[jaust]

Sorry to hear about the burglary...its not a robbery. Anyway, where I live on Long Island in a nice, safe community this happens all the time. No place is immune from crime.If somebody knows of a place like that, let me know and I will be the first one on line. Most crimes like this happen during the time when people go to work or run errands. All you can do is secure your home as best you can. Make sure windows and doors are locked etc. Don't make it easy for them. Make them work for it. As in your case I believe you said they broke a window. Well we all know there is nothing you can do about that. Like they say on The LIRR and Subways....If you see something,say something. Call the police for anything that doesn't look right.

[ucfjtm]

Originally Posted by INeedAChange

I'm not sure what bearing his neighbor's ethnicity or the fact that the two victims were illegal aliens has on the case. Horn didn't know they were illegal when he killed them. On the other hand, a possible case for racial bias could be made if it can be proved that Horn shot them because they were Hispanic. I don't know whether Texas has hate crime laws.

Where does it end? Years ago a Japanese exchange student went to the wrong house by accident in Louisiana (he was going to a party) and knocked on the door. The man who opened the door shot him dead. The man was not charged.

It's always better to just to call the police.

I mentioned the neighbor's nationality since the Black Panthers have been calling for Joe Horn's head. I mentioned the illegals because it wasn't like these were teenage kids looking to run off with a TV. Forget breaking into someone's house - they broke into this country, and one of them did it twice. If Joe were in fact racist, I doubt he'd risk his neck and future in this manner for someone who wasn't of his own race. Joe did mention on the phone that he thought the robbers were black, but if you listen to the tape, he said it once in describing the situation to the operator and wasn't blasting racial slurs the whole time. You can find the audio on YouTube. You can tell he's very agitated, but I believe it's because it's happening right next to his own house - not because of race. Only he can answer this question, but I'd bet if the robbers were white with the same actions, it would have probably led to the same result. He felt violated because this was happening in his neighborhood - right next to his own home. Based on other neighbors' descriptions of Joe Horn, he was known as a grandfather figure who did everything he could to help his community. Like I said, I don't agree with his actions since it wasn't his home..

As for knocking on someone's door - that's not breaking into someone's house and it would be illegal to shoot someone for that. (We'd have a lot of dead solicitors if that were the case.) If this student opened the door and entered on his own, it's very unfortunate..
I'm thinking that you're referring to Yoshihiro Hattori, who was 16, in 1992. The homeowner did lose a civil suit for $650,000, but it's a shame he didn't get convicted. That was a case where I believe a man reacted from his wife's hysteria of what was going on outside during Halloween. She freaked out looking through the door's peephole and he assumed the worst when he opened his garage door and Yoshihiro came toward him with a friend. I think he should have been convicted for manslaughter at a minimum..

[Petertherock]

Originally Posted by macguy

Unless you put bars on the windows you have no defense. Someone willing to just smash their way in locks make no difference, there is nothing you can do. Even an alarm doesn't help because the crime happens so fast. I guess your only defense is the house can't look empty.

My old boss who is a retired cop once said that the only thing locks do is keep honest people out. Criminals will find a way around any lock.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Petertherock

My old boss who is a retired cop once said that the only thing locks do is keep honest people out. Criminals will find a way around any lock.

Most criminals are opportunists, if you make it hard for them they move on to something easier. Lock say a car doors and the chances are like 99.9% nothing will even happen. Leave a window open with something worth stealing in the car and it is probably 100% you will have a theft.

[INeedAChange]

Even if it's a few pennies in the cupholder

Originally Posted by macguy

Most criminals are opportunists, if you make it hard for them they move on to something easier. Lock say a car doors and the chances are like 99.9% nothing will even happen. Leave a window open with something worth stealing in the car and it is probably 100% you will have a theft.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by INeedAChange

Even if it's a few pennies in the cupholder

I accidentally left my car door unlocked one time and had some spare change stolen out of it...in Charlotte actually...

