Reddit reviews SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket

This is a scary situation. I would recommend involving law enforcement to the extent that you can, if you can do any more than you already have.

Besides that, first priority is perimeter hardening. Cameras may provide some deterrent but won’t protect you if someone comes for you. I know it’s a rental but maybe you could convince the landlord that these are upgrades done at your own expense. Or just don’t tell. Reinforced door jamb

Door Armor MAX - Complete Door Reinforcement Set For Jamb, Frame, Strike Plate - DIY Home Door Security - Aged Bronze https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9ZGWH2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9J2FDbK66084S

Upgrade to steel door or similar if your door is not strong.

Add security film to the windows

BDF S4MC Window Film Security and Safety Clear 4 Mil (24in X 13ft) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRLI2PC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_192FDbNYNR641

Next, I would also add a security system with door/window sensors that sets off a siren when triggered. There are many, Ring is a popular DIY currently

Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit - Home Security System with optional 24/7 Professional Monitoring - No long-term contracts - Works with Alexa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q6CHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rg3FDbYQSMX46

I would recommend paying for professional monitoring at least for a couple months so that it calls law enforcement for you

Next sleep with a pepper spray of your choice beside your bed. I like this one

SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Rp3FDbPZRWD5X

AFTER you have done these things, yes add a camera or two. Might provide some deterrent, might help you go after them if they do property damage. Wyze cams are cheap and decent. Will need an outdoor housing if installing outdoors.

Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera with Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, Person Detection, Works with Alexa & the Google Assistant https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3l3FDb2MGD3RM

Good luck, be safe

Short answer: You need to move, this could escalate to violence including a murder. If taking a job in another state can keep everyone in your household alive then it is an action you need to seriously consider.

If for whatever reason you decide to stay then read on.

If you are the target then typical criminal deterrence will not be effective.

Cameras are good for collecting evidence for police, without evidence police won't do anything. Their job is to arrest criminals after they have committed a crime not protect you from a future crime.

You need to ensure the entries to your house are hardened, there are many resources online on how to harden your doors and windows. Here is a simple guide from the sidebar that has some good ideas: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/04/22/complete-guide-to-home-security/ . I personally have a stronger strike plate with 3" screws and a door jam on my external doors.

None of this protects you from someone burning your house down while you are inside. You need good fire detection and quality fire extinguishers as well as methods to escape through windows on upper floors is necessary. Create an escape plan for multiple scenarios and ensure your family does a regular walkthrough and everyone knows it by heart. Beware that the fire may be used to lure you outside to attack you with violence when you are no longer protected by the walls of your home. This is a fairly common carjacking technique where the criminals cause a small fender bender and when the person gets out of the car they steal it with violence or the threat of violence. I briefly cover personal protection below but you must be aware of that tactic so you can be prepared if that is the scenario you find yourself in

If you are the target then you need to take your personal protection and the protection of your family very seriously. Don't take this responsibility alone, your gf and her kids need to up their awareness. If something seems out of place do not ignore it, mitigate your risk by removing yourself/family from the danger that could surround that abnormality.

You also need a means to protect yourself if this harasser gets violent with you or your family. I'm a firearms person and live in Nevada where I can fairly easily obtain a concealed firearms permit. Where you live you may not be able to legally carry outside your home. A firearm and training are the best force multipliers civilians can use to defend themselves against unknown threats (we don't what this person is capable of, what tools he will use, or if he is acting alone). Personally, I believe an 5.56mm AR-15 rifle is the best home defense tool and a 9mm handgun is the best on person defense tool. You mentioned your girlfriend has 2 kids, regardless of age you must be 100% committed to ensuring any firearms you bring into a house with kids is behind a lock any time it is not on your person. In your situation I would recommend you have a handgun on your hip at all times you are awake. If you need more help with fireams advice/tactics/resources I can help you.

