Don't Confront

Instead, snipe from cover:

• Car burglars fired at least 30 shots at a 27-year-old man who confronted them during a vehicle break-in in the South Loop early Friday morning. This marks the third time this week that an auto break-in in the city has escalated to gunfire.

  At approximately 3:13 a.m., the man confronted four suspects breaking into his car in the 2000 block of South Wabash, according to Chicago police. At least two of the burglars drew firearms and opened fire, striking the man in the back as he fled toward his home. A nearby storefront’s glass was also damaged by a bullet.

  The victim was reported in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The suspects escaped and remain at large.

  Armed burglary teams are a growing problem in Chicago, where thefts that are often considered “nuisance crimes” are increasingly turning violent.

  On Saturday night, a 57-year-old man was shot in the leg by a car burglar he confronted in the 5800 block of West Cornelia in Portage Park, police said.

  Then, on Monday morning, thieves fired at a contractor who attempted to stop them from stealing tools from his work vehicle in the 6800 block of North Seeley. The contractor was unharmed. Last week, a social media video showed a crew of masked and armed thieves targeting a work truck in Portage Park.

If at all possible, people should clear out their garages and park one of their cars in a secure, locked location.

If you discover a theft in progress, do not exit the house to confront an offender. Instead, fire your home defense weapon out a barely opened window while crouched down low. A rifle would work best in terms of accuracy, but a shotgun loaded with slugs would be as good. Handguns are an iffy proposition in these types of events. In any cases, the spent brass would land in your house, leaving less to investigate.

If it's a catalytic converter thief, try for the lookout first....or the getaway driver. Those are the ones who might shoot back. The one with the sawzall can then be dispatched at your leisure. Note: a sawzall can be easily mistaken for a short barreled rifle.

Don't answer the door if police arrive. Make sure the lights are off and you close the window you were firing out of. Collect any brass or shotgun hulls that should have landed inside your house and hide them well. Dispose of them far from home after a few days. Don't worry about ShotSpotter - Conehead turned it off.

Be sure to file a police report for any damage to your vehicle and advise neighbors to do the same. Express amazement that crime could happen in your neighborhood and isn't it a shame that things have devolved this badly under one hundred years of democrats. You didn't hear anything or see anything and exercise that Right to remain completely silent. 

Word will get around eventually that your block is a dangerous location for thefts. Someone shot will make it get around faster.