Would You Consider Protection?

anotheruser

Hot on the heels of another thread and ever since the riots the other summer, would you ever consider getting some form of protection for your home?

I am more thinking of a perfectly legal baseball bat or something similar that you would keep upstairs and can use if needs must.

I am not advocating violence, I just hate to think what I would do and how I would stop a burglary, if the thief thought they had the upper hand on me.
Obviously calling the police yes but if I don't have a phone or whatever.

Here's another good example:

The other night in my usually quiet, nice, street I hear a knocking, then someone shouting HELP ME. I look outside to see a full on assault taking place across the street.
To cut a longer story shorter, I was a little afraid he may want to start something on me and my house - what could I do in that instant to stop him? Nothing.

Your thoughts?

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EDIT: Before judging, I wrote a story update:

There was a lot of commotion in the street with neighbours all out wandering what is going on, while I was outside the front of my house on the phone to the police (house phone range isn't that great, other people helping so was more important for me to stay in contact with the police).
To make things more strenuous, the assaulter had a weapon themselves. In the end the guy ran off down the street, the police had a very good description and that's the last I heard about it.

The thread was more questioning your view on personal security rather than what happened in the story...

Tropez

Given that I work in security, I find the idea of leaving weaponry lying around the house a poor choice when compared to investing in proper security options for the home.

Gavin83

I've been considering buying a crossbow recently, it'll certainly give me a range advantage should someone break in.

Naturally I'd need something else (maybe an axe) but a crossbow is a great first line of defence.

Currently I've got an iron bar, not sure it's enough.

duchy

The problem with a weapon is - it can be taken off you and used against you.

duchy

anotheruser wrote: »

Hot on the heels of another thread and ever since the riots the other summer, would you ever consider getting some form of protection for your home?

I am more thinking of a perfectly legal baseball bat or something similar that you would keep upstairs and can use if needs must.



Here's another good example:

The other night in my usually quiet, nice, street I hear a knocking, then someone shouting HELP ME. I look outside to see a full on assault taking place across the street.
To cut a longer story shorter, I was a little afraid he may want to start something on me and my house - what could I do in that instant to stop him? Nothing.

Your thoughts?

I think you live in a horrible street -and I'd hate to have neighbours who did nothing if I was attacked. I actually think "nice streets" are worse for this "won't get involved" attitude. My Mum's road was like that-all the curtains would twitch but no-one wanted to get involved or even call the police. Nice middle class streets are apparently well known for this type of attitude.

peachyprice

No, I wouldn't be confronting a burglar in the first place, they can take what they like, it's all replaceable, my life isn't and I can't think of anything legal that I would be able to use to defend myself anyway. All I would really worry about is making sure my children were safe, not going at a burglar with a makeshift weapon.


Why would you think someone assaulting someone else in the street would then break into your house and assault you? That's quite a leap. Did you phone the police to get help for the person being assaulted?

elsien

My thoughts are it would be stupid to attempt to physically attack someone to prevent them from taking my belongings.


I am a 5 foot 7 stone weakling, and even if someone is nicking my stuff I do not want anyone to get hurt, me or them.


Belongings are replaceable, I am not, and I do not want serious injury to someone else on my conscience - unless I am in fear for my life. When realistically speaking, there's not a lot I could do anyway. Do I want a baseball bat snatched from my hand and used against me?
In my opinion most burglars want to get in and out with the minimum of fuss - people who are have a go heroes tend to have a go at them on the way out. I'd rather they just went.

SailorSam

After i got stabbed when i worked on the Cabs we were talking about this with the detectives who came to visit me at home. I said i was tempted to get some sort of baseball bat, but i knew if i did he'd come along and book me. He said he knew the type of people who were out there so if it was up to him i could carry a shotgun, but he reminded me one of his mates that wore those funny hats may not agree, and they'd arrest me.
Shortly after i was given a present to carry around with me. One of those battery powered zappers to give any would-be attacker an electric shock. I few times when i felt uncomfortable i switched it on and held it ready. I'm not sure if it had come to the push whether i would have used it.

thorsoak

On two occasions, I have witnessed violence in the street. On both occasions, I shouted - and on one instance,when a young man was hitting a young woman, I went right up to them, got between the two and managed to get the young woman away. Because I did this, others got involved - and the same thing really when I shouted at the violence - a brawn between about half a dozen youngish men.

Now I'm a woman - around 50ish when I witnessed these acts of violence, 5'6", not particularly fit - but I flet then that SOMEBODY had to do something - and on those occasions, that somebody had to be me!

At 70, now I'll be a little more circumspect, but my mantra has always been that evil exists when good people do nothing.

As for home protection - I have three large noisy labradors!

neneromanova

If you do decide to keep a baseball bat, keep a ball by it. then it's legal Can't remember where I read that.

My mum keeps a blade under her pillow for some reason. I'd be more scared of my dad using it on her when he's sleep walking than a burglar coming in :rotfl:

Ozzuk

I'm also curious if you called the police, if not then the first thing you should get would be a sense of social responsibility. If you did, then well done and I can certainly understand you not wanting to confront them.

Decent lighting, secure windows and doors, dog maybe. Reduce the risk and 'attractiveness' of your house through better security. Maybe rape alarm. Arming yourself opens up a whole different can of worms, and not necessarily whoopass.