come by and back me up in case things went sour.
this is by no means the best solution for anyone else.
i have a 'natural' (read, 'learned') aversion to the police. also to the weirdness of our criminal justice system in the way that our laws are served. if there's a way to handle anything without sending someone to the awfulness that is the american penal system i'm all for it.
that being said, if the cops are your best option then go for it. if you can figure out any other method and you feel safe in that then perhaps choose it first.
i'm sure this will sound like bad advice, but it hasn't gotten me kiiled or injured yet. and i feel pretty good about having scared some kids into thinking and not helping them get caught in the criminal justice system. people are too valuable to waste in that way.
posted by artof.mulata at 11:10 AM on August 12, 2008
i've had two occasions where i've confronted intruders and gotten them out on my own. hammer in hand i approached these guys and talked them out of whatever they were interested in doing. i'd also called a large gang of tough and rowdy blokes i run with to come by and back me up in case things went sour.
this is by no means the best solution for anyone else.
i have a 'natural' (read, 'learned') aversion to the police. also to the weirdness of our criminal justice system in the way that our laws are served. if there's a way to handle anything without sending someone to the awfulness that is the american penal system i'm all for it.
that being said, if the cops are your best option then go for it. if you can figure out any other method and you feel safe in that then perhaps choose it first.
i'm sure this will sound like bad advice, but it hasn't gotten me kiiled or injured yet. and i feel pretty good about having scared some kids into thinking and not helping them get caught in the criminal justice system. people are too valuable to waste in that way.
posted by artof.mulata at 11:10 AM on August 12, 2008
IMO, "home invasions" are different than "burglaries".
From what I've seen in the media, in a home invasion, the criminal(s) first goal is to threaten the home occupant(s) into submission.
By contrast, the goal of the burglar is to steal stuff without confrontation, but burglars are sometimes armed just in case.
In the case of a home invasion, the intruder(s) will try to be quick and surprising, and they are unlikely to give the home occupant(s) much time to react.
The best reaction would be to flee. If the occupant is not a criminal, the intruders are most likely interested in money/valuables. Give it to them, since "stuff" can be replaced. Your life, not so much.
In the case of a burglary, since it's just stuff, try to call 911 and leave the house.
As previously mentionned, sometimes, burglars are armed. Stuff can be replaced.
In my hometown, my former pediatrician got shot and killed when he confronted repeat-burglars. He'd been burgled before and decided to get guard dogs. Burglars came back, got mad that there were dogs. Came back later with a gun, shot the dogs. While they were burgling, the old doctor walked into the house, got mad, and got into a fatal confrontation.
posted by titboy at 11:21 AM on August 12, 2008
From what I've seen in the media, in a home invasion, the criminal(s) first goal is to threaten the home occupant(s) into submission.
By contrast, the goal of the burglar is to steal stuff without confrontation, but burglars are sometimes armed just in case.
In the case of a home invasion, the intruder(s) will try to be quick and surprising, and they are unlikely to give the home occupant(s) much time to react.
The best reaction would be to flee. If the occupant is not a criminal, the intruders are most likely interested in money/valuables. Give it to them, since "stuff" can be replaced. Your life, not so much.
In the case of a burglary, since it's just stuff, try to call 911 and leave the house.
As previously mentionned, sometimes, burglars are armed. Stuff can be replaced.
In my hometown, my former pediatrician got shot and killed when he confronted repeat-burglars. He'd been burgled before and decided to get guard dogs. Burglars came back, got mad that there were dogs. Came back later with a gun, shot the dogs. While they were burgling, the old doctor walked into the house, got mad, and got into a fatal confrontation.
posted by titboy at 11:21 AM on August 12, 2008
I can think of a couple reasons, not necessarily good ones:
1. Making noise and turning on lights lets the burglar know where you are. The assumption is that they're there to steal things, but they could be looking for you.
2. Catching them might stop them from stealing your stuff.
posted by electroboy at 11:29 AM on August 12, 2008
1. Making noise and turning on lights lets the burglar know where you are. The assumption is that they're there to steal things, but they could be looking for you.
2. Catching them might stop them from stealing your stuff.
posted by electroboy at 11:29 AM on August 12, 2008
My girlfriend at the time and I were broken into when we lived in a basement apartment in DC.
We were home. It was the middle of the night. M. woke up when she heard the shades in the kitchen rattling; she assumed it was one of our cats, and went to make him stop. I woke up fully when I heard her scream, and I apparently came roaring out of the bedroom (I don't remember that part) in time to see a leg disappearing out of the window. Our landlords put bars on the windows the next day.
