" Wow, thats very bold! "

" This is why a loaded weapon in the house, and the training to use it properly, is a good idea. A little buckshot to the backside does wonders for curing thiefitis (a disease that compells morons to become thiefs). "

" This sounds exactly like the type of burglaries being committed in Sonoma County in the 1990's. Authorities should compare the crimes if it becomes habitual, as it was in Sonoma County. "

" It's very easy to become deeply fearful in a bad way with such an incident. Such individuals are indeed dangerous people as they can be armed or have a partner waiting outside who is. What would be more effective in preventing this type of intrusion is a well thought out video surveillance system that is also set up to announce that fact that is it recording everything day and night for the safety of one's guests and visitors. Is this expensive? Maybe not as much as you would think. Just a sign alone for starters would do the trick. However make sure it's in Spanish also. Leave the guns to the Sheriff et all. This woman did the correct thing by retreating from the problem and locking herself in and calling 911. Other well placed security cameras in the neighborhood could easily record the vehicle this person left with. Don't play the game at their level. Out-think them.
"

" Ephemerol: I don’t know how familiar you really are with the technology, but most security video systems produce such a grainy image that it often does not stand up in court. As for catching license plate numbers, again, the image quality of most systems, even many pricy ones, is not up to the job. I agree that a simple sign goes a long way in deterring break-ins. But I also know from FBI statistics show a clear connection between communities with stiff gun control (keeping them out of the hands of law abiding citizens) and high crime rates (I had to write an essay on the subject a couple years back, and had to have the evidence to support it). Conversely, communities known for high per capita gun ownership have considerably lower crime rates. I attribute this to a sentiment voiced to me by a friend that had served time for burglary. My reformed friend told me that he would avoid home where he knew there was a good chance they had a gun because he quite simply did not want to get shot. "

" Let me get my hands on em ! "

" Use of a hand gun would not have been appropriate under these circumstances. A private citizen is held to the same standard as a police officer. Deadly force can only be used to protect yourself or someone else from the the threat of great bodily injury or death. You cannot shoot someone to protect property. If this prowler had spotted the resident and presented a threat, that would be a different matter. "

" Incidentally, Marsha, a prowler is one who trespasses or skulks about a premises in stealth, but does not enter any locked buildings. When the prowler throws a rock through a window, they have become a vandal. When the vandal climbs through the broken window, he/she then becomes a burglar. If that burglar were to have killed the home owner, he/she would then be a murderer. Each level becomes a different offense. "

" Good point Skip. I also referred to the person incorrectly as a prowler. He is clearly a burglar. Prowling is a misdemeanor, burglary is a felony. And this could have turned into a home invasion robbery very easily if the resident had been spotted. "

" If the bozo breaks into my house, I consider my life in danger. At that point it is his word against mine as to who did what. And quite frankly, I shot expert in the army, which means I generally put the bullet where I want it to go. So, he would not be likely to be saying a whole lot. "