When it comes to defending your home from an intruder, we can all learn a great deal from 70-year-old Sandra Hoschstedler of South Bend Indiana.
When 28-year-old Cyrus Brown broke into her home, Sandra held him at gun-point until the police arrived. No one was hurt because the intruder was smart enough to listen to Sandra.
It was all started about nine o'clock Sunday night. Sandra says she was in the midst of splitting wood for her fire and making vegetable soup, when she heard a ruckus outside.
“All of a sudden, I’m hearing fast footsteps around my yard, around my deck,” says Sandra.
That's when she says she grabbed her gun and called 911. Moments later-- the intruder-- 28-year-old Cyrus Brown, broke through her back patio door, pushing his way through the glass.
“Immediately, I felt there was danger because he was so desperate,” explains the 70-year-old. “He's in the kitchen by the stove, I told him to get down on the floor. I said if you come any closer to me, I will shoot you to kill. I told him to sit down, don't move, and I want to see your hands at all times,” adds Sandra.
This story is an object lesson of all the things a person should do when defending their home from an intruder. First and foremost, Ms Hoschstedlerhad had a gun, she knew where it was and she was able to retrieve it in an operable condition quickly. Here Sandra teaches is that a gun does you no good if it's someplace where you can't get it into play quickly. Second, she recognized danger was coming her way in time to react. Many people walk around, armed or unarmed, completely oblivious to what is going on around them and then say "It just came from nowhere. I was completely surprised." This is because most people do not believe they will be a victim of violence even though everyday they read in the newspaper or see on the TV that people just like them are in fact victimized. So Sandra teach us to be alert at all times.
- She identified herself as a victim.
- She identified the intruder as a bad guy.
- She told 911 that she had a gun and would use it to defend herself.
- Finally, and, importantly, she kept the line open so everything that went on could be recorded by the 911 system.
911 call:
Dispatch: “Ma’am, where is he at in the house?”
Sandra: “Get, get, get! You have more to fear from me!”
911 call:
Dispatch: “Ma'am, are you holding him at gunpoint?”
Sandra: “Yes, I am. And if he moves towards me, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill. I don't want to have to kill him.”
In that moment, Sandra says she was glad she had a gun and knew how to use it-- just in case.
“I thought that this could turn out badly because I heard of other people being murdered in their house, but I decided, I wasn't going to go down without a fight. I owe that to my children,” she explains. “Guns aren't all bad, only in the hands of the criminal and guns can be a good defense.”
In the end, you can hear the relief in Sandra's voice, as the police arrive at her back door.
911 call:
Sandra: “Cops!”
Police: “Get down, get down!”
Dispatch: “Ma'am, can you put the gun down for me please?”
Sandra: “It's down.”
Dispatch: “Great, great, ok!”
Fourth, she immediately complied the the police command to put down the gun. Sandra did everything right. Now I don't know if she had any training in this area or she just had a whole lot of common sense, but we can all learn from what Sandra did. It is especially important when you, the homeowner or victim of a crime out in pucblic, are not a 70 year old woman that the police can easily identify you as a victim. And having the 911 call to document that you instructed the perpetrator to comply or you would be forced to shoot because you are in fear of your life is also extremely important if you ever have to go to trial because you were forced to shoot. If you are not a 70 year-old woman, you might want to mention your description details and what you are wearing so that when the police do show up they do not mistake you for the perpetrator. And when the police do arrive, repeat to them that you are the victim and the shot guy is the criminal. Also, remember they are likely to take your weapon for the duration of the investigation. Comply immediately with all commands by law-enforcement. Sandra reacted, I suspect, better than the average person. And in doing so well, she becomes and example for us. Not to mention she again points out that a gun is a great equalizer putting a 70-year-old woman and a 28 year-old man on equal footing allowing the 70 year-old woman to win the battle for her home and security.