We don't know if the guy was really a burglar or not. The apartment had been just a basement, and then under renovation, for a while, and we had been there barely six weeks. It's possible that it was a homeless guy thinking the place was still empty.
So, yeah, it could be, and probably is the cat. (In our case, it had actually been the cat on previous nights.) That one time, though, it wasn't the cat. And I slept with a big-ass crowbar next to the bed for six months.
posted by rtha at 12:52 PM on August 12, 2008
We were home. It was the middle of the night. M. woke up when she heard the shades in the kitchen rattling; she assumed it was one of our cats, and went to make him stop. I woke up fully when I heard her scream, and I apparently came roaring out of the bedroom (I don't remember that part) in time to see a leg disappearing out of the window. Our landlords put bars on the windows the next day.
We don't know if the guy was really a burglar or not. The apartment had been just a basement, and then under renovation, for a while, and we had been there barely six weeks. It's possible that it was a homeless guy thinking the place was still empty.
So, yeah, it could be, and probably is the cat. (In our case, it had actually been the cat on previous nights.) That one time, though, it wasn't the cat. And I slept with a big-ass crowbar next to the bed for six months.
posted by rtha at 12:52 PM on August 12, 2008
Having once been a burglar, I can maybe offer a little input from the other side of the fence, so to speak.
First of all, most burglars choose to do the crime of burglary because they do not want to interact with other individuals. If there isn't the fear of personal interaction and confrontation, the criminal would choose the crime of robbery - i.e., threatening you with a weapon and forcing you to hand over your possessions.
Because a burglar wants no interaction with people, they ideally choose to do a home or business when no one is present. If there is the sound or visual clues that someone might be there, most burglars will depart as quickly as possible. Even the few brash burglars who attempt to break in while they know the homeowner is asleep will quickly depart if there is the sound of someone awake and aware in the house.
Homeowners that find themselves the victim of violence are oftentimes those who surprise a burglar in the act (i.e., trying to sneak up on them) or those who attempt to subdue or stop the burglar from escaping.
Your best line of action is to turn on lights, create noise, and call the police.
posted by TooSlick at 1:15 PM on August 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
First of all, most burglars choose to do the crime of burglary because they do not want to interact with other individuals. If there isn't the fear of personal interaction and confrontation, the criminal would choose the crime of robbery - i.e., threatening you with a weapon and forcing you to hand over your possessions.
Because a burglar wants no interaction with people, they ideally choose to do a home or business when no one is present. If there is the sound or visual clues that someone might be there, most burglars will depart as quickly as possible. Even the few brash burglars who attempt to break in while they know the homeowner is asleep will quickly depart if there is the sound of someone awake and aware in the house.
Homeowners that find themselves the victim of violence are oftentimes those who surprise a burglar in the act (i.e., trying to sneak up on them) or those who attempt to subdue or stop the burglar from escaping.
Your best line of action is to turn on lights, create noise, and call the police.
posted by TooSlick at 1:15 PM on August 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
...it is certainly NOT true in all of the US states that you are free to simply shoot and kill an intruder in your home.
...
posted by phearlez at 12:17 PM on August 12 [+] [!]
It is my understanding that a US Supreme Court stated US citizens have a constitutional right to defend their homes with lethal force. Unfortunately, I can't find the reference now. IIRC, then that would superceded any state laws.
Newer rulings in the past few years deal with variants such as shooting a fleeing invader (at which point you are no longer defending your home), or shooting an invader into your neighbor's property (not your home).
posted by IAmBroom at 12:21 PM on August 13, 2008
...
posted by phearlez at 12:17 PM on August 12 [+] [!]
It is my understanding that a US Supreme Court stated US citizens have a constitutional right to defend their homes with lethal force. Unfortunately, I can't find the reference now. IIRC, then that would superceded any state laws.
Newer rulings in the past few years deal with variants such as shooting a fleeing invader (at which point you are no longer defending your home), or shooting an invader into your neighbor's property (not your home).
posted by IAmBroom at 12:21 PM on August 13, 2008
You can't even produce a citation for your non-existent Supreme Court decision, so maybe you might consider quitting while you're behind.
Laws governing the acceptable use of lethal force vary by state, the same as gun laws do.
posted by phearlez at 10:16 AM on August 14, 2008
Laws governing the acceptable use of lethal force vary by state, the same as gun laws do.
posted by phearlez at 10:16 AM on August 14, 2008
Laws governing the acceptable use of lethal force vary by state, the same as gun laws do.
To clarify, phearlez is talking about Castle Doctrine. Specifically, "duty to retreat" and "stand your ground" laws.
posted by electroboy at 10:33 AM on August 14, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jozxyqk at 8:13 AM on August 12, 2008