[INeedAChange]

I don't know whether he is a rascist or not, I'm just saying that it would be a good strategy for the prosecutor (although maybe not in Texas). It is possible that he is rascist against one ethnic group but not another. In any case he is a dangerous hothead and I wouldn't want him living next door to me. His feelings of violation get no sympathy from me. Also both suspects/victims died so he was either deliberately shooting to kill or didn't know what he was doing.

Originally Posted by ucfjtm

I mentioned the neighbor's nationality since the Black Panthers have been calling for Joe Horn's head. I mentioned the illegals because it wasn't like these were teenage kids looking to run off with a TV. Forget breaking into someone's house - they broke into this country, and one of them did it twice. If Joe were in fact racist, I doubt he'd risk his neck and future in this manner for someone who wasn't of his own race. Joe did mention on the phone that he thought the robbers were black, but if you listen to the tape, he said it once in describing the situation to the operator and wasn't blasting racial slurs the whole time. You can find the audio on YouTube. You can tell he's very agitated, but I believe it's because it's happening right next to his own house - not because of race. Only he can answer this question, but I'd bet if the robbers were white with the same actions, it would have probably led to the same result. He felt violated because this was happening in his neighborhood - right next to his own home. Based on other neighbors' descriptions of Joe Horn, he was known as a grandfather figure who did everything he could to help his community. Like I said, I don't agree with his actions since it wasn't his home..

As for knocking on someone's door - that's not breaking into someone's house and it would be illegal to shoot someone for that. (We'd have a lot of dead solicitors if that were the case.) If this student opened the door and entered on his own, it's very unfortunate..
I'm thinking that you're referring to Yoshihiro Hattori, who was 16, in 1992. The homeowner did lose a civil suit for $650,000, but it's a shame he didn't get convicted. That was a case where I believe a man reacted from his wife's hysteria of what was going on outside during Halloween. She freaked out looking through the door's peephole and he assumed the worst when he opened his garage door and Yoshihiro came toward him with a friend. I think he should have been convicted for manslaughter at a minimum..

[Retiredcoach]

I am very sorry to read of your "home invasion". The saddest thing is that this very personal intrusion will forever make you feel unprotected and vulnerable to repeated attempts. After this initial shock subsides, what do you think that you are going to do? Is greater security a possible answer (alarms on all windows, etc.)? Having a gun is probably not the best answer... something else for them to steal. Would a dog be the answer?

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by INeedAChange

Your argument is a slippery slope. There was a recent case in Texas where people breaking into his neighor's house. He called 911 but then against the 911 operator's advice this yokel went and shot 2 people dead.

Yokel, eh? Maybe he did the world a favor.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

I am very sorry to read of your "home invasion". The saddest thing is that this very personal intrusion will forever make you feel unprotected and vulnerable to repeated attempts. After this initial shock subsides, what do you think that you are going to do? Is greater security a possible answer (alarms on all windows, etc.)? Having a gun is probably not the best answer... something else for them to steal. Would a dog be the answer?

Does ANYONE here know what a BURGLAR is? A home invasion is a physical robbery where you are essentially getting held up in your own home by armed robbers. It's like a bank robbery except your the victim inside your home. That's a truly scary experience and something like that would be on the news around here. Burglars It's basic criminal law people! A burglar is someone who participates in breaking and entering with the intent to steal, not looking to exhibit power over a homeowner. A robbery is using physical force or exerting power over someone (using a firearm, this becomes "armed robbery") to steal. Basic law, I learned this in my subpar Florida high school!

And also, burglars drowned a dog during a burglary in Margate one time. My friends in Miami had their home broken into and they totally traumatized their dog for life. That's not a solution. I somewhat agree about the gun being just another thing to steal, plus a burglar can pick up the gun and turn it into a home invasion, although strategically placed, it's your best protection.

And I'm going to say it one more time. Macguy, I am really sorry you had to go through that.