kryptonian,
Tough delima. If I was the owner of the home, I would hope, but not expect, you to help out. In the modern day world of lawsuits though, is the risk toones self and the potential of backlash int he legal world really worth it on a vacant property, probably not. Relying on the police is a mistake, they don't really have any power anyways. They can spend days building a case and the offenders will get a slap on the wrist by our justice system.
I had a boss call 911 for me while I was being attacked physically by someone I had verbally stopped for shoplifting, the boss was told there was noone availible to make an arrest, would we like them to send medical care? WTF is that? Is that dispatches method of saying handle it yourself and we will wipe the guys blood up off the floor? Well, we handled it ourselves and the guy hasnt been seen since on our property. I was later quietly approached by an officer of an unrelated jurisdiction and was warned they believe the individual I dealt with was HIV positive and had an extensive police history. Does this mean shoot from 60 feet out instead of 30 to not get blood on me?
These are the things going through my head everyday when I carry, and dispatch and the police all know I carry. I am of the firm belief that individual officers do the best they can, with what they are given, which ain't much. In the end though, it is all up to ourselves to protect what is precious to us. I know most of my neighbors well enough that I would have interviened, as when a house is vacant here, it is because someone is at "camp" for the summer.
Life's a b***h, you made a decision, noone was hurt that anyone knows of, so in the end you probably made the right call, and hopefully as the officer was eventually rolling into town he saw three youths and stopped them and got what they deserved, if anything.
-northofnowhere