Best way to protect your home/assets/life from looters?

Boba on 18/03/2020 - 00:51
Last edited 18/03/2020 - 00:52

I know some will frown upon this, but my wife and I were talking about what to do in the event that our home is looted / under attack.

Her initial thoughts were that if you just give them what they want, they'll go away and at least you're alive.

My initial thoughts were more along the lines of 'self defence' and defending my legally acquired bargains. Use tools such as baseball bat, crowbar, home-made crossbow, etc. She says I'd end up in jail if I did that.

Regardless of which response (of giving them what they want or detering them), there's nothing stopping them from coming back with greater force.

Thoughts?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • magikz on 19/03/2020 - 09:39
    +2

    I think most important thing is to mentally prepare for such an event. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Don't freeze up. Act fast. Pick up a weapon. Disarm but don't go overboard.

  • striker5950 on 19/03/2020 - 09:52
    +4

    the shitty Australian law dictates that you give them what they want and not hurt them in the process, maybe offer a cup of coffee while they are cleaning you out.

    in USA you have the right to shoot them in the D!ck and you will get a salute from the police for doing their job for them when they come to remove the body.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2020 - 16:43

      in USA you have the right to shoot them in the D!ck

      You would have to have a terrible aim to kill someone by shooting at their D1ck, wouldn't you?

      Fun story: when my wife was a social worker one of her ex client chopped off half of his D1Ck and handed it to her. Can confirm he didn't die.

      • monkeyfood on 20/03/2020 - 10:07

        was it valentines day?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2020 - 10:17

          Nah, normal day at the office for her.

          • monkeyfood on 20/03/2020 - 10:29

            @[Deactivated]: imagine what she could get for valentines day then… at the office

            • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2020 - 13:48
              +1

              @monkeyfood: PTSD? Towards the end of her career, she was working with young adults who were victims of sexual assault and abuse.When you stare into the abyss for too long, the abyss starts staring back at you…

              She's moved on now but still gets a little teary whenever she receives letters and photos from her ex-clients thanking her for the positive impact she had on their lives. We've attended more graduation ceremonies than most people would attend in several lifetimes. We've also attended more funerals than anyone should ever have to attend.

  • Hangryuman on 19/03/2020 - 10:19
    +3

    yes - it's important to panic about the scary risk of your home being invaded

    let's see - in 2019 there were 208 home invasions in Victoria - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-26/victoria-crime-statis… - in a 6M population that's like 0.003% chance of your home being invaded - OMG!!!

    while choosing to ignore the 30x higher risk of the most common causes of death in older people - cardiovascular disease and cancer with death rates around 0.1% - https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths…

    tho' it's at least a change of subject from the current ubiquitous news cycle - coronavirus with expected death rate around 0.5% for the US population - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/16/upshot/corona…

    • Cluster on 19/03/2020 - 11:40

      Health authorities are looking to the future and the growth rate of the illness. The models suggest if we do nothing then the number of cases doubles every 6 days. That may sound okay, but remember it's an exponential rate of growth.

      The time to do something about the virus is now, not when a million Australians are infected.

      • Ti-au on 19/03/2020 - 18:27

        Wash your hands. Lots.
        And stop touch your mouth and nose.

        I have now saved Australia from Corona Virus or wu-flu.

    • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:28
      +1

      In 2019 the ASX 200 also went up by about 20% and as we know, past performance is a reliable indicator of future success.

    • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:47

      OP isn't from Australia. I don't know where they got this idea from about burglaries being a threat. American movies?
      This site is full of non-Australian who have the culture ass-backwards…

  • capslock janitor on 19/03/2020 - 12:47

    change ur wifi name to "covid19 transmittor"

  • trapper on 19/03/2020 - 13:02

    I'd go for baseball bat as the 'less lethal' option, or machete as the ultimate hand to hand combat weapon.

    If you have a machete you only really have guns to fear.

    • pilchard on 19/03/2020 - 18:37

      … and fear itself.

