What is my best choice for a good pistol?

There's wierdos in my neighborhood and my wife is pregnant. I want to make our place hostile to burglars. A pistol might be a good choice. I'm not the best shot but I can practice. I don't want to spend thousands, but I do want stopping power, magazine capacity, and most importantly, reliability. Ammunition cost and type are concerns too. Any advice on ammunition? Hollow point? Thanks for your time!