Someone forced his way into my home while I was there. He ran when I confronted him and gave chase. I'm assuming he thought the house was empty because there wasn't a car in the driveway. We were gonna buy the house from the landlord up until the septic blew and now this. Just looked at a new place actually and I'm trying to put an offer down next week.
Okay. that sucks. I won't diminish that. You have every reason to be agitated. -BUT- - You have no reason to presume this was about you. It sounds like a crime of opportunity. - You have no reason to presume any deterrent would help. You're talking about a criminal who doesn't have the presence of mind to knock on the door before kicking it down. - You have no reason to presume it's likely to happen again. Less, in fact: this one guy has already come to your house and left less than empty-handed. If he has even the animal instincts of a squirrel he's going to take his hunting elsewhere. - You have no reason to secure this domicile going forward as you are outtie. I'd chalk it up to bad experience, acknowledge that you learned something about deadbolts and door frames, and contemplate your physical security for the next spot. Again, you got my number. A home invasion, by the way, is someone threatening you with bodily harm within your home in order to take your valuables. It's a mugging but within your domicile. What you did was interrupt a burglary. Burglars and home invaders are psychologically very different people. Don't get me wrong - it sucks to be burgled, particularly if you're there. But a home invader would not have run.