Going Outside to Investigate Noises in the Night

[dicion]

dicion , that's a lovely photo of you .
is that your " around the house " clothes ?

Hahaha, nah. He's not wearing a 1911 on his hip :P

Other than that though....

[dicion]

If you choose to go outside to face what you believe may be one or more hostile intruders, the challenges you face have considerable similarities to those of the soldier on night combat patrol. He carries all that stuff not because it looks cool, but because every bit of it increases his chances of survival in the situations he's likely to face. The homeowner who goes outside after an intruder is an "army of one" with:

- no tailgunner
- no wingmen
- no SAW gunner
- no sniper overwatch
- no medic
- no backup
- no rapid reaction force
- no indirect fire options
- no UAV or chopper intel
- and no air cover.

As soon as he steps outside his door, he is well and truly on his own, so the thoughtful guy or gal will dress and equip accordingly.

If you think your low visual profile getup would upset the cavalry, with the response times in most rural areas, you'd likely have plenty of time to change into something more genteel looking if you think that's important.

Very good points. Just hammers home the point about not going outside unless it is absolutely necessary.

[CompVest]

Excaliber, duh. SRVA and I are well prepared and have had the advantage of going to Thunder Ranch for team tactics. Your points have been well covered with us.

Please don't take offense.

I know that you and SRVA are expert competitors and instructors, and highly trained by some of the best in the business in tactical issues. I wouldn't presume to give you advice.

I also have no doubt that if we were to meet, I could learn a great deal from you, and I look forward to that opportunity if it ever presents itself.

My remarks were offered in the hope they may be of use to some folks who haven't played these games for real as many times as I have, and may not have thought of some of the points I raised.

Oh gosh no offense taken that was the reason for the thumbs up.

[03Lightningrocks]

I do go outside around my home at night, but I always put on my sidearm first. Even if no threat is present. I also wear my side arm if working out in the garage or in the yard. We had an event not to long ago in my area that made me realize that bad guys can show up day or night. A fellow was working in his garage in the middle of the day and was shot to death. They assume he was the victim of a robbery gone bad. Poor guy was just working in the garage like all of us do.

As for investigating noises outside, I think the city environment presents very different challenges than the country. For one thing, in the city, you will constantly be hearing things outside. Neighbors car doors, neighbors chasing their dogs or even kids just cutting through yards to get over to the convenience store. I find myself not even reacting to most of what I hear outside.
I pray to god some internet trained combat commando doesn't blast somebodies kid one day by accident.

Another issue to consider is being confused for a bad guy. Folks see your silly butt outside lurking around, with or without a gun, and you may very well end up shot yourself. I sure would be embarrassed to end up dead after trying to play cop to protect my outdoor junk or stereo.

Now if I lived out in the country where outside noises are not suppose to be on my property, I might just do like others have said and check out the source. Like they have pointed out, the sounds may be nothing and I would not want the local Sheriff labeling me as a paranoid nut job.

[Excaliber]

I do go outside around my home at night, but I always put on my sidearm first. Even if no threat is present. I also wear my side arm if working out in the garage or in the yard. We had an event not to long ago in my area that made me realize that bad guys can show up day or night. A fellow was working in his garage in the middle of the day and was shot to death. They assume he was the victim of a robbery gone bad. Poor guy was just working in the garage like all of us do.

As for investigating noises outside, I think the city environment presents very different challenges than the country. For one thing, in the city, you will constantly be hearing things outside. Neighbors car doors, neighbors chasing their dogs or even kids just cutting through yards to get over to the convenience store. I find myself not even reacting to most of what I hear outside.
I pray to god some internet trained combat commando doesn't blast somebodies kid one day by accident.

Another issue to consider is being confused for a bad guy. Folks see your silly butt outside lurking around, with or without a gun, and you may very well end up shot yourself. I sure would be embarrassed to end up dead after trying to play cop to protect my outdoor junk or stereo.

Now if I lived out in the country where outside noises are not suppose to be on my property, I might just do like others have said and check out the source. Like they have pointed out, the sounds may be nothing and I would not want the local Sheriff labeling me as a paranoid nut job.

Your practice of going outside always armed is a sound one. A home invasion tactic that's becoming more common is for the BG to confront the homeowner out in the yard or in the garage to circumvent alarm systems, locks and similar inconveniences.

[ddurkof]

One thing that has not been mentioned is what do you plan on doing with your reprobates once you have caught them prowling around your house? Flex cuffs don't take up too much room, but with multiple subjects there is an art to taking them into custody. What do you do if they don't obey your commands, but don't present a threat that rises to the level for the need of deadly force? Most will flee when confronted, but some will be aggressive still other are just defiant. Things to take into consideration when making a decision as to confront or not.

You may want to consider the recon and then call the police while you just covertly observe the activity from a position of of cover. Just remember to tell the dispatcher what you are wearing and that you are armed and watch your surroundings, they may have friends close by.

