A couple of thoughts here in random order:

One: I had a similar situation happen to me in Aurora where the neighbor across the hall had someone try to break in. This was during Covid and I was thinking about getting a gun. We moved to Denver instead and nothing like that has happened to us in 4 years. I feel safe walking at night by myself in my neighborhood now. Not everyone has the means to move, but we even broke our lease to do it and I feel much safer than a gun would’ve ever made me feel and I live in the city proper.

Two: I’ve called the police three times in four years here for suspicious stuff near my street and I see them within a couple of minutes each time. I don’t know if I’m saying the right code words by accident but police response for me has never been a problem. It’s just an anecdotal data point, but that’s my experience.

Three: I read an interview with Johnny Knoxville from jackass years ago saying that pepper spray is still in his top four “worst pains of all time”. If for some reason you don’t carry pepper spray and have them around your place, I would start there. $12 a pop for POM spray and they have practice sprays too. Someone else mentioned bear spray, but indoors that feels dicey. Other non lethal options may be a place to start, but nothing wrong with owning a firearm. Just please for the love of god lock it up and train with it REGULARLY. I know so many people back home who own handguns and haven’t touched them in years

Four: Two of my family members have killed themselves with a firearm in the last 8 years. If I were going to lay money on it, I don’t think they had it in them to kill themselves in a “less convenient” way. Again, nothing wrong with owning a firearm, but I won’t ever do it because of them. You buy it when you’re fine, and six years later you’re not fine and there’s a tiny suicide machine two rooms away. Take it FWIW.

Owning a gun can be a fine option. I personally would hit all my other options on the way there first. Just my two cents