Here is an article in our local newspaper. It should be a lesson in safe camping and firearms practice.

THE MORNING CALL; ALLENTOWN, PA.
Greenwich Township, Berks Township
Camper shot twice by burglar, police say

October 6, 2008

A Texas man camping in Greenwich Township was shot twice -- possibly with his own handgun -- Sunday after struggling with a burglar who broke in his camper and demanded money and the man's truck, police said.

Richard Evans, 38, of Rockdale was in stable condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, a spokeswoman said. State police at Hamburg said Evans had a gunshot wound to the right shoulder and right knee.

About 5:45 a.m., Evans awoke to a man standing over him in his bed inside the camper parked at Pine Hill Campground off Old Route 22, police said. Evans told police the man was holding a gun, which Evans thought could be the gun he had left on the kitchen table.

The man demanded money and Evans complied. But when the man demanded keys to Evans' truck, the camper refused and a struggle ensued.

The burglar shot Evans and got away, police said. Evans dialed 911 and an ambulance took him to the hospital.

Evans told police the man is 30-40 years old, has a dark complexion, a mustache and goatee, is 5-foot-8 and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hamburg barracks at 610-562-6885.


ZIM

This sounds like a case of mismanaging security. When underway, I lock the door and close the stairwell cover.

In addition, I lock the doors on StaRV II every night, and any intruder would have to get past 95 lbs. of Casey anyway, who considers the RV his own...even keeping me out of it a couple of years ago. Since retrievers are decended from the Mastiffs, I didn't test him in that case. An intruder probably wouldn't survive an entrance intact.

I won't say that this guy "invited" intruders, but there are precautions to take that are just common sense, a facility many criminals lack.

The rule-of-thumb is that if you have a weapon, and there is a breakin, use it; do NOT hesitate. Indecision is the cause for most folks having themselves disarmed. The default score should be: Intruder, 0; armed victim, 1.