I spoke with a relative, a retired NYC Police Lieutenant with his 20 years in, and emailed an old friend, a prosecutor for well over 25 years for NYS, NYC and now Westchester County.

Both quickly said that a large loud dog was better for deterring a burglar than owning a gun. They both said that burglars can easily see who does and doesn't have a large loud dog with little effort, and thus usually go to the house without the canine alarm.

The DA said he's dealt with countless cases of gun theft from apartments, offices, homes and even directly off of people who were carrying the weapon and were surprised by the assailant ... including, he said, a couple cops.

He believes that a good number of crimes in NY are committed with stolen guns.

He also said that, though it occassionally happens, he's never directly been involved in a case where someone has shot the home's watchdog. But, he's been involved in many where a "perp" has shot a gun owner.




The cop asked a very interesting question. He wants to know how the burglar is going to know by stalking out a home from the street, etc., which apartment or house has a gun and which doesn't.