Gun

[Fadeaway]

If you can't afford a security system, there are a lot of little things you can do to make your home more secure. Hang wind chimes from the top of the frame on every ground level window. Long and noisy ones. A burglar trying get in a window isn't going to risk the noise. Keep the outside of your place well lit at night. You can solar walk way lights at the dollar store sometimes. Go outside at night, if there is any area near the house that looks dark, light it up. On your doors replace the screws in the metal plates for your door knob with 4 inch long screws to make it more difficult for someone trying to gain entry by breaking the door jam.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Yrs ago when I lived in a different apartment, it was broken into. I had gone out to dinner with a friend. We were gone maybe 1 1/2 hours. Came home unlocked my door, opened it and froze. Someone had crawled in through my bedroom window and had gone through every cabinet, closet, and drawer.

I called the police, they did nothing. Was I scared? Yeah, but I refused to leave. My landlord bought me new locks for my Windows, I had a new lock installed on my door, and for a few weeks I slept with a knife under my bed.

I too live in a place where drugs are really taking over, crime is way up, break ins happen all the time, we have drug gangs, and shootings. Our local hospital is now putting in "shot spotter" around the city so the police have better options to catch people that fire guns. Does this mean I would own a gun? NO..... in my opinion, if someone is intent on breaking in, they will.

 

[Casey_03]

Thank you guys all for responding -- I am going to hold off on getting one. All of your points are right. I don't think it would actually save me in a break-in scenario. For now, i will buy a sjambok and some pepper spray, and do as @Fadeaway suggested and put wind chimes outside, and lights. When I move, I'll re-evaluate and see what steps I can take to prevent break-ins without getting a gun.

 

[FauxLiz]

@Casey_03 have you considered getting something like a stun gun? My dad gave all of his daughters and adult granddaughters several years ago a safety flashlight. It is a rechargeable battery LED flashlight with a carrying case for your waste and and a loop to put over your wrist if you are out for a walk. The nice part of the flashlight is that if you push the on/off switch past the on position if becomes capable of delivering a 1 million watt electric charge to anything it comes in contact with. This personal safety device cost $45 and gives me great peace of mind

 

[Casey_03]

@FauxLiz Yeah, I have a stun gun. But they're not great, because they don't work on everybody. A Taser would probably be better, I might look into that.

 

[Casey_03]

A stun gun doesn't actually work the way many companies advertise them to -- it doesn't send the voltage all throughout the person's body and cause a shock. It's a very concentrated pain, more like you're just burning the portion of their body where you touch them with it. Some people can withstand that and have a very meager reaction.

 

[FauxLiz]

I sgeee that not all stun guns are equal. If you are considering a taser check you state and local laws. I have lived in a state where stun guns were illegal and only those with a concealed carry permit were allowed to posses legally.