      • monkeyfood on 20/03/2020 - 10:08

        or a bigger machete

    • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:43

      If you're going to hurt someone with a giant blade, be prepared for the same thing to happen to you because I doubt the burglers have much to lose.

  • TK Deadwalker on 19/03/2020 - 13:56

    Your father demands vengeance!

    Cut their heads of with the lightsaber Boba.

    • Boba on 20/03/2020 - 11:00

      I don't have a lightsaber right now, but could use my flamethrower.

  • Misha Bakunin on 19/03/2020 - 13:58

    lol i am actually making a site dealing with the current situation and future ones, i've been meaning to do it for a while but this crisis got me going, it is not complete yet but already has some good info to help you prepare things, ill be adding more sections soon dealing with possible looters and more: http://www.bugoutsurvivalkit.net

    • Boba on 20/03/2020 - 11:02
      +1

      Interesting website. Though some things are difficult to implement e.g. Isopropyl Alcohol used to be on Amazon $30 for 5L, then it became $45, now I can't find any of it at a reasonable price at all.

      • Misha Bakunin on 20/03/2020 - 11:38

        That is interesting, I guess not that surprising,.

        Isopropyl Alcohol is not so easy to find I suppose, that is why I suggested vodka as a substitute, easier to get..

        Thanks for your feedback i appreciate it :)

  • TK Deadwalker on 19/03/2020 - 14:14
    +2

    If anyone is looting. Could you get us a few rolls of toilet paper while you're at it.

    Thanks!

    • Ti-au on 19/03/2020 - 18:23
      +2

      This is getting into the OzB community spirit! Will defo help you out when I'm back from attacking toilet paper forts.

  • Zondor on 19/03/2020 - 15:46
    +2

    Just use your Geass to command them to stop.

    • Ti-au on 19/03/2020 - 18:22

      Stop, don’t touch me there. This is my no-no square.

    • Boba on 20/03/2020 - 11:07
      +1

      I could do that, but what about other people in a similar situation?

      • Zondor on 20/03/2020 - 15:40

        Create an army of soldiers dressed in black to protect everyone. Call them the Black Knights perhaps?

  • syousef on 19/03/2020 - 16:42

    Laugh at them when they realize there's nothing here worth selling.

  • Ti-au on 19/03/2020 - 18:32

    Become friends with them and enjoy your new found crack addict lifestyle.

  • TailsK on 19/03/2020 - 19:35

    Roller blinds and a decent security door.

  • OzDayZee on 19/03/2020 - 23:40
    -1

    Not recommending this but just answering OP - Fill a few 500ml coke bottles with petrol and keep it handy.

    The moment you realize you are under attack or people are trying to break in - pour this frantically over them.

    You probably won't have to light a match as the attackers will get the idea and back off before burning themselves.
    No, they won't die if you lighten them up but they will end up in a fireball running around for some time.

    Of course, don't depend on this but escape via the backdoor and call the police - given petrol is a non-renewable resource!

    • Boba on 20/03/2020 - 11:05

      I didn't know Coke bottles came as 500ml. Did you mean 600ml?

      Does Petrol go off if you store it for a while? I vaguely recall reading another thread here where they talked about Petrol losing its effectiveness depending on how you store it.

      A bit concerned that they'll light the house on fire in retaliation.

      • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:42

        I'd be concerned at them swinging back, especially even after you dose them.

      • OzDayZee on 21/03/2020 - 14:42

        Protecting you from intruders requires a lot of focus and attention - and don't let a typo about the capacity of coke bottles distract you!

        And - no Petrol doesn't go bad or evaporate if stored in a soft drink plastic bottle if the lid is moderately tight enough.

    • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:40

      Yeah, live with the smell of petrol in your home so in case a robber shows up you can awkwardly dose them in what they think is coca-cola on the off-chance it may catch alight and you get to afflict horrible injuries to the intruder as long as they don't harm you first.

      • OzDayZee on 28/03/2020 - 08:52

        If you don't like petrol - I have an electric version of this defense. ☺

  • DarwinBoy on 20/03/2020 - 08:28

    This is ozbargain. Not usguns/bunkersbargains.

