Home Invasion with Fake Gun?

Are these crimes on the cheap?  The risks seem to be the same, and the consequences do too. 

Would making it easier to shoot these intruders deter them from committing such a crime?  I doubt it, given that thinking of any kind, much less planning doesn't seem to be their strong suit.

But it would have put all of the people at that location at risk for being hit by gunfire.  Fewer guns equate to greater safety for all of us, criminal or victim, good or bad, including the polic).

Three men were each charged with two felony offenses by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office April 29 for their involvement in a home invasion at a Coon Rapids residence two days earlier.
Mava Gene Jones Jr., 33, Crystal, and Michael Lewis Earley, 35, St. Paul, were both arraigned in Anoka County District Court April 29 on aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree burglary charges.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Andrew Joseph Casserly, 19, St. Cloud, formerly of Coon Rapids, on the same charges.
Casserly was arrested by Coon Rapids Police Sunday and arraigned on two charges in court Monday.
The morning of May 1, police received information that Casserly was at an apartment on the 10600 block of Tamarack Street N.W., which is close to where the home invasion took place.
Police entered the apartment and found Casserly hiding in a bathroom shower.

Casserly allegedly gave Jones a fake black handgun and Earley carried a baseball bat.
When they got to the residence, Jones alleged that Earley kicked in the door and he admitted to pointing the gun at the occupants, alleging that Earley also threatened them with the baseball bat.
He alleged Casserly stolen the purse, then the three of them fled.
Wednesday evening, on his way to the Anoka County Jail after giving his statement to Eychaner, Jones allegedly took police to an area on the 1000 block of 106th Avenue where a handgun was recovered from the grass by some mailboxes.
Searching in the area of 105th and Unity Street police found a black stocking cap, black leather gloves and a red bandanna in an empty garbage container based on information provided by Jones.
According to Eychaner, Earley refused to give a statement, invoking his right to an attorney.