Should Householders Be Allowed To Tackle Burglars By Using Force

[gordiescotland1]

What do people feel about this. I am in agreement that people should have the right to defend their property.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/483153/Scots-back-right-to-tackle-home-invaders

[ToraToraTora]

the basic question is clear, there is no point in trying to imagine every scenario, yes it could go wrong but I would like to be reassured that if a burgling lowlife gets brained with a blunt object the householder will not be prosecuted, if so it's good.

[Jeza]

Not read all posts. When we lived in London we were burgled one of the reasons we left. The police and we knew who did it but it couldn't be proved. I told them I hope they don't step into the road when I'm around. The police replied, if anything happens to them we will know where to look.

[pixie373]

My OH jumped on a burglar carrying stuff from our garage and sat on him until the police arrived. They were sympathetic and careful to write on the report that the burglar was "threatening", because apparently that meant OH couldn't be sued. The burglar hadn't made any threats (looked terrified, in fact), but the police said any stranger on your property could be seen as threatening. So, fair enough, i think.

[ToraToraTora]

well they can sue you if they cut themselves on barbed wire climing over your back fence! madness!

[pixie373]

It is madness.

[woofgang]

they can sue, but if they are burglars, they won't get far!

[Peter Pedant]

/// Not read all posts. When we lived in London we were burgled one of the reasons we left. The police and we knew who did it but it couldn't be proved. I told them I hope they don't step into the road when I'm around. The police replied, if anything happens to them we will know where to look.//

jez I can imagine your joy when they knocked on your door the other day, anxious to do their duty....

[Peter Pedant]

they can sue, but if they are burglars, they won't get far!

there is a case of a burglar who had his leg blown off by anexplosive device in a house he was burgling, who sued - successfully I think....
asone would expect, I think it is an Irish case (1980)

[sandyRoe]

I think I remember seeing a photo of a would be burglar who got caught in a window. If the home owner returned and set about the intruder with a cricket bat would that be justified?

[Mamyalynne]

I think you know the answer to that Sandy, though I am sure some of the macho types may disagree.

[sandyRoe]

True, Mamya. Some people would quickly blur the line between defending yourself/your property and taking revenge.

[ummmm]

How many people here have been burgled? I was burgled by a 'sleeper' burglar. He was in my bedroom while I slept, he was in my kids room while they slept. The effect it has is quite devastating. The 'what ifs'

If I confronted someone in my house I would attack them.

The lad that burgled me got caught and was sentenced to 4.5 years. That will never make up for the sleepless nights.

[ummmm]

It's horrible. He got in the kitchen window and lit a candle. We could follow his footsteps all round the house because of the melted wax. He had a really *** job that day. It was just after xmas....I had loads of money in the house....he didn't find it.

I was amazed I didn't wake up. The things he took out of my room (3rd floor) meant he must have been in there for at least 5 minutes.

The police said that sleeper burglars do it at a certain time of night when people are in deep sleep. Everyone thinks they'll wake up...but they don't.

It's scary....he could have took one of my kids and I wouldn't have known.

I had alarms installed after that.

[youngmafbog]

I have a 46Kg boxer dog. They have to get past him first.

The house was burgled 4-5 times when owned by previous occupiers, todate (15 years) we have been ok.

[RATTER15]

The key is to be reasonable and proportionate as Shoota says.

I think any burglar just seeing my hounds would really not need a second thought.

Look at my profile pic :-) nice doggies!!!

[RATTER15]

and they weigh in at about 10 stone a piece and we have three of them.

[sandyRoe]

A burglar would make a tasty snack for them.