If firearms are not right choice for you (they aren't if you can't be 100% committed to ensuring it is impossible for the kids to get access) there are other less effective tools. I prefer pepper spray and carry it in addition to a firearm. Get some small canisters for on body carry and some of these larger canisters for in the home. Understand that when you deploy the spray everyone will be impacted and it will only buy some time to escape. I do not recommend stun guns as they are inconsistent and many people recover fairly quickly when they are done riding the lightning. Knives are effective at creating fatal wounds but not effective at stopping threats. A wounded attacker can still inflict damage for minutes after receiving a fatal stab wound. So I would not recommend those unless you have some knife defense proficiency already. Striking tools like batons and baseball bats can be effective medium range tools but can also be used against you if you are disarmed and rarely incapacitate in a single swing. These tools are only to ensure you and your household survive in the event you have to fight for your life, awareness and avoiding the fight is your most effective tool and only if your awareness fails should you have to resort to your fighting tools.

Hopefully your cameras can catch this individual doing something significant enough that the police will get involved and remove them from the general public. You can't depend on that though and have to have a layered approach to ensuring the safety of yourself and everyone in your household. Good luck!

edit: my phone bugged and I had to finish this from my computer, sorry for the originally cut off response.

Every single person, especially a living-alone female (and/or someone without a gun and trained) should have at the very least a large pepper spray can (not the tiny key chain model, but definitely have that on your key chain) in their home.

Ideally two of these: one by the bed and one in the living room (wherever you spend most of time while awake).

$40 ($80 for two) that may save your life.

This is the best in my opinion:
SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Of course, a lethal option is also best, but training along with it is crucial.

Also, a metal or ‘solid core door’ for your front door and bedroom. It will help / make it much harder for someone to get to you at night (and lock it at night). Couple that with replacing all of the screws for those doors with 3” screws and you have seriously helped your security setup.

Oh, and an alarm system...and swap out the cats for a dog ; )

A lot of people would not be comfortable having or using a gun. I understand that. If that’s the case you should add as many other additional layers of security as you can to dissuade someone from coming in in the first place;

• trim large shrubs against house someone could hide behind
  
• add quality motion lights (RAB 360 Stealth I recommend to all my friends)
  
• quality hard wired security cameras (avoid WiFi/battery if you can). If you/spouse/friend are a little tech savvy and can run a wire you can setup a very advanced camera system to alert you immediately when someone approaches. Time buys you a lot more options
  
• making sure all doors and windows are always locked
  
• securing doors and windows properly
  
• alarm system
  
• DOG (one of the best deterrents)...if you like them and they’d get along with your cats. Big investment though I get it
  
• if worst comes to worst I’d have one of these on hand and go crazy with it: SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_04C2CbQRHHK0W
  
  If you want to add an alarm sign to the yard add the sign from a different alarm company. Probably not going to have to worry about sophisticated burglars that look up ways to circumvent specific systems but it’s possible so can’t hurt to avoid that possibility. Beware of dog sign can’t hurt either.

Should be using a shotgun for home defense. Hard to beat a pump action for intimidating sounds. Minishells and an Opsol Adapter will take care of over penetration.

 

Edit: Sprays are also a good choice. The home versions are easier to handle in a stressful situation.

>my interest in guns has rapidly diminished since this happened

This is interesting because you used the gun in the way it was intended. I wonder if you wish now that you'd just had a big ass can of pepper spray. Having been through this ordeal, is this an alternative you would advocate?

It appears that the 35 gram limit is for carrying with you. I would feel confident in bringing home or ordering a large canister for home use only. REI sells 230 gram bear spray. I like the look of this one;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002368VJ6?ref_=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza&redirect=true&pldnSite=1

EDIT: Home Security System

[this would do the trick] (http://www.amazon.com/Sabre-Family-Property-Protection-13-0-Ounce/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1341494307&sr=8-9&keywords=tear+gas)

Most of our trucks have these:

SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VT0-BbSNGNC77

I totally feel ya bro. I had a similar situation a number of years ago, though the ex bf wasn't a muslim, he was still a crazy. Buy a large Sabre pepper spray: https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906371&sr=8-1&keywords=large+pepper+spray

and keep a firearm nearby. Buy some rubber bullets and keep the first 2 rounds loaded as less-lethal and the rest HP or self-defense oriented, it will help in a trial determination.

Also, regardless of this situation, but especially important in lieu of; buy a door reinforcement kit. Something that wraps around the door frame at the lock/jamb interface, such as: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-9590-Reinforcer-Stainless/dp/B005H3AN7A/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906690&sr=8-13&keywords=door+reinforcement

and install 3in screws at the latch, as well as at the hinges.

