Dealing with an Intruder

[Dirty Apple]

Last night, while I was up late on the computer, I heard some noises out on the back deck. I walked into the living room and saw a guy looking in the patio door. I ran up to the door and saw that he was trying to pry it open. When he saw me, he didn't scatter, he just sat there with this shocked, dumb look on his face. I opened up the door and started yelling and telling him to fuck off. He stumbled backwards and and apologized in a drunken slur that he was sorry. Apparently, he confused our house for his own and was just trying to get in. Either way, I chased him off and I went back into the house.

When I came back in, the yelling had woken up my wife. She thought I was just yelling at a stray cat that has been hanging around our house lately (she was asleep and not really thinking straight). When she found out that not only was there a guy trying to get into the house, but that I opened the door and went outside, she got pretty mad. I told her that the guy was obviously drunk, and that I wasn't in any danger. She didn't care, she just kept saying what if he'd had a knife or gun. I just shrugged it off and said that it was highly unlikely.

Did I react accordingly, or is she right. Was I an idiot going outside like that?

 

[Evilbunny]

You should have brought a samurai sword with you. From what I have read they are very effective against burglars.

 

[TMAN10112]

Well, seeing how you could tell that he was drunk, and that he was about as shocked to see you as you were to see him, I don't think that you did much wrong.

However, you should probably should have been a bit more cautious, just incase he did pose some sort of threat.

 

[Skeleon]

I would have reacted in a similar way.
It might have been better had you not opened the door, but otherwise your reaction was exactly right, I think.
Even though some people on here will tell you that you should've pointed a gun at him.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

He wasn't really a threat, so you're not completely in the wrong. You should have probably armed yourself if you saw that there was someone trying to get in your house for any reason though. If he was an armed burglar rather than some drunk guy, you would have been screwed. Can't just ask to go get your knife ready, can you?

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

If he had a shocked, dumb look on his face I would assume that he posed no threat. You did the right thing. If however he had run away instantly or had renewed his efforts to open the door, then there would've been something shifty about his motives for certain.

 

[Buschmaki]

You should have picked up a blunt object and checked the sounds then. Blunt objects make everything safer.

 

[Go Fighting In The War Room]

You should have brought a samurai sword with you. From what I have read they are very effective against burglars.

I see what you did there. Anyways, samurai swords are good, but they tend to make a mess. If you want creativity, grab a pillow filled with hardwood. No intruder would expect that.

 

[historybuff]

Oh geez, she was just reacting as your spouse. She cares about you and didn't want you to get hurt. That's a kneejerk reaction. Would you want your wife going outside to tell off some drunk trying to get into the house?

You were fine to chase him off. Take it as a compliment that your wife cares about you getting hurt.

 

[Dirty Apple]

In retrospect, there was a baseball bat within easy reach. I suppose I should have at least taken it with me. However, the fact that he didn't instantly react to my finding him made me think that he was either drunk or just stupid. In addition, it's not like we live in one of the rougher parts of town. I'm not saying there isn't a chance for break and enter in our neighbourhood, but violent crime is practically unheard of.

 

[Daggermonkie]

yes you acted accordingly but you should have grabed a gun

 

[feather240]

You should have got some wiring and carefully edged you way toward the door... You might also need to know your knots.

 

[tsb247]

I would not have gone outside, and I would have taken a weapon with me to the door. It is never smart to open the door when someone is obviously trying to get in. The simple fact is, you had no idea he was drunk before you peeked your head out the door. If he hadn't been drunk and genuinely intended to harm either you or your wife, you would have made his job a whole lot easier.

If he had gotten in and it was obvious he was drunk, it would have been very difficult to get him out. You would have not have a legal leg to stand on if you decided to use lethal force since his blood alcohol levels would make you look bad, and chances are simply asking or telling him to leave would not have worked had he gotten in. You would have had to deal with him until the police decided to show up.

I'm glad to hear that you and your wife are alright, but I'm gonna have to side with your wife on this one... That was not the smartest move on your part.

I would keep your eyes open for the next few nights. He could have also been pretending to be drunk and was just casing your house. I have seen it happen before.

 

[KaiRai]

You should have brought a samurai sword with you. From what I have read they are very effective against burglars.

Legend.
Depends, in America, you can actually use force if someone's trying to break into your house (Not 100% on this, correct me if wrong) but in the UK, you can't do shit. so if you live in the UK, 999 job.

Failing that, go all out and beat him down and claim self defence

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Last night, while I was up late on the computer, I heard some noises out on the back deck. I walked into the living room and saw a guy looking in the patio door. I ran up to the door and saw that he was trying to pry it open. When he saw me, he didn't scatter, he just sat there with this shocked, dumb look on his face. I opened up the door and started yelling and telling him to fuck off. He stumbled backwards and and apologized in a drunken slur that he was sorry. Apparently, he confused our house for his own and was just trying to get in. Either way, I chased him off and I went back into the house.

When I came back in, the yelling had woken up my wife. She thought I was just yelling at a stray cat that has been hanging around our house lately (she was asleep and not really thinking straight). When she found out that not only was there a guy trying to get into the house, but that I opened the door and went outside, she got pretty mad. I told her that the guy was obviously drunk, and that I wasn't in any danger. She didn't care, she just kept saying what if he'd had a knife or gun. I just shrugged it off and said that it was highly unlikely.

Did I react accordingly, or is she right. Was I an idiot going outside like that?

Pfft, no one can call you an idiot until they're in a situation like that. I know she probably didn't actually call you an idiot, but, y'know what I mean. I probably would have been the same, depending on my mood. Either that, or terrified and fumbling with the phone.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

I think you did the right thing.
But only because you got lucky and it was just a drunken dude and not someone actually breaking in.
If it was an armed burglar, you probably wouldn't have posted this.
I think that in a situation like this, it's probably a good idea to take whatever weapons you can find with you.

 

[Biek]

[American]You shouldve shot him dead.[/American]

But seriously, if I heard anything suspicious at my house at night id investigate with my bat that I keep handy for those situations. Its effective, not necesarily lethal and intimidating.

 

[TheGhostOfSin]

You should have brought a samurai sword with you. From what I have read they are very effective against burglars.

Legend.
Depends, in America, you can actually use force if someone's trying to break into your house (Not 100% on this, correct me if wrong) but in the UK, you can't do shit. so if you live in the UK, 999 job.

Failing that, go all out and beat him down and claim self defence

If some one comes into your house in the UK, without your permission, you can beat them to within an inch of their life. Killing would only be allowed if they were a total nutcase that was trying to kill you, defile your corpse and you had absolutely no choice.

If you have kids in the house in bed or something and the intruder tried to get upstairs, you could take a machete to them and only get in trouble for having a machete in the first place..

The laws were relaxed a little from the old 'Lock the door, and hope they don't have blasters a weapon.' Now you can actually defend yourself and your home.

 

[BlackJack47]

Unfortunately we now live in a society that doesn't reward defending your property...you are either stupid for doing whats right or the intruder could sue you for "psychological" assault or if he trips and falls you owe him compensation.

 

[zidine100]

If your not trained in any sort of defence, i would have recomended that you stay inside and call the police. if he did have a knife you more than likely wouldnt have been able to defend your self adequitely and would have been hit.