[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by Chamone MF

I've no strong fear of burglaries or break-ins tbh.
Theres not much worth taking. x-box, fta-satellite box, tv is old and bulky....thats it ...bar the hoover.

Read the papers and see that old rural dwellers with even less material possessions than you have had their most precious asset - their life - taken by intruders who either panicked when someone woke up, or else tortured their victim to death in the belief they would tell where the money was hidden.

I can't get a gun, but I'm very handy with a knife and always have one near my bed. Even if the bastards kill me, I hope the Gardai will have the wit to check the blood on the floor for DNA. As likely as not, it won't all be mine.

http://www.apr-tuote.com/images/puukko5.jpg

[merengueca]

As so many people have said, it's because you are at your most vulnerable.

I was victim of aggravated burglary a few years ago, asleep on my own at home and woke up to the front door being smashed in. Decided (or reacted would be a better word as there was nothing operating but sheer instinct) to stay where I was and let them nick what they wanted... they decided different, four blokes smashed into my bedroom, all with hoodies/masks on and one with a crow bar.

As one poster before mentioned being absolutely outraged, I was at the time but the over riding emotion has been the feeling of violation.

So yeah, kinda freak out about household security at night.

Best security you can ever have is a dog.... doesn't have to be a muscle breed, I only got through the remaining years of living in that house by getting my dog, he is a lab but, by god, no scumbag burglar wants to run into 7 stone of angry teeth and muscle which is what he becomes if threatened!

[TheChizler]

Surely it's very unwise to confront a burglar unless they're actually trying to harm you. The last thing most burglars want is a confrontation. In my experience and most cases I've heard of, as soon as they realise they've been copped they will most likely make a run for it. Confronting them with a bat or knife means they're going to have to defend themselves and there's no option other than violence. It's along the same lines as cornering a scared wild animal, you're best off leaving a clear, direct path to the exit. The type of person who burgles is most likely able to handle any weapon you present better than you. If they get it off you they now have a weapon and you are still a threat, not a good situation.

Imagine being submissive on the weapons front, retreat but make your presence known, by calling out that the Gardaí are on the way or something. Worst case scenario they make off with something of value, you are safe.
Imagine attacking the burgler; best case scenario somebody is injured. Worst case scenario they overpower you and use your own weapon against you, you or a member of your family end up being killed.

I've heard it from multiple sources, people who practice self defence and know what they're talking about, do not attack a burgler or confront with an obvious weapon. Unless you value your property more than your health.


-- Of course as in the above post you may find yourself in a situation where the confrontation is brought to you, but this is an exceptionally rare occurrence.

[Wibbs]

Originally Posted by HarryPotter41

Probably because of crap like this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ngham-17952526

Christ. I'm sorry scum like that should be hung from the neck until dead. Preferably in public. I'd happily pull the lever too.

Originally Posted by Snowie

my dog sleeps bye the door and patrols the house at night... thats what a dogs for, a deterrent and if the dumb fvcks still try break in there just stupid...

Ditto.

Originally Posted by TheChizler

Imagine being submissive on the weapons front, retreat but make your presence known, by calling out that the Gardaí are on the way or something. Worst case scenario they make off with something of value, you are safe.
Imagine attacking the burgler; best case scenario somebody is injured. Worst case scenario they overpower you and use your own weapon against you, you or a member of your family end up being killed.

I'd agree, though would respectfully disagree on the best case scenario. For me that would be them dead.

[Latchy]

Day or night , the harder and more difficult we make it for them to break in , the less chance of them succeeding .

[Stovepipe]

There was a case in the UK not so long ago where the cops picked up a toerag for burgling and they found a hit-list on him. Turns out his method was to stroll up and down both sides of a street, noting which ones had dogs or not, side entrances, windows open, people in attendance during working hours and so on. He had checked every single house and had narrowed down his list to the likeliest targets. The cops were impressed by the quality of his reconnaisance and when they went to the householders to advise them to improve their basic security, not one of them recalled seeing the guy on his walkabout.
You never know, do ya?

regards
Stovepipe

[ShadowHearth]

As a petrolhead: night time is the worst time for burglaries.
Car outside, keys inside.
Good if they find them, of they won't be bothered to look for them, then you might wake up and see a kettle of hot water over your face or your partners.

[whatdoicare]

I foiled an attempted break in a while back by turning on all the lights in the house and turning the telly up full blast with the metal music channel on - called gardai, they didn't show up for four hours and even though I mentioned I was a girl, on my own in the house, they never bothered to stop the squad car to see if I was dead or alive.
Since then I have not been able to sleep at night if I'm by myself and I am often still up with all the lights on until 6 am - which is when the people living on my estate start to get up.
I'm trying to convince the husband to get a dog for me - a big dog.

[mikemac1]

Originally Posted by whatdoicare

- called gardai, they didn't show up for four hours and even though I mentioned I was a girl, on my own in the house, they never bothered to stop the squad car to see if I was dead or alive. .

Should have told them you have a knife and were about to slaughter the burglar.

They would have shown up then

[Latchy]

Originally Posted by Stovepipe

There was a case in the UK not so long ago where the cops picked up a toerag for burgling and they found a hit-list on him. Turns out his method was to stroll up and down both sides of a street, noting which ones had dogs or not, side entrances, windows open, people in attendance during working hours and so on. He had checked every single house and had narrowed down his list to the likeliest targets. The cops were impressed by the quality of his reconnaisance and when they went to the householders to advise them to improve their basic security, not one of them recalled seeing the guy on his walkabout.
You never know, do ya?

regards
Stovepipe

Some people have a lazy attitude to property security and think ' it won't happen to me ' ...until it does and then they decide to up their security and burglars love them for this oversight but why 'after the horse has bolted the stable ' wait for it to happen ?

You could argue that every stranger who walks down our road is a potential burglar making notes as you said on each house and many do which is why we should always take note of them (strangers) even if they are wearing commercial clothing ie, gas ,utility etc and make it part of our security routine .

The barking dog that only barks at night in reaction to a noise or supicious movement around your property is the burglars worst enemy and probably more so then the house alarm which can be triggered off by a fault or passing car.

[whatdoicare]

Originally Posted by mikemac1

Should have told them you have a knife and were about to slaughter the burglar.

They would have shown up them

Yeah - I doubt they'd believe a girl has a knife and is going to take on (what I had already described to them) two tall well built males one with what looks like a crow bar. They didn't really care either way - it took me two attempts to actually get them to listen to me in the first place.

[M cebee]

response time can be slow out the country these days with closures etc

not the guards fault

a good dog and a shotgun is yer only man

knives are no use,they'll take it off you

[Pottler]

Had the front door sledge-hammered in in the early hours. Burglars started coming up the stairs. Worst bit for me was the two mile walk back home through the City Center in just my pyjama bottoms. Very embarassing as they were Paisley ones. The fitter of the two robbers was a bloody good runner, have to give him that.

[shopaholic01]

Originally Posted by ShadowHearth

As a petrolhead: night time is the worst time for burglaries.
Car outside, keys inside.
Good if they find them, of they won't be bothered to look for them, then you might wake up and see a kettle of hot water over your face or your partners.

Apparently this is very common so you should always leave keys, bags etc. where they can be easily found. I wouldn't care if my car, purse etc were taken as long as they didn't come near me.

[Pottler]

Originally Posted by shopaholic01

Apparently this is very common so you should always leave keys, bags etc. where they can be easily found. I wouldn't care if my car, purse etc were taken as long as they didn't come near me.

PM your address please I promise not to come near you!