OK on burglaries they say
"Most (62.4 percent) of residential burglaries in 2005 for which time of occurrence was known took place during the day, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m."
So yes 62% are when people are probably away - that still leaves 40% that happen when people are probably home. So I do still really feel it's important that we all have a way of protecting ourselves. I'm not saying to be paranoid
But I'm saying to be safe.
Another survey shows that 34% of burglars come in through the front door, 22% the back door, 23% a first floor window. So that's most of the options right there. The house next to me, they tried the back door. When they tried my home (where I lived before, not this one I'm in now) they tried the back door. So it seems like if you keep your "first floor secure" as it were that that right there gives you a huge advantage. They will probably move along elsewhere.
If I *could* have a taser I would keep it up on the dresser top. That way I could run for the bedroom if there was any trouble and close the door. If they came in after me, they'd get tazed but if they didn't come in the room I'd just hide there and call for help.
Right now we have one gun up there in a locked gun safe with a finger entry. That is, there is a secret code to enter it that you press with your fingers and it pops open. The other guns are in a large, normal safe in the basement. So we do have quick easy access to one self defense gun in the bedroom. But I'd rather have a taser for that I think.