Wow, excellent info, and I'll be passing this along! Thanks:-)

The wasp spray is a myth. No cop is going to suggest it. (Well, maybe... I've known some pretty dumb cops) It is a federal crime to use a pesticide for it's unintended purpose. You could be the one who ends up being charged with a crime. The criminal could also bring civil suit against you. There are plenty of sites debunking this myth.Pepper sprays are available that shoot just as far. Pepper spray is made for self-defense. Wasp spray is not. Plus it may not even have any effect. I have seen places where this was discussed. People who accidentally got spray in there eyes did not report burning or discomfort.

You are also most likely to be attacked outside your home. Pepper spray is portable. Wasp spray is not.

Pepper Spray has been known to have little effect on a drugged out person. If you can't carry loaded firearms in your state it's better than nothing.

DS has taken to wearing a Taser. Legal here and will more often than not does the job.

Anything you decide to use against someone can also be used against you. Be sure to choose your weapon wisely and better be sure you have the skill and determination to use it without hesitation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wasp Spray Urban Legend

This shows the problems with virtually all of these chain emails. Most of the time, they carry a partial truth and then go off and state something totally false, misleading or ludicrous. It is however a good starting point for discussion.

The snowdrift thing is actually more false than true. Stats show burglars do not like snowy, frigid weather, contrary to what the email says. They do NOT like to trudge through snow either, especially carrying that large TV, and other assorted goodies. Slows you down way too much and gives way more chances for witnesses. Giving them a shoveled walk and driveway gives them a very nice assistance to back right up with a "furnace repair", "roof cleaning" or other service sign on it that wouldn't draw a second glance.

People get a false sense of security with alarm systems. Burglars know they have a minimum of 15-30 min with the average home alarm to hit and run. It gives them a reminder to go. Often they'll answer the phone when the alarm company calls, then put them on hold while they attend to their business. Most alarm companies will give them at least a couple minutes before catching on. Alarm signs don't do that much either but are a nice high-theft item!

What is very true is that loud dogs and nosy neighbors are a far better crime prevention tool. So pay attention. Let your trusted neighbors know when you're leaving and how to contact you. It's a good idea in the northern climates to have them physically check the house too. 3 houses in the area were ruined because of water leaks during frigid weather. I somehow couldn't shed a tear for the people in Cancun, didn't tell anyone and their McMansion had giant icicles coming out of the upstairs windows. The City came to shut off the utilities. That was dumb.

My aunt used to carry hairspray on the seat of the car next to her when she would be out alone. Even in the 60s, Houston was well known for people jumping into your cars (don't know why Texicans don't lock the car doors to start with, but I digress). So twice, someone jumped in, and my aunt casually takes the hairspray and gives him a face full. She swore they both ran screaming. But I imagine in today's society someone would sue, but then again, she was simply doing her hair and missed, right? Yeah, that's it, that's the ticket. Wasp spray sprays in a stream. Hair spray is a mist. Yes you need to be up close, but in a vehicle, you're not 20' away too often.

People lose track of the importance of knowing exactly where they are. Sure, you have a cell phone, but it sure helps to say your location and not have to wait and see if you have GPS tracking in your phone.

The other point with pepper spray is to use it correctly. The eyes are good, but you're probably not that great a shot. If you aim for the chest, the spray gets on the clothes and the fumes go right into the face. The gift keeps giving. We used to sell a cute little stun gun with a built in refillable pepper spray. Priced right too.

Minnie, you have nothing to apologize for. If it gets a good discussion going, and if it gets come good information out there, it's worth it.

You shouldn't be sorry. There is some good advice and some not so good but as Cynic said it opens the subject up to discussion.

Cynic - we had so many alarms going off (both home and car) that everyone just ignored them. Don't hear them anymore so I guess the neighbors who had them got the hint.

I have a personal hatred for bright motion detectors. As a night person I find them annoying and they create shadows for crooks to hide. Most of them are pointed in the wrong direction anyway. My neighbor's 2 doors down goes off when I am in my driveway. Their house which has several trees just gets longer shadows.

The thing about this email going viral like it has is that the crooks are reading it too. So maybe they left kids' rooms alone before but now they will assume people reading these hints will use their kids' rooms for hiding valuables.

Best defense against crime is knowing your area well and the people who live there.

