using deadly force to defend generator

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

WhyMe

Joined
Dec 18, 2012
Messages
1,327
Location
Washington for now
we are going to have a big snow storm in the PNW. its will last for pretty much a week . winds are expected tonight. this means there may be power outages. coupled with the cold its gonna be bad for a lot of folks. this is a rare occurance in this area. Drove past costco this morning and it was a zoo. parking lot full and gas lines 10 deep.

i have a generator and its in the back so no one can get to it while its running. my cousin has one also, but in use its in the front, we were discussing how to keep generator thieves from stealing it . i said be prepared to use deadly force . it would be like you coming in and taking all my food and water . desperate people do desperate things.

i equate you stealing my generator when its freezing outside to putting me and my family in danger.


So you guys in the snow states that get hit all the time, do people steal generators? has there been a case where a homeowner used deadly force to protect power to ones home? what was the outcome?

thanks
 
Originally Posted by WhyMe


i equate you stealing my generator when its freezing outside to putting me and my family in danger.


So you guys in the snow states that get hit all the time, do people steal generators? has there been a case where a homeowner used deadly force to protect power to ones home? what was the outcome?

thanks



Outcome is region specific: in Jersey?...shooter arrested on the spot. In Montana?.. Shooters and Sheriff share a few beers afterward.
 
Originally Posted by WhyMe
i equate you stealing my generator when its freezing outside to putting me and my family in danger.

Doesn't matter what you equate it to. It only matters what the jury equates it to. I think you'd have a hard time convincing a jury that a guy who never entered your home or directly threatened you or your family, and probably turned around and started running the second he heard or saw you with a gun before you shot him, that you and your family were in imminent danger. But if you think it's worth the risk of spending life in prison, go for it.
 
We get a LOT of snow in western NY, but it rarely causes power outages. In fact, the roads are generally all cleaned up within a few hours unless it's one of those storms that brings 2 or three feet in a day. (in that case, we aren't usually back to normal until the following day)

There have been ice or wind storms that have caused significant power outages, but I don't recall a big problem with people losing generators. Nobody ever tried to steal mine.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Chris142
I think about this being so close to the San Andreas fault. I'm pretty well prepared for an earthquake. But where are millions of people going to get food and water at?

If they are not somewhat prepared too bad.
 
Put the generator in the backyard and lock the gate. Or maybe even chain it to the pole. Then you don't have to worry about theft.
 
Originally Posted by Chris142
I think about this being so close to the San Andreas fault. I'm pretty well prepared for an earthquake. But where are millions of people going to get food and water at?



A lot of people are not prepared. By my estimations, we can feed / water ourselves and the animals for at least 3 weeks.

WE won't be eating great, but we will be eating.

I have no preparedness for a power outage. My little generator isn't enough to run the furnace or the sump pump. I do have a kero heater and a gas stove for heat if I had to (and I had to).
 
Originally Posted by WhyMe
we are going to have a big snow storm in the PNW. its will last for pretty much a week . winds are expected tonight. this means there may be power outages. coupled with the cold its gonna be bad for a lot of folks. this is a rare occurance in this area. Drove past costco this morning and it was a zoo. parking lot full and gas lines 10 deep.

i have a generator and its in the back so no one can get to it while its running. my cousin has one also, but in use its in the front, we were discussing how to keep generator thieves from stealing it . i said be prepared to use deadly force . it would be like you coming in and taking all my food and water . desperate people do desperate things.

i equate you stealing my generator when its freezing outside to putting me and my family in danger.


So you guys in the snow states that get hit all the time, do people steal generators? has there been a case where a homeowner used deadly force to protect power to ones home? what was the outcome?

thanks



I would not use deadly force to protect a generator. You will be in a warm jail cell. I would let my dog go after the guy to chew a bit of his arms.

Most people have a chain for their portable generator.

A guy who cleans carpets with a truck mounted machine told me they once stole his truck while he was cleaning a carpet. Some people have brass ones.
 
Originally Posted by WhyMe
i said be prepared to use deadly force .

Definitely the dumbest thing I've heard all week. Spelling and punctuation confirms.
 
Originally Posted by Donald
I would not use deadly force to protect a generator. You will be in a warm jail cell. I would let my dog go after the guy to chew a bit of his arms.


That jail cell might not be that warm.

