k3n -- not all Americans have big mean dogs and guns : ) The only guns in our house are orange plastic nerf guns that shoot foam darts (awesome) and the dog is a gentle, quiet, affectionate therapy dog who spend her free time cheering up kids in hospitals. The cats are a little more mean, so maybe they would protect us.
We actually had a home burgler a few years back. We pitied the fool -- the house was full of legos and strips of fabrics carefully stored in the boxes he looked through. He left with nothing more valuable than a broken watch that cost $20 at most, 15 years prior, and a leather jacket that was worn through at the elbows and back of the neck. Oh -- and a charger for a phone, though he did not get the phone.
Interestingly, the detective who handled the case said that in the vast majority of the break ins, they are looking for guns (not the nerf kind).
It was a very sad experience for him. More hauls like that, and he might have to mend his ways. And we have since then put a more secure lock on our back sliding door.
RST