Having a rep for not calling 911 helps too. *grin*

Minnie, I'm glad you posted it, so don't feel bad. We all have different opinions here, and if nothing else, it reminded us to be wise about ourselves and our homes. I know you have lots of information about emergency preparedness as well, so keep posting.

The hard thing about information like this, even if it's all true, is that you can't really do anything about much of it. Are you supposed to stop planting flowers and owning children's outdoor toys? Should you go to investigate every time you see a service truck? Never crack your window for fresh air? Not open your drapes?

I do think it's important to lock your doors, all the time. From my unofficial survey of criminals over 20+ years of practicing as a criminal defense attorney, unlocked doors are the #1 way burglars get into houses. Sometimes they knock, but often they don't. If a person shows up, they'll either turn and run or pretend to be looking for someone. "Is Ernie around? ... Oh! I'm so sorry. I got the wrong house." It amazes me how many people don't lock the door, especially women who are at home alone or with small children.

Minnie, thanks for posting. It makes us all think, which is very important.

May I add something?

Lock your door from the house to the garage. If for some reason the garage door opens (had it happen to me several times) no one can get in your house anyway.

All my doors out of my house are locked. Even when I go out and work in the yard. I could get side tracked, and go someplace where I don't see my unlocked door....

Moni

You can't use wasp spray in self defense...Really? Really? If someone is raping me, can I hit them over the head with the wasp can even though it's not it's intended use? I can use a gun on my attacker, but not wasp spray? Really? Can I throw bleach on them? What about acid? Is it just wasp spray? What's so special about Wasp spray??? What about bee spray, or hair spray or Pam? Really? Don't believe everything you read....

I think Joan could answer Carla better than I but I will try.

It all comes down to premeditation. Depending on local law pepper spray, firearms and tasers are defensive weapons used under the proper circumstances.

Wasp spray was not intended for use as a weapon so lying in wait with it (keeping it at your bedside for example) is against the law. It is one thing to defend yourself with a can of hairspray that happens to be near. But most people do not keep wasp spray at their bedside or in a vehicle.

If you were attacked in the laundry room or kitchen you might be able to throw bleach at your attacker and claim self-defense. Keeping a water pistol full of bleach at your bedside is a different can of worms.

I don't understand the reluctance to use legal means of protection.

People will say "well I'll let a jury decide". Well while that mythical jury decides you will be paying your defense attorney, have your homeowner's insurance dropped and maybe lose your home to the expense of defending yourself.

Even if you beat criminal charges against you the "victim" or his family may still bring a civil suit against you.

Not worth it in my book.

This was originally posted in Reader's Digest. I read it a couple of months ago. I don't know if that contributes to the validity of the recommendations, but I don't doubt that you could be sued for using wasp spray against someone if you were attacked. I fume when I read about law abiding citizens sued by the perpetrators of crimes, and losing the case. Ridiculous!

excellents points and well taken Minnie..even if you live in a safe area everyone needs to stop, think and be made aware about where you are and what could happen to you!! Crooks love to catch people off guard and it's good to have someone like you remind us to be careful out there!! THANK YOU!!

I find this, including the pros and cons, very interesting and helpful.

It brings up something I often wonder about also. I see commercials on TV that show some one's house being broken into. They have XX Alarm system protection. They call the XX company which is many miles away.

Why are they paying for that service when they could just call the police who are close by? I understand if they are away from home and some one breaks in, but the valuables could be taken and the burglar gone before XX company, miles away, gets there.

What am I missing?

Sue

Those are all good tips. When my home got robbed the police gave me some of those tips and a few others.

They told me robbers never go into the basement. I'm sure this can't be 100% true but it does make sense.

They told me that robbers don't always 'sneak around' the neighborhood and more likely pose as workers. They don't sneak into the house they often perform "street theater" making their presence known with props; utility vehicles, uniforms, carrying paint cans or ladders. They said that a neighbor might worry if they heard broken glass but hearing a buzz saw (sawing your back door open) or pounding hammers wouldn't faze them. Especially if there is a van with a logo parked on the street. Robbers will even pull up in a moving van and just haul your stuff out right in front of everybody.

Every time you have a repair person or delivery person in your home do a complete check of all your windows and doors to make sure none have been unlatched. Never give out any details about your life if they try to engage you in "friendly" chit-chat.

Never post anything letting the public know exactly when you are going away. Funeral announcements mean that there may be an empty house loaded with goodies. Even if the decedent did not live alone leaving an empty house and have family, the funeral announcement gives the exact time the whole family will be away as in "Memorial services will be held between 5-8PM Friday." Same thing with wedding announcements.

