YOUR COMMENTS

Theres a lot of things that one can do, motion lights. A secure door with a good deadbolt. A dog. An alarm system with a good loud alarm system with strobe lights and an outdoor speaker that maybe other neighbors would hear. While a can of mace or pepper spray would be useful I also carry a firearm and keep it loaded nearby. I'm not saying all these things will stop me from getting killed but at least it will get me on my feet and make me aware whats going on.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

"NH law says we can use lethal force, if need BUT only if you cannot retreat to safety"

If someone is in my home, especially in the middle of the night, I have to assume the worst intent and take appropriate action to defend my family. I'm not going to tell them to wait while I phone it in, etc.
- L, Wilton

You know, I live in a pretty populated area, but one night, I was woken up by the noise of a car slowly driving down the street. It seemed odd, and I was half-asleep. I called the cops and told them about it and they said they'd check it out. A short time later, I got a call back from them, telling me they approached the vehicle and learned it was just the newspaper delivery people. Sure, I felt foolish, but even to this day, I am glad I called. You never know, and the cops, as much as they probably laughed and cursed me for that, are more glad than not to check into these things. Just saying...neighborhood watches can apply to anyone anywhere, no matter the population of your street. It's good to know we're looking out for one another.
- roger1949, portsmouth

NH law gives us the right to protect inside our homes and on our property.
- L, Wilton

I wish that was the truth but the Castle Doctrine was voted down by only a slight margin. Yes NH law says we can use lethal force, if need BUT only if you cannot retreat to safety. In other words, NH law wants you to run screaming out from YOUR HOME if an armed intruder tries to kill or rob you. I think the Castle Doctrine should be put back on the table; in this climate hopefully it would become law.

Brian

Brian
- Brian, Exeter

Tonya, maybe if you ask nicely the police will also tuck you in at night!
- RK, Milford, NH

To Joel in New Boston - I agree, but folks can have a quick access safe for primary handgun...not much use if you can't get to it quickly and have it ready to go - but you need to secure it from kids or anyone else in your home (guests, etc). I'm sure the investigators will find all of those people involved beyond just these 4. Bottom line is that justice must be served and most importantly, that the Cates family be given our full respect and support. The entire community around Mont Vernon is behind them 100%.
- L, Wilton

Dogs, guns, and lights.
- Tom, Campton

I used to live in Manchester in one of four houses situatuated a very small square with a single dead-end road serving all four houses. Our Rottweiller (who has since died of cancer) was notorious for barking loudly at the mailman, meter readers and anyone else tha came too close to the house. I had always thought that Ike's behavior was annoying to the neighbors until I actually asked them about it. Without exception, my neighbors all appreciated his vigilant watch over the neighborhood.

A dog, whether it's an effective attack dog or not, will likely deter most criminals who are looking for an easy target.
- Dan, Auburn

I got a big bad dog and three nasty bad cats, and I am mean old lady from a long line of nasty Scotsmen.
- Mary, Raymond

Regarding the kids that are being charge with robery, if i could quote from Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Price-Winning Novel 'Lonseome Dove'.

"You know how it works Jake, you ride with an outlaw, you die with an outlaw. I'm sorry you crossed the line."

Drop the robbery charges and go for First Degree murder for those two too.
- Ray Watson, Raymond NH

If a car drives by slowly on my road at 3am and my dog is going nuts and my motion lights are tripped, you better believe I'm locked and loaded and ready to go. If you don't have motion lights, dog, alarm - to alert you - I strongly encourage you to do so. Small dogs are just as good as big - key is they alert you. If you want to have a gun for defense, I'd recommend a revolver. Most friends of mine have multiple (backup, etc) but revolver is great primary. Take safety/shooting classes. Have a plan to protect yourself and your family. NH law gives us the right to protect inside our homes and on our property. Jamie is a strong, brave little girl - she's a true hero in my eyes. I think about her and her father daily and wish only the best for them and their entire family.
- L, Wilton

I mentioned this a couple days ago in another article on this subject. Kimberly Cates would probably be alive today if only they had a few precautions.

1. Lock all the doors each night before going to bed. Yeah, I know, I grew up in the country too. But the first time we came home to find someone had walked in and helped themselves to things changed that paradigm. The sound of a door being tried and forced, or a window breaking, will usually wake even a sound sleeper; giving them at least a few seconds to take action.

2. Get a dog. Even a toy breed pretend-a-dog will still hear, smell, and see things and set up a yapping to let you know something unusual is going on. Dogs have the lowest care and the greatest return on investment you can find. For those who prefer feathers to fur and live in a rural area, you can get geese instead of a dog - they're just messier to keep.

