Even though criminals are relatively dumb and lazy (if they weren’t, they’d earn an honest living) they all know that New Year’s Eve is the best night of the year to rob houses and get a lot of quality loot.
The fact is, even people who almost never leave their home usually end up going out to dinner or getting together with friends on New Year’s Eve. This year, I’ll be among them as my wife signed us up to be chaperones at a church youth dance. Apparently, my job is to make sure the boys don’t just lean against the wall the entire time and that they actually ask girls to dance. As these are 14-18 year olds I may have an impossible task in front of me.
Hopefully, you’re going out too and are doing something a little more exciting than chaperoning a dance. If you are, here’s some things you need to know:
Beside the fact that so many of us go out on New Year’s Eve, the major reason burglaries occur that night is because we have a ton of new presents lying around. Thieves love electronics and jewelry and there are likely new TVs, iPads, and iPods that are still in your living room or sitting on a desk somewhere, maybe even unopened.
Heck, if Santa was really good to you this year then you may have guns, ammo, and other gear sitting out too.
If this is the case and you’re going out like I am you should definitely remember to turn on your alarm tonight. You’d be amazed at the number of people I talk to who’ve had their homes broken into and burglarized even though they had alarms, which they forgot to set. Also, I realize not everyone has alarms or can afford them, which is why at the very least you should have some door stopper alarms in front of all your doors.
If you’re not going out tonight then you should be extra vigilant about any strange noises you hear, and be especially careful of people who knock on your front door. Burglars love to “case” a home by knocking on the front door first too see if somebody is home. If someone knocks on your front door I wouldn’t open it and I would simply talk to them through the door. If they claim to work for a company I would tell them you’re going to call the company to verify they have a person out in the area.
Of course, whether you’re going out tonight or staying in you should have a firearm on you or one close by. The last thing you want to happen is to arrive home from a party and walk in on criminals (who most likely have weapons) and have no way to defend yourself. Just remember, the sober person in your party should be the one with the gun. If you’re drinking, stay away from firearms.
I hope you have a fun and safe New Year’s Eve and I’ll hopefully be showing 14-18 year old boys how to attract the ladies.burgla
Although this is a timely article that has some good information,
perhaps as people tent to use alcohol as part of their celebration it
should have started with NOT mixing alcohol and firearms. The point
seemed to be about protecting your home and it’s contents until the last
couple of paragraphs, where it turned to self defense. If you plan to
drink in the New Year – DO NOT carry a firearm assuming you will
function properly in a stressful or self defense situation. OR, if you
plan to be the designated defender also act as the designated driver and
avoid the booze and any other substance that effects your mind and
physical ability.
Remember if the label on a drug says – DO NOT
OPERATE HEAVY MACHINERY WHILE TAKING THIS DRUG – both a car and a
firearm would be considered HEAVY MACHINERY!
YOu sem to take the position that one beer, one glass of wine, or one shot, will render the imbiber totally incompetent, useless, or dangerous. Not so. Most normal folk know their limits and response to what they drink, and can keep things well under control. I don’t take my gun off my hip as a precondition to enjoying a beer or shot. And I don;t ever drink enough to turn into the sort of incompetent danger you describe. Will my reaction tie be a bit slower? Yes, quite likely. But being tired will do the same thing. Should I take my sidearm off as I get sleepier as the evening wears on? Nope, I won’t. This is little more than a shrill anti-alcohol rant.
Why must persons like you, turn every blog that expresses another individual’s opinion, into an insulting and disrespectful RANT; simply because you disagree. Civility holds a lofty position in the pyramid of human communication. Our current polititions are the perfect example of what your ATTACK mode of disagreement accomplishes … NOTHING! IMO, your stand is “totally incompetent, useless, or dangerous”. ALCOHOL AND WEAPONS DO NOT MIX … EVER! You need to speak with an ADULT and get yet a third opinion, a lawyer would be preferable. Happy New Year.
Jason, I seem to remember when the task was either pry the boys away from the wall and onto the dance floor or pry them OFF their dance partner.
As for the burglars, yes make all the usual preparations and check them twice. Make the house look occupied. Be safe and alert.
Have a safe and happy New Years Eve and a safe, happy and healthy 2014.
WELL, AT MY HOUSE ?? ITS KNOCK OR GET SHOT … PERIOD
This is the second time you’ve told us when you won’t be at home. Stop it!
What’s the source of your crime stats?
My Uncle Connor got Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
use this link Buzz31.ℂom