The robbers in my neighbor hood are very bold. Two different neighbors homes were robbed while they were home sleeping and so was my parent's home. A friend was robbed while she slept thinking it was her roommate in the livingroom who had brought friends over to socialize. Garage break-ins happen all the time when the occupants are in the home unaware also.

Thanks for posting the tips.

Actually, very few burglaries occur during bad weather (source: my father who was a police officer for almost 40 years and who compiled data for the FBI).

The number one thing you should do (which many people refuse to do)? Lock your house doors. I recently read an article that 30% of the time the B&E target was an unlocked house. Also, don't leave your garage opener in your unlocked car in your driveway (lock the car and keep the opener out of site). People often leave the door between the house and garage unlocked, figuring the garage is "locked", but the opener is sitting in the driveway.

You have some good advice there!

Thanks!

Thank you for this. I read every one. True, a burglar would look or dress just like someone who is supposed to be there, even though I would expect them to have a hood, coat and mask. Maybe thats a bank robber.

I have 2 large dogs, which I feel help, however, burglars have been known to kill or poison the dogs first. It's always something :-(

My friend at work, Jane, was robbed. Seems her son had a friend over "Augie". Augie deliberately unlocked their basement door when he was visiting, came back later when no one was home, let himself in and took computer games, laptops, cameras, cellphones. Just about any electronics that were laying around. Taught me to always check all doors at night, make sure no one left anything unlocked, accidentally or otherwise.

Well I'm guessing I won't be able to convince the police I was playing baseball in the bedroom. So that bat should go, but the big Mag-Lite stays!

It makes DH crazy, but I keep this house locked up TIGHT. I lock him out in the back yard all the time because I lock everything behind me LOL.
I'm alone a lot and was attacked in my home when I was 19, I don't mess around anymore. My favorite thing is our locking storm door. I lock it and then lock the front door. That way if someone comes to the door there us a locked barrier between us.

Some useful info here, even if not foolproof (and what is?)!

I hardly ever lock the door that I usually use when I'm there (except at night ... and that's usually just before I go to bed) ... but I often do when I expect to be in the garden for a few hours.

I rarely drive with the car doors locked ... but - who's going to go after the 23-year-old car that I drive (or the occupant)? Another benefit, to go along with the small amount invested in its purchase.

The money-counters in our church do it just after service, behind a locked door (that's near the front door) ... and the money is dropped into the overnight deposit at the bank when folks leave ... and, after coffee hour, there are so many leaving that anyone ready to ambush wouldn't know whom to follow.

Don't know whether the same person is the carrier every week ... or even frequently ... but then - they're not going to share that info with me, are they?

ole joyful

Growing up, my parents house was burglarized twice while we were out and about by the neighbor's teenage son and his friends. You never truly know anyone. I am the Queen of Protection. I lock everything. We also have an alarm system. My alarm goes off, the alarm company calls, police is sent immediately. If I don't answer their call, they still send the police. My friends were bruglarized while they slept, phone lines cut. They heard the commotion and hid in bedroom closet. They had their cell phone at their bedside and were able to call the police anyway. I truly don't give a hoot if I have to go defend myself in the courts for trying to fend off a burglar. We also have guns and if I have the chance to shoot him dead, I wouldn't hesitate. I'm not giving him a chance to return or to hurt my family. After all, he came into MY house, my property and I feared for my safety. Better watch out! I'm armed and not afraid to use it! Ha!

im not aggreeing or disagreeing this is just my own personal opinion...that being said ANYONE invading my home will get the baseball bat, hair spray, wasp spray or a gun, or whatever i have handy..thats my space, they invaded it..sue me just try, i have nothing worth taking anyway. this is a subject that really gets me po'ed. lol. sorry but crooks invading my home will be very surprised. where i live it would take the police an hour to get here and thats on a good day, i could be dead by then. sorry if this may be inflammatory i dont mean it to be but as far as im concerned its them or us..and im for us!!!

Loggerbaby, I AGREE 100%! I have an alarm system and security gates all over my house, but if someone DOES come it, I'll do what I have to do FIRST and answer questions after!

Our neighborhood watch published these tips in our monthly newsletter. If it helps raise your awareness level, it's worth it.

