Jim and Charlene Sanders, a couple in their mid 40s, advertised a diamond ring for sale. Nothing too unique about that. Among other people who called to express interest in the ring were Kiyoshi Higashi and Amanda Knight, who arranged to visit and view the ring. Still a perfectly normal event.
But, upon being admitted to the Sanders’ home, Higashi pulled out a gun, let two more cohorts into the house, tied up the Sanders and also their two sons and proceeded to ransack the house, while beating Mr & Mrs Sanders and threatening to kill them.
Jim Sanders managed to break free, only to be shot dead when struggling with the four attackers. The attackers then fled, sparing Mrs Sanders and their two sons. Here is one report of the incident.
Now ask yourself – how often have you advertised something for sale? Maybe not jewelry – maybe a car, a boat, sports equipment, even a gun. How often have you had people come to look at whatever you were selling? And – most of all – how prepared have you been to defend yourself if the potential buyers turn out to be bad guys?
Even if you are just having a garage sale, some people might use the garage sale as a chance to case your property and your preparedness. And some people might visit you normally one day while pretending an interest in something you are selling, then return the next day to burgle your property.
There’s a moral in this story. Be wary any time you allow any strangers into your home. Don’t be paranoid, but there is just as much reason to be concealed carrying while relaxing at home as there is when out in public. Sometimes the most threatening types of danger occur in the safest seeming situations (which is of course what makes them such major threats).
Additionally, home invasions have the benefit – to the bad guy – of being out of public view. This empowers and enables them to do nastier things, over a longer time period, than they could in public. Your house, rather than being your castle, could potentially become your deathtrap.
Most of all, remember the color code of situational awareness. It applies just as much when your front door bell rings as it does when in a strange part of town.
Don’t let Jim Sanders’ death be for nothing. Learn from it, so you don’t repeat his mistakes and suffer the same consequences.