COME IN, IT’S UNLOCKED ... WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Mr. and Mrs. Dole live on a quiet street in a virtually crime-free upper-class neighborhood. They have lived here many years and never had any problems with criminals or misfits in the area. The neighborhood association has armed security around the clock. People who live here have money and are very well-off.
The Doles have a lovely dream home, which they take great pride in. It’s a fairly modern home with two bedrooms on the first floor, one of which is the master bedroom and another bedroom upstairs, which is used for an office. There’s a large swimming pool and a small gym.
Everybody pretty much knows who everyone is in this little community, which has a population of about 3,000 people. Many people go to the only local bar, which is open until 2 am, for a drink after work or for a nightcap. Everyone knows each other in this bar and it’s a friendly enjoyable atmosphere. Bartenders who have worked there for years know all the usual customers, so when a stranger stops in this off-the-beaten-path bar, they take notice.
Tim Dole is in his mid-forties and his wife, Sharon, is much younger at the ripe old age of twenty-five. Tim is a tall lanky guy who lacks muscle size but has good coordination. He is known for telling whopping untrue stories and Tim can out-talk anyone. He makes a good living, always uses cash, and has no credit cards.
Sharon is Tim’s eye candy. She’s a trophy wife and Tim takes pride in the fact that his wife is a real knockout, a definite ten. Her shapely figure, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and tanned-colored skin make her stand out. Everyone knows them in the area and Tim is known for drinking too much, often until late in the morning.
The Doles are social people. They always go out for food and drink at establishments all around town. They are always invited to the big parties and are also known for their wild parties. Doles like attention and show off their cars, home, and jewelry all the time, trying to impress others.
One Saturday night, the Doles were at the local pub drinking until 2 am. The bartenders had to ask them to leave because Tim was beyond drunk. His wife had to drive them home.
The story goes that Tim had a few more drinks and passed out at home on the couch. Sharon was still awake and watching TV with her little dog. The toy Poodle let out a low growl even before the knock at the door came. Someone coming to the door at two or three in the morning wasn’t that unusual for the Doles. Friends would sometimes drop in for a nightcap to swap rumors or discuss the day’s news, if they saw the lights on.
Sharon got up, holding her little dog in her arms, and went to answer the door. Their front door didn’t have a peek hole to check who was there. Sharon was very trustworthy, being a girl from a small city in the Midwest. She didn’t think anything of opening the door in the middle of the night without knowing who was there. She had a laissez-faire attitude. That’s just the way she acted. It seemed that nothing fazed her.
The knock came again, only louder. Sharon yelled, as she approached the door, “Come on in, it’s unlocked!”
The door swung open and to her great shock, a man wearing a ski mask burst inside and ran towards her at full speed. He grabbed her and knocked the little dog to the ground. He put his arms around her, while holding her from behind, and covered her mouth so she couldn’t scream. It happened in a split second and she couldn’t fight off the big brute, he was just too strong.
The little dog was barking and growling so the thug gave it a kick that sent it whimpering away. She started kicking her feet and he held her up in the air. He whispered in her ear, “Give me your money and I’ll be nice to you. Fight me and I’ll hurt you bad.”
In the other room, Tim was out on the couch. He was of no help. She nodded her head, indicating compliance to his orders. He removed his hand from her mouth so she could speak. When he uncovered her mouth, she let out a scream, for her husband, as loud as she could, and he slapped her in the head to shut her up.
Finally, Tim woke up. Hearing the screams, he drunkenly walked out of the living room into the foyer and was dumbfounded at what he saw. Tim sobered up right away and yelled, “What the hell are you doing?” Tim jumped on the man, who then released Sharon.
The two exchanged blows, but the intruder got the best of Tim and knocked him to the floor, dazing him. Then the masked man jumped on top of him, straddling his chest, and began to ground and pound Tim’s face. The whole time he was yelling over and over, “Where’s your money!”
Sharon, in an effort to save her husband, jumped on the intruder's back but he grabbed her by the hair and threw her across the room. She came back and attempted to help her husband again, but the guy backhanded her in the face. Her nose was bleeding and she was shaking.
Getting up, Sharon observed that Tim was almost knocked out, and was basically getting pummeled to death. He wasn’t even trying to fight back, or block the punches from the raving maniac. His face was a bloody mess. She ran into the master bedroom and locked the door, not knowing what to do.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (Make a choice below and then read further to find out what Sharon Dole did … it may save your life.)
