Did I mess up?

[Johnnu2]

Just call the cops .... I mean seriously, it's just a car...!!!
Yeah, if you're in the middle of nowhere....just exit and keep running.
In your house(?)........... again, exit and keep running....your wife and kids can handle the problem
J.

 

[Mike J]

I would most likely just call the police & let them handle it. I have seen pictures from more than one ring doorbell camera lately of car thieves. There was the one in the car stealing it, then there was the one standing next to the car with an AK pistol pointed at the house watching. If I did feel it was necessary for me to go outside I would turn on the front porch light & the flood lights that cover the driveway. I would leave the lights inside the house off. Then I would quietly go out the back door where everything would still be dark, take a look & make a decision. I wouldn't shine a laser. If I did choose to shine a laser or light I would hold it out away from my body. There might be a bullet coming back.

 

[daveag.]

Citizen arrest is about the last thing I would ever do.

Eve

Gomer threatened to make a Citizen's Arrest once. He warned them several times.

 

[Jeepnik]

Some years ago Mas Ayoob wrote an article about having a gunbelt kept near your bed. It would have things like flashlight, pepper spray, cell phone etc. It caught some flak over it. I don't have a gunbelt by my bed. I do have a pair of jeans with stuff in the pockets. That way my private bits (I sleep naked) will be covered should I have to confront anyone. Being naked does seem to, psychologically at least, put one at a disadvantage.

 

[blume357]

I think contender is right, the only thing you did wrong was not having your phone with you. I would not turn on lights if they were going to light me up too. Drives me crazy, well I actually already am, when on TV someone hears a noise outside their house and the first thing they do is turn a light on in the house and then look out the window, but that is TV.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Being naked does seem to, psychologically at least, put one at a disadvantage

Well, that depends on the size of your gun right?

I would not turn on lights if they were going to light me up too

When I spoke to the lights, I was referring to outside lights. One, outside lights if already on can sometimes deter problems. Two, criminals don't want to be seen/identified and will normally flee if a outside light comes on. Three, that outside light will sometimes make it hard to see into the house if they gave it a thought.

Lots of scenarios and opinions will surface on this from past experiences, training, or just ones mindset.

When you have spent many hours in a courtroom, listening to a full docket of crimes, observing tactics from both prosecution and defense, and even testifying and being cross examined.....you learn a lot about the "after the fact" when people take things into their own hands. Just say'n.....if you want to be a hero in a situation like this you better make darn sure you can explain EVERY little thing you did was to protect yourself from bodily harm and did not instigate or become offensive in any possible way.

In my opinion, 'in this scenario' going outside to confront them could be a bad thing turning you from a victim to an aggressor.

 

[peachhead]

I wouldn't call it a mistake if the desired result was achieved. The would be thief ran off, the cops showed, he still has his car and no blood was shed.
If I were going to do anything different, it would be maybe hit the panic button. If nothing else you probably would have scared the crap out of him (more than you already did).
Just my .02

 

[SmarryLith]

My silent car alarm went off yesterday early morning waking me from a phone alert. I initially thought it was a false alarm but grabbed my LC9 with Laser to go investigate. I did not turn on any lights and did not see anything on my surveillance cameras and the motion lights were not on. I was about to turn around and go back to bed when I thought I saw a shadow move inside the car.
I was half awake still not believing that someone is there trying to steal my car. I walked up close and peered out the edge of a window and turned on the laser and shined it through my cars side window. The person ducked down was lying in my car across the front seats but still could only see a shadow. Yes, he got a face full of pulsating green is go laser light.
Now I am kind of freaked out. In my state we are not supposed to shoot someone for just stealing property so what can I do?