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-new-york-detention-center-20190202-story.html

This is one of those posts that are a little out there. If you're using the generator, you're going to kinda notice that the lights went out when they take the generator. All you have to do is bolt it down so that it takes a while for them to steal it. There are tamper resistant bolts out there where you need a special tool in order to undo a bolt so just having regular tools won't do.
 
I would join this group and consult their Legal team:

Responsible Gun Ownership

I'm not a lawyer (and not giving legal advice) but I think you would have to assert or prove that yourself or your family member was in imminent danger of life.

Trying to steal a running generator with 240 volts at the terminals might just fix the problem by itself.
shocked2.gif
 
Last edited:
Washington state has clearly defined this.

(1) No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting by any reasonable means necessary, himself or herself, his or her family, or his or her real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of assault, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, rape, murder, or any other violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.
 
Keep in mind that even if the police do not charge you, almost certainly there will be a civil suit for wrongful death. There will be legal bills and a possible judgement against you.

A home invader needs to be in your house and coming towards you. That would give you the most defense. But do not run the generator in your living room.
 
pretty tough to defend the use of deadly force unless you are or believe you are being threatened with deadly force, especially outside of your house.

a web forum may be a great place for a discussion, but I would strongly recommend you check and gain a pretty good understanding of the laws in your state before doing much else.

of course, if you are confronting the thief and in the course of that you are threatened....that is when you need the facts to make a decision. think jail, lawsuits, insurance, etc. having been in a situation where someone was trying to break in to our house while I had access to my pistol I can tell you it is not something you look forward to....BTW the situation was (very thankfully) ended with my yelling through the door from the upstairs landing "you are trespassing, leave now, do not enter the house, I have a weapon"....I then went to the Police...

chain the generator to something secure. make it difficult enough so they look for the next one.
 
Last edited:
Deadly force to defend a generator? It sounds like the setup for a very expensive legal battle and time in jail, unfortunately. OTOH if the generator were in the house, pretty odd I'd say, and someone was stupid enough to break in, it might be a different story. Especially in a gun friendly state.

I like the letting the dog out idea. My guy would have taken care of the job nicely.
 
When I put in my garden shed I ran a 3 phase line back to the house so I could run the generator in a sound insulated box that vents to the outside of my shed for fresh air intake and exhaust and general air cooling of the generator using a fan. With my generator running full tilt in this box in the shed you can't hear it unless you are right beside the garden shed. (and I mean right beside the shed, even 10 feet away you can't hear it) This allows me to run it securely and not worry about theft.

Lots of folks have built similar rigs. Some operate them in the cold rooms of their basement but they have this box air tight and only open to the outside. If you go this route I strongly sugguest CO detectors in the vicinity and crack a basement window just in case when it's in use.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Donald
A home invader needs to be in your house and coming towards you. That would give you the most defense. But do not run the generator in your living room.


Yeah, that would basically be like the surgery was a success but the patient died. Keep the generator in the home to protect against thieves but die from the carbon monoxide fumes.

Maybe the OP needs to move to a better neighborhood if that's a real concern.
 
Originally Posted by StevieC
When I put in my garden shed I ran a 3 phase line back to the house so I could run the generator in a sound insulated box that vents to the outside of my shed for fresh air intake and exhaust and general air cooling of the generator using a fan. With my generator running full tilt in this box in the shed you can't hear it unless you are right beside the garden shed. (and I mean right beside the shed, even 10 feet away you can't hear it) This allows me to run it securely and not worry about theft.

Lots of folks have built similar rigs. Some operate them in the cold rooms of their basement but they have this box air tight and only open to the outside. If you go this route I strongly sugguest CO detectors in the vicinity and crack a basement window just in case when it's in use.


You seriously have a 3 phase generator for your house? What in your house needs 3 phase, even in Canada?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

supton
  • Locked
Generator recommendation
Replies
18
Views
5K
supton
shortyb
Survived storm Helene unscathed
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
3K
GON
JHZR2
  • Locked
Generator suggestions
Replies
18
Views
4K
doubleclutch
L
  • Locked
Prepare for (Weather Related) EMERGENCYS
2
Replies
27
Views
6K
larryinnewyork
D
  • Locked
Building keeps losing a single phase of power
Replies
18
Views
5K
95busa
Back
Top Bottom