*****
COMMENTS
Stop and think very carefully about this situation. It’s one that people have faced in real life. It is a situation that could get you and your loved ones killed if you make the wrong decisions. You are helpless. What are you going to do? Make a choice below.
a. Would you run out the front or back door and scream for help?
b. Would you run to the bedroom and phone the police?
c. Would you run to the next-door neighbor’s house for safety and tell them to phone the police.
d. Give the intruder the money and hope that he leaves without harming you or your husband further.
e. Assuming you had a weapon, would you try to save your husband before he gets killed.
Choose wisely, as your life and that of your husband is on the line. The money is not important, but time is. Every second that ticks by could be your husband's last.
*****
The story continues: “COME IN, IT’S UNLOCKED.”
Sharon ran into her bedroom and locked the door. She thought, should I call 911? No, by the time they get here this guy will have killed Tim and then he’d start on me. I have to do something and fast. What should I do?
It so happens that this intruder did not randomly pick the Dole’s house to rob. He had been scoping the Doles out all night while he sat in the corner of the bar, sipping on a beer. He saw Tim flashing around his money acting like a rich fool. He saw Tim’s big wad of cash that he laid on the bar counter. The thug saw Tim’s shiny gold Rolex. He needed money badly, and the more he observed Tim the more he wanted to take his money. He also thought Tim’s hot wife would be a bonus, and wanted her also. If he could just spend a few minutes with her, he’d let her know what a real man was like.
No one knew that this man had just got out of prison a few weeks ago after serving ten years for robbery, assault, and battery. His modus operandi was not to use a gun or weapon, because if he was caught with one the jail time would be a lot longer. So, he used his fists as weapons. The last man he assaulted had his brain turned to mush and suffered from irreversible brain damage.
Yes, this big dude was a badass. Built like a fullback with a thick neck, hard head, and muscular body. He was a fighter that rarely lost a battle. Muscles popped out of his arms from ten years of lifting weights in prison. Those muscles had to be exercised. He wanted to let his stress out on someone and he needed money. Tim was the perfect target.
It was discovered that the dirtbag came to Florida from up north. His friends had moved to Florida while he was in prison, so he followed them. They told him Florida was easy pickings because of the old people and rich socialites living there.
Sharon stood there for a few seconds thinking. Then opened her dresser drawer and pulled out her new Lady Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. She had just purchased this gun two months ago when she received her concealed weapons permit. Her hands shook as she picked up the bullets, one by one, and slid them into the chamber. After putting in five rounds she thought to herself, come on Sharon, you can do this. Sharon had only fired this gun four times at the range. She wasn’t a good shot and feared she might hit her husband.
With the gun in hand, she rushed back into the foyer. Tim was a bloody mess and the robber was still yelling, “Where is the money?” Tim was out of it and was helpless. The intruder glanced at her holding the gun, but he didn’t stop punching Tim’s face. She could hear the bones in his face cracking with each blow.
Sharon yelled, “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
The intruder replied, “You don’t have the guts to shoot me. Drop the gun or I’ll kill you both.”
He just made a big mistake because Sharon had the guts alright. But maybe not the shooting skills to kill him. Being extremely careful, she took aim at him from about fifteen feet away.
The first round she fired didn’t seem to do anything to him. She wondered if she even hit him. He kept bashing Tim’s face, while he looked at her, and said, “Tell me where the money is, or I’m gonna kill him.”
Sharon moved around behind him and carefully aimed. She fired another round and another one into the intruder. Finally, he stood up, waved his hands, and said, “No, more. Give me that gun,” as he stumbled towards her to grab the gun.
She fired one more time. It took four rounds to stop this big monster. He fell to the tile floor with a thud in front of her and didn’t move.
Sharon took a deep breath and then called 911. Soon the police and an ambulance were at the scene. After an investigation, it was ruled a justified shooting of a home invader. Tim was badly beaten, a broken smashed nose, two black eyes swollen shut, a jaw fractured in two places, and possibly some brain damage. Detecting brain damage from blows to the head sometimes takes years to discover.
The whole incident took a big toll on both of them. They made one mistake, which was not seeking professional medical help for mental stress or PTSD. After this incident, Tim and Sharon carried a gun everywhere they went. They became paranoid that people were out to get them. Sadly, a year later, they were divorced. The Danger Zone situation took a toll on their marriage.
The Doles were very lucky that Sharon had a weapon and knew how to use it. But what if she didn’t have a gun? Next time, when someone knocks on your door think about it. Check who’s there first. Keep your doors locked because you never know who’s knocking.
