I didn't know what I was dealing with. Was this 1, 2 or three people trying to get in. I needed more shells before I confront the thief or thieves. I heard metal scraping on metal. I was not sure what it was, but the handle was turning and the door was being pushed harder and I had enough of this nonsense. I racked the pump action on the shotgun and then there was dead silence. I flipped on the light and ran to the door. No one was in sight.  I found the flashlight ran back in loaded 4 more shells and put 5 more in the shell holder. I ran out checking the barn and out buildings. I didn't find anyone. I figured the thief parked his car nearby and came back to the house and grabbed my truck keys. I locked the door and drove the road looking for a parked vehicle. Finding none I came back to the house and search the area again. Very frustrating not finding the thief.

I made coffee and waited for daybreak. In the light of the day I drove the road looking for tracks. There is a 2 track from the main field to behind the house. Right where the 2 track hit the road I found an eating fork. Weird I thought and came back to the house. In the weather stripping on the back door was 3 places where the thief had tried to force the fork in trying to pop the door. All I can figure is the would be thief was walking down the road saw my truck was gone and figured it would be easy picking.

Tons of lesson learned on this one. Just because you are way out in the country doesn't mean you are safe from scumbags. I should have had the shell holder full, should of had a flashlight in the bedroom, and last but not least I should have installed deadbolts on both doors as soon as I bought the place. You can believe all problems are corrected now and the next time some scumbags tries to break in he will be facing a fully loaded shotgun with Buckshot and be looking at a 1 million watt spotlight. But as normal the story is not over yet.

The next week on the back porch I had a jar of new mink and coon bait I was working on. It was 2:30 in the morning this time and I heard someone on the back porch. I had not been sleeping good every since the first attempt and was instantly awake. I grabbed the shotgun and spotlight and quietly walked over to the door.  In the moonlight I could see a big black form on the porch. It looked like the thief was bent over working on the lock. I thought you are going to jail this time scumbag. I turned on the spotlight and this huge head swiveled up looking at me and the same instant we both figured who was who. 3 feet away staring back at me was 300 pound black bear. I don't know who was more startled, me or the bear. We both jumped back and once I overcame the adrenaline rush I ran back to the door and shined the spotlight on him doing 180 mph passed the barn. Needless to say he has not come back for another visit. Just another boring night in the country.