Forced to open Gun Safe in Home Invasion Scenario?

[bambam8d1]

U mean theres someone out there that doesnt have a weapon glued to them at all times when at home?

[blakdawg]

Here's how I see it, listed from most likely to least likely:

Casual thief, I'm not home, safe: bad guy does not get my stuff
Casual thief, I'm not home, no safe: bad guy gets my stuff
Determined thief, I'm not home, safe: bad guy gets my stuff
Determined thief, I'm not nome, no safe : bad guy gets my stuff
*Home invasion, I'm home, safe: bad guy gets my stuff
*Home invasion, I'm home, no safe: bad guy gets my stuff

(* assuming the home invasion is the worst case scenario where I have no ability to respond other than total cooperation)

So I don't see a scenario where having the safe makes things worse - but it does prevent casual thieves from taking my stuff, and it keeps my guns safe if my nieces or other children visit.

I don't think it's likely that I'll encounter home invaders who will shoot me because I have a safe, but won't shoot me if I don't have a safe. I do have guns loaded (and secured) in the event that I need one quickly - but arming myself isn't logically connected to having a safe, I'll choose to do that (or not) depending on the circumstances.

[dls]

When I'm home,I sometimes have my safe combo dialed in and use the day key, quicker than a digi lock.
But the 12g is always out.

[Turo]

If someone has broken into my house with me there, and it has gotten to the point that I'm unarmed, at gunpoint, and the perp is trying to get me to open the safe, I have already failed to defend my home.

I think that the easiest answer is to keep at least one gun outside the safe, loaded, and within easy reach. That way the robber never gets you to the point described in the OP, but gets a few new holes instead.

Another idea:
I keep all (except for one or two) guns inside the safe loaded, and I doubt the robber can carry all of them at once, so as soon as he leaves the safe, I'm armed and he's stopped.

[arsilva32]

well if you had no safe you would not worry because the thief would have got your guns the first time through. so what do you do? i still say its better to have one than not. at least with your guns safe and knowing some one already broke in before should keep you on your guard and ready for him if he is stupid enough to come back.

[joefreas]

One of these with loaded/chambered gun on back of safe door. As the door opens I would hope to conceal that there is a gun on the safe door, retrieve/push away as needed and fire. It may work maybe not but we will find out if it comes to that.
gunmag.jpg

[Akers]

Wow thats a tough one to be honest I haven't thought of that. I have thought that if I do get robbed (if I'm not there) that they can't take the safe its bolted down. I did not think of bad guy come back.

But I'm always prepared I always have a loaded gun outside of my safe for quick response ! NO CHILDREN in house just me and wife.

Old fashion I don't open my door unless I know who it is.

Just an FYI, a bolted down safe can be taken. One cal gunner has his bolted down and it was rocked until the bolts snapped and viola, stealable safe.

[chiselchst]

I've always intended to make something like this...wouldn't be too difficult...

http://hiddendoors.com/galleryThumb.asp?category=13

[winnre]

Neighbor had her car stolen. A week later she gets a call that the car is found. When she goes to the police station they say they never called her. Patrol, drives by her house to find it's been ransacked. Info in the car led them to the house. And of course info in the house led to many other sources to steal from.

My safe is bolted and refrigerator sized. It's going no where. As for security, well I have six computers because they get outdated very fast. Two desktops and four laptops, and they can sit there running a screensaver and have the cameras on and waiting for motion. Cheap and fast security with image clips emailed and streamed. What are you doing with your old PCs?

[VictorFranko]

Crook ransacks the house, sees the safe, knows he doesn't really have time to get into it, so bails out with his handful of jewelry, cash, and electronics.

"bails with his handful of jewelry, cash and electronics"?

You may find it strange, but most people, me included, that have a "real" safe, keep their handfuls of jewelry, cash and small electronics IN the safe, not laying around the house.
Also a great place to keep important papers you want to protect from fire.
Just one more reason to buy a bigger safe than you think you need!

[Fate]

Just an FYI, a bolted down safe can be taken. One cal gunner has his bolted down and it was rocked until the bolts snapped and viola, stealable safe.

That's why you use Rawl 6-piece bolts, not the Chinese crap that comes with the safe. Not gonna rock/snap off quality steel.

[slixx1320]

U mean theres someone out there that doesnt have a weapon glued to them at all times when at home?

Exactly my thoughts! My pistol is constantly by my side everyday, everywhere I go in my house. Been reading too much about home invasions and I don't even want them to have the opportunity to have the upper hand.

[Ripon83]

Ike's/Costco!

Sorry don't have a link....but Ikea and right now my Costco sell the cube shelves or you could even say room dividers. People put baskets, boxes and just about anything in the cubes. I got a really large one....5 cubes by 4. On carpet it slides super easy and is a perfect match over my offices closet door. You don't even know there is a closet there and both safes are inside.

I've always been sort of afraid of having a gun safe, because I feel like it's a big blaring target for the bad guys.

My main question is what to do in the event of a home invasion, and I'm wondering if any of you have ever been in this situation before. And we'll get to that.

But first, let's even talk about the standard break-in, when you're not home. Crook ransacks the house, sees the safe, knows he doesn't really have time to get into it, so bails out with his handful of jewelry, cash, and electronics. Sure, he didn't get the guns... this time. But how would you ever sleep at night, wondering when he's going to come back for it, maybe to force you to open it at gunpoint? Or even worse, you're not home, working late or out of town or whatever, and it's just your wife and kids?

The only solution I can think is to hide the safe itself--but surely not everyone does that. So just wondering, for those of you that have safes out in the semi-open--do you ever worry about this sort of thing?

I've read about people saying they keep a loaded gun in the safe itself, but that's just fantasy--if you're reaching for that loaded gun when somebody has a gun to your head forcing you to open the safe, you're in a baaaaad situation. A situation you wouldn't even be in if the safe wasn't there in the first place.

So, I dunno, thoughts? Suggestions?

[justjeff]

Pow wow safe!!
wouldn't let me embed if you don't know youtube pow wow safe! from reindeer games

[stix213]

Some people carry while at home. That would seem to be a reasonable solution.