Not fooling myself or anyone else anymore. Not much is gonna' happen until I have at least one of these.....then I'll probably need to go to the bathroom.

I just hope the bad guy ain't in a hurry...

 

Not a bad idea to just sit at the table and wait for the trouble to come to you. It would be pretty intimidating to walk into a room with a man sitting at a table, cool as a cucumber, sipping his coffee with a pistol in his hand.
Side note; I like that coffee cup.

 

What about your wife? She doesn’t get body armor? Instead of buying armor and some type of kit, you spend $$$ on more security for your house. Sure up all points of entry.

Once your house is secure you need to establish a plan of action in case of a burglary or home invasion. Practice the plan
at least once a month.

Once you have a plan and have been practicing it, you should take a rifle, shotgun and pistol course. And take a First Aid / CPR course. This is for you and your family, not the bad guy.

I have body armor assigned to me from my department. And a ballistic helmet. If I had an intruder and needed to act immediately I would just grab my gun and take up a pre planned tactical position in my house. My wife would be calling 911.

 

Yep. If I really think there is an intruder in the house in the middle of the night, I have no intention of leaving the safety of my bedroom. I can turn on lots of lights with my phone, see everything with cameras, and don't have to risk life and limb doing a house clearing that I'm not really trained or qualified to do. Cops get paid to do that crap. I don't even have to leave my bedroom to unlock the front door and let the cops in. If the bad guys get a few goodies and leave before the cops arrive, que sera sera. That's what insurance is for.

 

Fruit of the Looms and a G19...

 

Well, I didn't get underwear for Christmas this year, so it it'll be worn out half a apple and a couple of grapes looms and my gen3 g35/tlr1..

 

Nope. I just grab my rifle and call my kids. They’re on the 3rd floor and will take care of anything that gets past me. i have armor but I rarely grab it.

 

Your best defense, as has been mentioned, is a plan. Unless you need to leave your bedroom to protect other family members, set up defensive positions in your bedroom, call 911, and wait.

Get a one cup Keurig for the bedroom to cover your bases.

 

Everything is a Q of how much risk you are willing to take. Sure we should have layered security and points of entry fortified but that really doesn't answer his question. In a perfect response, both would have body armor available, suppressed weapons, and training in two person tactics. Of course for most that isn't reality.

I put my body armor in the work SUV when riots occurred. I thought something was going on in backyard. We have motion sensor lights in back when I pulled up in drive one night. I exited SUV with just my pistol and a light I keep in SUV. I left the long gun and vest in back. We all takes our chances.

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk

 

Good stuff guys. Keep it coming. To answer a few questions.
If I was certain there actually was an intruder, I would not go investigate. I wasn’t clear, but I intended the “bump in the night” to be an alert level at which time you are not calling the police. (In my case, my wife can have some very vivid dreams. Believe me when I say I’ve been woken up by her to some crazy scenarios. Some of which are not remotely possible. So, I’m a bit desensitized to it.)
My wife and I have a plan. I’m not sure we need to get into the minutiae of our plan. The gist of it is that she locates the kids and after that I clear the house.
I do not currently own body armor.
I have the best alarm system money can buy. The down side is it sh!ts in the backyard. Honestly, I’ve seen too many “security” systems fail or be completely defeated.
Me in my underwear would probably scare anyone away.
One of the things I like about the idea of a vest is somewhere to holster your gun once things are settled.

 

If someone gains entry to your home, my advice would be to take up a defensive position in your bedroom. Let them come to you if possible. If the threat comes closer issue loud clear commands. IM ARMED AND YOUR MAKING ME NERVOUS!!! DO NOT COME IN THIS ROOM IM ARMED!!!! Wife arms herself and dials 911. Room clearing alone is not advised. Good day.

 

I've been wondering about the verbal warning. While it gives the intruder the opportunity to retreat it also gives away your location and any advantage of surprise. If the intruder chooses to keep coming through the door do you give another warning? Pull the trigger as soon as you identify him as someone who doesn't belong in the house? Wait to determine if he's armed or poses a threat?

I'm wondering what other's plans are.

 

No body armor here, but I won't scoff at a "kit." In the closet, I keep a shotgun and a tactical vest with G17, extra shells and mags, flashlight, etc., just in case. I have no illusion that an intruder couldn't get the better of me, but I at least want to be prepared.

 

I own body armor. I’m not putting it on for a bump in the night, nor am I going to clear the house alone. I’m going to take a defensive position at the top of the stairs and protect my kids in the room behind me. For that I have a suppressed 10.3” AR SBR.

 

I will smite them with sex toys and "truck stop" brand personal lube......When they see that big floppy two-headed monster coming down the hall, they will find another trailer park to pick on.....

 

... they will find another trailer park to pick on.

My neighbors say I have a creepy place.

No kids have been trick or treating at my house since Desert Storm (1991)

 

Don’t be shooting the drunk neighbor.

 

I have a spare plate carrier and pistol belt in the closet. I don’t put it on if something goes bump, normally the dogs get me up, and I grab a pistol.

But once the dogs have, if I’m leaving the house (checking shop/yard) and it’s not an animal, I’ll throw it on.

 

The SmartCarry makes a good bump in the night rig. Clothing optional.

 

Alright, we’ve all been there; you’re sound asleep and something alerts you to a possible intruder in your domicile.
You’re up, and retrieving your HD weapon of choice. With weapon in had you need to go investigate. Do you take the time to grab anything else?
I’ve been thinking a “kit” of some type would be good. I hate to sound like a mall ninja, but due to my wife recently shaking me awake to go check out a “bump in the night”, that turned out to be nothing, I found myself wanting some kind of body armor I could shoulder into before heading out of the bedroom. Anyone have something like this?