[03Lightningrocks]

One thing that has not been mentioned is what do you plan on doing with your reprobates once you have caught them prowling around your house? Flex cuffs don't take up too much room, but with multiple subjects there is an art to taking them into custody. What do you do if they don't obey your commands, but don't present a threat that rises to the level for the need of deadly force? Most will flee when confronted, but some will be aggressive still other are just defiant. Things to take into consideration when making a decision as to confront or not.

You may want to consider the recon and then call the police while you just covertly observe the activity from a position of of cover. Just remember to tell the dispatcher what you are wearing and that you are armed and watch your surroundings, they may have friends close by.

Good points...deciding to play Batman with criminals is a real risky endeavor. It makes little to no sense at all for someone to go outside looking for trouble. The part that will make you really sick is when you find out how much that legal shooting is going to cost you in legal fees... . Even if you win the conflict and kill all the perps, you still lose money, time...a piece of your soul...on and on. I sure hope that car stereo is worth it. I bet most folks are just talking big because they get mad at the thought of some thug stealing from them. In real life(off the internet) most folks are going to be a bit smarter than running around in the bushes outside their house looking to have a shoot out with thugs. It is always much easier to talk about throwing down on a human being than it is to actually go through with it.

[Excaliber]

One thing that has not been mentioned is what do you plan on doing with your reprobates once you have caught them prowling around your house? Flex cuffs don't take up too much room, but with multiple subjects there is an art to taking them into custody. What do you do if they don't obey your commands, but don't present a threat that rises to the level for the need of deadly force? Most will flee when confronted, but some will be aggressive still other are just defiant. Things to take into consideration when making a decision as to confront or not.

You may want to consider the recon and then call the police while you just covertly observe the activity from a position of of cover. Just remember to tell the dispatcher what you are wearing and that you are armed and watch your surroundings, they may have friends close by.

Getting within 21 feet of someone you're holding at gunpoint is extremely dangerous without backup covering from an angle at 90 degrees from your approach path. An agile individual can be on you in a heartbeat. Getting within touching distance in that situation, even with the subject proned out, almost guarantees a struggle for your gun when a quick reach pulls your feet out from under you and the gun goes flying. Keeping your distance is crucial. Your situation is considerably simpler if they flee - as long as they don't run off into the dark and circle around behind you.

Good points...deciding to play Batman with criminals is a real risky endeavor. It makes little to no sense at all for someone to go outside looking for trouble.

In a city or suburban environment, I would agree with you. However, in a rural area, there's often more than a car stereo at stake, and calling the police won't keep a crime from happening due to very long response times. When criminals attempt to steal livestock or expensive equipment needed to operate a farm, they threaten a family's livelihood. Although the dangers to the defenders remain the same (or greater due to the fact the cavalry won't be coming anytime soon), the consequences of not taking direct action may well be unacceptable.

[Keith B]

Another thread was started here http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 26&t=27460" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; where an individual went outside in a 'tough neighborhood' to investigate a noise. He had a 9mm with a laser sight and pointed it and targeted (lit up) officers that were scuffling to subdue a suspect. The officers shot and killed him. Another example of if he had called the police, he could have stayed inside and they would have advised it was police in his yard.

[frazzled]

So what Excaliber is saying, is that in the middle of the night, you should have an AR, night vision goggles, full BDUs, a medical pack, full throat-micced radio communications system and a wingman with all of that also ready to go at a moment's notice
(Is it sad that I DO have half of that list ready to go? Then again, I am prepping for Z-Day )

Just pickin at ya Excal

I agree, unless you have to go outside to possibly protect things (horses, cattle, farm equipment, etc etc) then stay indoors. If you do choose to go outside, you must realize that you are leaving a more secure position, for a less secure one, and to plan accordingly.

If you do shoot someone, and the police eventually show up, don't be suprised when they freak out that you're dressed like this to 'defend your property'

What? thats just casual summer wear...

Actually a nice side note. Many video cameras now have a night vision switch, which could be very helpful. I will admit I've not though to use that until now.

[frazzled]

The homeowner who goes outside after an intruder is an "army of one" with:


- no indirect fire options
- no UAV or chopper intel
- and no air cover.

Well now that you mention it. Pay no attention to that lawn ornament that looks suspiciously like a 105 howitzer..

[dicion]

I wonder what the legalities are of mounting remote controlled night vision camera-mounted turrets on your home.

I could probably easily rig up a pan/tilt/zoom setup with a camera, and a glock mounted.
The glock will make it all-weather capable

That way, you could take down perps in your back yard without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of your house.

[USA1]

That way, you could take down perps in your back yard without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of your house.

i can just see you now .
sipping your favorite beverage with one hand while pushing "the button" with your other hand .

[frazzled]

I wonder what the legalities are of mounting remote controlled night vision camera-mounted turrets on your home.

I could probably easily rig up a pan/tilt/zoom setup with a camera, and a glock mounted.
The glock will make it all-weather capable

That way, you could take down perps in your back yard without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of your house.

You could even take this issue non-lethal. Remote controlled paintball guns loaded with pepper balls from the safety of your den. Plus you could randmonly pepper school aged hooligans...
Add in a loudspeaker system and you've taken "get off my lawn, you punks!" to a whole new level.

[joe817]

Are you all getting your ideas from the movie "Home Alone"?