Your a good man for helping a woman in distress, but considering the risk you are taking, and in-order to protect her effectively you need to be 100% in charge of things. It's your way, or the high-way. She needs to comply with whatever provisions you deem necessary.

Best of luck

Pepper spray is legal.

https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_23?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1468714094&sr=1-23&keywords=pepper+spray

I keep one of those in the car, along with my pocket knife. If you're being assaulted, there's nothing wrong with opening up with that canister of pepper spray. Just be aware that some folks after being sprayed multiple times, will no longer react to the spray. Same goes for folks on Meth/PCP.

>As a society we have been moving away from personal responsibility ... We think that advocating for personal responsibility is selfish or non-empathetic.

I disagree. As a society we've been sold on this "rugged individualism" bullshit because the powers that be know that when people band together, they make change happen.

The people currently in power don't want that. They saw how the gilded age fell, when workers came together and demanded things like overtime, weekends, and the 40 hour work week. They want to go back to those days where they can get American labor just as cheaply in America as they can a third-world sweatshop. But that's a whole other fucking rant for a different topic entirely.

>I know that other western countries haven't descended into "crime-ridden shitholes". But they haven't eliminated violence, or violent crime. They still have shootings. They still have terrorist attacks

> All I'm saying is I'd rather have the most slim chance to defend myself than abandon civil liberties for a half measure of false safety.

You don't need a gun to defend your home. This is easier to fire and hit someone with, won't go through the wall and hit some poor bastard living next door to you, and I promise it will make any intruder regret the day they were born until the cops come.

Given that guns are not a choice for you, there are still plenty of options. Professional security focuses on Layers. You should too:
-Driveway sensor or doorbell with video capabilities
-Door alarm and interior/exterior cameras
-Reinforced bedroom door

None of these options are permanent and all could be taken with you when you move.

Next, weapons- If you choose not to train with a specific weapon you should focus on something that can't be taken away and used against you. Pepper spray can have an effective spray pattern of up to 30 feet ( https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_18?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1485379693&sr=1-18&keywords=pepper+spray+self+defense).

A taser gun (http://www.defenseproducts101.com/tasers_introduction.html) can also be a good choice especially when combined with pepper spray.

-Next, an escape plan. Can you get out of the house from your bedroom (access to the roof, rope ladder, etc.). Do you have quick and easy access to your cell phone? Can you call a neighbor or someone who may be closer than the police?

-Practice! Practice answering the door under a threatening situation. Practice deploying your pepper spray. Know when you'd resort to your next tools. Practice locking and securing your safe room door (One of those wooden triangle used to keep doors open will also keep them closed!).

-Finally, commit to your plan. If your plan is to fight, then practice that. If your plan is to escape, resist, or give in, know in advance what you want to do.

Security doesn't have to be expensive and a gun is only a good tool for those who educate themselves and train regularly. Being prepared and making yourself look like less of a victim is much more important.

You'll find renewed confidence in doing all of this. Best of luck!

If I were you, I'd buy her a weapon to protect herself.

Specifically, this pepper spray gun:
http://www.amazon.com/Sabre-Family-Property-Protection-13-0-Ounce/dp/B002368VJ6/

I rather have this SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_YmBPwbVTT9DQW

I highly suggest you buy a gun. Preferably a hand gun or shotgun. Next time this guy does this, go outside with the gun and tell him to leave. I'd even take a few bullets or shotguns shells in your hand and throw them at the bum. Put on some boots too and give him a good kick too to get him moving. You can't let these dregs of society walk all over you. You have to be firm with them or they'll take everything. Even without having to deal with the bum. I suggest you buy a gun before governor moonbeam and the communist state legislature bans them.

If he attacks you, regardless of the law you have every right to defend yourself. Even with lethal force. That's God's law.

I've had to deal with plenty of bums and hippies squatting around my property and the property of friends/relatives. A good quality mace (not that $6 pepper spray crap) can also be helpful. Especially when used like in that video. Mace likely will only agitate the bum instead of stopping them. So be prepared to have a baton, bat, ax handle, etc ready to smack once they start shuffling over towards you. It's annoying, it's tedious. But if you live in certain parts of the Bay Area you get used to removing degenerates from property.

https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002368VJ6&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&tag=seldefnin-20