How would you handle a thief casing your home?

[Tango_Down]

I notice a lot of responses about taking a picture or video of the person... a lot of my neighbors have security cams (ring, nest, arlo, you name it) myself included. It does act as a mild deterrent, but the recordings only seem useful to LEO after a crime's been committed (and assuming they catch the person). Wish there was a better way to catch these guys in the act, and ensure they spend some time behind bars.

Also, I saw several mention "no solicitation" signs, these people choose excuses that make them sound like clueless neighbors, instead of solicitors. It's up to you the homeowner to decide which they really are

I'm friends with all of the neighbors I like. Anyone else, I don't care what they think. They all know me as the big guy not to F with anyway so I hear.
Anyone ringing my door bell better know me. if not they get filmed and confronted.

[terry4130]

I have a "No Soliciting" sign on my door. Anyone who rings my doorbell gets their picture taken as soon as I open it. I then tell the they must be a thief since the sign would normally be observed by anyone else but a thief must be checking to see if I'm home and I'm going to forward their picture to the police. Then I ask them to turn sideways for a profile pic. At this point they turn tail and leave immediately.

[Brush Guard]

In Cupertino?? That's a nice city

Beat me to it.

[colt11]

Always report it to the local PD! Take pictures, then form a neighborhood website and post their pictures in it. Tell them you'll be out in a minute, gently close the door, and yell: "Honey, get my Glock, those guys in the neighbor's video are outside". This works even if you're alone. I've done something similar when I caught a guy in my backyard, and he literally leaped over the 6-foot fence to get away. Guy turned out to be a registered sex offender that had stopped going to see his probation officer.

[Tango_Down]

Yeah I switched it up. I used to stop them and ask if they went to school, then if they could read and point to the sign. Some said they didn't see it and others said "I'm not selling anything" but were still soliciting something.
Then I saw a few videos of thieves with clip boards and/or vests pretending to be selling things door to door (even women) and decided anyone I don't know who rings my doorbell is a crook so I take their pic and tell the why. My goal is to deter them from not only my house but my neighborhood. I'm thinking about posting the pics on neighbor sites like Nextdoor hoping it catches on.

[hardcore4sure]

Not answer the door.....lay down plastic at as many entry points as possible(to minimize clean up)...select appropriate tool......make pop corn....
Then make the world just a little bit better place!

[71MUSTY]

When I was in Door to Door sales a "NO SOLICITING" sign meant an easy mark.

Lots of paranoia here. I just answer the door and tell them NO. I've never even had to show them the Smith 10 in my hidden hand.

I have had to tell the Sheriff to give me a second to secure the dog and firearm a few times. (They have been very understanding).

[colossians323]

when you live in the country, behind a gate, its pretty obvious when someone wants to get shot

[stormtrooperx]

Not answer the door.....lay down plastic at as many entry points as possible(to minimize clean up)...select appropriate tool......make pop corn....
Then make the world just a little bit better place!

I use a video intercom to watch / interact with those knocking on my door, and I keep my HD weapon at the ready, so I kinda feel like I should do exactly that (remain silent and observe, with my phone ready to call 911). Then I feel like I'd just be inviting trouble... if I had to use lethal force, would it look like I was "lying in wait", by not answering the door and basically inviting someone to break into my home so I could ambush them (as asinine as that sounds)?

[terry4130]

Yeah I switched it up. I used to stop them and ask if they went to school, then if they could read and point to the sign. Some said they didn't see it and others said "I'm not selling anything" but were still soliciting something.

Then I saw a few videos of thieves with clip boards and/or vests pretending to be selling things door to door (even women) and decided anyone I don't know who rings my doorbell is a crook so I take their pic and tell the why. My goal is to deter them from not only my house but my neighborhood. I'm thinking about posting the pics on neighbor sites like Nextdoor hoping it catches on.

[theLBC]

i'd wait quietly to see if they tried to enter, and if so, i would go billy jack on them.

--itg

[hardcore4sure]

I use a video intercom to watch / interact with those knocking on my door, and I keep my HD weapon at the ready, so I kinda feel like I should do exactly that (remain silent and observe, with my phone ready to call 911). Then I feel like I'd just be inviting trouble... if I had to use lethal force, would it look like I was "lying in wait", by not answering the door and basically inviting someone to break into my home so I could ambush them (as asinine as that sounds)?

I get where you are coming from, but I have a "NO SOLICITING" sign, I dont have uninvited people knocking on my door, if they know me, they know my rules and know better than to do that. If they don't know me, but know of me, then I know they are probably there for the wrong reasons and assume that they are (better be) armed. So I don't answer the door, too many steps to walk up and down for that bull sheet! Plus for those unfortunate idiots who would ever decide to or have the bad luck to try me......the layout of my dwelling includes a very extended "Fatal Funnel".

An easy way NOT to be ambushed, is by NOT breaking into people's homes. It's not an ambush if you don't answer the door, I'm not asking you to break in and get shot, but if you do break in you are getting shot. Pretty simple

[P5Ret]

Wish there was a better way to catch these guys in the act, and ensure they spend some time behind bars.

You're not from around here are you? Burglar's go to jail, in Ca. Even when they get caught not much happens. Takes longer for the cop to write the report then for the judge to say "time served, 2 year's probation".

[Tango_Down]

Not answer the door.....lay down plastic at as many entry points as possible(to minimize clean up)...select appropriate tool......make pop corn....
Then make the world just a little bit better place!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbiGS65gigY

[bigmike82]

Wife beater.

Tighty whities.

Coors Lite.