Stay out of the Danger Zone.
Mr. and Mrs. Dole live on a quiet street in a virtually crime-free upper-class neighborhood. They have lived here many years and never had any problems with criminals or misfits in the area. The neighborhood association has armed security around the clock. People who live here have money and are very well-off.
The Doles have a lovely dream home, which they take great pride in. It’s a fairly modern home with two bedrooms on the first floor, one of which is the master bedroom and another bedroom upstairs, which is used for an office. There’s a large swimming pool and a small gym.
Everybody pretty much knows who everyone is in this little community, which has a population of about 3,000 people. Many people go to the only local bar, which is open until 2 am, for a drink after work or for a nightcap. Everyone knows each other in this bar and it’s a friendly enjoyable atmosphere. Bartenders who have worked there for years know all the usual customers, so when a stranger stops in this off-the-beaten-path bar, they take notice.
Tim Dole is in his mid-forties and his wife, Sharon, is much younger at the ripe old age of twenty-five. Tim is a tall lanky guy who lacks muscle size but has good coordination. He is known for telling whopping untrue stories and Tim can out-talk anyone. He makes a good living, always uses cash, and has no credit cards.
Sharon is Tim’s eye candy. She’s a trophy wife and Tim takes pride in the fact that his wife is a real knockout, a definite ten. Her shapely figure, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and tanned-colored skin make her stand out. Everyone knows them in the area and Tim is known for drinking too much, often until late in the morning.
The Doles are social people. They always go out for food and drink at establishments all around town. They are always invited to the big parties and are also known for their wild parties. Doles like attention and show off their cars, home, and jewelry all the time, trying to impress others.
One Saturday night, the Doles were at the local pub drinking until 2 am. The bartenders had to ask them to leave because Tim was beyond drunk. His wife had to drive them home.
The story goes that Tim had a few more drinks and passed out at home on the couch. Sharon was still awake and watching TV with her little dog. The toy Poodle let out a low growl even before the knock at the door came. Someone coming to the door at two or three in the morning wasn’t that unusual for the Doles. Friends would sometimes drop in for a nightcap to swap rumors or discuss the day’s news, if they saw the lights on.
Sharon got up, holding her little dog in her arms, and went to answer the door. Their front door didn’t have a peek hole to check who was there. Sharon was very trustworthy, being a girl from a small city in the Midwest. She didn’t think anything of opening the door in the middle of the night without knowing who was there. She had a laissez-faire attitude. That’s just the way she acted. It seemed that nothing fazed her.
The knock came again, only louder. Sharon yelled, as she approached the door, “Come on in, it’s unlocked!”
The door swung open and to her great shock, a man wearing a ski mask burst inside and ran towards her at full speed. He grabbed her and knocked the little dog to the ground. He put his arms around her, while holding her from behind, and covered her mouth so she couldn’t scream. It happened in a split second and she couldn’t fight off the big brute, he was just too strong.
The little dog was barking and growling so the thug gave it a kick that sent it whimpering away. She started kicking her feet and he held her up in the air. He whispered in her ear, “Give me your money and I’ll be nice to you. Fight me and I’ll hurt you bad.”
In the other room, Tim was out on the couch. He was of no help. She nodded her head, indicating compliance to his orders. He removed his hand from her mouth so she could speak. When he uncovered her mouth, she let out a scream, for her husband, as loud as she could, and he slapped her in the head to shut her up.
Finally, Tim woke up. Hearing the screams, he drunkenly walked out of the living room into the foyer and was dumbfounded at what he saw. Tim sobered up right away and yelled, “What the hell are you doing?” Tim jumped on the man, who then released Sharon.
The two exchanged blows, but the intruder got the best of Tim and knocked him to the floor, dazing him. Then the masked man jumped on top of him, straddling his chest, and began to ground and pound Tim’s face. The whole time he was yelling over and over, “Where’s your money!”
Sharon, in an effort to save her husband, jumped on the intruder's back but he grabbed her by the hair and threw her across the room. She came back and attempted to help her husband again, but the guy backhanded her in the face. Her nose was bleeding and she was shaking.
Getting up, Sharon observed that Tim was almost knocked out, and was basically getting pummeled to death. He wasn’t even trying to fight back, or block the punches from the raving maniac. His face was a bloody mess. She ran into the master bedroom and locked the door, not knowing what to do.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (Make a choice below and then read further to find out what Sharon Dole did … it may save your life.)
