I came home from work this evening. After checking that the road was empty and well-illuminated I opened my gate and drove my car in. As I was entering I saw headlights at the top of the road so I quickly stopped my car inside and ran to lock the gate, just in case the arriving car contained criminals. It did, and they had sprinted toward the gate and arrived just as I had closed it, so I decided there was no time to lock it and turned and ran around the house, shouting. The front door is always locked. I passed the glass patio door, which thankfully was clearly closed with the trellidoor clearly shut.

I ran around the house into an old broken sauna at the back which we used as a storeroom, because it seemed like the perfect place to toss away my housekeys - my family is inside the house so my top priority was keeping my keys from the robbers. Three of them - one with a loaded gun - cornered me in there and tried to overpower me together; fortunately they couldn't. Every time they threatened me or told me to do something or tried to assault me I resisted, stayed exactly where I was, and simply said "Please leave" as loudly as I could. Eventually they demanded my keys and I told them I'd already thrown them in the garden. They got nervous - probably because of all the time that had already passed since the commotion started - and ran off. I hoped that everyone in the house had heard the noise and were safely locked inside, and I hopped onto the roof and waited there (the only thing I could think of to do at that point).

Unfortunately they hadn't realised what was going on, and my father (70) had wandered out onto the driveway. The fleeing robbers tried to attack him from behind, but he fought them off without taking any injuries and they ran out the gate. One fired two shots at him. He dived for cover, and one bullet went straight through his trousers, barely grazing the inside of his thigh.

So in the end we all made it out alive, with no real injuries and nothing stolen. But... wow.

Oh shit man, I hope you and your family the best. My house was once robbed when I was little, thankfully everybody was gone and no one got hurt. We came home to bunch of stuff missing but at least no one was there to be harmed.

Holy shit, dude! Good that you and yours are okay, and nice thinking with the keys. Hope your dad recovers well, too, however minor the injury.

I've lived in a country like South Africa at one point, and people used to hire security guards from various security companies for their houses. Something to think about, I guess.

^ ^ this

Fuck, it's chilling even to read it.
That's not the experience I would like to try and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
It sounds like you acted quite promptly and cleverly and I am really glad no one got hurt.
One day it will be good party story how you chased 16 thugs away with flamethrower. :-)

Damn, that's some good quick thinking. Glad everyone's okay.

Wow! Glad you're okay. i hope I'm still fending off robbers at 71!

Read your story and two things came to mind - that you probably make clanking sounds when you walk, and that your dad might be a ninja.

Edit - Aside from the obvious, of course, happy to hear that none of your people were harmed and thinking that the pieces of shit who did that need to be pistolwhipped until they forget their own names, then set on fire.

This part in itself was already a completely different world for me. That's what I see in movies, not what my life is like. Kudos on your actions and good to hear you all got through relatively well.

Bravely done, Barefoot.

Glad to hear you are safe and sound and that your father didn't sustain more grave injury. It makes me sad for humanity when anyone at all feels the need to do others harm for any reason (especially personal gain). It is impressive that you and your father both showed courage (you for thinking quick to protect your family, and your father for trying to defend them) in a very unfortunate situation. I wish a speedy recovery to your father and that you have a better tomorrow than you did today. Though, as the old axiom goes 'any day above ground is a good day'. :)

WOW, I can't even imagine the adrenaline pumping through you as that's happening. Very glad all of you and your family are ok after something insane like that.

I would start carrying some form of pepper spray or something.

Take care of yourself and family, mate.

You were very brave to sacrifice yourself like that. Barefoot Monkey... more like Steel-Nerved Monkey.

That was intense reading it. I'm glad you and your family are ok and you kept your wits amidst the commotion. I can't imagine living in a country or location where you have to check the road outside your house for criminals before you enter your premises. Be safe good sir.