[Normal]

It doesn’t hurt to have an alarm system and defensive weapon available in your home in The Villages.

“A husband and wife in The Villages were terrified when they were awakened in the wee hours and the husband found an intruder in their home.

The couple had been asleep in their home in the Village of Pine Ridge at about 4 a.m. Monday when they were awakened by the sound of the garage door opening, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. The husband got of a bed to investigate the situation.

He entered the laundry room and found 37-year-old Barry Ray Wilbanks of Wildwood…”

https://www.**************.com/2024/...in-their-home/

[Stu from NYC]

Have to think about this

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Have to think about this

Be sure to let us know what you come up with.

[Gpsma]

That intruder is lucky he is alive today.

[retiredguy123]

I agree. I have a SimpliSafe wireless alarm system that would have sounded a loud alarm when the intruder either opened a door or triggered a motion detector. It cost about $150 on Amazon, it is entirely wireless, and it can be installed in about 30 minutes. Additional sensors can be added at any time. I don't have any central monitoring, which would cost extra.

[LeRoySmith]

This is a tough situation. I hate to see anyone die unnecessarily but when a crook breaks into an occupied house/car they just let me know they value their life less than what they are after. If this happens to me I hope I have the wherewithal and time to assess the situation to gage whether they are violent before I start shooting. It could be a fairly innocent act, someone lost or out of their mind.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

This is a tough situation. I hate to see anyone die unnecessarily but when a crook breaks into an occupied house/car they just let me know they value their life less than what they are after. If this happens to me I hope I have the wherewithal and time to assess the situation to gage whether they are violent before I start shooting. It could be a fairly innocent act, someone lost or out of their mind.

I suspect that just making them aware that you know they are there would send most of them running for the door - just remember to always give such people, and wild animals, an easy exit route.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I suspect that just making them aware that you know they are there would send most of them running for the door - just remember to always give such people, and wild animals, an easy exit route.

Now that is some sage advice.
If the fact that they know that you know they are there doesn't scare them away, that would indicate another level of bad intentions.

[Byte1]

Sounds to me like the guy was contemplating suicide. Either that or he was/is pretty ignorant and thought that no one was home. The Villages is probably one of the last places a savvy criminal would think of burglarizing, considering that probably half of it's residents have guns in their homes.

[thelegges]

Since 2007 I have lost count on how many garage doors can be opened by another neighbor, or in this case an intruder. Our first home watch, cautionary view was use the lock on your garage doors.

Our second house, press button and I could open 4 different garages and my own. Our locks are on when we travel, and at night. Plus outdoor cameras, around the house and pool.

[vintageogauge]

An alarm, a dog, or move out of Fruitland Park.

[New Englander]

I'm wondering how this looser opened the garage door? Also, the homeowners are lucky this guy wasn't violent.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I'm wondering how this looser opened the garage door? Also, the homeowners are lucky this guy wasn't violent.

Read post #10

[Shipping up to Boston]

Put the hand cannons away. I don’t know many of these posters but the ones I do, wouldn’t make it through reception in a jail on a wrongful death charge!

Nothing says loving like a 34 oz autographed Ted Williams Louisville Slugger!

[bmcgowan13]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I suspect that just making them aware that you know they are there would send most of them running for the door - just remember to always give such people, and wild animals, an easy exit route.

Amen.. Great idea. Not sure why some people seem entitled/obligated to execute an intruder for stealing their $500 TV.

I get the heightened sense of violation...I have had my car and my apartment broke into. The thief has certainly have earned the right to be prosecuted...but to kill somebody for stealing a TV,? an iPhone?.

Alarms are a great way to go. Most burglars run when the dog barks or the alarm goes off. Unless you have drugs, jewelry, guns or a WHOLE lot of money in the house (see drugs above) most thieves are satisfied stealing your AMAZON packages.

I despise/hate thieves--but the punishment for Petit Theft is NOT the death penalty.