Here's an ethical question for ya'..."An armed burglar breaks in your home..."

[Ponch ®]

I wouldn't go anywhere near the guy (ie. tampering with evidence), but I'd probably tell the cops that the money was mine.

[gtx6970]

The money is not and never was yours.  If you take it, then you are no better than the thief you just killed.

That was my first thought.
A thief is as low life as it gets and I prefer to not lower myself to that level

[Mike DC]

 
Has it occurred to anyone else that the bills in the crook's pocket might help the cops link him to another crime(s)?  Serial #s, residue of stuff on the bills, etc.  Imagine if the cops lost their chance to connect him to a murder or something because of that $100.  B&E alone won't get him much time in the slam.

[RECHRGD]

 
  B&E alone won't get him much time in the slam.

I agree, but seeing that he's already received the death sentence he'd probably stink up the jail pretty quick.

[mauve66]

and not many regular people would record the serial # off a hundred they have stuffed in a jewelry box

[AKcharger]

I wouldn't go anywhere near the guy (ie. tampering with evidence), but I'd probably tell the cops that the money was mine.

hmmm, good angle, didn't think of that!

[Musicman]

I'm not waiting for him to attack anyone... He signed his own death warrant the moment he set foot in my house.

[Patronus]

Karma's a bitch, and I like sleeping at night.
He can have his money, as long as someone comes and takes him away.

[RallyeMike]

Pretty disappointing in some of these answers   

You have no idea where the money came from no matter what your suspicion. Drug dealers don't need to rob your house when they have a wad of hundreds in their pocket. Maybe it came from the other houses he robbed before yours? Taking it makes you no better than the thief you shot. Why lower yourself to that level? Why risk the possibility of throwing suspicion on yourself and causing problems for you and your family? Blast away and keep on the high ground.

Besides, the police need that money to fund their Christmas ball.

[Cooter]

The money is not and never was yours.  If you take it, then you are no better than the thief you just killed.

Amen, but judging from the resposes we got here, the're are a lot of members here that aren't any better than a common thief...Don't want his money, or his life. Would prolly puke if I had to shoot someone. It would bother me that much. I myself have been on the business end of a 9MM and it wasn't any fun.  Don't even know if I'd be able to squeeze off a couple rounds even scared and nervous, but the perp has already been shot by the thread so......

[400/6/PAC]

As far as I'm concerned, He brought the money to Me.

[Musicman]

Regardless of where the money came from, it's not mine... They could use the money to bury him for all I care.

[Stretch]

There is no way I would take anything period! Taking whats not yours, no matter who you take it from is stealing! I think the only thing on anyones mind after taking a life is your family first and "HOLY SHIT I KILLED A MAN" I'm betting the latter is the hardest to deal with under any circumstance!

I'm not saying I wouldn't take a life in that situation, I just pray I never have to find out.

[Paul G]

I agree with leaving it and everything else alone. Take that money and you will pay it back 10 fold. Just works out that way. Let the cops deal with it. People don't realize how they will really act faced in that situation. Could you really kill someone? Depends. Would you be sick to your stomach? Probably. Puke? Probably. Be haunted by it the rest of your life? Probably.

[Darkman]

In all seriousness, who would actually be thinking about taking money AFTER THEY JUST KILLED SOMEONE.

A situation occured just after my first daughter was born almost 10 years ago. A would be thief broke into our house walked past our room and went to the back of the house. I found him in my daughters room. Adrenaline kicked in and I grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground whilst choking him until he passed out, then made sure he wasn't dead. The wife got our daughter then called the police and shortly after he regained conciousness the police arrived and arrested him. From the minute I put him down, to when the police took him away, it was all a blurr and then the adrenaline wore off and reality set in. I was completely numb and no thoughts other than is my family OK crossed my mind. I thank my skills as a martial artist to know when to stop (I let go the second I felt him go limp). If I held on for another minute or so, it would have been lights out. My wife told me he was out for a good couple of minutes. One thing I do remember though (I will never forget it) was the police officer who questioned me said that had I hit him (or beaten his ass to a pulp) it would have been me sitting in the back of the patrol car! Doing it the way I did it saved any charges against me.

I would not hesitate doing whatever it takes to protect myself or my family, but after the fact my thoughts would be on other things entirely.

[Stretch]

I'm sure that has somthing to do with your local law. Here In Michigan you are 100% protected in that situation as long as the intruder is 100% in your house. If he is busting in and you shoot him through the door your a murderer. If you shoot and kill them and the are past the threshhold your protecting yourself and family.

Once again I'm not saying I could kill a man. I sure as hell don't ever want to find out but my wife and kids safty come first and formost.

Darkman... I'm sorry you were put in that position. I hope after 10 years you and your family have been able to deal with the stress that surly brought to you and have been able to feel safe in your home once again.

[mpdlawdog]

If you don't take it the cops will.

come on now!  You know better that that......now if he had a box of crispy creams on him maybe.......a box of crispy creams with money sticking out.....hells yea!  

I love my job too much to do something like that!

