Intruder in our house - what would you have done?

[ROFL XD]

Ok, so first a little background information. My parents recently moved to a new house a few months ago, but have kept the old house to clean out our old stuff and fix it up a bit before selling it. During these few months, we've had timers and stuff on some lights to make it look like there were people there. In Feb. we had an ice storm, which knocked out power for a day and a half and we never reset the timers after that.

About 3 weeks ago, my mom went back to the old house around noon to clean some stuff, and discovered some guy in our kitchen. I believe she saw him before he saw her. She was unarmed, so she just questioned him a little and let him go. He claimed that he "just needed a place to crash," that this was his first day staying in our house, and that he didn't steal anything. Later that day, I found that my pellet gun was missing so we called the police, who came and did a report. A few days later, one of my parents' credit card companies called to report that they had denied several charges... turns out the guy stole a credit card and had used it to buy a bunch of gift cards at gas stations. We thought that was the end of it, but then last week someone called Verizon, who called my brother, to report that they had found a phone in a park with my number. I said, "that's impossible, my phone is right here in my pocket"...but then realized that they had found my old phone, which must have been also stolen. Met the guy and got it back that evening. The police technicians then came to our house to fingerprint the place, but didn't find any usable prints I also checked the call log of my phone, and it had been used 2 days before my mom ran into the guy, so he must have been there for more than 1 day (no usable #'s logged though, he tried to call the weather line but the phone was deactivated anyway). At least everyone is OK and we're really only out a $130 pellet gun, but this incident still really scares me and makes me so mad... I keep wondering what would have happened if it had been me, my XD, and I who had found the guy instead of my mom.

So, after reading my novel... what would you have done if you had been the one to discover this random guy in your house?? Ideally, my answer would be to call the police and keep him there until they arrived, but how? I have my doubts about the legality of keeping a gun pointed at them the whole time while waiting...

Also when answering keep in mind that this is in Indiana, where a person:
(1) is justified in using reasonable force, including deadly force, against another person; and
(2) does not have a duty to retreat;
if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's unlawful entry of or attack on the person's dwelling, curtilage, or occupied motor vehicle.

[polykarp]

Tough call, if there was no threat of life I wouldn't take his. I'd pull it out on him and call the 5-0. I guess if he tried to move past I'd let him but be sure to follow and retain as much as possible for the cops. Someone's signature line says when seconds count the cops are 5 minutes away... with that we'd have us a little chat about Jesus.

[deepdiver]

If he didn't see me, I would have backed out of the house very quietly and called 911. CCW doesn't replace law enforcement's role.

[Hwkeye]

If i walked in and a guy was in the house, I would Immedietly draw my weapon and order him to the ground... While he was on the ground, i would call the police immedietly, then when the police were coming, I would question him on who he is and why he is in my house.... I would hold him at gunpoint until the police get there... any aggresive move and he would have been shot... period.

[Neomet]

Step back outside and 911 it. He isn't supposed to be there period.

[cougar_guy04]

Originally Posted by Hwkeye

If i walked in and a guy was in the house, I would Immedietly draw my weapon and order him to the ground... While he was on the ground, i would call the police immedietly, then when the police were coming, I would question him on who he is and why he is in my house.... I would hold him at gunpoint until the police get there...

If he's seen me then that's my course of action. Who knows what kind of weapon he might have on him or whether or not he's mentally stable.

[Hwkeye]

True... and remember, if you are posting here, chances are that you have 1 or 2 guns in the house... how do you know if he had gotten to them??

[beaterar]

Well I would first encourage my mother to get and carry a pistol!!

Cancel your credit cards and just have all new everything issued.

Record the serial numbers on all your ****, it aids in catching the guy if nothing else.

Now when I found him in the house I would have surly drawn my weapon and made him get down. Call the police and inform them of the situation and that you would be waiting for them to arrive. If he was a dick I cant say I'm not above giving a kick to the guts, but I really don't want to ever shoot anyone. I would let the cops bust him, get him for the theft and breaking and entering.


You mom is LUCKY thats all, she survived by the luck of the draw. Very well could have turned out much worse , chalk it up to learning and get a gun.

[polykarp]

Originally Posted by cougar_guy04

If he's seen me then that's my course of action. Who knows what kind of weapon he might have on him or whether or not he's mentally stable.

+1 most of the homeless in my area are psych patients at the VA hospital.

[Polymerhead]

So - your unarmed Mom confronted and questioned an intruder? She's lucky she didn't get hurt. The answer here is evacuate and call 911. You would have had an immediate police report, even if he ran away. What if he would have strangled your mom to death and then ran off? He's brash enough to crash in a house, steal and use stolen credit cards. She's very, very lucky he just ran off.