Burglars - what not to do!

[Chilternrides]

Caught a burglar this week
I came back from work unexpectedly early and walked in to find things not where they should be.
This is the point, ladies & gentlemen, where you are supposed to leave immediately and get on to the Bobbies.

Don't carry on walking through your house only to find a large chap going through your stuff (I now know beyond any doubt that this is the wrong thing to do).

I spoke to him and managed to get him to leave as I was no match for him physically (although he did give me a bit of a belt round the ear when I turned to open the door) .

I was pretty stupid but very lucky; he was out of the house without any of my goods, and not much damage to me.

If you see anything amiss, get out and stay out until you get help: Too many nutters with knives & needles knocking about. This is probably all common sense, but it proves once again, you never know how you'll react to a situation until your faced with it. Stay safe!

 

[Milo]

Sorry to hear that. I doubt I would be able to control my self from inflicting death in such a situation.

 

[Globalti]

I checked in to a very rubbish hotel in Nigeria once, the room was in a "chalet", rather remote, down by the river Niger. I was just wandering around the room marvelling at the filthy torn curtains and the huge green mildew stain under the AC when there was a loud bang; the lock flew right across the room and the plywood door smashed against the wall to reveal a gentleman with his foot frozen in kicking posture. He was as surprised to see me as I was to see him, it took him a second to recover his composure and then he made an excuse about having come to check the leaking AC, went over, fiddled with it then left without my suitcase, which I thought he had come to steal.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

How terrible for you. You're right about it could have turned out much worse. Nothing worse than a desperate person who's cornered.
How did he gain access?

 

[Silver Fox]

At least you're here to tell the tale which is the important thing.

I honestly don't know how I'd react if I found a burglar in my home.

 

[tyred]

Although I generally go through life trying to avoid confrontation of any kind, I suspect if I found a burglar in my house, I definitely would not let him leave without a painful souvenir of his visit.

 

[User482]

Sorry to hear that. I doubt I would be able to control my self from inflicting death in such a situation.

You'd have to be very sure of yourself. A burglar is likely to be used to physical confrontation.

 

[Milo]

I don't fight fair. its hardly a Queensbury rules type of engagement is it.

 

[fossyant]

No idea how I'd react, but if the kids and wife were in. I'm sure there may be a few handy objects to chuck at him/her

Someone outside say in the garage, then it would be death. Touch my bikes will ya...

Had 2 recent burglary attempts at home, one on garage, one on car - they didn't get anything (can't get in garage and car has nothing in it - only bootleg/copy cd's)

 

[numbnuts]

Better to be a coward than a dead hero, I think you did the right thing
of course I would have shot the b....... seeing I have a Colt 45 and it's the most powerful hand gun in the world and can blow your head clean off, well do you feel lucky punk (Clint Eastwood style)

 

[Night Train]

Glad to hear you were not more seriously hurt in the confrontation.

When I was married and living in London the risk of burglary was high. The wife was into heavy stone ornaments which she placed on the upper flight of stairs to the bedroom.
Her plan was that if someone broke in during the night then she would go ahead of me ready to throw stone ornaments at the burglar while screaming and shouting like a banshee. She knew that my instinctive response would be to protect her and our property and that would, then, have got me into more trouble with the law then the burglar would have faced, whereas she could claim she was assulted and was only defending herself.

Fourtunately our only break in occured while we were out.

I think I would be inclined to actively defend my family and property with every method at my disposal. I think chainsaws smart a bit when they make contact!
I would prefer to have 100% faith in the quick response of the local Police though but I doubt that would happen.

 

[david1701]

this is why I insure my kit, theif wants it and I ask nicely for my cards back first

 

[uphillstruggler]

i know where every available object/weapon in the house is, they would be feeling the effects of any number of them on their way out. if they made it out.

 

[coffeejo]

Given how my dog reacted when one of my landlords' guests walked into my garden in the summer by accident, I pity anyone who breaks into the house. I don't know how I'd react. Fight or flight. One of the two.

 

[Chilternrides]

How did he gain access?

Simply prized open the dining room window, snapping the locking mechanism on the process! Additional locking devices are going on all other windows sharpish!