Seriously, I would have killed the guy. Someone has enough balls to break into my house who knows what they will do.  They better hope khan gets them first.  The stories make me sick. I commend anyone who takes on a intruder. However those guys usually end up hurt or worse.  I guess my attitude is it's you or me so if someone decides to
break in my house be ready to get eaten by khan....if that's not enough I have a 12 gauge semiauto in my closet and yes my wife can shoot it

As far as that cop saying you would go to jail for beating the guy up for breaking into your house.....that's total bs. Not sure what state you live in and what crazy laws are in place but in Ohio shoot first and ask questions later. You can't protect your property ie shoot at someone on your property or brakeing into your car but if someone is in your house get them first!

[RallyeMike]

A situation occured just after my first daughter was born almost 10 years ago. A would be thief broke into our house walked past our room and went to the back of the house. I found him in my daughters room. Adrenaline kicked in and I grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground whilst choking him until he passed out

Scary stuff. None of can be sure of our actions in situation like this. I agree as others have said - preservation kicks in and you probabaly wouldnt even think about the money.

Glad to hear you and your family are safe.

[64dartgt]

Man...I wouldn't hesitate...well I would have to because MA law means I have a trigger lock on every gun that I would have to find the key for...etc...etc...

This summer I was working with a really nice guy, Shea Stremcha, at Ameriprise Finnancial.  He was 25 years old, recently engaged and had just bought his first home in a nice area of One day I got a call saying that he had been killed...

"Authorities have charged two men with breaking into a south Minneapolis man's home and killing him. Laura Yuen reports.

Twenty-five-year-old Shea Stremcha died July 20th from a single gunshot wound to his heart. His girlfriend told police they were sleeping when she woke up to the sound of breaking glass.  According to the criminal complaint, Stremcha went to check it out with a knife and was gunned down outside the bedroom.

Police say they were able to trace blood and fingerprints from the scene to Robert Shelby and Semaj Williams. Both men were arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree murder."

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/27/shea-stremcha/

Only second degree murder.  What an F'ing joke.  Someone commits armed robbery and shoots Shea to death, but they only get charged with second degree because they didn't plan to kill him.  At least they could still get 40 years.  

[AKcharger]

Well adding a bit of serious advice here from several respected sources: If you suspect an intruder in your home, lock the door (usually bedroom), call 911 and arm yourself (if you legally can) DO NOT leave the room. Whatever they steal, they steal...it can be replaced. Now if they attempt entry to the bedroom unload the magazine into them.  

Of course if you have kids in other rooms this isn't so simple.

[Darkman]

Darkman... I'm sorry you were put in that position. I hope after 10 years you and your family have been able to deal with the stress that surly brought to you and have been able to feel safe in your home once again.

The first few weeks were a little tense, but the main issue was not to change anything major (ie move our daughter to our room) as this upsets routine. Anyone with kids knows how important routine is. We did however upgrade the security of our house, and once nerves settled everything was back to normal relatively quickly.

The body is programmed in 2 different ways "fight or flight". Normally my training and instincts go into flight mode as the easiest and safest, but when this was in the only "safe environment" and your family is at risk, the fight program kicked in.

[Chargen69]

In all seriousness, who would actually be thinking about taking money AFTER THEY JUST KILLED SOMEONE.

A situation occured just after my first daughter was born almost 10 years ago. A would be thief broke into our house walked past our room and went to the back of the house. I found him in my daughters room. Adrenaline kicked in and I grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground whilst choking him until he passed out, then made sure he wasn't dead. The wife got our daughter then called the police and shortly after he regained conciousness the police arrived and arrested him. From the minute I put him down, to when the police took him away, it was all a blurr and then the adrenaline wore off and reality set in. I was completely numb and no thoughts other than is my family OK crossed my mind. I thank my skills as a martial artist to know when to stop (I let go the second I felt him go limp). If I held on for another minute or so, it would have been lights out. My wife told me he was out for a good couple of minutes. One thing I do remember though (I will never forget it) was the police officer who questioned me said that had I hit him (or beaten his ass to a pulp) it would have been me sitting in the back of the patrol car! Doing it the way I did it saved any charges against me.

I would not hesitate doing whatever it takes to protect myself or my family, but after the fact my thoughts would be on other things entirely.

not here in South Carolina man, if you choke out an intruder and then beat him to a bloody pulp, the cops around here would say, "you beat him before you choked him...  Right?" to which you would say "right" off to jail he'd go!

[Alaskan_TA]

If you suspect an intruder in your home, lock the door (usually bedroom), call 911 and arm yourself (if you legally can) DO NOT leave the room.

My locks are the on the outer doors. If someone intrudes, he is not a suspect if he is armed, he is dead.

I called a guy in last winter, he was on my property well after dark. I confronted him outside, asked who he was & what he was up to. He rushed me, so I pulled my gun & cocked it. He stopped. I asked him to leave & he did not, so I called him in after telling him I would do so. It turned out that he was plugging in to my outside electrical outlet. (theft) The state troopers THANKED me for calling. They took his statement & mine, they did not even ask to see my weapon, which I had on me in plain view.

I may miss that part of Alaska once I move east, but I'll still be prepared.

I do not think he will EVER plug into someone else's power without asking again.