What would you do if you woke up walked into the living room and came face to face with a burglar?

So glad you are ok and didn't get assaulted in your sleep!

I guess there wouldn't be much you could do if you didn't have your bat or gun with you.I am sure you probably wouldn't be a match in a fight.

You may seriously want to look into getting some sensor alarms or something more professional in security.

If you live alone, maybe getting a dog would be a good idea.

At least you are un harmed, be glad of that.

Not sure what I would do, we would either be quiet and let them take what they wanted but if they got abusive, guess we would go down fighting.

It really isn't so much about you being a senior because 20 or so years back our neighbors a young couple in their 20's had a man walk into their living room at 11pm when they were sitting watching tv.

He was in his underpants only and out of his mind, picked a fight with them right in their home.

He ran out, climbed a tree at the next house and was screaming until the police arrived. He was on drugs and had just had a fight with his GF. He would of been shot if he went to any other home in the neighborhood because most of my neighbors were packing, he was one lucky nut case.

My son was robbed twice for his cash on hand. Once in Sweden on holiday an once in Las Vegas in a gas station after he paid for his gas, outside of his car.

Sounds bad, so sterotypical but both times it was the "young blackmen" doing the robbing.

In Sweden he went clubbing which he never did before going there and walked back to his room by himself, took a short cut throuh an alley at night, not smart.

He saw the 2 guys standing there giving him the look so he just pulled out all the cash in his pockets and handed it to them as he walked by. He knew without words what they would of done if he had not given them something.

In Vegas the guys walked over way too close to him and asked for money in a tone of voice that left no questions, again he handed over all his cash and just came home all shook up.

He was careless both times,you have to make sure you are ok and lock up even for a short nap.

Come to think of it, please no reports but the guy up the tree was a black man too, how terrible is that to have to say, all true though.

you asked two questions: one is what would "we" do and the other was what you should have done.

Today everyone needs a security system. And I'm not so sure you yourself could have stopped him from robbing you....and that's why people pay home or apartment insurance and have safety deposit boxes and some just work with credit cards only. The concern mainly is for life. If you made no noise and slept thru it then not only were you lucky but you did the best possible thing you could have done, nap.

This is a scary situation in that one never knows what kind of protection the burglar brought with them, or what kind of bullets he has in a firearm if he does have one. But my question would then be "what is so darned important these days that anyone would risk their life for?" and my answer is "nothing". If ever you're confronted, well "maybe" and that's a BIG maybe, one could negotiate with a burgler. I've heard of people giving them a sandwich and money and sending them on their way. one just never knows.

I am sorry this happened to you. I would have said "get out" in a stern way if had come face to face with the burgler and then if he wasn't blocking the exit I would have run like h#&&. The dog suggestion is a good one, but if that is not to your liking, perhaps some simple door and window alarms that run by batteries would be in order. Now I am curious what law enforcement would suggest if one comes face to face with burglar in the home. If the person was breaking in before my very eyes I would fire a warning shot and if that did not deter them, I would do whatever needed to protect my home and loved ones.

My neighbours have a sign THIS PROPERTY PROTECTED BY SMITH & WESSON. If I were a burglar I would not want to test whether they might be lying. Ourselves, we've not seen any trespassers since we started rifle practice some years ago.

My brother has always recommended leaving "obviously valuable" junk electronics and fake jewelry lying out in the open where it can easily be taken, in place of the real stuff that's hidden away somewhere.

Actually meeting one of those creatures, I'd hope to have the presence of mind to say, "Oh, hello Fred. I didn't know you were here. Would you like a cup of coffee?" That would establish that I hadn't the faintest hope of identifying him.

Firstly you must keep yourself safe and not tackle him/her. Best thing is to get yourself to a safe room (one which has a lock - if any of them do - or which can be barricaded in some way and with a phone. You should call the police as soon as you have got yourself safe and it's wise, even when in your own house to never be too far away from a landline or a mobile phone.

Don't confront them, if it was broad daylight they could have been high and

if you scared them they could retalate in a bad away. All your "stuff" can be replace, you

can't. I'm very sorry this happened to you, maybe get a dog or something

that could have awaken you before they got it. It was a randam act but someone

it's not personal so just check you locks before you lay down. It's the holidays it

bring out the good in some and unfortunatly the bad in others

Yikes! I am SO glad you didn't wake up during the robbery.

I don't know what I'd do. Pretend to faint and let them get away. I tried to stop a robbery in the convenience store where I worked and got bowled over with one of the robbers then sitting on me beating my head against the pavement. I said, "I give up." and she said, "Stupid *****." and ran off only to get caught 20 minutes later. The first thing the police officer said was, "let them get away with it."

On a lighter note, The Dog would never let anyone get into the house unannounced.

That happened to me in San Francisco but it was night time -- I had a starter pistol by in my night stand and in the dim light they thought it was a real gun and jumped out the window. Now if that happen, I'll have to plaster the wall and get new carpet. Be careful and make sure you don't take a bat to a gun fight ----- get out and call the cops.

Assalaam Alaikum Thats all,If Allah(swt) wishes to provide hidayat (steering) he offers to someone.The most merciful probably the most helpful Allah(swt) . How lucky was the thief such best knowledge he acquired .. Subhan allah. Jazak allah sister

Oh Dede, that's awful! I'm sorry. It must have been very scarey.

I don't know what I would do but every now and then I have a nightmare that someone is in the house so it must be in my mind as a big fear.