3. Motion sensor lights, door and window alarms. You don't need to have them wired to report to ADT or the cops either. But they do add a few more seconds to the locks on the doors and windows.

4. If you have the will to use it, get a weapon. Take a course or several on how to use it and maintain it. Pistols are easier to maneuver around doorways and corners in a house; but my preference is a 10 or 12 guage shotgun with 00 buckshot. Less likely for children to play with if they accidentally get ahold of it, buckshot will drop an intruder unless they have a bulletproof vest on, and less likely for the shot to drill through multiple walls to cause damage or injury on the other side.

Given a choice, I'd rather have Kim Cates and her daughter seeing a therapist; and the town holding an unattended funeral for the four murderers than what we have today.
- Michael D. Houst, Barrington, NH

If you live without children a guard dog does work, as well having a mattress pistol holder. When you have kids you can not have a guard dog, trained or not they can turn on the owner at times. You also can not have a loaded weapon bedside. Really the only choice is maybe a dog(s) or alarm system for early detection to have time to arm yourself. The missing information in this tragedy is the missing girlfriend the kids drove home, was she ever found?
- Joel, New Boston

Dogs are definitely a deterrent. Too bad these thugs didn't go into a house with a ragin rottweiller...then again, the families of the thugs would have probably sued the homeowner because the dog would have mangled them. Instead of a gun, I say get a trained Rottweiller or German Sheppard. Intruders will think twice before entering the home.
- Jeff, Manchester

They say their is no bigger crime deterrent than having a dog. I mentioned that I was surprised with a husband who traveled a lot and living in a kind of remote area that this family did not have a a dog, or 2.
I wish they had.
- Robin D., pepperell, MA

Tonya - I live in Mont Vernon and I will tell you that if every person whose dogs bark in the middle of the night called the police they would be totally overwhelmed by calls. It's a tiny town and we have like three police officers. There are lots of deer, coyotes and other wildlife in our back yards that case dogs to bark. Yes, in this case it would have helped but this is a one in a million type of event here. If it were just a matter of my dogs barking I wouldn't have called the police either, and I probably wouldn't in the future unless I see something really suspicious in addition. Better safe than sorry yes - but with some discretion.
- Sherry, Mont Vernon NH

My dog's bark is very odd, It sounds exactly like the bolt on a 12 guage, snapping shut.
- Richard Buchanan, Peterborough, NH

A dog barks for a reason. It sees or hears something.
Good dogs! Give 'em an extra treat and love them like there's no tomorrow.
- Len Howell, Hollis NH

More people should own a dog. They are man's truly best friend and protector.
There are shelter's in the area that have dogs ready for adoption.
And for heaven's sake, report anything out of the norm to your local police dept. That's what they're there for.
- Ginger Grant, Bedford NH

DOGS!!! the citizens' first alert and first line of defense!
- Rick Olson, Manchester

Good, good dog.


And Tonya, hindsight is 20/20.
- Nony, Manchester

Tonya,

I'm sure in light of the events of that day, these homeowners wish more than anything they had made that call. Still, if it had been me, I probably would have figured bow hunters were getting a jump on the day, checking out their stands or motion cameras. It's very different than living in the city. I'm sure more areas are being posted every day. It's part of the "collateral damage".

thanks,
- MargeHallyburton, Lyndeborough

Motion detector lights are great. The dog obviously knew there was a danger. Humans are the only animals that sense a danger and convince themselves there is none. If it feels wrong it is, thats what we have taught our kids. It is hard to justifiying calling police everytime you think there is something wrong or odd, its a judgment call. Sometimes good old Smith & Wesson is your best protection against home invasion, that and convincing the Gov. to sign the Castle Doctrine.
- Michael King, Epping

With all due respect to these two neighbors, and truly, I am not saying this towards you in any manner as I am sure your hearts are hearting, please report any suspicious behavior. If something is unusual or you suspect anything unusual please call your local police department. So many people think nothing of it or are even embarassed about reporting a 'maybe' that they reason not to. You don't have to know anything, that is your Police Department's job to figure out, just give them a heads up that something doesn't feel right, they are more than happy to check for you, even just to make you feel safe enough to sleep. With all the home invasions and crimes I have read about this week it's only wise to be safe rather than sorry. And again, to the neighbors, I am not implying that you didn't do the right thing, most people would do the same, I hope you take no offense to my comment.
- Tonya Ferrara, Manchester NH