Strange night last night...

[Fuddy1952]

Our closest neighbors we're good friends with, they're about our age, 1-2 years younger. We're 68,66...they're 66,64. We're invited over yesterday early evening coffee/cake...we bring a gift.
Husband shows me his latest gun he just bought added to his collection, pump sawed off shotgun loaded by bed.
About 10:45 our phone rings...it's his wife "Emergency! Guys here yelling, beating on door!". In 3 minutes I'm running over with a 12 ga + Glock 9+bright flashlight +cell phone.
Nothing...no sound...I walk all around their house, light up & down our road...nothing.
Then police arrive (they happened to be in area).
We check everything...nothing. They said they would patrol area.
Her husband calls, he heard it also. We've been here 40 years...they're reputable people. He said they heard the loud talking, couldn't make out the words.
This to me is what's weird. The husband collects guns. Why didn't he go out immediately. House has 4 doors...I would have gone out a back door and around. They have alarm system + floodlights everywhere.
Our place is dark. About midnight I went around once more in camo...quietly...just the 9mm. Walked all around our place, their place.-----nothing-----.
I'm trying to make sense of it. I would have thought husband would be first out (why collect guns? He doesn't hunt).
Anyone experience anything like this? It just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Wakey]

Sounds odd. Was something in the baked goods? Lol

 

[oosik]

A point perhaps - just because you collect guns doesn't mean you want to be brave/foolhearty and leave the safety of your house.

 

[CobyRupert]

Strange.

Only they know, but perhaps the husband was pranking his wife, things got out of hand, she called you and 911. At that point he/they were too embarrassed?

Was he with his wife when there was beating on the door? Or did he only hear talking? Where was he? Did they both here multiple voices? Was the place lit up when you got there?

Monday morning quarterbacking here, but.....walking around on their property later in Camouflage with a pistol (w/ police alerted, and them (if actually fearful) seems like a bad idea. People on edge with guns....

 

[hosspuller]

Definitely... Better defensive position is inside the house... Also legal defensive after a shooting... You know castle doctrine.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Strange.

Only they know, but perhaps the husband was pranking his wife, things got out of hand, she called you and 911. At that point he/they were too embarrassed?

Was he with his wife when there was beating on the door? Or did he only hear talking? Where was he? Did they both here multiple voices? Was the place lit up when you got there?

Monday morning quarterbacking here, but.....walking around on their property later in Camouflage with a pistol (w/ police alerted, and them (if actually fearful) seems like a bad idea. People on edge with guns....

They're not type to prank. Yes...everything lit up, they both heard it, etc.
When I made my last walk around it was on my property...they only have 1 acre. I could walk my place pitch dark no problem, but it was a full moon. Police had gone.
If I had banging, yelling at our door I have enough stuff to hold off a small Army, I ain't skeered .
Never happened in 40 years. It's too weird.

 

[oosik]

For sure, hosspuller. They break down the door and enter the house - I will be doing my very best to ensure this is their VERY LAST break-in.

 

[Tinhack]

I guess you feel safe with the "Castle Doctrine".

I prefer Texas law. Some laws, including simple theft, contain a "night time" provision. "All force necessary, including deadly force, may be used to recover the property". I don't have too many lights on at night. I can see very well in the dark and I sure don't want any lights coming on behind me. If I need light, I carry it or it's on the end of my barrel. A green laser puts out a huge amount of light when it's dark.

I live in a low population county with limited resources. It may take an hour or more for a sheriff deputy to get here--Even on a 911 call. The typical "backup" is the highway patrol.

 

[two_bit_score]

Our closest neighbors we're good friends with, they're about our age, 1-2 years younger. We're 68,66...they're 66,64. We're invited over yesterday early evening coffee/cake...we bring a gift.
Husband shows me his latest gun he just bought added to his collection, pump sawed off shotgun loaded by bed.
About 10:45 our phone rings...it's his wife "Emergency! Guys here yelling, beating on door!". In 3 minutes I'm running over with a 12 ga + Glock 9+bright flashlight +cell phone.
Nothing...no sound...I walk all around their house, light up & down our road...nothing.
Then police arrive (they happened to be in area).
We check everything...nothing. They said they would patrol area.
Her husband calls, he heard it also. We've been here 40 years...they're reputable people. He said they heard the loud talking, couldn't make out the words.
This to me is what's weird. The husband collects guns. Why didn't he go out immediately. House has 4 doors...I would have gone out a back door and around. They have alarm system + floodlights everywhere.
Our place is dark. About midnight I went around once more in camo...quietly...just the 9mm. Walked all around our place, their place.-----nothing-----.
I'm trying to make sense of it. I would have thought husband would be first out (why collect guns? He doesn't hunt).
Anyone experience anything like this? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Almost sounds like the story changed from the way the wife related it to when the husband described it. That can happen to some degree just because it's two different peoples perspective but this seems to be pretty drastic from Yelling and Beating on the door to just hearing loud voices but couldn't make out words.

