First of all, I know I made some big tactical mistakes, along with some just plain dumb mistakes, but I believe I have learned from them. Now on to the story.
A few weeks ago, I was visiting my girlfriend and her family in the DFW area. They live outside of the city limits, yet in a well populated area. 3-5 acres of land per house is common in the area, but few if any neighbors behind and around, aside from those on the particular street. My girlfriend's house has about a 40'-50' (rough estimate) drive that curves a bit up to a garage and carport, my truck is parked outside of the garage in front of the house. It was about 0100, and me and my girlfriend were sitting on the tailgate of my truck talking (we lost track of time a bit) when a white late-model sedan turns onto the street (which is a cul-de-sac), drives in, turns around, and parks on the other side of the street about in front of the neighbors there. We are both aware of the car and watching due to the late hour, but initially assume nothing suspicious.
The occupant of the car (male in dark clothing) gets out, opens the trunk and rummages around for a few minutes before closing the trunk and walking towards the house he is parked in front of. At this point, I assume he is a visitor. We resume our conversation and I think nothing of it. I would say I was in condition greenish-yellow, about what I am in most of the time. Looking around, but not really anticipating danger, just aware. A few minutes later we hear the dogs at the base of the cul-de-sac barking. My girlfriend, bless her, goes to condition orange. At this point I should point out that no exterior lights were on. There is a floodlight above the garage, but we had neglected to turn it on or the porch light.
Not long after the dogs stop barking, we see a figure (the same male from the sedan) walking through the neighbor's yard which is not fenced in. He is walking half in a light that they have on their yard. At this point, we should have gone inside and notified the Sheriff. Mistake number 1 (at least). (note: The man has a flashlight which he is turning on for a few seconds, moving around the ground, then turning back off) The man walks back to the street, in front of my girlfriend's house and then through their gate and starts walking towards where we are sitting. At this point I finally get it through my thick skull that we should do something and place myself in front of my girlfriend and start to move her towards the door. At the same time I have my folder in my right hand at my side, for whatever good it will do if the guy is armed. As soon as I stand up, the intruder being a little under halfway to us from the gate, he stops and immediately turns around and goes back through the gate.
We go straight inside and notify the Sheriff, but the sedan is gone in that time. I must say I was impressed with the response, as two vehicles were there within 3-5 minutes and another pulled up as we are talking to the first deputy. We give our statement and they give the neighborhood a good looking over before heading back out.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the intruder actually on the property is that I was unarmed aside from a small folder. If I had been armed, I believe this situation warranted drawing and confronting the individual, who was at this time, trespassing on private property in the middle of the night. My thought later was "thanks texas DPS" as it's been nearly 150 days since my check was cashed and still no license.
Critique, tear-apart, analyze, what have you. I know I made some serious mistakes and would like to hear any and all advice you have to offer. I'm still kicking myself for putting my girlfriend in that position in the first place, even more so for not getting her out of it at the first sign of suspicious activity.
A few weeks ago, I was visiting my girlfriend and her family in the DFW area. They live outside of the city limits, yet in a well populated area. 3-5 acres of land per house is common in the area, but few if any neighbors behind and around, aside from those on the particular street. My girlfriend's house has about a 40'-50' (rough estimate) drive that curves a bit up to a garage and carport, my truck is parked outside of the garage in front of the house. It was about 0100, and me and my girlfriend were sitting on the tailgate of my truck talking (we lost track of time a bit) when a white late-model sedan turns onto the street (which is a cul-de-sac), drives in, turns around, and parks on the other side of the street about in front of the neighbors there. We are both aware of the car and watching due to the late hour, but initially assume nothing suspicious.
The occupant of the car (male in dark clothing) gets out, opens the trunk and rummages around for a few minutes before closing the trunk and walking towards the house he is parked in front of. At this point, I assume he is a visitor. We resume our conversation and I think nothing of it. I would say I was in condition greenish-yellow, about what I am in most of the time. Looking around, but not really anticipating danger, just aware. A few minutes later we hear the dogs at the base of the cul-de-sac barking. My girlfriend, bless her, goes to condition orange. At this point I should point out that no exterior lights were on. There is a floodlight above the garage, but we had neglected to turn it on or the porch light.
Not long after the dogs stop barking, we see a figure (the same male from the sedan) walking through the neighbor's yard which is not fenced in. He is walking half in a light that they have on their yard. At this point, we should have gone inside and notified the Sheriff. Mistake number 1 (at least). (note: The man has a flashlight which he is turning on for a few seconds, moving around the ground, then turning back off) The man walks back to the street, in front of my girlfriend's house and then through their gate and starts walking towards where we are sitting. At this point I finally get it through my thick skull that we should do something and place myself in front of my girlfriend and start to move her towards the door. At the same time I have my folder in my right hand at my side, for whatever good it will do if the guy is armed. As soon as I stand up, the intruder being a little under halfway to us from the gate, he stops and immediately turns around and goes back through the gate.
We go straight inside and notify the Sheriff, but the sedan is gone in that time. I must say I was impressed with the response, as two vehicles were there within 3-5 minutes and another pulled up as we are talking to the first deputy. We give our statement and they give the neighborhood a good looking over before heading back out.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the intruder actually on the property is that I was unarmed aside from a small folder. If I had been armed, I believe this situation warranted drawing and confronting the individual, who was at this time, trespassing on private property in the middle of the night. My thought later was "thanks texas DPS" as it's been nearly 150 days since my check was cashed and still no license.
Critique, tear-apart, analyze, what have you. I know I made some serious mistakes and would like to hear any and all advice you have to offer. I'm still kicking myself for putting my girlfriend in that position in the first place, even more so for not getting her out of it at the first sign of suspicious activity.