I encountered the same type of burglary situation years ago while stationed in San Antonio. I was home for lunch, two guys came to the front door and I watched them through the peep hole. They started around the side of the apartment, so I grabbed my shotgun from the bedroom. I came into the living room and they were already at the back sliding glass door. One was trying to open it, and the other was peering in at my stuff. I aimed the shotgun at them and they bolted over the fence.

I remember thinking at the time about firing a shot over their head, through the door because I was pissed. I remember trying to get the door unlocked and open in order to fire a shot into the air because I was pissed and did not want to ruin my door. In the end, the cops caught them, I ID'd them, and they got busted for trespassing.

The cop that showed up at my apartment advised me that I should have waited around the corner in the hallway, allowed them to break in, and shot them in the living room.

I sometimes miss Texas.