Last time you had to 'clear' your house

[muddywings]

So my most awesome dog (see other recent thread) never barks unless a squirrel has invaded the back yard. Even then she only barks once or twice as she chases it away. And, since I trained her not to bark as a puppy (I don't like dogs that bark), she always comes to me with her head low in shame. I don't mind so I always tell her "good girl" and pet her when she chases that pesky squirrel out. Not a big deal. But she knows better than to just randomly bark.
My dog is NOT a guard dog, at best she is an alert dog. If a bugler came in she would probably point him to the fridge and ask for some left over chicken but ferocious she is not. I don't need or want a a guard dog. I have a Mossberg for that.
Anyway, my dog has never barked at night. But last night, 2 AM, I hear "WOOF WOOF WOOF GRRRR."
Oh crap!
We do have a dog door and I don't lock it at night. I figure if I have to get up once or twice a night to relieve myself, she has the right to as well. I know this is the week point in home security but I live with it.
Anyways, I grab mossberg and clear the house. I'll admit, 2 AM is a tough time to clear the cobwebs and put my A game on. In the end, it was nothing but did make me realize i should practice clearing my own house a bit more often. A few amateur clearing mistakes.

When is the last time you had to clear your own house?

[J]

Mine was maybe 2 months ago. I was home alone, and one of my Wife's cats knocked a glass off of a counter onto the tile floor. It shattered and set off the alarm system (glass break sensors). So I was awakened at 2:30AM with the sounds of breaking glass and alarm siren. Thought for sure someone had smashed a window to try to get in.

[exxonv]

Mine was maybe 2 months ago. I was home alone, and one of my Wife's cats knocked a glass off of a counter onto the tile floor. It shattered and set off the alarm system (glass break sensors). So I was awakened at 2:30AM with the sounds of breaking glass and alarm siren. Thought for sure someone had smashed a window to try to get in.

Those glass sensors - same thing w/me (over a year ago). Alarm goes off, we go through "the drill", all bedrooms upstairs, kids run into our room, I grab firearm and cover the stairs, momma and the kids stay in room, I check alarm code. Alarm code shows to be my office (computers, etc.). Wife on phone w/alarm company, and I'm making my way down the stairs.

Once I get to the room (cleared everything else w/that room in sight), I make entry, nothing... Check window, nothing...

Clear basement and entire house (inside and out), get back to bed after at least an hour of listening and worry...

In the morning I realize that one of my shelves fell off the wall (had a glass award from work on it)...

[Whistler]

Last night. I'm just paranoid but night before some guys were behind the business next door with a flashlight and a ladder. Turned out they had reason to be there and I recognized one of them when I got close enough.

[crashdown]

If you really want to have some fun....
Go surprise your neighbors by clearing their house at 2am.
Should provide for some real good stories.

[Inconel710]

If you really want to have some fun....
Go surprise your neighbors by clearing their house at 2am.
Should provide for some real good stories.

I don't count obituaries as "good" stories. Just sayin'.

[whiskeyjack]

If you really want to have some fun....
Go surprise your neighbors by clearing their house at 2am.
Should provide for some real good stories.

lol Or you can come clear mine and see what happens! I promise it will make the news.

[glenncal1]

Its been a while but I lived in a 3 story condo in Eagle Vail. Heard a loud crashing noise. There were a lot of breakins with so many of the Condos and houses there being vacation places. Cleared the two lower levels of the condo with handgun. Nothing found.

Next morning found out it was the shower curtain rod in the middle level bathroom had lost tension and crashed into the tub.

[MED]

A few months ago, my step kids left the door wide open when they were picked up by their dad. I was not impressed when I came home!

[birddog]

A while back my dog knocked over a freestanding lamp in the middle of the night. The glass that surrounds the bulb broke. Fortunately it was on the same level as our bedroom so I discovered it quickly. Bad feeling though.