How would you react if a burglar entered your home when your children are present?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Op, I think the idea that you can sacrifice yourself to save your daughter and this will somehow keep your daughter safer than getting help is a romantic notion from watching too many movies. Much better to call 911 and get help on the way than to try and be a hero and think that means your daughter is safe. A burglar is more likely to leave you and your daughter alone and not harm you if you leave them alone and don't pose a threat.

OP here. Between engaging the burglars in order to distract them /give them valuables and sacrificing myself is a long way to go. I consider it my responsibility to do something and not hide in the bushes while my daughter is about to have a traumatizing experience alone (even if she is not harmed).

[Anonymous]

I would get my daughter and put her behind the two locked doors in my master bathroom. There is an extra security lock on the bedroom door. Police response in our area is less time than it would take to break down two doors and if that seemed in question we could escape from the bathroom window.

We have a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Nobody seems to have picked up on anything strange regarding my husband's planned reaction. He would flee the house and leave our daughter in the house together with the burglars.

In my opinion this would greatly increase the risk of an encounter between our daughter and the burglars. The likelihood is low that the police would get there in time.

I could never do this, and consider his attitude extremely cowardly. I am stunned that he would put his safety and well-being above that of our daughter.

Does anybody feel like that or am I crazy?

yea, I read that part, and thought, "he seems like a coward." It should be the other way.. he should distract so the kid can get out and call 911.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Nobody seems to have picked up on anything strange regarding my husband's planned reaction. He would flee the house and leave our daughter in the house together with the burglars.

In my opinion this would greatly increase the risk of an encounter between our daughter and the burglars. The likelihood is low that the police would get there in time.

I could never do this, and consider his attitude extremely cowardly. I am stunned that he would put his safety and well-being above that of our daughter.

Does anybody feel like that or am I crazy?

yea, I read that part, and thought, "he seems like a coward." It should be the other way.. he should distract so the kid can get out and call 911.

Different poster. “Coward” is the first thought that crossed my mind too. My DH is on the extreme opposite side. He would go into direct confrontation straight away and would not hesitate risking his life even for a millisecond. The reality though? I am not convinced that my DH’s strategy is safe for himself or our family. I would go somewhere between the two extremes.

[Anonymous]

yeah no way i would leave my kid inside with burglars and run out to call 911.

[Anonymous]

I think your daughter going into the attic is smart. You both should stay in your room behind a locked door (regardless of how flimsy) and call 911. No one needs to leave the house to call 911. If they come to your room, fight like hell.

I would not go to your daughter and lead them to her unless it was a last resort. 911 would have been called and you two are fighting distracting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Op, I think the idea that you can sacrifice yourself to save your daughter and this will somehow keep your daughter safer than getting help is a romantic notion from watching too many movies. Much better to call 911 and get help on the way than to try and be a hero and think that means your daughter is safe. A burglar is more likely to leave you and your daughter alone and not harm you if you leave them alone and don't pose a threat.

OP here. Between engaging the burglars in order to distract them /give them valuables and sacrificing myself is a long way to go. I consider it my responsibility to do something and not hide in the bushes while my daughter is about to have a traumatizing experience alone (even if she is not harmed).

Then go and hide with her.

[Anonymous]

I think most burglars do not want a confrontation or to be seen and everyone hiding (assuming everyone can’t get out) would be the safest. No world in which it makes sense to go downstairs and confront them and escalate the situation

Unrelated - what are burglars even stealing these days? TVs are heavy and mounted to the walls, no one has wads of cash in their purse anymore, computers and iPads are in random locations around the house. We are wealthy and have a nice home but other than one expensive ring, the stuff in our garage (bikes, strollers) are probably the only things of value that are easy to find and take

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've thought about this, OP.

For the most part, burglars are interested in money, not killing someone. So, I would tell DD to lock herself in the bathroom.

We don't have that luxury because our master bathroom door doesn't lock, even if it did, it's super super easy to break it open. It's one of those pocket doors, which I hate.

I would just give the burglar whatever they wanted in terms of belongings.

Now, if they are intent on hurting someone as well, that's a different story. I'd also lure the criminal away from DD so that DD could escape. If DD were in her room, the only way to escape would be to jump out of the second story window. She might break a leg, but she'd be alive.

Yeah, I’d probably lock and barricade doors and yell that I’m calling police as I actually call them. Response time is fast here and most people are looking for valuables and not people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have thought about getting a gun, but decided against it, for the following reason: in the past six months at my daughter's stressful elite private school three children committed suicides (unrelated to each other), each of them with the gun of their parents.

Besides, if the gun is kept fairly secured and hidden, there might not be enough time to get it.

Honestly your daughter’s school sounds like a greater danger to your lives and well being than a burglary.

How can you say that, PP? After all, it's "elite."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Nobody seems to have picked up on anything strange regarding my husband's planned reaction. He would flee the house and leave our daughter in the house together with the burglars.

In my opinion this would greatly increase the risk of an encounter between our daughter and the burglars. The likelihood is low that the police would get there in time.

I could never do this, and consider his attitude extremely cowardly. I am stunned that he would put his safety and well-being above that of our daughter.

Does anybody feel like that or am I crazy?

You've thought about this way, way too much. Also, you're a troll.

[Anonymous]

Lol these responses. I hope people are just pretending they’re more woke than they actually are because, if I’m a burglar, man I’m raiding y’all’s homes tonight. A burglar has a gun. Get one or don’t get one, but your “run and hide” plan is…cute.

[Anonymous]

OP is a troll, and not a very good one.

There’s no “elite private school” in California where three kids shot themselves in six months either.

Bullshit. All of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most burglars do not want a confrontation or to be seen and everyone hiding (assuming everyone can’t get out) would be the safest. No world in which it makes sense to go downstairs and confront them and escalate the situation

Unrelated - what are burglars even stealing these days? TVs are heavy and mounted to the walls, no one has wads of cash in their purse anymore, computers and iPads are in random locations around the house. We are wealthy and have a nice home but other than one expensive ring, the stuff in our garage (bikes, strollers) are probably the only things of value that are easy to find and take

Good question. TVs and stereo equipment not a big draw.

Aside from targeting small business owners who might have cash in the house or those with flashy jewelry on social media and other outlets... I have to think the most expensive thing is to break in, grab your keys, and steal your cars from garage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol these responses. I hope people are just pretending they’re more woke than they actually are because, if I’m a burglar, man I’m raiding y’all’s homes tonight. A burglar has a gun. Get one or don’t get one, but your “run and hide” plan is…cute.

Burglars want to burgle. They’re not “home invaders.” They don’t want you to be home, and if you are home they run.