Valid question.

The home needs to have a layered defense. This starts at the curb. Proper lighting can go a long way towards deterring an intruder(s). I have two motion detector lights in the back of the house. One stays on all night, the other is dim until either motion is detected or until 2am when it shuts off. But it will still come on if motion is detected. The driveway has two motion detector lights that stay on at 25% until motion is detected then full. Also keep the night on in front of the door. In addition we have a street light in the median right in front of the house.

Second layer: The house is alarmed, and it's loud enough to wake up the whole neighborhood.

Third layer: Front door has the longer dead both screws. Additionally, the front and door leading to the garage has the STRIKE PLATE attached which will prevent or at least significantly delay an intruder(s).

The Prepper’s Guide to Securing Your Home

Sliding glass doors have the bolts that lock the door to the frame and also prevent lifting.

All of this is to deter, prevent or delay unauthorized entry.

Fourth layer is personal protection equipment. This includes a night stand pistol. In my case it's a Glock 19X with 19+1 rounds and a spare mag. The 19X has a TLR-8. Wife has a Taurus G3 with 17+1 rounds. This is in addition to other firearms I can access in the master bedroom (we both have Sub 2K's available, hers with laser, mine with Convoy S2+ WML). I have body armor from my working days. FAK is available under the bed. BLF-A6 18650 LED light is also on the night stand. Both cell and landline phone available.

Most importantly, everyone in the home knows the plan in the event of a situation.

 

Valid question.

The home needs to have a layered defense. This starts at the curb. Proper lighting can go a long way towards deterring an intruder(s). I have two motion detector lights in the back of the house. One stays on all night, the other is dim until either motion is detected or until 2am when it shuts off. But it will still come on if motion is detected. The driveway has two motion detector lights that stay on at 25% until motion is detected then full. Also keep the night on in front of the door. In addition we have a street light in the median right in front of the house.

Second layer: The house is alarmed, and it's loud enough to wake up the whole neighborhood.

Third layer: Front door has the longer dead both screws. Additionally, the front and door leading to the garage has the STRIKE PLATE attached which will prevent or at least significantly delay an intruder(s).

The Prepper’s Guide to Securing Your Home

Sliding glass doors have the bolts that lock the door to the frame and also prevent lifting.

All of this is to deter, prevent or delay unauthorized entry.

Fourth layer is personal protection equipment. This includes a night stand pistol. In my case it's a Glock 19X with 19+1 rounds and a spare mag. The 19X has a TLR-8. Wife has a Taurus G3 with 17+1 rounds. This is in addition to other firearms I can access in the master bedroom (we both have Sub 2K's available, hers with laser, mine with Convoy S2+ WML). I have body armor from my working days. FAK is available under the bed. BLF-A6 18650 LED light is also on the night stand. Both cell and landline phone available.

Most importantly, everyone in the home knows the plan in the event of a situation.

I would add that having multiple locking devices on exterior doors that may only be engaged from behind the door - head bolts, foot bolts, door chains, etc. - will increase a door’s resistance to force, buying time.

 

Door jamb armor and poly windows.

 

Move.

 

Where do you live that you consider body armor necessary?

I agree with boyscout.. move, if where you live is so frightening?

 

Update:
I’m still looking at options. And, the more I’ve thought about it, I’m convinced to have a “kit” is better than not having one.

 

Only you can decide on what is best for you. If you buy armor, practice putting it on and taking it off until you build muscle memory. And practice moving and shooting in it. Train your plan until it becomes second nature.

 

For those who’s only advice is to ‘move’, I’d like to ask where? Where is this place where crime doesn’t exist?

Seems to me having items on hand specific to the task is prudent.

 

While I agree it’s wise to have armor and weapons, if I had to have heavy gear next to my bed every night I don’t think I’d get any sleep.

Preemptive steps like hardening your house will pay off in the long run. Anything to buy you time to make good decisions.

 

I don’t see anything mentioned as being particularly being heavy gear. The FAK simply sits under the bed in a converted tackle box (I have other supplies on the other end of the house as well). A flashlight and cell phone are handy on the night stand for a multitude of situations. As far as armor, simply fits next to or under the bed. The also make a shield that armored for this sort of situation.

All of this is equipment you’re not particularly wanting to use but will be glad you have. Like a spare tire.

All of the things I listed in my first post allow me to sleep soundly because I’ve prepared in advance while I could calmly think the scenario out.

 

This guy is my first line of defense when it comes to bumps in the night. My house is one of the very few that has not been vandalized or broken into on my road. He has one hellacious bark.

 

Absolutely, a dog is a huge plus. Doesn't necessarily matter if it's a trained K9 or an ankle biter. As long as they've got that bark

 

Cameras, driveway alarms at all points of entrance to the property, motion lights, alarm system.


Kit.

 

Cameras, driveway alarms at all points of entrance to the property, motion lights, alarm system.


Kit.

View attachment 893472

Same here (minus the kit) which is 12Ga w/ #4 shot, and a couple "staged resources" outside.
Right now, i'm more concerned about our vehicles and our mobile safety. There are 'holes' in our plan that need pluggin.

 

The locked door, alarm, alarm signs are already pretty substantial warnings they shouldn't be coming into my house. And those are my non-force options. And I'm not one to give up a tactical advantage. If they've broken down my door or smashed through my sliding glass door or window I'm going to take it as a hostile threat towards me and my family and I will respond with whatever force is necessary, including deadly force, to protect myself and my family. Castle Doctrine. If they see me aiming a firearm at them, **** their pants and turn and run away then problem solved and I won. If they take any other aggressive action then they took away all of my non-force options and forced me to use force against them.