As to robberies not happening in bad weather - we got robbed within a 40 minute space of unoccupancy during a total downpour. No big electronics were hauled out in the pouring rain, but all of our jewellry and my sterling silverware were stuffed into a pillow case along with a few other small items.

The police told us it was probably some kid desperate for drug money. Robbers take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, it doesn't have to be big items that they steal and they don't necessarily wait for bright sunny days.

I live near a college town & the paper ALWAYS has some story about houses being robbed because the doors were unlocked. Kids -- shared housing, fogetting keys, leaving the door unlocked so roommates can get in...
Not to hijack thread -- but this is right up there with women leaving purses opend in their shopping carts....

I was informed that crooks take advantage of storms to do their robberies. The noise of the pelting rain and thunder covers up any activity. Would you really hear your neighbors breaking window glass during a storm? And then there is the issue of power outage during a storm rendering alarm system obsolete sometimes or the alarm company knows there is a storm and outage and figures the alert is due to the storm and is false.

As far as I can tell, the vast majority of "robber sues homeowner and wins" stories seem to be urban myths. I did study one case in law school where a homeowner was successfully sued, but in that case, he had set up a gun on some sort of automatic trigger connected to the front door of an unoccupied cabin. The court said that this was going too far, taking the chance of killing someone to protect property, rather than life.

The basic rule on self-defense is that you have to try to run away rather than use force, if you can do it safely. That basic rule does *not* hold true in your own home. There is no "duty to retreat" in your own home.

The other basic rule on self-defense is that you can use only enough force to repel the attack. However, what amount of force is reasonable depends on your duty to retreat. Since you have no duty to retreat inside your home, you can use more force than you would outside your home.

As to whether you can use wasp spray as a weapon, I don't know the answer. My best guess would be that if you used it during an attack on the street, the courts would treat it as any other dangerous weapon. If you used it in your home (or car, at least in some states), even if you planned to use it as a weapon, I doubt there would be an issue.

The law varies by state. If you want to see what your state thinks about these matters, look up the "castle doctrine," as in "my home is my castle."

As a practical matter, I think most people are okay using whatever force they need to protect themselves inside their own homes. And that's even more so for women. Where I could see it getting dicey is if some teenaged kid broke into a house for drug money, having no weapon and thinking the house was unoccupied, tried to run away when he saw someone was home, and the man of the house grabbed him and beat the living s*^t out of the kid. Even then, I'll bet most police officers would tell the kid that he shouldn't have been in the house in the first place.

As to whether the man of the house could then be sued, well, of course he could. Some of the castle laws protect people from being sued in these situations, but for the most part, anyone can sue anyone. Can't necessarily win, but can start the suit.

It makes me sad that this even needs posted. What happened to the days that people wouldn't take something that wasn't theirs? And if they did, the punishment would be so severe they would think twice. Where have the moral values gone? Why are there laws to protect a burglar who is in your home robbing you. This is evolution.

Yes pawprint, it's sad that things are this bad. I'm shocked that when people get angry now they just go out and shoot people. At schools, banks, work, everywhere. It was unthinkable before, now people don't care. I never went to school afraid I'd be shot, or abducted either. The big crime was to be caught smoking, tobacco.
The list was very helpful though, I was telling my DH what I read here today.

Thank you, Joann for your voice of reason. These urban myths grow so big, so fast - and it's ridiculous. My husband is also a lawyer for 30+ years now and he's observed that the "crazy cases" are the exception, not the rule.

If someone breaks into my home, I'm going to defend myself.

This is a GOOD list and the wasp spray is a GOOD idea. I live in the big city and crime is a problem. You don't have to turn your home into a fortress, but a little common sense goes a long way.

I've got an NRA sticker on the windows, right next to my ADT sticker. When someone comes to the door, I let my dog bark her fool head off. I lock the doors when I'm in the house. It takes an extra three seconds, but I am worth it!

Lastly, I'd reccomend "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin DeBecker. It's a GREAT book and says that we need to listen to those inner promptings that tell us when something does not look right or feel right. DeBecker says that every victim of crime that he interviewed had a flash or a moment when something inside told them something was wrong - sometimes only a few seconds before the crime was initiated.

Learn to listen to that inner voice.

Rose

I'd rather be judged by 12, than carried by 6.

Front and back lights on and 3 ft long wind chimes hanging in the window wells.

It's good if this at least makes us THINK about our personal safety. I wouldn't use wasp spray, I'm a fairly weak, smallish , older woman and I'd be afraid any attacker would take it away from me.