Keith,Keith B wrote:There are noises I will investigate, and those that I won't. Raccoons and skunks usually don't make the sound of breaking glass in a car window or of busting through a locked gate. If is sounds unlike an animal rooting around in the yard, I am gonna light it up with a flashlight from the house, or outside lights are going to go on. My main intent is to drive away whatever is out there without endangering myself or my family, with the hope of getting it gone before it does any damage. Then, if warranted, I can be on the phone with the police and advise them of the incident. If it is trying to come through the door or window of the house, then 911 and 1911.
Thanks for grasping and restating what I've been trying to get across. People are more important than property, and there's no upside to giving up your strong home court advantage by going outside to confront a real bad guy out there when you have good reason to think that's the case.
You are tactically, legally, and morally far better off by letting him come to you if that is his intent and dealing with him decisively as he makes entry.
I have just one suggested change for your tactics: Reverse the order of 911 and 1911 to put the 1911 first. If things go downhill quickly, it's better to have the 1911 already in hand than to try to manage the situation with a phone.
The ideal is to have a family plan where the spouse manages the phone and you manage the 1911.