*****
COMMENTS
Stop and think very carefully about this situation. It’s one that people have faced in real life. It is a situation that could get you and your loved ones killed if you make the wrong decisions. You are helpless. What are you going to do? Make a choice below.
a. Would you run out the front or back door and scream for help?
b. Would you run to the bedroom and phone the police?
c. Would you run to the next-door neighbor’s house for safety and tell them to phone the police.
d. Give the intruder the money and hope that he leaves without harming you or your husband further.
e. Assuming you had a weapon, would you try to save your husband before he gets killed.
Choose wisely, as your life and that of your husband is on the line. The money is not important, but time is. Every second that ticks by could be your husband's last.
*****
The story continues: “COME IN, IT’S UNLOCKED.”
Sharon ran into her bedroom and locked the door. She thought, should I call 911? No, by the time they get here this guy will have killed Tim and then he’d start on me. I have to do something and fast. What should I do?
It so happens that this intruder did not randomly pick the Dole’s house to rob. He had been scoping the Doles out all night while he sat in the corner of the bar, sipping on a beer. He saw Tim flashing around his money acting like a rich fool. He saw Tim’s big wad of cash that he laid on the bar counter. The thug saw Tim’s shiny gold Rolex. He needed money badly, and the more he observed Tim the more he wanted to take his money. He also thought Tim’s hot wife would be a bonus, and wanted her also. If he could just spend a few minutes with her, he’d let her know what a real man was like.
No one knew that this man had just got out of prison a few weeks ago after serving ten years for robbery, assault, and battery. His modus operandi was not to use a gun or weapon, because if he was caught with one the jail time would be a lot longer. So, he used his fists as weapons. The last man he assaulted had his brain turned to mush and suffered from irreversible brain damage.
Yes, this big dude was a badass. Built like a fullback with a thick neck, hard head, and muscular body. He was a fighter that rarely lost a battle. Muscles popped out of his arms from ten years of lifting weights in prison. Those muscles had to be exercised. He wanted to let his stress out on someone and he needed money. Tim was the perfect target.
It was discovered that the dirtbag came to Florida from up north. His friends had moved to Florida while he was in prison, so he followed them. They told him Florida was easy pickings because of the old people and rich socialites living there.
Sharon stood there for a few seconds thinking. Then opened her dresser drawer and pulled out her new Lady Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. She had just purchased this gun two months ago when she received her concealed weapons permit. Her hands shook as she picked up the bullets, one by one, and slid them into the chamber. After putting in five rounds she thought to herself, come on Sharon, you can do this. Sharon had only fired this gun four times at the range. She wasn’t a good shot and feared she might hit her husband.
With the gun in hand, she rushed back into the foyer. Tim was a bloody mess and the robber was still yelling, “Where is the money?” Tim was out of it and was helpless. The intruder glanced at her holding the gun, but he didn’t stop punching Tim’s face. She could hear the bones in his face cracking with each blow.
Sharon yelled, “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
The intruder replied, “You don’t have the guts to shoot me. Drop the gun or I’ll kill you both.”
He just made a big mistake because Sharon had the guts alright. But maybe not the shooting skills to kill him. Being extremely careful, she took aim at him from about fifteen feet away.
The first round she fired didn’t seem to do anything to him. She wondered if she even hit him. He kept bashing Tim’s face, while he looked at her, and said, “Tell me where the money is, or I’m gonna kill him.”
Sharon moved around behind him and carefully aimed. She fired another round and another one into the intruder. Finally, he stood up, waved his hands, and said, “No, more. Give me that gun,” as he stumbled towards her to grab the gun.
She fired one more time. It took four rounds to stop this big monster. He fell to the tile floor with a thud in front of her and didn’t move.
Sharon took a deep breath and then called 911. Soon the police and an ambulance were at the scene. After an investigation, it was ruled a justified shooting of a home invader. Tim was badly beaten, a broken smashed nose, two black eyes swollen shut, a jaw fractured in two places, and possibly some brain damage. Detecting brain damage from blows to the head sometimes takes years to discover.
The whole incident took a big toll on both of them. They made one mistake, which was not seeking professional medical help for mental stress or PTSD. After this incident, Tim and Sharon carried a gun everywhere they went. They became paranoid that people were out to get them. Sadly, a year later, they were divorced. The Danger Zone situation took a toll on their marriage.
The Doles were very lucky that Sharon had a weapon and knew how to use it. But what if she didn’t have a gun? Next time, when someone knocks on your door think about it. Check who’s there first. Keep your doors locked because you never know who’s knocking.
Stay out of the Danger Zone.