Not sure about the Va "Castle Doctrine" but in Texas it applies primarily to you on your own premises or property.

It would be very unfortunate to surprise someones drunk relatives and maybe even get into a gunfight with them while the neighbors who called you are cowered in the safety of their bedroom.

 

[MoKelly]

I thought sawed off shotguns were illegal everywhere? Are they legal in your state?

MoKelly

 

[Fuddy1952]

I thought sawed off shotguns were illegal everywhere? Are they legal in your state?

MoKelly

I made one as a teen and got in serious trouble. I didn't know but if I remember correctly limit was 19".
Neighbors is legal in Virginia.
I told my wife when she called I should of said "as soon as I wipe I'll bring some mustard gas".
Just so weird calling me?!? When I left our house both wives called 911. Normally it would take police a long time getting here but they happened to be very close by.
The movie we were watching was boring anyway so I was ready for some "hammer time".

 

[turnkey4099]

I guess you feel safe with the "Castle Doctrine".

I prefer Texas law. Some laws, including simple theft, contain a "night time" provision. "All force necessary, including deadly force, may be used to recover the property". I don't have too many lights on at night. I can see very well in the dark and I sure don't want any lights coming on behind me. If I need light, I carry it or it's on the end of my barrel. A green laser puts out a huge amount of light when it's dark.

I live in a low population county with limited resources. It may take an hour or more for a sheriff deputy to get here--Even on a 911 call. The typical "backup" is the highway patrol.

I'm with you about night lights. All they do is give the perp light to work by. Neighbor lost a new business truck loaded with professional tools. About a hundred yards off the highway, dark, dark night. Yard light on. Truck parked alsmost outside their bedroom. Had the year light not been there the kids (yes juveniles) probably wouldn't even had known they were there. They had stolen a pu in Spokane, wa and run out of gas just past the driveway. Had they not hit them, the next place was about 100 yeards down the road to me and my neighbor.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Yes...I much prefer dark.
What's strange is last night neighbor wife calls me first before 911. Probably since it usually takes police long time getting here.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Yes...I much prefer dark.
What's strange is last night neighbor wife calls me first before 911. Probably since it usually takes police long time getting here.

Your neighbor is very lucky to have you so close by !

KC

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Definitely... Better defensive position is inside the house... Also legal defensive after a shooting... You know castle doctrine.

:thumbsup: Right on both points...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

When we moved to Virginia it was the first week of July. Brand new surroundings, house in the middle of 80 acres, and so black at night you can't see your hand in front of your face. Closet neighbors several hundred yards away. The second night we were in the house, probably close to midnight, all of a sudden there were gunshots everywhere, and all bam, bam, bam... I about *&%^ a brick. This went on for 10 minutes it seemed. Grabbed my Benelli M4 and out the door I went, in the pitch dark. Circled the house, looking into the tress, wondering what the h ell was going on and where did I just move to. Anyway... I get back to the front door and my wife is standing there just laughing, what? I said. Without missing a beat, she says, Hey numbn*ts... It's 4th of July!!!

 

[Thomas]

I'd would have eye's ears on alert next couple weeks or so for they might return.

 

[dodge man]

I agree, if I hear something outside my house, I am not going out there. I will ammo up and wait for them to come to me while the police are on the way.

 

[Dftodd]

A couple years ago, I was out walking my dog just before bed. Probably about 10:30 to 11:00 pm.

Neighbor across the road let out his chihuahua who immediately bee lined to attack my shepherd.

The elderly neighbor next door happened to be out with his dog in his back yard at this time as well.

He heard my neighbor and I yelling at the chihuahua.

He thought we were yelling at each other

The renters that had just moved into the house on the other side of me didn't know what to think

Bunch of rednecks out showing there butts on a Saturday night

 

[oosik]

Only once in all my time out here ( 38+ ) years did I answer my door holding my shotgun. It was dark outside > knock on the door > I asked-"who is it" > no response, but they knocked a second time. I grabbed the shotgun, flipped on the porch light, cracked the door. It was a young fellow and, as I found out, his wife. They said they were lost. Man were they EVER lost. Off the county road - one mile down my gravel driveway.

So I invited them in and got them oriented and back on their way. I wasn't too concerned about them being robbers - Wyoming license plates and two young kids in their car.

Otherwise - raccoons having a knock down brawl on my front porch will bring you out of a good sleep. That's happened several times. And a lonely coyote howling right out in the front yard will do the same.