My options were
Set off Panic alarm on home security system (has outside siren)
Go out there like john wayne and confront them (there were 2) I did not have another magazine with me and was in my undies
Go out there with pepper spray home defense gel

I just kept the laser on them through my passenger window, waiting to see if they would shoot first.
Ok I admit I froze, did not want to go out there and paly cop and get shot thought my best bet was to stay inside the house with sight and laser on target.
I ran to get my phone and they ran off like jackrabbits and before I got to dial 911 could hear them start a car and take off. (assume there were 3)

Cops got to my place in like 3 minutes. Our cops are great and I swear they sent everyone about 7 police cars.
In retrospect think I should have dialed 911 first even before I confirming the threat?
I need to know what you guys think, I am not a young guy anymore and don't feel like being a hero or dead over a car.
I would like to know what you would have done? My biggest fear is being "That guy" on TV and going to jail over some kids needing money for "Kolledge" and wanting to call the thief a victim.
I think I need to practice with various defense scenarios, cops said I did the right thing but should have called them first.
So now wondering what their plan is for when the return. Ok I admit, I'm a bit worried.
Should I have gone out and citizen arrested them? I probably could have but was it worth the risk IDK, Your thoughts?

Like others said don't leave you phone behind.
Also, Just be glad he didn't have a layoff guy to shoot you in the back as you pointed your gun at him.
Next time I'd call 911 from inside your house. Also, if you're outside with a gun and the police were already following/watching these guys you could be mistaken for the theives.

 

[Rat76]

I guess we read that differently. As I read it, he shined his laser through his home window and into the passenger side car window without going outside.

Thanks, I missed the "edge of the window" part. Puts a different slant on things.

Yep, 911 & stay put.

 

[bhp9]

In Ohio its illegal to shoot people over losing property. Some people have gone to prison over it especially when they killed the robber and even worse when the person they killed was a kid. One guy shot and killed a star high school football player (worshiped as a God) who broke into his home in the middle of the night. the Kid was not armed. The Homeowner went bankrupt fighting the homicide and civil lawsuits leveled against him.

One guy shot and killed a man who opened his car door and started to choke him. The car owner pulled out a .45 and killed him. It turned out it was a case of mistaken identity by the home owner who had only recently had property damage done from a car of the same red color. The man's wife then sued the car owner for "loss of companionship" and she won a big settlement from an anti-gun hating judge.

Its not worth losing your life in a shootout over property. Simply call the police and if possible give them the license number of the car and a description of the car and suspects. Do not let the suspects know you are watching them.

Some people have been know to shine a light on them from inside the house or turn on a garage light but that invites them to shoot at you.

Remember also that if you shoot young kids it will go badly for you even if you are not charged with a homicide because its most likely the parents will launch a Civil Suit against you and many Juries have often awarded the parents lots of money, enough to bankrupt you for life plus the money you will spend defending yourself in court. I knew one guy who lost his business to his lawyer because he owed the lawyer so much money and he still lost in court.

Just ask yourself the question " Is it worth spending thousands defending yourself in court, and even possibly going to prison or is it just a lot cheaper to potentially lose your property if the Cops do not get there in time?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

So was just followed a little while ago, not by chance either.
This is starting to give me anxiety.
According to people I talked to there is like no consequences, they just let them go. Got to stay strapped 24/7 now this place is no longer safe. Robberies and shootings now not all are even reported.
This sucks.

Don't know where you live since you didn't post your location.
There are probably U Haul rentals in your area, maybe you need to rent one and get out of Dodge

 

[Fox Mike]

When I suggested throwing a light on them I was thinking of how my car and house are situated. I can turn on a very bright light at one window and be looking out another. There is NO WAY I would go outside to confront them. If necessary I can shoot from inside a lot safer then in the open. It is a car and not worth spilling blood, mine OR theirs over unless they fired first.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Kill them immediately, if they don't have a gun place the raven 25 you bought from a local crackhead in his hand and get a good nights rest, the world is a better place.

 

[blume357]

I went back and re-read the OP's original post and I was thinking I think as most do here that you were outside shining the laser in the car window but it sounds like you were still in the house with the lights off. Also, from what you wrote most of the items that would have indicated a problem... motion doctor lights and such were not going off only an alarm on the car that only goes to your phone? I think you did the best you could.


Now I will say one thing about using deadly force and it is subjective... I agree at least in my state you can not use it to protect property... but in S.C. if you are on your property at night and are confronted 'suddenly' by a trespasser and 'feel threatened' you can... it is case law.

 

[Sky1]

yeah, didn't think it was a real threat. I could have called 911 first thing but from what I hear they can get the car in under 2 minutes so it would have been taken. When I turned it off to call 911 they scurried off.
Looks like they may have recovered the getaway car. Will have to see if prints match up.