What steps should widows living alone take for protection?

You can take gun safety and training classes without owning a gun, they will provide a firearm for your use. Consider that before you purchase a gun, it's a good way to test your comfort level to see if you truly want to own a firearm. There are also non lethal means to protect yourself such as stun guns or pepper spray, or even an air horn. For sure get a security system and cameras, motion activated lights outside.

Your dogs don't necessarily need to be attack dogs, they racket they make will deter most intruders. Maybe take the chow thru some obedience classes so it will obey commands, may give you a bit more confidence in the dog.
 
I wanted to add something about lights for security.

My philosophy is a bit different than most, I keep my home and yard absolutly dark at night. My thinking is I know my home better than anyone, if an intruder comes at night they are going to need a flashlight to find their way around. That gives me an advantage of being able to see them before they see me.
 

C50 said:
You can take gun safety and training classes without owning a gun, they will provide a firearm for your use. Consider that before you purchase a gun, it's a good way to test your comfort level to see if you truly want to own a firearm.
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I never knew that. I think it's a great idea.
 
dilettante said:
Ouch. Point taken. There must be a lot of shifty characters around in this day and age. I already went through a bad scenario decades ago, but nobody can afford to let their guard down.

Thanks.
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There have ALLWAYS been "shifty characters " in the world we live in. If that were not the case, we wouldn't have or need Police services, would we ? Most Police services have community officers whose job it is to do "safety reviews " of your home, for free. The officer will look at your physical situation, such as doors, locks, windows, outside lighting, and make suggestions to improve your defenses against criminals. JimB.
 
C50 said:
I wanted to add something about lights for security.

My philosophy is a bit different than most, I keep my home and yard absolutly dark at night. My thinking is I know my home better than anyone, if an intruder comes at night they are going to need a flashlight to find their way around. That gives me an advantage of being able to see them before they see me.
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Yes. I too am of the "Be your own ninja" school of thought.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I don't keep many if any real valuables in my home. I don't own any valuables that I would protect. If they want to kill me, instead of taking what Misa has, fine. I am ready. The whole thing has been moment to moment...so you go when you go, how you go. You go. :)
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I often reflect on a particular quote from Albert Einstein... The most important question you will ever ask yourself is do we live in a friendly or a hostile universe. Paranoia is paralytic. It blocks one's ability to enjoy a higher quality of life. Most things we worry about never happen anyway, don't get solved by worrying over them, and can lead to seriously debilitating mental and emotional stress. So what's all the worry about anyway? Don't worry, be happy šŸ˜
 
C50 said:
I wanted to add something about lights for security.

My philosophy is a bit different than most, I keep my home and yard absolutly dark at night. My thinking is I know my home better than anyone, if an intruder comes at night they are going to need a flashlight to find their way around. That gives me an advantage of being able to see them before they see me.
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Most people have the exterior lights on their house set up backwards, with the lights shining OUTWARDS. If you look at professional security installations, the lights are facing the building, so that any movement causes shadows ON the house windows. If the lighting is activated by movement, the lights are the clue that something or some one, is moving outside the building. In expensive solar powered lights combined with motion activated video cameras can be bought at Home Depot for less than the cost of a new I phone.

Your idea of keeping the interior of the house dark is O.K. but how strong are your doors and windows ? Do you still have glass windows at ground level ? Consider adding 3M plastic layers to the inside of the glass, make them much more difficult to break through. The 3 M product will require about 5 minutes of continual smashing with a baseball bat, before it finally breaks open. The most common point of entry to houses in the USA is through the back door, which is not visible from the street, and the most common time for such break ins is week day afternoons. Delaying the physical entry as long as possible is the key to getting a good Police response time.
Jimb.
 