  • denuto on 20/03/2020 - 11:43

    OP should read "The Road" by Cormack McCarthy - plenty of good hints there for the scenarios he's anticipating

  • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2020 - 13:08

    passive defense. make sure your neighbours look flashier and a more attractive target than you. sucks if you have a high yield (investment) car in the driveway.

  • adante on 20/03/2020 - 14:07
    +1

    legally acquired bargains

    I'm hearing eneloop slingshot

  • shiny1 on 20/03/2020 - 15:08
    +2

    Troll thread. No one is this stupid to ask a dumb question like this.

    • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:38

      I don't know, there are some extremely stupid people out there, especially on this site.
      But good point, sharing how exactly we protect our valuables is information that could aid criminals.

  • bizarredeal on 20/03/2020 - 17:05

    Good vigilant post.

    After the break in at the jewellery shop. It is highly possible even big homes can be a target.

    Be a minimalist.. don't hoard and flaunt your riches especially on social media.

  • serpserpserp on 20/03/2020 - 17:20

    Bikies?

  • Eeples on 20/03/2020 - 18:51
    +1

    Get a safe and don't be home at the time.
    Apparently burglars can't be bothered to break in to a safe if it is properly 'nailed' down.

    Pro Tip: Make sure you get a big one so all the toilet paper fits.

  • Sage on 21/03/2020 - 14:37
    +1

    What I do is just don't own anything of value.
    That way you don't have to worry about theives.

  • jlim87 on 27/03/2020 - 14:21
    +1

    Install security cameras in and out of the house, I recommend Nest. Install motion sensors and smart lights, recommend hue. If someone breaks in, it helps to see what's going on and how many ppl are in. install bolt locks in your children's room so you can go straight in there, lock it behind you while you call for cops/escape/use nest cams to speak to the robbers and tell them to (profanity) off cause police will be here any minute. I'd probably configure a google assistant routine to blast a song on all speakers max volume if you want to give them a scare and act as an alarm when you're safely locked in one of ur bedrooms.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/03/2020 - 23:21
    -2

    This scenario is becoming more real now that hundreds of prisonsers could be released early due to COVID-19…

  • Mosher on 31/03/2020 - 08:15

    One way is do not tell your mother in law how much toilet paper you have

    My wife's sister in Canberra wants us to post her some toilet paper because we have a amazon subscription for a 45 pack each month (we started it before the panic buying)

    when I go to the shops and they have any 8 or 12 packs on the shelf I grab one for the mother in law who lives up in the hills in birdwood her in S.A because she will then divide up the pack and give it to her eldery friend who can't get to the shops or are unable to compete with the younger gen who just shove past them in the shops

    The sister in law is a stay at home mum who has no excuse to be unable to go to the shops like everyone else

    P.S doe's refusing to send the paper make me a (profanity) or her for asking

    • Euphemistic on 31/03/2020 - 08:43

      The sister in law is a stay at home mum who has no excuse to be unable to go to the shops like everyone else

      While this may be how it appears it’s possible that there are some real anxieties about going outside if she’s been watching too much news or overreactions from social media. Not saying it is, but this virus is messing with more heads than respiratory systems.

      • Mosher on 31/03/2020 - 09:16

        That's why I don't watch the news because of their fear mongering

        It's their grab at ratings that is causing much of the panic buying etc

        She live 5 minute drive from 2 different woolworths and I'm sure there are a few other shops nearby her she can pop into or just like me set up a subcription to amazon for the paper

        • Euphemistic on 31/03/2020 - 10:21

          That's why I don't watch the news because of their fear mongering

          I hope you are getting some information other than social media then!

          Right now it’s important to keep up with the news to help keep us safe. It isn’t all fear mongering if and ratings grabbing. Just need to be a bit selective with what you listen to and not get trapped in the wormhole of constant 24hr opinion pieces.

          It wouldn’t take much for someone with anxiety about germs to be driven over the edge right now.

  • Waynes world on 20/04/2020 - 20:15

    Best way to protect your home/assets/life from looters?

    Don't have nice shit.

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