Just had to arm up

[winnre]

Someone ran on my roof about 30 minutes ago. My roof is ground level in the back of the house and three stories up in the front. Quite the hill.

Anyway I heard a THUD and then feetsteps. Too big to be a raccoon, too fast to be a bear. I am still alive and all is well, whatever it is is gone, but I learned a LOT about home defense in that time.

- I grabbed my .45. Not the shotgun or rifle, but the 45.
- I went out towards the front door and turned on all the lights on the way. A few are motion sensitive.
- I cleared the outside back to front.
- I had left my front and back doors open on such a nice day. Wide open. Now I have to clear the house. Lesson learned: Lock all doors that are closed.
- I am home alone, had I had loved ones here I may have been more proactive.

More than anything I am angry. No doubt I was just a thoroughfare for someone having to get from point A to point B. Can I legally put caltrops on my roof?

It's one thing to raise a weapon in combat. There it is your job and mission, and your friends. But my house? Don't even think about it.

[bruceflinch]

You got a little lesson to learn from! Glad it was only a drill. :>)

[todd2968]

Stand down crisis avereted and lessons learned.
Odds are he will never come back and will never hear the one breaking into your house.
I suggest an alarm

[winnre]

You got a little lesson to learn from! Glad it was only a drill. :>)

Me too. And to think that 2 months ago the only thing I could grab would be a sword or knife. Crap like this ought to make ANYONE want to be armed.

Stand down crisis avereted and lessons learned.
Odds are he will never come back and will never hear the one breaking into your house.
I suggest an alarm

You have a point a very good point there. Just because I did not see him does not mean he did not see me. As for an alarm, it'd have to be local only. I'm too far in the boonies for anyone to respond in under an hour.

[Lucky Scott]

Good drill. Take the lessons and make yourself more defensive. These kinds of things teach you a lot. I had the same thing happen to me, a middle of the night deal that woke me up and put me thru the drill.
I feel I am better prepared now, just you you are.

[B.D.Dubloon]

Caltrops could lead to a lawsuit, especially if your house in in a situation where it is an attractive shortcut for people, especially if it is kids. However those spiky things to keep birds off should be okay

[Socal858]

Caltrops could lead to a lawsuit, especially if your house in in a situation where it is an attractive shortcut for people, especially if it is kids. However those spiky things to keep birds off should be okay

I'd tell him to lube his roof but that'll probly get him sued too lol

[winnre]

Heck this is Kali, anything will get you sued. If I am going to tread on thin ice I may as well dance.

[santacruzstefan]

Heck this is Kali, anything will get you sued. If I am going to tread on thin ice I may as well dance.

Awesome line... sig worthy if I've ever seen it.

[Buddhabelly]

Heck this is Kali, anything will get you sued. If I am going to tread on thin ice I may as well dance.

I think you need to break it down to many levels. I know it's been intense and disturbing, but take some time to think it through...

Would you shoot someone for just running on your roof? Not only will you get in trouble legally, it's not the right thing to do. If someone had broken into your house and put you in immenent danger, go at it. But not just for running on your roof.

So then now, how do you stop people from doing that? That's a totally different question, and you need to think and approach it differently. A deterence is needed. Something not punitive. Perhaps a fence or motion sensor lights with a alarm siren? You'd know best when you think about it after you're a little more settled.

[unusedusername]

I would put a fence around the back of your roof, then put bird-spiky things on it.

Most roofs are not made to be "thumped" on. I know the one on my house has a much thinner board under the roof then there is under the floor. If someone ran (or jumped ) on my roof they would probably fall through.

[Cali-Shooter]

I would put a fence around the back of your roof, then put bird-spiky things on it.

Most roofs are not made to be "thumped" on. I know the one on my house has a much thinner board under the roof then there is under the floor. If someone ran (or jumped ) on my roof they would probably fall through.

^ This. ^ Erect a secure fence around your roof that ramps up until it comes to where someone can't go on the ramp. Another step would be to barb wire the top of said fence as well, but I would check local zoning laws before going that far.

[winnre]

I'd not shoot a person for running or jumping on my roof, but if they are using my roof to jump onto my top floor balcony I sure want to be there before they are. And of course whoever it is must be a threat. Maybe they are running away from a bear and need help. Not everyone who runs is a bad guy.

I found out today who the culprit was. Seems a coyote was up on the roof and caught some dinner. Didn't clean up after himself either. I'll see four coyotes in one week without even trying. I just hope they stay outside the house.

[socalblue]

I'd not shoot a person for running or jumping on my roof, but if they are using my roof to jump onto my top floor balcony I sure want to be there before they are. And of course whoever it is must be a threat. Maybe they are running away from a bear and need help. Not everyone who runs is a bad guy.

I found out today who the culprit was. Seems a coyote was up on the roof and caught some dinner. Didn't clean up after himself either. I'll see four coyotes in one week without even trying. I just hope they stay outside the house.

Sounds like it's time for a good air rifle or compound bow ...

[winnre]

Sounds like it's time for a good air rifle or compound bow ...

Air rifles are good for scaring small animals unless you are lucky enough to hit them in the eye, which I have done. But then they bleed and it's icky. I'm not that great a shot with a bow. I'm tempted to set up a bear trap I have, the thing is 100 years old, rusted, and has these gigantic claws. If I get three more then I can find him there legless.

This video inspires me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0w5oGVwJ_Q