Blessed said:
Do you think my Bear could learn at this age. He is about 6 at this stage. He was not mine as a puppy but belonged to my best friend that died at the beginning of Covid. To be honest, it is hard enough to get him to the vet. He is so strong on the leash. He is very good in the car, but I have to leave him in the car and the vet personel to come get him out of the car and into the office. He is just the sweetest best boy but gets so excited out of the house I can't hold on to him.
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Bear is in his prime! And the fact that he gets all excited about being outside tells me he needs a job.

A good trainer will probably also tell you to give Bear one or two jobs around the house...bringing your shoes, opening the fridge, fetching the mail or whatever.

Chows are classified as working dogs. They're happiest when they have tasks & purposes.
 
Blessed, another thing before getting a gun is knowing yourself. You have talked about being woozy from pain or medications. If you woke in this state, would you have the clarity to know what youā€˜re shooting at. It could a friend or your grandchild.
 
I have a shotgun. At 5'2" and about 100 lbs, I'd stand little to no chance of fighting off an attacker without a weapon. God help the stupid motherf'er who breaks into my house.
 
sailormann said:
I often reflect on a particular quote from Albert Einstein... The most important question you will ever ask yourself is do we live in a friendly or a hostile universe. Paranoia is paralytic. It blocks one's ability to enjoy a higher quality of life. Most things we worry about never happen anyway, don't get solved by worrying over them, and can lead to seriously debilitating mental and emotional stress. So what's all the worry about anyway? Don't worry, be happy šŸ˜
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I am too old to be worried with fear, paranoia & such.
 
I also didnā€™t consider any condos on the first floor for obvious reasons. I bought on the third floor and I enclosed my balcony with windows that lock. Because the hallways are interior if someone was trying to break in all my neighbors would hear. Because of how safe I feel I can sleep really well.
 
sailormann said:
I often reflect on a particular quote from Albert Einstein... The most important question you will ever ask yourself is do we live in a friendly or a hostile universe. Paranoia is paralytic. It blocks one's ability to enjoy a higher quality of life. Most things we worry about never happen anyway, don't get solved by worrying over them, and can lead to seriously debilitating mental and emotional stress. So what's all the worry about anyway? Don't worry, be happy šŸ˜
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I related my own unique take on personal safety, and everyone has their own way of dealing with their fears. I don't worry about possessions or longevity much, but I choose other things, that are at least equal to possessions. Like how I am feeling all the time. or the stupid wars that drive me nuts, or other people who I know who are suffering, or do people accept me, and stuff like that

@Blessed I know how you are feeling, at least I felt that way, growing up, and raising my family. I feared break-ins and safety issues all the time. Especially when you get shot at by some good ol' boys one time. Or that a prowler was in our neighborhood. I lived in Brownsville Brooklyn and it was regular to have break-ins. We had three mechanical locks on our door!! I just want you to feel as safe as can. You seem to be a very sensitive person, and I appreciate that very much!! :)
 
I live in an apartment building and all entrances are locked. If someone rings the intercom we are supposed to ask who it is before releasing the entrance door. Not sure if everyone does that but that would be how someone could get in the building. My apartment is right across from the elevator and I can peek through my peek hole on the door to see who it is. I don't do that very often though.

We are about a block from the police station so calling there would be the first thing I would do if possible. Most of the crimes here have been between people who know each other. So I am always careful when getting to know new people. Plus I have a very small circle of people that I allow into my apartment. Even though I grew up with guns, now at my age I do not own one because I am not very strong and think someone would get a hold of it before I could use it on them.
 
The big dog barking is probably enough. But to add, put in some other deterrents like motion lights, fake cameras, and maybe real surveillance cameras. Criminals seek the path of least resistance - if they see that your house is a risky target, they will seek an easier target.

Only if you are in a very remote location should a gun be considered necessary.
 
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bobcat said:
Agreed ..... and maybe a doorbell that activates a recording of a dog barking that sounds like he would eat them for breakfast.
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I actually have a big scary looking dog with a loud serious bark. In reality, he would more knock you down and lick your face.
 
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