Vigilante Justice?

Last Monday, my family discovered that one of our vehicles had been broken into and the Alpine head-unit had been completely removed. The car was parked high up on our driveway and near the entrance to our house—the stereo was most likely not visible from the street.

Almost two years prior, thieves stole a subwoofer box, complete with two 12” Rockford Fosgate speakers, right out of the trunk of the same vehicle. The contents of the trunk were strewn across the yard in a truly harrowing manner. Far worse than the obvious loss of property is the feeling that nothing is safe. Somehow these scum knew these things were in the car and knew when we were vulnerable enough for them to help themselves to our property.

That stereo, of which the head-unit and subwoofer box were a part, was probably the first significant purchase I made myself from working my first job. As you can imagine, it was almost all of my wages at the measly rate I was paid then. I’m not exactly ballin’ now though, either.

Crime in our area has been an growing issue and the police department has responded favorably: more cops on patrol, communication with the neighborhood, etc. They have made numerous busts of transient campsites and money/drug changing houses. You have to understand that I live slightly east of I-35—the crime level is relative, I suppose. It’s my childhood house and I really would hate to feel unsafe in a place that is so fundamental to my upbringing and overall disposition.

But what to do? Police report was filed, fingerprints taken, but there’s just not any real probability of catching the offenders. As much as I hate the idea of them being able to peruse our yard for anything they’d like, we can only be so careful. To a certain extent, wrongdoers like these individuals can instill fear and anxiety—and they’ve succeeded. All this fosters feelings of hopelessness about my family’s safety.

We don’t own any firearms, nor do we have a security system. I imagine my parents would be averse to the latter because of the sheer nuisance, but perhaps my shining moment of oral persuasion will be convincing them of its worth.

I’ve thought about a weapon—perhaps some sort of easy one-stopper sort of deal, but I will only be with my parents for a few more months. My Dad is having back surgery soon and I am worried that the effectiveness of that instrument of lethal force would be not worth the risk if I’m not there.

Any suggestions? Furthermore, who among you thinks you could deal death to intruders to your house. Would you consider legal implications (remember Texas is a “yee-haw” sort of state…)?